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Best / Worst TV/Radio Commentators?

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Replying To Breezy:  "It's RTE how many of the men are there on ability rather than tokenism ?

Most of the panels are there because they were good players not good pundits. Of all of them Joanne Cantwell is one of the few who can say she did the hard yards and worked her way up"
I like Joanne Cantwell. She does a good job of keeping the panel on topic and she does not allow any one panellist to take over and dominate the conversation. Michael Lyster sometimes allowed Spillane or Brolly to ramble on for far too long and other times they would both talk at the same time and you could not hear what either was saying. Joanne does a better job of managing this kind of stuff.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 841 - 02/09/2020 16:23:06    2290230

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "I like Joanne Cantwell. She does a good job of keeping the panel on topic and she does not allow any one panellist to take over and dominate the conversation. Michael Lyster sometimes allowed Spillane or Brolly to ramble on for far too long and other times they would both talk at the same time and you could not hear what either was saying. Joanne does a better job of managing this kind of stuff."
Completely disagree about Cantwell. Acting the dour, serious school teacher and keeping order is OK if you're looking after 12/13 year olds in a classroom. People enjoyed the old flow of the Sunday Game and Brolly, Spillane and O'Rourke going off on a rant, it kept the programme interesting. Now it is equivalent to Charlie Brown's teacher in a room full of predictable, boring Stepford Wives who don't have an opinion outside the script. I think the football part of it is absolutely dreadful now. A lot of hot air and yakety yak, no opinion, annoy no one, nothing nonsense.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9294 - 02/09/2020 17:49:07    2290257

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "I like Joanne Cantwell. She does a good job of keeping the panel on topic and she does not allow any one panellist to take over and dominate the conversation. Michael Lyster sometimes allowed Spillane or Brolly to ramble on for far too long and other times they would both talk at the same time and you could not hear what either was saying. Joanne does a better job of managing this kind of stuff."
Ah yes, Joanne keeps all those young pups in line. Just in case something entertaining breaks out she's there to quash the mutiny. Each to their own i suppose.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2020 - 02/09/2020 18:02:14    2290260

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she is good at her own game but its not what we want to be listening to, Sunday game died with lyster.

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1357 - 02/09/2020 23:03:08    2290303

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Ger Canning gets on my nerves, stupid sayings e.g too much latitude. Darragh Moloney is very good.

Only did it on a few occasions but I like Tomas o se on co-comm, Brendan Cummins too.

On radio John Mullane is comedic value as much as anything else.

wexico15 (Wexford) - Posts: 2602 - 02/09/2020 23:14:51    2290305

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Willy Hegarty is the best, should have a national platform

slasher9 (Longford) - Posts: 31 - 03/09/2020 09:02:14    2290323

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Take Cantwell anyday over Des Cahill, he is the worst.

cavan.galway (Galway) - Posts: 105 - 03/09/2020 10:36:14    2290333

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Replying To lilypad:  "she is good at her own game but its not what we want to be listening to, Sunday game died with lyster."
By "we" who do you mean. Speak for yourself please.

Im glad RTE are bringing in younger talent who actually analyse games rather than use the show as a vehicle for their own barely connected opinions. All the RTE sports have improved in the last few years and as much as I miss the grumpy old men from the soccer analysis you actually get talk about the match now and not the Brazil team in 1970

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 03/09/2020 10:43:11    2290339

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Quite like Duignan and Kevin Cassidy when they're on, never liked Tommy Carr or Dessie Dolan. basically just repeat everything you just seen already

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 700 - 03/09/2020 12:35:01    2290363

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Michael Lyster wasn't very good if we're being honest.

He had no handle on the pundits and let them go away on tangents and rants that were completely off topic. Sometimes they were entertaining but most of the time it was the same auld boring stuff we'd heard a thousand times from the pundits.

Cantwell at least tries to make the pundits back up their pronouncements, something that a few of them don't like I'd say. Her presenting style is a little cold maybe but she's a huge improvement on Lyster who let the Sunday Game go to the dogs in terms of analysis imo.

As for Des Cahill...............a worse version of Lyster who was at least articulate and slick in his presenting. Cahill seems like it's the first time he's ever been on the radio or TV everytime I see/hear him.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13145 - 03/09/2020 13:34:11    2290384

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Michael Lyster wasn't very good if we're being honest.

He had no handle on the pundits and let them go away on tangents and rants that were completely off topic. Sometimes they were entertaining but most of the time it was the same auld boring stuff we'd heard a thousand times from the pundits.

Cantwell at least tries to make the pundits back up their pronouncements, something that a few of them don't like I'd say. Her presenting style is a little cold maybe but she's a huge improvement on Lyster who let the Sunday Game go to the dogs in terms of analysis imo.

As for Des Cahill...............a worse version of Lyster who was at least articulate and slick in his presenting. Cahill seems like it's the first time he's ever been on the radio or TV everytime I see/hear him."
Lord no, sure that was the only good thing about it, when they went off on one.

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1357 - 03/09/2020 13:58:51    2290394

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Replying To Maroonatic:  "our lads are fairly subdued compared to these guys
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Class : )

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 796 - 03/09/2020 14:18:28    2290402

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Couldn't care less tbh. A vote for MOH for the nostalgia and the sense of occasion - it wasn't an AI final without him. I like OTT bias like those Mexican soccer commentators in that link earlier; the only thing I can't stand is bias in some RTÉ commentators - the boyos that "hope" that team x will score; or who get all moralistic about a foul by one team but completely ignore far worse from their pet team etc

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 796 - 03/09/2020 14:23:04    2290404

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Michael Lyster wasn't very good if we're being honest.

He had no handle on the pundits and let them go away on tangents and rants that were completely off topic. Sometimes they were entertaining but most of the time it was the same auld boring stuff we'd heard a thousand times from the pundits.

Cantwell at least tries to make the pundits back up their pronouncements, something that a few of them don't like I'd say. Her presenting style is a little cold maybe but she's a huge improvement on Lyster who let the Sunday Game go to the dogs in terms of analysis imo.

As for Des Cahill...............a worse version of Lyster who was at least articulate and slick in his presenting. Cahill seems like it's the first time he's ever been on the radio or TV everytime I see/hear him."
The popularity of the Sunday game pre and post Lyster departing would give a completly different view. The Sunday game is in a bit of trouble like RTE as a whole. A good presenter is like a good referee, someone there to oversee things but tries not to make too much of an impact. Lyster knew he had genuine experts on his shows; his job was to prompt discussion, let them talk and certainly wasn't to shout over them and stop them getting into any kind of conversation.

Fans of sports shows want to hear from legends of their games whatever sport that is; with the best will in the world a career TV presenter isn't the star or certainly shouldn't be the star of the show. Lyster like the great presenters knew that; and it's the reason his Sunday game era was the RTE's most successful show for 20 years. I'm talking about any sports show here on any platform; if a presenter tries to become the star of the show and micro manages every small bit of conversation; not allowing conversation then you'll find those shows slowly loss popularity and critical reviews start.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 04/09/2020 08:56:57    2290497

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All,

There are different roles here which are commentators, presenters and analysts and you need to remember the different between them.

Over and above all that the one thing that is required is entertainment value. If we don't find it entertaining whether its 100% right or 100% wrong , we wont be tuning in.

Take for instance the club coverage lately on RTE compared to TG4. I think its the most dour thing I've seen when we are all itching to watch a match and i nearly don't care who is playing. These more life in the local morg and full of cliche. Its all too staged

Give it back to TG4

ponger (Cavan) - Posts: 449 - 04/09/2020 10:54:13    2290518

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Marty is the worst, doesn't know much about players or teams outside the big counties or Clare in football. Daragh Maloney is great. Brian Carty is annoying. Dave McIintyre is good. The BBC commentators and analysts are good as they know their stuff. some of local commentators are really good too as long as they dont try too hard to imitate Micheal O" Muirahuirteagh or Micheal O' Hehir. I loved Mick Duune and Ger Canning and of course Michael O' (cant spell his name) Muirahuirteagh is the best ever radio commentator.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5356 - 04/09/2020 10:59:28    2290520

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When Moloney and Dolan are commentating on a Dublin game it's time to hit the mute switch, the absolute fawning they do over them is sickening. All first name commentating too, no surnames, only for the opposition.

Ger Canning is way past his sell by date. I would have thought if he is RTE staff he'd be gone by now because he's over the retirement age.

Morrissey will soon take over RTE completely and be in every single tv and radio show they have.

I saw Evanne ni Cuillin presenting one of the saturday game club match thingies recently, the Kerry championship i believe and she was a breath of fresh air. Let Spillane have his say, questioned him politely but firmly and he was actually interesting. Compared to the absolute mess the Sunday Game schoolroom is now with teacher Joanne Cantwell giving her two cents every 30 seconds it was refreshing. And food for thought for the very noticeable head of sport there if the Sunday Game loses viewers when things are normal again.

republicofcloone (Leitrim) - Posts: 120 - 04/09/2020 12:18:24    2290533

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European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is seeking two names that of a man and a woman (for balance) for nomination as Ireland's European commissioner, the ratio currently stands at 14 : 12, I'm all for balance so perhaps Dee Forbes might consider future appointments based on Ursula von der Leyen's theory of balance.

Virgin Media 1 - The "Tonight Show" is alternating their presenters since Ciara Doherty came on board, last night it was Ciara, it's Matt Coopers turn next week and so on, instead of feminising radio and tv totally, why not go down Ursula von der Leyen's way and create some balance, balance creates competitiveness, quality, entertainment, continuity etc.
Darragh Maloney was always the person to replace Michael Lyster, sadly it didn't happen, however they can still go half way by bringing in Maloney as co-presenter with, dare I say it, Joanne Cantwell.

If Maraid Mc Guinness get's the European job, I'll say Ursula von der Leyen's method of equalizing the ratio, works.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2161 - 04/09/2020 17:18:33    2290584

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Replying To supersub15:  "European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is seeking two names that of a man and a woman (for balance) for nomination as Ireland's European commissioner, the ratio currently stands at 14 : 12, I'm all for balance so perhaps Dee Forbes might consider future appointments based on Ursula von der Leyen's theory of balance.

Virgin Media 1 - The "Tonight Show" is alternating their presenters since Ciara Doherty came on board, last night it was Ciara, it's Matt Coopers turn next week and so on, instead of feminising radio and tv totally, why not go down Ursula von der Leyen's way and create some balance, balance creates competitiveness, quality, entertainment, continuity etc.
Darragh Maloney was always the person to replace Michael Lyster, sadly it didn't happen, however they can still go half way by bringing in Maloney as co-presenter with, dare I say it, Joanne Cantwell.

If Maraid Mc Guinness get's the European job, I'll say Ursula von der Leyen's method of equalizing the ratio, works."
I disagree on Moloney, I think it should have been Darragh O'Cinnede.

republicofcloone (Leitrim) - Posts: 120 - 04/09/2020 19:49:48    2290601

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Replying To republicofcloone:  "I disagree on Moloney, I think it should have been Darragh O'Cinnede."
Can I add a little to that, Darragh O'Cinnede would be a big favourite of mine, in fact I'd go as far as saying, in my opinion, Darragh O'Cinnede may very well be one of the modern greats of our time.

My thinking on it was Darragh Maloney ticked all the "As bearla" boxes where as Darragh O'Cinnede ticked all the "As gaeilge" boxes, should it have gone to a national vote, perhaps, Maloney would probably have won it because he may have had a small bit more national exposure .Either way they are both class acts.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2161 - 04/09/2020 21:40:58    2290609

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