There were plenty of recognisable faces at Croke Park yesterday, with Sky Sports duo Chris Kamara and Jeff Stelling in the press box to commentate on the game as part of an AIB video series entitled Jeff & Kammy's Road To Croker.
Kamara and Stelling have made a number of trips to Ireland over the last couple of months to immerse themselves in the sport ahead of their challenge to call the All-Ireland football final, and along their way, they received some advice from the doyen of GAA broadcasting.
Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh offered the English duo commentary tips during an under-15 game in Dingle, after which both Kamara and Stelling were blown away by their mentor.
Stelling is famously assiduous in his preparation for Soccer Saturday, yet even he was in awe of Ó Muircheartaigh's depth of knowledge. "Michael's knowledge is beyond compare", enthused Stelling. "It's hard to think of a commentator in any sport who knows as much about their sport. And, by the way, to have that recall at his age is incredible. At my age, I can't remember what happened yesterday!".
Kamara was equally impressed, recounting a line to illustrate just how unique the Kerryman's knowledge truly is.
He sounds like poetry when he's talking, he has an amazing voice. But it's his knowledge that impresses me. Not just of the players, but of the players' families. It shows that this is more than just two teams battling, but about their families and communities.
It was an absolute eye-opener. We met him in Dingle at an under-16s match. To a person in the Dingle team, he knew their uncles, grandads, he knew their occupation. He even mentioned that one of the player's grandfathers was the first ever taxi driver in Dingle. He could name him too.
That comes from an absolute love of doing your job, and it made me sit down and have a think about my preparation for work. And not only has Micheál have that amazing knowledge in his head, he sends it out in a poetic voice.
I would have loved to listen to him in his heyday.
Stelling also recalled the line from Dingle independent of Kamara, and also hailed the extent of Ó Muircheartaigh's knowledge and preparation. Both have lessons to take back to Soccer Saturday, although Stelling does stress he won't subject Paul Merson to pronouncing O'Muircheartaigh's name on air.
That would be cruel, Merse struggles with names of one syllable!
AIB, creators of the hit show The Toughest Trade and long-time GAA, camogie, and club championship sponsors, will document Jeff and Kammy’s unique journey exclusively on their social channels
