Dark clouds surrounding Sky

Almost like clockwork, Paul Rouse has tweeted each Monday with the latest Sky Sports live GAA viewing figures in Ireland.

While others have been blissfully ignorant, Rouse, a UCD lecturer in Irish history and the history of sport, has kept a watchful brief on how the British broadcasters' coverage has been faring both here and in the UK.

The numbers make for sober reading. He posted late last night but the figures for this country are readily available. Saturday’s Tipperary-Offaly game drew an average viewership of 27,815 in Ireland, just 2.2% of the audience share.