QuoteMay 15th 2008
TV3 ANNOUNCES GAA LINE UP FOR THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
TV3 NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Thursday 15th May 2008
TV3 ANNOUNCES GAA LINE UP FOR THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Matt Cooper to Present live matches & new midweek GAA magazine show
All-Ireland winners Peter Canavan, Jamesie O'Connor and Joe Kernan part of analysis team
TV3 to broadcast 10 live matches from June 1 including 3 provincial finals
TV3 launch midweek magazine show "Championship Throw In"
TV3 today announced its GAA line up for the forthcoming season. All live matches will be hosted by Matt Cooper. Matt will be joined in studio by three expert panellists for each match including Peter Canavan, Eugene McGee, Senan Connell, Paul Earley, Daithí Regan, Joe Kernan, David Brady, Liam Hayes, Jamesie O'Connor, Nicky English and Liam Griffin.
TV3's championship team will include, commentators Mike Finnerty and Trevor Welch, while TV3's Gaelic Games correspondent Kieran McSweeney and TV3's sports reporter Sinead Kissane, will be transmitting the atmosphere of the occasion and getting the views from the players and the fans.
In addition to the live coverage, TV3 will broadcast a new Thursday prime time magazine show "Championship Throw In" from May 29th. The weekly show will provide the first word on the weekend's Championship action.
Championship Live begins on TV3 at 1pm on June 1st with the opening round of the Munster Hurling Championship as Clare and Waterford go head to head in Limerick.
Commenting at the launch today David McRedmond, TV3 CEO said:
"Today marks a coming of age for TV3 in its 10th year to become a broadcast partner of the GAA. Showing the national game is essential for a national broadcaster and we are immensely grateful to all at the GAA for making this happen."
Commenting on TV3's live matches, Nickey Brennan, GAA President said:
"We are delighted to have TV3 on board as a broadcast partner and look forward to working with them. I wish all those involved in the match productions all the very best for the Championship season. The 2008 Championship season offers plenty of opportunities, surprises and perhaps for some, heart break."
On their production for TV3's live matches, Ciarán Ó hEadhra, Series Producer said:
"We've assembled a first class team of experts, a brilliant production team and there are some very exciting games ahead of us this summer. We're particularly happy to have three Provincial Finals in July and we know that with the passion the fans and the players have for Gaelic Games this will make for a very entertaining first season of GAA on TV3."
TV3 Championship Live Presenter Matt Cooper said:
"I am thrilled to have the chance to present Championship Live on TV3 and to represent hundreds and thousands of fans across the country by getting the views and the opinions of people who are not just fans, but know what is going on because they have done it themselves at the highest levels. When they talk, people will listen and it will add to everyone's enjoyment of the games."
Images taken at the launch are available courtesy of Sportsfile at +353 1 454 7400 or info@sportsfile.com <mailto:info@sportsfile.com>.
Ends.
For further information:
TV3 PRESS OFFICE TV3 GAA TEAM CONTACT
+ 353 1 419 3430 / 26 / 36 Kieran Holden
Maureen Catterson +353 87 7800737 +353 87 2977406
publicity@tv3.ie <mailto:publicity@tv3.ie> kieran.holden@tv3.ie <mailto:kieran.holden@tv3.ie>
Notes to the Editor:
TV3 GAA Fixtures
Date Match Competition
1/6/2008 Clare v Waterford MSHC R1
8/6/2008 Dublin v Louth LSFC R1
22/6/2008 Kildare/Wicklow/Laois v Meath/Carlow/Wexford LSFC S/F
29/6/2008 Offaly/Longford/Westmeath v Dublin/Louth LSFC S/F
6/7/2008 Leinster Hurling Final LSHC
13/7/2008 Connacht Football Final CSFC
19/7/2008 Round 1 Qualifiers AIFC
20/7/2008 Ulster Football Final USFC
26/7/2008 Round 2 Qualifiers AIFC
2/8/2008 Round 3 Qualifiers AIFC
Motive Television
The work of Motive Television will be familiar to GAA fans, the company having produced a large number of GAA related programmes, including BREAKING BALL, BBX, PARK LIVE, THE SOUND OF SUNDAY, and MAROONED. The company is currently in production on a 4-hour history of the GAA entitled PART OF WHAT WE ARE.
Matt Cooper (Presenter)
Live match presenter Matt Cooper's regular day job is as presenter of The Last Word radio programme on Today FM each weekday between 4.30pm and 7pm. It was the top-rated programme in its time slot in 2007 and includes substantial sports sections on Monday and Friday that include extensive GAA coverage with a panel of football and hurling experts. Matt's interest in GAA goes back to his childhood, as a footballer and hurler with the Bishopstown club in Cork up to and including minor level. He was schooled at Cork's famous hurling academy, the North Mon. He is an experienced TV sports presenter and a former newspaper editor. He will also host TV3's weekly magazine programme "Championship Throw In" each Thursday evening.
Mike Finnerty (Commentator)
Mike Finnerty, a native of Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, has worked as a GAA commentator with Mid West Radio since 1993 and has been their Chief GAA commentator since 1998. He has worked as a Gaelic football commentator with Setanta Sports since June 2004 and has been their primary commentator on live GAA since January 2007. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from NUI, Galway in 1998, has worked with The Mayo News in Westport since 1999 and has been Sports Editor there since May, 2004.
Trevor Welch (Commentator)
Trevor Welch is a familiar face to TV3 viewers and a widely respected Sports journalist and broadcaster. Trevor presents the nightly Sports Tonight programme on TV3. He joined TV3 having spent ten years with Irish Multi-Channel TV where he presented and edited the channel's hugely popular "Sportsnight" show. Trevor is a veteran commentator on national league matches and County championships. He also played hurling for St. Finbars in Cork.
Peter Canavan (Panellist)
Peter Canavan played for Tyrone for sixteen years winning two All-Irelands and six All Stars. Affectionately known as Peter the Great he has been one of the foremost personalities of recent GAA history. A teacher by profession, Canavan regularly contributes columns to Newspapers and has contributed to Newstalk's 'Off the Ball' and 'The Last Word' on Today FM.
Eugene McGee (Panellist)
A journalist by profession, Eugene McGee has managed both Offaly and Cavan at Inter-County level leading the former to All-Ireland glory when they denied Kerry the five in a row in 1982. A columnist with the Irish Independent and a regular contributor to 'The Last Word' on Today FM and 'Off the Ball' on Newstalk he has also worked as an analyst on Setanta Sports National league coverage.
Senan Connell (Panellist)
Senan retired from Inter County football in 2006 having secured his third Leinster title with Dublin, the Grand prize of Sam Maguire having eluded him. A teacher in St. Declans school in Cabra, he has become a recognised figure in media circles because of his tactical and technical expertise. Recently he has worked as an analyst on Setanta Sports Allianz League and O'Byrne Cup broadcasts.
David Brady (Panellist)
David has just retired in the last few weeks after 14 years as an Inter-County player with Mayo. He has won a National League Medal with Mayo and a club All-Ireland with Ballina and has long been recognised as one of the most articulate and outspoken personalities in the GAA. A former Youth Rugby International he has played under some of the best Managers in Gaelic Football.
Liam Hayes (Panellist)
Liam won two All-Ireland medals as a player with Meath and later served as manager to Carlow. A journalist/Publisher by profession Liam has started and sold titles such as The Title and Ireland On Sunday. Liam now owns The Gazette Group of local newspapers. He writes a weekly football column for the Sunday Tribune.
Jamesie O'Connor (Panellist)
Jamesie O'Connor was scorer in chief for the Clare team of the late 90s and early part of the new millennium. His accuracy helped propel the banner county from Munster also rans to double All-Ireland winners. Having retired in 2005 he now combines his position as a teacher at his Alma Mater the famed St. Flannans hurling nursery with print, radio and television work.
Nicky English (Panellist)
Nicky English was one of the most accomplished hurlers of his era winning two Liam McCarthy Cups with Tipperary in 1989 and 1991. In fourteen years playing with the county he scored 20 goals and 117 points in Championship hurling. In 1999 he took over as manager of the Tipp Senior team and led them to their last All-Ireland title in 2001. A respected commentator on the game he has made numerous contributions to Television and Radio programmes. He is Chief Manager of Marketing and Sales with AIB Finance.
Joe Kernan (Panellist)
Joe was established as one of the greatest Armagh players ever when he had his first spell in charge of Armagh as a manager, he did not have a great deal of success and returned to Crossmaglen as club manager. Since taking over the Rangers he has had unprecedented success leading the club to All Ireland's and then Armagh to the Sam Maguire in 2002. He led Armagh to Ulster Final Success in recent years and stood down as manager last year.
Liam Griffin (Panellist)
One of the most articulate, outspoken, hurling analysts of the last decade. Best known as the man who led Wexford out of the wilderness in 1996 when they won their only All Ireland of the last 40 years. A successful hotelier by profession he writes a weekly column for The Sunday Tribune and is a regular on 'The Right Hook' on Newstalk.
Daithí Regan (Panellist)
Daithí Regan won two All-Ireland medals with Offaly in 1994 and 1998 when they pulled off two of the biggest upsets in hurling history. Since retiring he has become a regular contributor to local and national newspapers and his contributions to Newstalk's "Off the Ball" programme have become a must for all hurling fans.
Paul Earley (Panellist)
Paul Earley is a former Roscommon Footballer who won Connacht Championships in 1990 and 1991 as well as an All Star at full forward in 1985. One of the first Irish players to be recruited to Australian Rules he made one appearance with Melbourne in the AFL before returning home for family reasons. A respected pundit, Paul has made regular contributions to Setanta Sports live GAA output and weekly preview show. He is currently manager of Celbridge in the Kildare Senior Football Championship.
I like the look of some of the panellists, Big Joe, Jamsie, Liam Grffin, Eugene McGee and Canavan, Liam Hayes can maybe be put on the spot to actually make a logical explanation of some of the tripe he spouts in the paper, not sure about Matt Cooper after his rugby WC performance, but I am looking forward to Sinead Kissane's interview will Pillar Caffrey after they are beaten out the gate by some team :P
Matt Cooper know f**k all about sport of any kind , useless .
I'm actually looking forward to this...esp Hayes spoutin shite and Griffin stirrin it....although I would question Coopers knowledge of GAA sports!!
Can't get TV3 through Sky, so it really doesnt bother me. Would imagine that Peter and Joe would be good to listen to. As for Matt Cooper, The Last Word is a good programme but like 5 Sams, I wouldn't have put him down for a GAA anchorman!
Not a bad line up of pundits but as ever the most important elements which they'll be judged on will be the presentation and commentary. the rest remains to be seen but cooper is a bad start as presenter. anyone who listens to the last word will know he has virtually no understanding of the games.
Big joe's analysis will be very interesting but he is far from eloquent. i hope they don't use him in the studio for that reason.
Sweet mother of divine Jesus, David f**king Brady!
Looks good but if TV3s world cup coverage is anything to go by I'll be expecting too much - too many panellists trying to get their spake in meant no depth and Cooper's smug head boy style of presenting was just irritating.
Quote from: ludermor on May 15, 2008, 03:31:49 PM
Sweet mother of divine Jesus, David f**king Brady!
He was bound to end up as a pundit on the telly. Sure he was a walking interview machine all his career. ;D
On another note I am not mad about the commentators.
Not a bad line up - there are no other recent big name stars in the West apart from Brady !!! ;) ;) ;D
The relationship between tv3 and today fm seems to be getting tighter and tighter.
i dont actually mind matt copper and listen to him in the evenings, however his is prone to alot of pro cork shite talking.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on May 15, 2008, 03:52:45 PM
Quote from: ludermor on May 15, 2008, 03:31:49 PM
Sweet mother of divine Jesus, David f**king Brady!
He was bound to end up as a pundit on the telly. Sure he was a walking interview machine all his career. ;D
On another note I am not mad about the commentators.
Fuckin Trevor Welch........how could ya listen to that?! On a seperate note, he must have been some sight playin small ball with St Finbarrs if that profile is right......a great man to busht up the play no doubt!
I always thought that Canavan is quite a boring interviewee, but will look forward to hearing Liam Hayes and in particular Big Joe. Big Joe might just be what GAA analysis needs. Straight talking and honest, I think he can separate the sheep from the goats!
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on May 15, 2008, 03:52:45 PM
Quote from: ludermor on May 15, 2008, 03:31:49 PM
Sweet mother of divine Jesus, David f**king Brady!
He was bound to end up as a pundit on the telly. Sure he was a walking interview machine all his career. ;D
:D :D :D :D :D :D
Ah, FFS. Matt Cooper AND Trevor Welch? >:(
Is there anyway I can watch those games without contributing to TV3's ratings?
Oh DB can talk aright but it usually ended up in the papers, i always thought he had a wee bit of a stutter so has he got that sorted or was i imagining things??
Not sure how Peter the Great will come across. Not the most interesting of people to listen to when on TV.
I welcome TV3's lineup.
Having bemoaned their lack of coverage of gaelic games in their sports buletins in the past it would be disingenous to complain too much.
In fairness to them what do you expect as a first season? Matt Cooper has experience as an anchor and they have done a good job in getting a good range of panellists. Also, after all the years head start that RTE have many of their commentators cannot be held up as examples of excelllence.
I hope that the venture is a Big success for them as that can only be good for us - the supporters.
Just waiting for the curse of TV3 to strike the Dubs now, as it seems apparent from the schedule it's the Leinster champo they are concentrating on. Then again could the Leinster championships get any worse....
I hear big Joe is on board now
Quote from: ludermor on May 15, 2008, 03:31:49 PM
Sweet mother of divine Jesus, David f**king Brady!
I didn't know he had retired again from inter-county football ;)
Quote from: ludermor on May 15, 2008, 03:31:49 PM
Sweet mother of divine Jesus, David f**king Brady!
:D :D :D good man ludermor i'd say you spoke for the country there ;)
Quote from: Feckitt on May 15, 2008, 04:54:55 PM
I always thought that Canavan is quite a boring interviewee, but will look forward to hearing Liam Hayes and in particular Big Joe. Big Joe might just be what GAA analysis needs. Straight talking and honest, I think he can separate the sheep from the goats!
You see Feckitt, this is the thing. The quality of the analysts isn't in question. It's the quality of the host that's problematic.
Agorm mentions Cooper's experience as an anchor, but this is what I'd hold against him. Cooper's done it alright, but he hasn't done it well. He was shockingly rude to Jim Glennon during the Rugby World Cup, and when Ray Silke tried to make the point that maybe the GAA would be better off using Croke Park for their own games alone on Cooper's radio show last year, Matt had a lot of trouble dealing with a notion that strayed so far from the Party Line.
The most frustrating thing is that all these fellas have had the example of the best ever anchor of a TV sports discussion in Bill O'Herlihy for over twenty years, and they seem to have learned nothing. Michael Lyster is a very moot case in point. Still, we hope for the best - what else can we do?
Cooper is dung. I never liked him.
ALways answering his own questions!
I think that Cooper being an 'outsider' as such might not be a bad thing, it will mean a slightly different approach for one thing, which might facilitate meaningful discussion.
The BBC have revealed that Joe Kernan is part of the BBC Championship team.
How can he be with the BBC and TV3? What gives?
Gravy train, obviously no exclusivity on his contracts and as TV3 are mostly doing back door games and BBC are showing most of Ulster Championship there will be no conflict of interest really.
He'll be in a pickle then, come the Ulster Final.
If there's a pickle around, Joe won't be in it. It'll be in Joe.
Quote from: Hardy on May 16, 2008, 08:01:38 PM
If there's a pickle around, Joe won't be in it. It'll be in Joe.
Sizeist
Quote from: orangeman on May 15, 2008, 04:05:38 PM
Not a bad line up - there are no other recent big name stars in the West apart from Brady !!! ;) ;) ;D
Maughtan must have retired from sticking his mug in front of every TV camera and/or microphone to appear in Connacht. ;) :D ;D :)
Has anyone in Belfast ever received a Good TV3 signal. I know I have not
Quote from: Hardy on May 16, 2008, 08:01:38 PM
If there's a pickle around, Joe won't be in it. It'll be in Joe.
:D :D
TV3 are to announce shortly that all games they have the rights to will be broadcasted simultaneously on their website. This is a first for the channel and they said they're doing it so that those viewers north of the border can follow the games. (That is, those with a broadband connection...)
Quote from: ziggysego on May 20, 2008, 03:12:48 PM
TV3 are to announce shortly that all games they have the rights to will be broadcasted simultaneously on their website. This is a first for the channel and they said they're doing it so that those viewers north of the border can follow the games. (That is, those with a broadband connection...)
Just curious about this. Are there different IP addresses for NI and the UK?
No, but with RTE you contact your ISP provider to allow you to view it.
The probably allow general access to providers like UTV whose customers are all in NI, with few in GB.
Quote from: ziggysego on May 20, 2008, 05:29:41 PM
No, but with RTE you contact your ISP provider to allow you to view it.
Talk me through that one ziggy. I'm with talktalk in de nort and have rte blocked at the mo.
Quote from: Maroon Heaven on May 17, 2008, 11:30:37 AM
Has anyone in Belfast ever received a Good TV3 signal. I know I have not
I get it loud and clear on the upper Ormeau. Much better than 'Five'.
Quote from: passedit on May 20, 2008, 06:20:39 PM
Quote from: ziggysego on May 20, 2008, 05:29:41 PM
No, but with RTE you contact your ISP provider to allow you to view it.
Talk me through that one ziggy. I'm with talktalk in de nort and have rte blocked at the mo.
I don't have a customer service number for Talk Talk, but maybe their sales department can transfer you to the right place. The number is 0800 049 7802.
Tell them you want to view Gaelic matches which is part of TV3's online services and it is opened for the people on the island of Ireland. What they do then, is contact TV3 to confirm this and then allow you to access their matches online.
Anybody here work for Virgin?? I'm in Northern Ireland cough cough ;D
Delighted to see that they've choosen some very intelligent and articualte panellists. Well done to TV3