Des Cahill to leave The Sunday Game after 15 years as host

The RTÉ presenter says he wants to enjoy live games again. 

SIGNING OFF: Des Cahill will now take up the hot seat on both Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Des Cahill is to step down as The Sunday Game evening programme presenter after 15 years.

The Dubliner will take up the main presenting role on both Saturday and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. He had been co-presenting the Saturday show with Joanne Cantwell.

In a statement released this morning, Cahill said: “The reason I want a change is very straightforward - I want to go to live games again! It's been a privilege to host ‘The Sunday Game’ for the past 15 seasons, but I miss the sense of fun and anticipation as you make your way to a match, the feeling of tension and excitement, the roar of the crowd. I can't wait to experience that again when I'm fronting Saturday and Sunday Sport live from some of the most iconic venues in the country".

In an interview with the “Irish Independent” in June, Cahill admitted that he didn’t enjoy “The Sunday Game” as much as had done previously. “I see frustration all around me from the team working on it. Utter frustration. All of my colleagues are frustrated. Everybody’s trying hard to make it the best programme it can be. The amount of talented people involved, cutting these games – which isn’t an easy job – is huge.

“But regularly now, we’re showing up to 15 games. How do you get 15 games into 106 or 108 minutes? You can’t. I used enjoy making The Sunday Game a hell of a lot more. You could have the craic, a bit of a laugh.

“We miss laughter on the programme, a little spontaneity. I miss it. Because the programme just doesn’t have room to breathe in my opinion. But there has to be structure and the more matches you squeeze in, the more structured it has to be.” 

 The new presenter of The Sunday Game will be announced in 2023.