http://www.thescore.ie/listen-ger-gilroy-opens-newstalks-off-the-ball-following-sports-staff-resignations-818827-Mar2013/

It was the lads that wanted the show moved to 6, not Newstalk. It won't and can't be the same show without them. McDevitt the straightman to Murphy's and Early's antics. McDevitt is brilliant at 1-2-1 interviews with top sporting names from around the world. Murphy got a bit tiresome, his childish behaviour will be what I miss now. Murph's GAA knowledge and his slagging were good radio.Gilroy and McIntyre are too serious to be doing the show on weeknights.

As for "Why talk about football like a regular person when you can make comparisons to Shakesperian tragedies" Early! My brother, myself and one of my mates, all Liverpool supporters, reckoned from his mocking tones that Early's Man Utd bias made him very anti-Pool. I used to swear at the radio at times but in fairness he would read a few of my texts. I'll even miss Ken.

I can't agree with Whiterbananas although I see his point that the presenters should not dictate terms to News talk. In this case the chemistry and banter between Eoin, Murph and Ken meant that they were the show. Hope they're back on the airwaves with similar format, sometime soon.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8005 - 05/03/2013 10:23:47    1343000

6/4 for the lads to get the start from RTE!

http://www.thescore.ie/off-the-ball-newstalk-2-818676-Mar2013/

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8005 - 05/03/2013 10:29:49    1343008

In fairness, it was a bit much trying to dictate the terms to the station. Take an hour off the george hook show? I wonder what they would have said if hook wanted to start his show an hour later?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 05/03/2013 10:37:31    1343012

It was becoming a very tired predictable format - every show/program has a shelf life and they've reached their's. Enjoyed it over the years, to keep a three hour program going for that long is some achievement and very originbal. But "so long" as they say.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 05/03/2013 10:40:22    1343014

Master. They should take 2 1/2 hours of the Hook show !

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8005 - 05/03/2013 10:47:20    1343022

Please god they are back on a national platform and not a Dublin only station

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 05/03/2013 11:02:58    1343039

TheFlaker
County: Mayo

Bananas where as we don't know the ins and outs of what went on your comment on the Friday night slot is 100 per cent incorrect. The Friday evening post drive time is the least popular slot across the board. Post 7pm on a Friday, listenership drops for every station in the country. Friday and Saturday night are the least important night of the week for radio listenership.

Well i used to like listening to it live on a friday night

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 05/03/2013 11:06:20    1343046

They thought they were indispensable. Newstalk have shown them in one fell swoop that they are not. Thought the show was brilliant last night incidently. Gilroy is a terrific presenter, the rugby discussion was as good a debate as you'd hear anywhere

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 05/03/2013 11:13:04    1343057

I drive all over Ireland to keep Mrs MuckrossHead in the manner to which she has become accustomed & Off The Ball kept me company on manys a long run home & the boys will be a big miss.

Having said that I thought last night's programme was really good.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/03/2013 11:30:49    1343080

Id love to have been there when hooky heard that they wanted to take an hour off his show.

johnsee (Meath) - Posts: 389 - 05/03/2013 11:55:56    1343114

I wouldnt be putting that stuff up on here Muckross, with some of the sharks that are in these waters. Pat Mustard was never in it...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 05/03/2013 12:01:19    1343117

Got too big for their boots

You can't make scheduling demands and expect to be placed there without question

That's not how it works

The right hook is making money from a commercial point of view and they'd be mad to move it from its already proven successful/profitable slot

They are talented enough to line up a new station and there's a few out there that would love to have a show of this calibre to call their own

It's also a big story and would really help to publicise the station... especially if they were targeting a male 15-44 audience.

All the best to them... good show.

Beelzedub (Dublin) - Posts: 480 - 05/03/2013 12:12:57    1343130

Winterbananas, Newstalk may have shown them who was boss right now but listerners are loyal to radio presenters not to a radio station. They had 50,000 listeners every night, more than any other radio show on at the same time. Ger Gilroy & team are actually quite good alright but if the Eoin MacDevitt and crew show up on a rival station at 6pm, most of the 50,000 will follow them.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1145 - 05/03/2013 13:19:14    1343210

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 6065

1343117
I wouldnt be putting that stuff up on here Muckross, with some of the sharks that are in these waters. Pat Mustard was never in it..

Ah Master, Mrs MuckrossHead is not a woman to be trifled with & I have the scars to prove it!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/03/2013 13:38:21    1343224

The more I am hearing on this the more I am starting to think that these guys wanted out. No way could they have expected the station to actually do as they asked. Hook has the primetime slot on the station, it is like asking for the late late to finish early for no good reason other than they want it to happen. No way was it going to happen. It will be interesting to see what they do next.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 05/03/2013 13:52:38    1343239

Cant go to another station for 12 weeks.

xxx (Mayo) - Posts: 1275 - 05/03/2013 17:35:37    1343471

Is the show staying, is Gilroy taking it on again? He was the original presenter with McDevitt as his co-pilot!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8756 - 05/03/2013 17:35:40    1343472

For me Gilroy is the best sports presenter around. Was completely shocked on monday when I heard love the show, will miss McDevitt and Murp. Best wishes.

bugsie (Leitrim) - Posts: 199 - 07/03/2013 18:06:46    1344927

I have listened to the programme all week on my travels & I have to say that it was really good. I didn't miss the departees as much as I thought I would. They may well have overstated their case might be feeling just a little foolish at the moment.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/03/2013 08:56:50    1345125

Initially I was surprised and disappointed but after listening to Ger Gilroy this last week I;m not sure if I am going to miss them much. There is no doubt the shos was good - especially Murph and McDevitt. The biggest fault the show had in my opinion was that there was way too much coverage of British soccer. I hope Gilroy addresses this.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 09/03/2013 10:00:11    1345758