Brennan wants balanced TV GAA analysis

GAA President Nickey Brennan has helped launch RTE's coverage of the 2007 Championships.

However, less than a week after the Kilkenny man launched an attack on the failure of Waterford senior hurling manager Justin McCarthy to make himself available for a pre-NHL final press conference, Brennan hit out at RTE analysts for their lack of knowledge of the GAA's rule book.

In a hard-hitting speech to the large RTE contingent and other national media in attendance at today's launch at Croke Park, the president discussed balanced analysis of games and insisted that analysts should be mindful of this throughout the summer's match coverage, which will see RTE screen more than 50 live championship games on television.

"They operate at the highest level and no player goes out to play a bad game and sometimes it doesn't happen for them," Brennan said.

"I think it is important that it is taken in context that players can have an off day, that things can go pear-shaped for them. I think that it should be taken into account. They have to go to work the next day and go back to their families."

Brennan however does entertain the thought of good analysis. It is his view that the integrity of players should always be maintained.

"While critical analysis is fair and reasonable and I think you are entitled to do that and I think that the programme demands that you be reasonably critical of what is going on, I think that the person's integrity must always be kept in shape."

Brennan offered an olive branch to the RTE personnel in the form of presentations by GAA officials in relation to rules, refereeing and other issues.

"I'm happy and I have said this to (RTE Head of Sport) Glen (Killane), that various people at the GAA here at central level will make themselves available to 'The Sunday Game' team if indeed you need that in terms of updating on rules and regulations, updating on refereeing issues and updating on whatever it may be.

"We want to make sure that if you are analysing a game and if you are being critical of any aspect of it, which of course you are entitled to do - I have no issue with that at all - that at least you are working from a position of knowledge and facts.

"I'm happy that our people here, be it Jimmy Dunne on CCC, PJ McGrath on refereeing or indeed any other person, for that matter, that if you need assistance...if you want us to go and meet you and make presentations on whatever, we will do that.

"I expect that, at times, we deserve a kick too but it should happen though, when you have all of the facts. You must have the facts," Brennan added.

RTE will have two new analysts this year on the hurling front with DJ Carey and Anthony Daly set to air their views on the big action, while for the first time Evanne N Chuilinn and Joanne Cantwell will join the team of television and radio sideline reporters.