RTÉ Sport have announced that Jacqui Hurley will be taking the helm at The Sunday Game for the upcoming GAA Championship season, with Damian Lawlor bringing all of the action and analysis from The Saturday Game to viewers at home on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Hurley stepped away from her Sunday Sport Radio presenting position earlier this month and will now replace Des Cahill on the long-running Sunday highlights show.
The move towards a Saturday edition of the same format programme reflects the greater number of important games that are now being played over the full two days of the weekend. Damien Lawlor will be in the host seat for this new programme.
Joanne Cantwell continues to present The Saturday Game Live and The Sunday Game Live.
Sky’s departure from the latest media rights deal has opened up for GAA Go to step in with a greater number of games and the marquee games that would equate to a similar number that Sky showed over the past eight years will now be fronted by Gráinne McElwain with full studio preview, half-time, and full-time analysis.
The Sunday Game has also announced a new slate of analysts with Paul Flynn, Enda McGinley, Lee Keegan, Cora Staunton, Peter Canavan, David Tubridy and Joe Canning amongst those who will be stepping into the shoes of Colm O’Rourke and others now moved on. Tomás O’Sé and Ursula Jacob are among those who will be returning, alongside Donal Óg Cusack, Liam Sheedy, Jackie Tyrell, John Mullane, Ciaran Whelan, Colm Cooper and Noelle Healy.
RTÉ will continue to show 31 championship games across the island of Ireland on RTÉ television and RTÉ Player, as well as the Joe McDonagh Cup final, and both Tailteann Cup semi-finals and final for the next five years.
RTÉ’s ongoing commitment to camogie will see at least nine live matches per year televised.
There will be increased free-to-air Allianz National League games, commencing next Saturday, 28th January, as well as continued coverage of the AIB Club Championships.
“This season marks a reigniting of The Sunday Game with fresh off-the-pitch panellists alongside seasoned experts, in moves that are consistent with the evolution of The Sunday Game throughout the years,” said Declan McBennett, Head of Sport at RTÉ.
“New presenters Jacqui, Damian and the new panellists are hugely experienced and perfectly placed to bring all of the excitement and analysis of the GAA Championship to our audience later this year.”
“Working on The Sunday Game was a childhood dream of mine,” said Hurley.
“It’s an absolute privilege to take on such an iconic role and follow in the footsteps of some incredible broadcasters. I look forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get started.”
“The new GAA fixture calendar has meant more intercounty games than ever within a condensed period,” said Lawlor.
“This has given RTÉ Sport an opportunity to introduce The Saturday Game. Along with our production team, I will do everything I can to ensure the programme develops into an unmissable, flagship show that delivers the best insight and analysis for our viewers.”
