Former GAA president Nickey Brennan talks to us about the Sky deal, the 'Anthony Nash Rule', the race for the Liam MacCarthy and his plans to give more time to his club among other things.

Not since 2005 when Rule 42, as it was then known, was amended to allow for soccer and rugby to be played at Croke Park while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped, has a decision generated as much debate and controversy as that which will see Sky Sports broadcast Gaelic games for the first time this summer.

While many in the GAA are outraged at the deal between the Association and the pay-per-view broadcaster, Nickey Brennan sees it as a welcome development.

"It's a step in the right direction," says the man who held the GAA's highest post between 2006 and '09.

"During my time as president, Setanta became involved and that was the first time the GAA dipped its toes in the water regarding a pay-per-view service. Sky had expressed interest the last couple of times that the television rights came up for negotiation, so this had been coming for some time.

"I know people are concerned that this will lead to something else (i.e. professionalism), but I'm convinced that won't happen. While it may take time for Sky to get to grips with covering our games, I'm looking forward to the innovation and style of presentation they will bring to the table. As we've seen from their coverage of other sports that is something they are very good at.

"I think it's important not to forget that the majority of games, including the big ones such as the Munster hurling final and the All-Ireland semi-final and finals, will still be available free-to-air. RTE has not lost anything with this deal. They'll still be showing the same number of games and they've actually got more out of it when GAAGO (the new on-demand streaming service for the Irish aboard provided by RTE and the GAA) is taken into account.

"Let's not forget either that Sky have big penetration in Ireland and employ 300 people in Dublin."

As a hurling man first and foremost, Nickey has particular interest in the so-called 'Anthony Nash Rule' which has also been a source of much debate. The Cork goalkeeper's ability to gain several yards in the lifting motion before he strikes a close-in free or penalty has led to concerns for the safety of players standing on the goal-line, and a motion to outlaw the technique appeared on the recent Congress agenda.

It was withdrawn at the last minute, but Brennan expects it to reappear in 2015.

"I can see it being changed. What will probably happen is that penalties in future will be taken from outside the '21' or the edge of the 'D'. Nobody is criticising it, it's a great skill, but it's an accident waiting to happen and litigation is what's at the heart of moves to change the rule. The likes of Anthony Nash are able to get tremendous power behind their shots and I would hate to see what happens if a player standing in the goals gets a belt in the throat or face . . ."

Last year's All-Ireland hurling championship is acknowledged as the greatest in living memory and, with at least six genuine contenders for the Liam MacCarthy Cup again this year, Nickey expects more of the same.

"The hurling championship has never been as open as it as the moment," claims the two-time All-Ireland winning half back with Kilkenny.

"Last year's championship was wonderfully entertaining and everybody is hoping this year's will be just as good. There is a very good chance that Clare will retain it - they have a lot of pace and youth - but Dublin are a dark horse and you can never dismiss Kilkenny, Tipperary or Cork. Galway are mentioned every year too and you wouldn't know how Limerick will react to the situation they had with their management a few weeks ago."

The recent Allianz League final between old rivals Kilkenny and Tipperary has really whetted Nickey's appetite for the summer ahead.

"It was a brilliant game between two teams who are going to be there or thereabouts in the championship. I thought Tipp were marginally better, but Kilkenny have this knack of being able to dig out wins. Tipp will be happy enough with the progress they've made, but not with losing to Kilkenny!

"Kilkenny blooded a lot of new players during the league, and will have taken positives from that, but they are still going to be backboned by the same players who have brought them so much success over the years. Clare, however, are still the team to beat in my opinion, and I'm just wondering did they ease up against Tipp in the league semi-final. Perhaps they didn't want to play Kilkenny so close to the championship.

"I think this could be a make-or-break year for Dublin. They were very close to winning the All-Ireland last year and Anthony Daly needs to find a couple of more quality players to give them that extra push."

He adds: "It's ironic to think that there are now more contenders in hurling than football. It used to be the other way around. The hurling championship grabbed all the attention last year, but I'm expecting a really good football championship this year. The black card rule has definitely made football a more entertaining game."

As much as the GAA is trying to promote hurling in weaker counties, Nickey believes the tiered system which was introduced by his predecessor Sean Kelly in the mid-1990s is here to stay.

"Hurling has four tiers and that's not going to change. The challenge for the teams in the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups is to get up to the next level. They are getting competitive games against teams of their own standard. But such is the gulf in class between the Liam MacCarthy and the Christy Ring that it's very difficult to see a new team breaking into the elite over the next number of years."

After a long career as a player, manager and administrator, Nickey is now intent on taking a backseat. He recently retired from his role as Group Purchasing Manager for Business Services with Glanbia, thus ending a 43-year involvement with the company.

He is chairman of his beloved Conahy Shamrocks and that's where his main focus now lies.

"I retired from Glanbia in the middle of March which means I will now be able to give more time to the club," he explains.

"We're an intermediate club that's struggling a bit at the moment, but we're still putting out three adult teams which is great to see because the GAA is all about participation at the end of the day.

"I had a good innings as a player, manager and administrator, but I'm happy to pass the baton on to somebody else and catch up on other things." Tweet

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