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GAA Journalism

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Replying To The_analyser:  "Another view is new some life has been brought into Sunday game after that Brolly routine was finally binned. What Brolly was doing on the Sunday Game was basically a tiresome RTÉ created gimmick, they had the same with Dunphy for the soccer and Hook for the rugby.

Saying all that it was still in Joe's hands to keep it going a while longer but his ego couldn't stop him stepping over the line."
Brolly undoubtedly contributed to his own demise but in between his weekly self love in there was some stuff he said that was spot on. The Sunday Game now is totally dreadful, Joanne Cantwell wants to control everything and is obviously working off an editorial script where anyone who diverts off it is quickly brought into line again. The football side of the Sunday Game is a boring Dublin love in while the hurling bit remains it's usual uncritical "Shhhhuuuurrrrrrrre what's wrong wid' de fella losing his ear, 'tis a man's game".

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9840 - 15/06/2020 00:26:16    2280855

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "The Sunday Game died a death when Michael Lyster and Brolly left, it really is awful now; scripted, robotic, statistical nonsense. Ciaran Whelan may as well put a Dublin top on and wave a blue flag when he appears. Dara O'Cinneide is good and Canavan can be but he can also be a bit jittery and nervous at times. I can't understand why O'Cinneide didn't get the Sunday Game job. He's knowledgeable, confident and can put his Kerry loyalty to the side when he has to."
Whatever about the Sunday Game in its current state, I'd have to disagree that getting rid of Brolly has made it worse. He offered very little insight into anything and just kept throwing out the same generalisations most week. His attempts at 'stirring the pot' had become very boring. His pretence that he was an advocate of pure football was also nonsense, given that he'd lauded a more defensive style for years before that.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2860 - 15/06/2020 08:54:04    2280864

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To me a lot of "GAA journalists" who work for the mainstream Irish media spend more time slagging and criticizing the organization. A recent example is the alleged racism. I mean when it comes to racism the Irish media is all white and very middle class. The British empire was responsible for the Atlantic slave trade, not Irish Gaels. But listening to our media, you would swear that it was invented by Irish Republicans.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2761 - 15/06/2020 09:56:27    2280871

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Brolly undoubtedly contributed to his own demise but in between his weekly self love in there was some stuff he said that was spot on. The Sunday Game now is totally dreadful, Joanne Cantwell wants to control everything and is obviously working off an editorial script where anyone who diverts off it is quickly brought into line again. The football side of the Sunday Game is a boring Dublin love in while the hurling bit remains it's usual uncritical "Shhhhuuuurrrrrrrre what's wrong wid' de fella losing his ear, 'tis a man's game"."
TSG is a poor enough show that could be improved but getting rid of Brolly was a no brainer. He had become a parody of himself by the end, throwing out sweeping disingenuous comments to try to get a reaction, and infuriatingly talking over the other analysts all the time. I know he had his followers but many viewers including myself had become absolutely sick of him, I had actually turned over to Sky on match days where possible.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2117 - 15/06/2020 11:40:49    2280886

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Replying To galwayford:  "To me a lot of "GAA journalists" who work for the mainstream Irish media spend more time slagging and criticizing the organization. A recent example is the alleged racism. I mean when it comes to racism the Irish media is all white and very middle class. The British empire was responsible for the Atlantic slave trade, not Irish Gaels. But listening to our media, you would swear that it was invented by Irish Republicans."
Agree completely, some of the print media give anti Gaa coverage rather than Gaa Coverage. The Independent would be top of that list.
There are some excellent scribes at a local level with the likes of the Kerrys eye one i always enjoy.

hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 871 - 20/06/2020 21:58:44    2281409

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Does anyone think this Jim McGuiness thing is becoming a bit of Witch hunt? I've barely heard about the actual red card or what happened from any journalist

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 321 - 26/05/2026 10:01:21    2675623

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Replying To Kew:  "Does anyone think this Jim McGuiness thing is becoming a bit of Witch hunt? I've barely heard about the actual red card or what happened from any journalist"
Yes it's everything wrong with modern journalism.

It's been blown out of total proportion and no doubt will continue to generate headlines for the weeks ahead.

Faith in journalism is at an all time low because people see through the agendas, twists of truths and clickbait nature of narrative and storytelling.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 466 - 27/05/2026 22:39:59    2676186

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Replying To Kew:  "Does anyone think this Jim McGuiness thing is becoming a bit of Witch hunt? I've barely heard about the actual red card or what happened from any journalist"
Yes I agree 100%. Its uncomfortable to listen to what some of those journalists ask managers after games and thats why managers tell them nothing. Ask the question are gaa fans here for the game or for for the odd controversial mishap?? If it controversy then fine but find another source and leave our game to us and let the ref and ccc etc deal with the controversy. Any manager seeing his player split open would want to be void of emotion and loyalty not to react in some way. It was totally out of order the way McGuinness was quizzed after the Kerry game. There wasnt the same witch hunt when Cody cut the socks off Marty after an AI final. Its a sad reflection of our society go after the bad news because it sells column inches..

Dothesimplethingswell (Sligo) - Posts: 70 - 28/05/2026 22:47:28    2676378

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Replying To Dothesimplethingswell:  "Yes I agree 100%. Its uncomfortable to listen to what some of those journalists ask managers after games and thats why managers tell them nothing. Ask the question are gaa fans here for the game or for for the odd controversial mishap?? If it controversy then fine but find another source and leave our game to us and let the ref and ccc etc deal with the controversy. Any manager seeing his player split open would want to be void of emotion and loyalty not to react in some way. It was totally out of order the way McGuinness was quizzed after the Kerry game. There wasnt the same witch hunt when Cody cut the socks off Marty after an AI final. Its a sad reflection of our society go after the bad news because it sells column inches.."
i'm glad i'm not the only one with a low opinion of our media and sporting media in particular.
They think they are the story. They are not.

SixtiesKid (Galway) - Posts: 396 - 29/05/2026 12:46:49    2676425

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Replying To SixtiesKid:  "i'm glad i'm not the only one with a low opinion of our media and sporting media in particular.
They think they are the story. They are not."
The media business model and how it generates revenue has changed massively in the last 10 years or so. Its all about headlines and clicks/ likes now. Thats how they make their money whether we like it or not.
The Jim McGuinness incident and subsequent interview was the story of the weekend whether people like it or not. Jim ensured that with his interview whether intentionally or not. It was guarenteed views/clicks and thus revenue.
He could have smiled and said it is what it is. I regret it, lets see what happens and moved on. He didnt. What happened next is a result of that poor decision.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 536 - 29/05/2026 13:50:43    2676441

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The journalists seem invested in ger Brennan more so than selling stories.

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 321 - 04/06/2026 14:03:51    2677887

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Replying To Kew:  "The journalists seem invested in ger Brennan more so than selling stories."
They are like a court these days. They get together and decide one way or the other.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 536 - 04/06/2026 16:10:58    2677926

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There are many great podcasts around and I find myself listening to them on the road…some bad ones but by and large I find the majority of them very good and informative. We have three separate pods on the go here in Mayo, one of which "ah ref" is one of the most listened to in the country and is great for local club coverage.

Some of the traditional media outlets though I find are slipping. Just look at Darragh O Ses latest piece…apparently Mayo aren't All Ireland contenders because they nearly let a big lead slip v an inferior team (I don't believe Monaghan are inferior).

Mayo never were all Ireland contenders and by that metric Armagh are nowhere near an all Ireland either since they let a big lead slip v Monaghan.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12118 - 04/06/2026 17:29:19    2677957

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Media perspective of different counties.

Why is it that a good amount of counties when don't live to expectation they get a scapegoat sort of them and the public believe it straight away as an excuse for them to always be held at a higher standard.

Tipperary, Clare, Kilkenny and Cork to an extent have had it.

They'd give the lines along of "They died with their boots on." Or something like it's only a blip and they'll bounce back 10 times better the next day and have a big say in the Championship.

Compare that to the commentry Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Galway get which is 9/10 just patronising.

"Ah I'd love to see X do well." "They got the potential."

As soon as they lose however it's the same tired response of that it's expected no-matter the form, especially if it's to any of the teams above.

Always glass half-full with Tipperary, Clare, Kilkenny and Cork and glass half-empty with Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Galway.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 86 - 04/06/2026 19:41:26    2677977

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