Football

GAA can reach for the Sky: Canavan

AN American journalist who witnessed last year's All-Ireland final replay between Clare and Cork described hurling as "the best game in the world that no-one has ever heard of". New Sky Sports pundit Peter Canavan echoed those sentiments yesterday when he said the subscription-based broadcaster will allow the GAA to show off "our country's best kept secret". The former Tyrone captain made the comments at a press briefing in Croke Park when he was unveiled as a member of Sky's new stable of analysts and commentators.

While the GAA's decision to join forces with a subscription channel has provoked some criticism, Canavan believes the move will allow Gaelic football and hurling to be celebrated beyond these shores. "The GAA has entrusted Sky for a good reason," said Canavan. "They want Sky to market and show off our games to a wider audience, not only in Ireland, but across the water as well. "In Gaelic football and hurling we have two great games. They are our country's best kept secret. "As games they would compare favourably with any field sports in the world. I have no doubt that Sky will portray our games in that light and that's why I believe the GAA has entrusted Sky with the coverage."

Canavan, the 1995 Footballer of the Year, will be Sky's lead football analyst and he will be joined by Paul Earley, the current International Rules manager. Jamesie O'Connor and nicky English will provide the hurling analysis. When asked about the controversy which has surrounded

the GAA's decision to award television rights to Sky, Jamesie O'Connor said: "It's a decision which Croke Park would have taken very seriously. I think Páraic Duffy and the people who have made those decisions haven't made too many wrong ones for the GAA over the years. There are 14 games exclusive to Sky. "The vast majority of games will still be free to air. I think it's a winwin situation. It's a win-win for the GAA. It's a win-win for Sky. "In terms of the professionalism and the standard of coverage which Sky bring to other sports, I think we can expect them to do a good job. I am just looking forward to stepping up to the challenge and maybe doing this in a way in which it hasn't been done before." When recruiting its new team, Sky drew heavily from TV3. Canavan, Earley, English and O'Connor were all analysts with the independent broadcaster who lost out when the TV rights deal was re-negotiated earlier this year.

Mike Finnerty and Dave McIntyre, former match commentators with TV3, have also been hired by Sky. Sky's anchors will be the Dublin-born Rachel Wyse and Brian Carney, who presents Sky Sports' rugby league coverage. Director of production at Sky Sports, Steve Smith said: "I have been appointing a team around me who are experienced in Gaelic Games coverage. With the technology and experience we have at Sky Sports, and with the gloss and the finish and the finesse, which we put into our production, it's really important that we marry those two things together in order that we put the best possible GAA product to air. "This is the team that's going to entertain, inform and bring to life Sky Sports' GAA coverage. They've got the knowledge and expertise to help take viewers closer to GAA as part of our unrivalled summer schedule of sport."

Sky's coverage of the Championship will begin on June 7 when Kilkenny and Offaly meet in the Leinster Hurling Championship.

n TOP TEAM: Pictured at Croke Park yesterday at the announcement of Sky Sports' on-screen line-up for its GAA coverage are (l-r) hurling analyst Jamesie O'Connor, presenter Rachel Wyse, Sky Sports Director of Production Steve Smith, GAA Director General Paraic Duffy, Sky presenter Brian Carney and football analyst Peter Canavan. Along with commentator Dave McIntyre, hurling analyst Nicky English and football analyst Paul Earley, they will be the faces of Sky's coverage will include 20 games each season, beginning with Kilkenny v Offaly in the All-Ireland Leinster SHC on June 7. For the first time, GAA will be available across all Sky Sports platforms - TV, online and mobile with Sky Go, Sky Sports News and skysports.com Picture: Sportsfile