National Forum

Sunday Game

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Sunday Game not as bad tonight with Enda Mc Ginley, as good any of them."
Enda McGinley and E Fitzmaurice are the two best pundits RTE have. Canavan, Whelan and Flynn aren't bad but know very little outside of the top teams. Enjoyed McConville when he did it. Gooch, L Keegan, C Staunton and Cavanagh just not good at all at all.

MachaireConnacht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1000 - 22/04/2024 11:20:32    2539780

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Sunday Game not as bad tonight with Enda Mc Ginley, as good any of them."
Enda is the best pundit they have imo. I can't look at RTE anyway, tight to say that the BBC give 100 times better GAA coverage than our 'national' broadcaster but there you go, RTE always had a southern bias anyway imo.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3041 - 22/04/2024 15:13:44    2539893

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Pundits are painting Derry losing as a positive thing in the long run. It is very likely Derry won't finish top of their group now which means a preliminary QF and a difficult QF. They were lucky the past 2 years getting Clare and Cork in the QF.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 248 - 22/04/2024 17:51:16    2539954

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Enda is the best pundit they have imo. I can't look at RTE anyway, tight to say that the BBC give 100 times better GAA coverage than our 'national' broadcaster but there you go, RTE always had a southern bias anyway imo."
Whatever happened to anthony tohill? Very good pundit and clearly an intelligent fella. He was there for a year or two ages ago and haven't heard about him since.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 22/04/2024 20:05:09    2539971

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Watched high lights last night and I'm wondering where the wex/dub match was recorded from..I have decent eyesight but found it next to impossible to follow the ball..surely the match deserved better from Gaa ?also why was the match on at same time as 2 matches in Munster??great to have 2 hurling next Sunday but could one of those be played Saturday..Gaa go showing cork/Clare but not doing much for promotion of hurling.I don't accept this that only for Gaa go it wouldn't be seen..RTÉ used news channel recently when Irish ladies soccer clashed with champions league..next weekend no Gaa coverage on Saturday.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2394 - 22/04/2024 23:40:09    2540001

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They did have a camera in Wexford park …. Just the one I was sitting in front of it. It's strange no disrespect to Antrim or Carlow but that was probably the most important game of the Leinster championship should have been on at least gaa go and they are showing Wexford v Antrim next week. Dublin game should have been on sturday evening. Anyway that's the least of our problems

Wexfordgaa (Wexford) - Posts: 315 - 23/04/2024 08:43:14    2540034

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Replying To MachaireConnacht:  "Enda McGinley and E Fitzmaurice are the two best pundits RTE have. Canavan, Whelan and Flynn aren't bad but know very little outside of the top teams. Enjoyed McConville when he did it. Gooch, L Keegan, C Staunton and Cavanagh just not good at all at all."
In fairness I think Cora Staunton is quite knowledgeable and unbiased unlike some of the others IMHO.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 24/04/2024 10:13:49    2540354

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Replying To PattyONeill:  "Pundits are painting Derry losing as a positive thing in the long run. It is very likely Derry won't finish top of their group now which means a preliminary QF and a difficult QF. They were lucky the past 2 years getting Clare and Cork in the QF."
No team wants to be a lower seed and face more games in a shorter period. Going route one has been key to Derry being there at semi final stage last two years, This makes getting even that far a tougher proposition. Typical of lazy punditry, Same applies to lads wondering whether Limerick might prefer or be better off not winning Munster! Superficial nonsense.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3185 - 24/04/2024 11:10:22    2540374

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Replying To tommy k:  "In fairness I think Cora Staunton is quite knowledgeable and unbiased unlike some of the others IMHO."
I think she's a very good analyst. Always calm doing analysis, doesn't get animated or have the need to talk over other analysts to make her point. Has a lot of experience of LGFA and other sports and some coaching too.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7667 - 24/04/2024 11:35:44    2540380

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Replying To tommy k:  "In fairness I think Cora Staunton is quite knowledgeable and unbiased unlike some of the others IMHO."
To be fair she is good on the radio when it is more off the cuff. But her lines seem very scripted on the Sunday Game.

MachaireConnacht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1000 - 24/04/2024 12:48:18    2540396

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Replying To PattyONeill:  "Pundits are painting Derry losing as a positive thing in the long run. It is very likely Derry won't finish top of their group now which means a preliminary QF and a difficult QF. They were lucky the past 2 years getting Clare and Cork in the QF."
Correct and right. A prelim QF means if you win that and reach a QF you will be playing three weeks on the trot. If you are unfortunate enough to come third you play your prelim game away from home which could be a long trek across the country (maybe even go to extra time!). I know they are saying no tough Ulster semi or final now for Derry but avoiding a prelim QF seems to be worth more if you are trying to reach an AI final.

MachaireConnacht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1000 - 24/04/2024 12:55:52    2540398

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Replying To MachaireConnacht:  "Enda McGinley and E Fitzmaurice are the two best pundits RTE have. Canavan, Whelan and Flynn aren't bad but know very little outside of the top teams. Enjoyed McConville when he did it. Gooch, L Keegan, C Staunton and Cavanagh just not good at all at all."
Enda McGinley is very good but the sleep inducer does my head in on co commentary… Marty is a woeful commentator and should be totally confined to the radio for obvious reasons….. Overall the Sunday game is very poor….. Joe Brolly was right about it all along…!!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3055 - 24/04/2024 13:10:09    2540399

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Replying To MachaireConnacht:  "Enda McGinley and E Fitzmaurice are the two best pundits RTE have. Canavan, Whelan and Flynn aren't bad but know very little outside of the top teams. Enjoyed McConville when he did it. Gooch, L Keegan, C Staunton and Cavanagh just not good at all at all."
Whatever about his quality as a pundit I can't let it go that Whelan knows very little outside the top teams. He stands out as the one that knows the clubs and playing history of players from the lower divisions. Whether he has a deep knowledge of all these teams or he does his research I don't know but he regularly comes up with facts and figures on players outside the "top teams".

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 802 - 24/04/2024 13:40:51    2540408

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Modern day pundits are afraid to say what they think for fear of a backlash. There seems to be tension lately between Joanne Cantwell and Sean Cavanagh. The one issue I'd have with her presenting style is that she seems to be aggressive towards a pundit when they goes off script and gives a contrasting opinion. The current championship structure results in a lot of meaningless games between the top counties; the exception is probably the Munster hurling championship which is as close to knock out as there is. Derry seem to be burnt out which is a modern day issue as players are being trained hard and in a game are expected to constantly run up and down the final for 70+ minutes - this is near impossible to sustain if you are playing in the ulster championship. Derry have competed and won Division 1. Now they are effectively competing against a number of top teams in their own province; like a division 1 campaign again. The other three provinces outside Ulster; the top teams - Dublin, Kerry and Mayo/Galway can rest players and get ready for the All Ireland series, Ulster teams don't have the luxury, Equally, there are so few top teams capable of competing for the top honours, if the pundits on RTE were being honest, they would say, cut to the chase and play the All Ireland quarter finals but they are not allowed, they are expected to make us all believe that there will be shocks. Even when there is a shock i.e. Wicklow vs Westmeath, it is not really covered on the Sunday Game as counties like Wicklow and co are not suppose to upset the normal order and don't get the recognition they deserve. It is hard for weak counties to keep a team going as there is so little coverage and recognition - this is a GAA issue and not just within RTE. RTE and the Sunday Game are not open to radical change which is why every year the Sunday Game is becoming less and less relevant in the eyes of the general public.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2024 - 24/04/2024 14:03:49    2540416

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Modern day pundits are afraid to say what they think for fear of a backlash. There seems to be tension lately between Joanne Cantwell and Sean Cavanagh. The one issue I'd have with her presenting style is that she seems to be aggressive towards a pundit when they goes off script and gives a contrasting opinion. The current championship structure results in a lot of meaningless games between the top counties; the exception is probably the Munster hurling championship which is as close to knock out as there is. Derry seem to be burnt out which is a modern day issue as players are being trained hard and in a game are expected to constantly run up and down the final for 70+ minutes - this is near impossible to sustain if you are playing in the ulster championship. Derry have competed and won Division 1. Now they are effectively competing against a number of top teams in their own province; like a division 1 campaign again. The other three provinces outside Ulster; the top teams - Dublin, Kerry and Mayo/Galway can rest players and get ready for the All Ireland series, Ulster teams don't have the luxury, Equally, there are so few top teams capable of competing for the top honours, if the pundits on RTE were being honest, they would say, cut to the chase and play the All Ireland quarter finals but they are not allowed, they are expected to make us all believe that there will be shocks. Even when there is a shock i.e. Wicklow vs Westmeath, it is not really covered on the Sunday Game as counties like Wicklow and co are not suppose to upset the normal order and don't get the recognition they deserve. It is hard for weak counties to keep a team going as there is so little coverage and recognition - this is a GAA issue and not just within RTE. RTE and the Sunday Game are not open to radical change which is why every year the Sunday Game is becoming less and less relevant in the eyes of the general public."
Her presenting style is to be a pundit also giving her opinion. That is not the role and presenters Herlihy and Lyster knew this.

Having said that I only watch the games, no pundit nonsense chat and a lot of times I mute the commentary too on the football. There should be a 'red button' option to hear the crowd and field microphones only. I find Moloney insufferable. Half decent when he is in a studio as a pundit in fairness to him

eslinchickenmaryland (Leitrim) - Posts: 274 - 24/04/2024 14:25:09    2540420

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Replying To sligo joe:  "Whatever about his quality as a pundit I can't let it go that Whelan knows very little outside the top teams. He stands out as the one that knows the clubs and playing history of players from the lower divisions. Whether he has a deep knowledge of all these teams or he does his research I don't know but he regularly comes up with facts and figures on players outside the "top teams"."
Agreed, he knows more about Cavan football than all the rest combined.

I almost never watch The Sunday Game anymore, but I think almost everyone on here has unreasonable expectations for a show that goes on air 4 or 5 hours after some of the games they're covering finished earlier in the day. There's only so much you can do

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12208 - 24/04/2024 14:51:58    2540430

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Fitzmaurice is very good on football commentary. One of few who picks up on stuff you might miss. Which is what makes him good manager obviously.

TG4 has by far the best hurling commentators and analyists.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3185 - 24/04/2024 15:38:02    2540439

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Replying To Breffni40:  "Agreed, he knows more about Cavan football than all the rest combined.

I almost never watch The Sunday Game anymore, but I think almost everyone on here has unreasonable expectations for a show that goes on air 4 or 5 hours after some of the games they're covering finished earlier in the day. There's only so much you can do"
The problem with the Sunday game is it tries to do everything.

For a Sunday night it should just be highlights
They should bring back the Monday game and go more into the GAA topics of the week and/or stories from the weekend

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1197 - 24/04/2024 18:14:04    2540468

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Replying To tommy k:  "In fairness I think Cora Staunton is quite knowledgeable and unbiased unlike some of the others IMHO."
I agree. Cora Staunton is my favourite woman pundit across all codes, including soccer and rugby, in a boomtime era for female punditry. There's a touch of the 'Joey Barton' in many of us probably, when it comes to enjoying what women have to say about sports, but I'm never afflicted with it listening to Cora Staunton. She's knowledgeable as you say, and also passionate without being in any way phony.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3881 - 24/04/2024 19:44:20    2540483

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Fitzmaurice is very good on football commentary. One of few who picks up on stuff you might miss. Which is what makes him good manager obviously.

TG4 has by far the best hurling commentators and analyists."
Regarding Fitzmaurice as a manager, I know they are high standards but by Kerry benchmarks, a failure, one Sam in 7yrs. Played 17 championship games outside munster, only won 9!

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 802 - 25/04/2024 08:28:40    2540540

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