Just saw this topic on the Kilkenny site, and wondered what you guys think of the present crop of hurling pundits for RTE. I have been really impressed by Daly, DJ should give it up, Donal O'Grady is very honest, Duignan made a big mistake last week but is sound enough, tends to reel in the years a bit too often though! Mulcahy and Cyril "As Such" Farrell are poor also. However I think they are all less smug than there football counterparts e.g Joe Brolly and Kevin "I love Dublin" Mcstay.........
Any thoughts?
RTE Hurling Pundits
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Biffo Army
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RTE Hurling Pundits
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I think Duignan is very good, especially as a co-commentator. He knows what he is talking about, and is never hyper-critical in the way that Brolly and O'Rourke especially can be. He still seems to understand that despite all the coverage, this is still an amateur game.
He is also well able to read the games, and apart from his easy manner, he is interesting to listen to.
Daly is in the same mould, and also easy to listen to. I find Donal O'Grady a bit of a know all, but I suppose he wouldn't be from Cork otherwise
Cyril and Mulchahy are lightweight, and DJ is not suited at all.
He is also well able to read the games, and apart from his easy manner, he is interesting to listen to.
Daly is in the same mould, and also easy to listen to. I find Donal O'Grady a bit of a know all, but I suppose he wouldn't be from Cork otherwise
Cyril and Mulchahy are lightweight, and DJ is not suited at all.
Shane Gavin. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.
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I think the hurling pundits are better in that they clearly love the sport and are trying to analyse them in a balanced.
The football ones are a little more self absorbed and too often try to be witty and clever with their put downs. O'Rourke and Brolly are a bit too interested in cultivating a persona, much like Pat Spillane previously.
Most sports pundits have a shelf life, and after a while run out of original observations. Cyril Farrell and more light weight analysts like Mulcahy and Finerty might be reaching that stage.
Another example of this is John "take every game on its merits" Giles btw.
Liam Griffin, did a good stint, but admitted himself that a couple of years of punditry was enough as you start to get stale.
The football ones are a little more self absorbed and too often try to be witty and clever with their put downs. O'Rourke and Brolly are a bit too interested in cultivating a persona, much like Pat Spillane previously.
Most sports pundits have a shelf life, and after a while run out of original observations. Cyril Farrell and more light weight analysts like Mulcahy and Finerty might be reaching that stage.
Another example of this is John "take every game on its merits" Giles btw.
Liam Griffin, did a good stint, but admitted himself that a couple of years of punditry was enough as you start to get stale.
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I'd be quite happy with most of them. As has been pointed out here, Anthony Daly has really stepped up this season and I thoroughly enjoy his comments. Due to being a more recent vintage he certainly seems to "get" the modern game a bit better than Cyril or Pete Finnerty whose time has past.
DJ is pure wooden - if you want a Kilkenny man in there get in Andy Comerford - no idea what he's like as an analyst, but he's a very bright and engaging individual and I'd be amazed if he didn't come across well.
Duignan is very knowledgeable - I'd certainly say that the likes of Tomás Mulcahy wouldn't have been able to pick out players in advance of the Nicky Rackard or Christy Ring the way Duignan knew full well that Shane Sweeney for example was one to keep an eye on. (Though I was surprised everyone left Declan Coulter unmentioned, he was the only player on either team who would easily survive at Liam McCarthy level) He reads the game very well as well, though his anecdotes about his own hurling days mightn't go down as well with some other counties.
Donal O'Grady is okay, but I do sometimes think he should try to explain the tactical nuances of a game a bit better - sometimes he'll tell you that a player has dropped deep or whatever, but he makes no attempt to explain the thinking behind it which Duignan is great at.
Tomás Mulcahy sparks off very well with Cyril and there's no point looking or a Cork man if you're not going to allow for a little bit of arrogance, but even so you get the feeling that he's losing touch year by year.
DJ is pure wooden - if you want a Kilkenny man in there get in Andy Comerford - no idea what he's like as an analyst, but he's a very bright and engaging individual and I'd be amazed if he didn't come across well.
Duignan is very knowledgeable - I'd certainly say that the likes of Tomás Mulcahy wouldn't have been able to pick out players in advance of the Nicky Rackard or Christy Ring the way Duignan knew full well that Shane Sweeney for example was one to keep an eye on. (Though I was surprised everyone left Declan Coulter unmentioned, he was the only player on either team who would easily survive at Liam McCarthy level) He reads the game very well as well, though his anecdotes about his own hurling days mightn't go down as well with some other counties.
Donal O'Grady is okay, but I do sometimes think he should try to explain the tactical nuances of a game a bit better - sometimes he'll tell you that a player has dropped deep or whatever, but he makes no attempt to explain the thinking behind it which Duignan is great at.
Tomás Mulcahy sparks off very well with Cyril and there's no point looking or a Cork man if you're not going to allow for a little bit of arrogance, but even so you get the feeling that he's losing touch year by year.