Newstalk sport-veterans, Ger Gilroy and Dave McIntyre, revealed an all-star panel that will join the Newstalk sports team in delivering the best GAA coverage and analysis available on national radio – for the second year running.
The Newstalk sports team – Newstalk Sport Saturday / Sunday and Off the Ball – will be assisted throughout the season by a host of GAA sporting legends. Among those giving their expert analysis of the GAA All-Ireland Football Championship will be Darragh Ó Sé, Colm Parkinson, Enda McNulty, Liam McHale, Conor Deegan, Kevin Cassidy, David Brady, Eugene McGee and Oisin McConville. The Newstalk sports team will also bring their views on the hurling action over the summer, joined by Jamesie O'Connor, Daithí Regan, Ollie Canning and Derek Lyng.
The 2011 GAA All-Ireland Senior Championships season marked a key milestone in Irish broadcasting. For the first time in GAA history, a broadcaster outside the state-run body was awarded exclusive national radio commentary rights. During their inaugural year of GAA broadcasting, Newstalk provided GAA fans, across the country, with an exciting and fresh alternative to the staid coverage of old.
Speaking at today’s launch, Ger Gilroy, Sports Editor at Newstalk 106-108 fm, said: “The Championship season is upon us once again and we're delighted to be back in the thick of it. 2011 was hugely important for Newstalk Sport as we made our debut and proved to the nation that we could add our voice to the GAA season with fresh insight, a new commentary style and brilliant in-depth analysis. We were overwhelmed by the response from the GAA community and can't wait for this year's big games. You can be sure that the Newstalk sports team and extended panel of star analysts will deliver the best information, entertainment and analysis along with laughter, drama and controversy, throughout the 2012 season.”
Newstalk 106-108 fm will exclusively cover 20 games including Provincial finals, qualifiers in both codes and All Ireland quarter finals.
Also speaking at the launch, Raymond Leddy, Head of Marketing ŠKODA Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to announce that ŠKODA is Newstalk’s new GAA broadcast sponsor. The station has continually set new standards for sports broadcast coverage and analysis over the last number of years and we were particularly impressed by their GAA coverage in what was their debut season in 2011. Over the last number of years ŠKODA has been steadily building its GAA sponsorship portfolio including our sponsorship of Tipperary GAA and at a local level through our network of dealerships. Today’s announcement is another significant milestone for the ŠKODA brand in Ireland and we are looking forward to working with Newstalk on an exciting programme of events this Championship season.”
As part of ŠKODA’s sponsorship of the GAA coverage, Newstalk & ŠKODA will be doing five live broadcasts with the Newstalk Sport Saturday team, presented by Ger Gilroy, from local GAA clubs around the country. There will be something for everyone with Oisin McConville giving football lessons to the kids whilst the Newstalk Sports Team will be giving full analysis of the GAA Championships ahead.
For further information, check out www.newstalk.ie.