EOIN MCDEVITT AND the rest of the Second Captains crew - Ken Early, Mark Horgan, Ciaran Murphy and Simon Hick – are busier than they’ve ever been.
There’s the podcast, the newspaper columns, a website, the radio show that ran throughout the GAA championships and now a new series of the TV show, Second Captains live.
It’s a formidable media empire the five are building themselves but they’re not complaining.
“We’re busy, very busy and I know it’s a cliché but it’s good to be so busy,” McDevitt told TheScore.ie during the week.
“With the new season, we’re very much going to build on the first two series. It’ll be a broadly similar format with some big-name guests and a panel of sportspeople on to discuss any topical issues.
“We’ve also rummaged around a bit in the RTÉ archives over the past two seasons and we’ll be exploring that a bit more this time around too.”
While McDevitt is understandably coy about who the big names for the new series are, he is willing to chat about how they ensure that viewers get the most out of the show.
“I think people expect a really high-calibre of guest at this stage. But it’s not just about getting big names, it’s just as important to get people who buy into the set-up and who are willing to engage in the process.”
McDevitt admits that it can feel like you’re always on the go with so many facets of Second Captains but the 34-year old says it’s impossible to pick a favourite format.
“They’re absolutely different challenges. I’ve always felt quite comfortable in radio because that’s what I’ve grown up with but TV, especially with the live crowds, presents a totally different challenge.
“On TV, you also have to be a little less patient with guests than you can be on radio or on the podcast, they have to answer a little quicker.
“I think, as someone who loves listening to what people have to say, the podcast affords that bit more scope to explore people’s answers but it’s hard to pick what part of the job is the most enjoyable when you like it all.”
McDevitt does not agree that media training has resulted in players with nothing to say but accepts that the one-on-one interviews TV, radio and podcasts can offer provide an environment that is more conducive to them saying interesting things.
“I think players do have interesting things to say but where I think there is an issue is that a lot of conversations that Irish sportspeople have is at sponsored events or press conferences and that’s not an intimate setting.
“We recorded an interview with Jackie Tyrell today, and he was explaining how the criticism of the players got to the Kilkenny team and we were able to go into that in some detail but that’s probably because the championship is over and we were in that one-on-one kind of setting.”
McDevitt says that there is a particular style of broadcasting and interviewing that he admires and Michael Parkinson and Bill O’Herlihy are two good examples of it.
“There’s a few people I enjoy watching. I got to interview Michael Parkinson and that was amazing. Before I knew I was going to be a broadcaster or interviewer, I just knew he was a guy who mastered it and he was a guy who, to this day, just has grasp of how to deal with people.
“I’ve always felt he was looking for something a little more from guests than the answers they gave everyone else.
“Bill O’Herlihy is another one. He’s probably the broadcaster I’ve seen the most on TV in the sense of him being around since Italia 90. He’s very similar to Parkinson in the way he doesn’t insert himself into the conversation.
“I don’t think that’s the only way to be an interviewer though. It’s more a style of how you deal with people on and off air rather than one presenter’s individual way of doing things.”
It should come as no surprise that Parkinson is one of McDevitt’s favourite interviewees but who would would his dream Second Captains guest be?
“I’ve always thought Maradona would be a great one but you’d need a translator and your wits about you for that one.
“I’m not too interested in interviewing a big name for the sake of it. David Beckham is a big name but would David Beckham be an interesting guest? He seems like a nice person and a good talker but would he knock your socks off? I’m not sure.
“As an interviewer you like to be as surprised as your audience with a guest and I think Maradona would bring that but I’m not sure how good his English is so I don’t think it’ll happen.”
As for the old gig, McDevitt insists he has no regrets but admits he doesn’t listen to Off the Ball much any more.
“I’ve no regrets at all. We love what we’re doing, the podcast has been superb and we’re having a good time doing the radio, TV, everything.
“I don’t get to listen too often but I think it’s something you have to be in the habit of listening to and when I left, you know yourself how it is, I wasn’t really too keen on listening in.
“But I know the lads are good at what they do and I know they’re doing well.”
And, as the media empire builds, what’s next for Second Captains?
“We’re so busy with the TV run, I’m not sure there’ll be anything new. The TV show really keeps you on the tip of your toes so that’ll be the focus for foreseeable future.”
The new series of Second Captains Live starts Wednesday on RTÉ 2 at 9.30pm.
Rte coverage today ….
The panel reckon the attendance has dropped at gaa matches cause Dublin are to dominant ….
No maybe the numbers of supporters going to see the gaa has dropped due to the fact that the real fans who go to all games cant get a ticket for the all Ireland finals n find it extremely hard to get tickets for seni finals due to the GAA being so money hungry when it comes to the biggest games in there calendar year they are more concerned of sponsor forgetting free tickets to give to staff that probably dont even support the GAA at all
@Ian O’Rourke: i don’t think there are 40k sponsors looking for tickets. No one has interest. Sunshine supporters or diehards.
@Ian O’Rourke: it’s because Dublin are too dominant. I used to go to all the games but haven’t been to a Leinster match in a good few years now. Club champo is far more entertaining these days, and the quality you see in the Dublin champo isn’t far below intercounty either. Breaking up the club season for the intercounty champo is annoying, but that’s at the feet of Dublin GAA. And in all my time going to club games I don’t think I’ve had to sit through a half as boring as I’ve just watched either.
@Ian O’Rourke: Ah that’s a load of crap you can get tickets. For the semi finals on tickets.ie no problem most people I know that go to the matches have season tickets.
Not unless your a FG TD/Senator demanding a ticket for the final,Yet they probably did not bother their ass going to the league matches in February.
@Winston Smith: why was cork & kerry have empty its not because Dublin are great.its because tickets are to expensive for what your watching
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: sponsors dont only get 1 ticket each ….
@Winston Smith: no it’s not its cause Gaa are money hungry and dont care bout genuine supports who stand on the hill in February on a freezing cold Saturday night
@Ian O’Rourke: genuine supporters are out supporting their club in September and October, and those genuine supporters have no problem getting tickets for all Irelands through their clubs. You think you deserve a ticket to an all Ireland just cos you traipse to Croker for a league match? No mate, the people who deserve the tickets for the big games are the people who train the kids for the small games. With that sense of entitlement you should look for a FG seat in the Seanad.
@Winston Smith: what n absolute fool the the point of my comment went out the window with you but sure after all with a name like Winston what would ye expect
@Ian O’Rourke: you’re a fair weather fool with a sense of entitlement. Go back to the soccer where your type belong. Real GAA fans aren’t people who think they’re great for going to a few league matches, real GAA fans are people who get up every Saturday to train kids and involve themselves in the GAA. You know why you can’t get tickets for the big games? Because you’re not wanted in the GAA, your kind exist purely to be shaken down for a few bob every now and again, and like the rest of them you’re too stupid to even realise that’s all you are. See you at the final in August mate. Oh no, I wont, you’ll be on your bar stool for it! Hahaha
Brutal match
Awful pity Kevin McStay is’nt still managing a county team! It would spare us all the pain of listening to his co-commentary on The Sunday Game!
@Joe L: Hear hear
Can’t wait to stick it to the Dubs. About time they were knocked off their perch.
@This Guy:
That might be one of those comments that looks really silly come full time.
@This Guy:
@This Guy: you will regret that comment
@This Guy: it’s football not farming
@This Guy: either pure sarcasm or pure optimism.
@This Guy: why is it about time they were knocked off their perch? They work their butts off to be where they are. Maybe your county team needs to work a bit harder.
Dublin didn’t always win. Please remember that ye green eyed monster.
Up the DUBS
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Dublin didn’t always have the lions share of investment from gaa hq either. But they are a serious team that work their arses off. Like every county team.
@This Guy: Dublin gets everything
@This Guy: winning all Ireland after all Ireland is great, but something more simple and enjoyable in hammering meath. Does anyone like meath?
@Milk The Drones: looks stupid now
Meath need 33 mins to score
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Excuse me, I’m actually from Dublin. I was referring to the team.
@Richard O’Brien: they earned and deserved everything Can you imagine GAA (or Ireland for that matter) with no
Dublin
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: keep up the good work and be a proud Dubliner
@Ian O’Rourke: That sounds like a threat. Reported.
@This Guy: sounds a bit sopranoesqe
@This Guy: in all fairness he means that you will regret it when you see the final score
@Milk The Drones: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha the match was crap but ha ha ha ha ha
@This Guy: ha ha ha ha cabbage
@This Guy: how did that turn out for you
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: and they bring in the most income for the GAA.
Get off the high horse already!!!!!!! Sore losers
@This Guy: you’re a dreadful Dub so.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: and the head honchos realised that and threw more dollars behind them in the hope that they’d get an all Ireland or two and in turn make the gaa a little richer. And now that has backfired to a degree.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: you haven’t a clue pal. Just stop already
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: The GAA have created a monster and now they can’t control it. I’d say they are regretting putting €16 million into Dublin over the last 10 years !!
Rte calling the 1st half interesting, are they having a laugh, that was absolutely dirt
Hopefully it’s not one sided
@Steve O’Reilly: it’s always one sided, one side of boggers, and DUBLIN
@Zerolife TwentyThree: yeah the pale vs people who wanted their independence..
@Zerolife TwentyThree: someone has to feed ye gluttonous shower of sh 1tes.
@Ave it: they don’t call them union jackeens for nothing
@Ave it: bullseye!!!!
Love the rte biased commentary
@Con O’Hannrachàin: rte don’t touch the ball
@Anthony Doyle: have you listened to the commentary it’s woeful.
This is a like a basketball game
I’m watching it and it’s absolutely dire…
What an awful game
@Irish Freedom Now.: pitch is like a bloody ice rink
Great game of sideways ball
Is there nothing to be said for saying another mass!
Meath playing well in the defense! The forward line has been shocking. Big improvement needed.
Same issue here in limerick for next week’s Munster Final. Terrace tickets sold in shops before they checked on demand from clubs. Club my partner is a member of got 66 tickets with over 100 looking for them and she’s been at all the games other than one since December sitting at games with 1000 attending. Luck in the draw for the tickets tonight her only way of getting one.
@Chris Enright (Garden Fresh Veg): just get a season ticket.
I’d have rather watched Love Island..
How the hell did Meath get to a Leinster final
South meath will still feel like they are in with a chance
@Andrew Tuite: if they run into north Dublin
What a terrible game, Meath 4 points over 70+ minutes, Cavan lost by scoring 2-16 and donegal being touted as serious all Ireland contenders
Dreadful game.
Poor performance by both sides but more so from Meath. Tepid, looked like they were preparing themselves for qualifiers. Seemed like they were kicking it wide on purpose. Either really bad game management or a con (next game will tell)
Meath will be picked off by a decent team
Legends
Attendances are down because you can’t get tickets to the semi final or the final. Simple as that.
As a fan who has not to attend a game in years because of the trouble around getting tickets to come semi-final & final time.
I watched on Sunday my next door neighbours heading off in brand new Dublin kits to attend the game with 4 adults and a 7-year-old who was her first game ever and not once have I ever hear them speak about support Dublin all years.
All the local clubs who support and are Training young boys and girls to be the future players for the team struggle to get enough tickets for club members and players.
But yet Once or twice a year fans stroll into a newsagent or get given tickets for game is a very big problem with how tickets are shared out.
I would agree with Ian O’Rourke I have seen and gotten emails of tickets been offered in the workplace to people who jump on the bandwagon come final time.
As a fan who has not to attend a game in years because of the trouble around getting tickets to come semi-final & final time.
I watched on Sunday my next door neighbours heading off in brand new Dublin kits to attend the game with 4 adults and a 7-year-old who was her first game ever and not once have I ever hear them speak about support Dublin all years.
All the local clubs who support and are Training young boys and girls to be the future players for the team struggle to get enough tickets for club members and players.
But yet Once or twice a year fans stroll into a newsagent or get given tickets for game is a very big problem with how tickets are shared out.
I would agree with Ian O’Rourke I have seen and gotten emails of tickets been offered in the workplace to people who jump on the bandwagon come final time.