DES CAHILL HAS stepped down as host of The Sunday Game after 15 seasons hosting RTÉ flagship Sunday night GAA programme.
Cahill is to focus on roles as a presenter of Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, while continuing to deliver sports bulletins on Morning Ireland.
The new presenter of The Sunday Game will be announced in 2023, while Joanne Cantwell will continue to anchor The Sunday Game Live.
Cahill cited a desire to cover live sporting events as the reason for the change.
TV PRESENTER REQUIRED…🤩 pic.twitter.com/obfFFclqp6
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) October 17, 2022
“The reason I want a change is very straightforward- I want to go to live games again!
“It’s been a privilege to host The Sunday Game for the past 15 seasons, but I miss the sense of fun and anticipation as you make your way to a match, the feeling of tension and excitement, the roar of the crowd.
“I can’t wait to experience that again when I’m fronting Saturday and Sunday Sport live from some of the most iconic venues in the country”.
“I’m hugely grateful and in debt to the fantastic team on The Sunday Game, who work so hard to bring the programme to air every week throughout the Championship. I’ve no doubt that their passion and commitment to deliver for the audience will continue in the seasons ahead with a new presenter in the hotseat.”
New presenter from the inner circle no doubt.
@Jeff Nolan: Surprised you’re interested at all in things GAA when you’re flying the colours of a foreign football team from a foreign country. “Inner circle”….. Give us a break!!!! Can’t understand people getting off on conspiracy theories!!
@Jerriko17: it is possible to follow a number of different sports!!!!
@Vinnie Cooney: Jeeeez.. That never occurred to me!!! Maybe RTE should appoint someone from MOTD to keep ye happy!!!
@Jerriko17: more than one sport out there. Expand your horizons.
@Jeff Nolan: never heard of him
@Jeff Nolan: Duh… I know there’s lots of sports!!!! I also know that most RTEs sports reporters, presenters and journalists served their time in other radio/tv stations, newspapers etc, , national and local. Its a grand number, granted, and probably why it generates all the begrudgery!!!…. same applies to most TV and radio stations but “Inner circle” conspiracy theories is a load of tosh!!!! Imo!! & no, I or anyone I know doesn’t work there!!!
Sad day for the parish. I’m going to miss his insightful commentary.
@Keith Duffy: what now
@Garreth mc mahon: ??
Yeah fair play.. time for a change
Rte gave this news to me as a breaking news notification on my phone. I thought he had died when it came up. But anyway…….it will be sad to see leave.
@Claire King: turn off notifications so
Hope he doesn’t forget to bring his hair dye
Joanne is good. She got a bit of grief when she started which was unfair but she has really grown into the role.
@Sean: agh come on ,no need for that sacrism here.
She tries her best.
Be good if it was Damien Lawler.
Anyone but JC
@Peter Roche: he played well for Portumna the weekend though?!
Don’t want to be loading the place up with too many Kerry lads, but Dara O Cinneide would be my choice. Proven host on TG4 and actually knows what he’s on about
@Summer Bay Devil: agree with you., he’s very good but wouldnt want to see him leave tg4
Sunday nights loss,Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s gain. Great reporter on a lot of sports
Wonder what female presenter is gonna take over for him….
Give it to Dalo. Be craic then for sure
@Sean Nihill: I think Dalos analysis is brilliant so I don’t think the presenting chair would suit him as you wouldn’t get much in the way of analysis as he’ll only be asking questions of other pundits. Anyway he has a busy pub to run :)
@Joe Markham: like wen they had spillane presenting the show in the 90s. Good pundit, not a good presenter.
Sean O Rourke is being lined up
Anna Geary or Ursula Jacob for sure