Hysteria surrounds Championship plan

Recently, I was listening when the usual ‘it’s a disgrace’ brigade on the Joe Duffy’s Liveline show bemoaned the sale of 20 GAA games to Sky Sports for this year’s Championship.

Since the announcement was made there has been a general hysteria surrounding this issue because Irish people will have to pay for an expensive Sky package to watch a handful of games.

There seemed to be a cry that the GAA had somehow reduced us all to an inevitable trip to the pub of a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon to watch our counties. Nonsense!

This deal is a resounding endorsement of our game; one of the biggest sports carriers in the world has come knocking. The sole argument against this move has been money; people won’t be able to afford Sky Sports, they say. They will be able to go to the pub, and the complainers seemed to be leaning toward the pub rather than going to the games to support their teams, which would cost roughly the same.

Sky Sports has grown viewership and interest in the NFL and Super League in Britain, and there is every reason to believe the GAA will see an increase in participation in more clubs across the UK. This will only serve to increase interest across the water, an increase in TV rights money from Sky Sports, and more funding for clubs here at home. It may only be a matter of time before the game is exhibited in Wembley.

Justin Kelly

Edenderry

Co Offaly