What a sporting weekend. Four great games of Gaelic football bridging the gap of sleepless nights in the World Cup.
The World Cup itself has been surprisingly good! Six goalless draws in the opening 72 matches is a decent return.
Especially if you consider, the edge of the seat, hanger on, as Cape Verde drew with Spain. A game all of Ireland had a vested interest in. It, so far has been a compelling tournament.
As such, 2026 has been the best Gaelic football championship in living memory. As the semi-final stages approach it is becoming very tasty, after four excellent quarter-final games.
The mouth waters as we now enter the mid-summer months as Wimbledon and the Tour de France take their usual central births.
With the European championships in swimming and athletics, along with the Commonwealth games still to come, the smell of great sporting BBQ’s warms the mouth.
During this weekend, it got me thinking how hurling was off the menu, in such an action packed weekend. In fact, the lack of hurling finalised the feast.
As Kerry councillors passed a self-centred motion to make all 2027 championship games available on free-to-air TV. For once my sympathy in Croke Park suits grew.
Thus, I reasoned, how about the GAA fix its two problem children by moving hurling coverage to GAA+???
In the background, you can see why there is now such a demand for all the Gaelic football games to be covered on free-to-air TV.
GAA+, while a success in some market and value has come in for heavy criticism. The notion that GAA fans around the world should have to pay another premium to watch their games has been met with ridiculous comments.
When in fact, the loss of Sky Sports as a GAA media partner is the true crime in the arena. Sky’s production and promotion of the game is gap GAA+ can’t close. Also, its live coverage in the UK market will never be replaced by a niche streaming service.
With The loss of Sky Sports to the GAA market, some media analysts believe the market value has dropped by at least €3 million.
So, when Croke Park suits say the numbers don’t add up to go 100% free-to-air. Only the true anti-GAA brigade would not believe them.
The best option for these fans is to move the 11 hurling games shown on RTE to GAA+.
Thus freeing up 11 slots for RTE to broadcast the premier football competition. Also meaning that the hurling brigade have the option to see all their games.
The sports loving audience will be much happier with the arrangement as the best GAA games remain central to the RTE audience.
With President Jarlath Burns atoning to a 20-year plan to fix hurling’s woes. Moving into the world of the unseen GAA+ streaming would be a huge benefit as the problems as repaired.
To fix a play or any, you need to move it off the big stage and try again some years later.
