FORMER Republic of Ireland star Niall Quinn has been tipped to be the face of Sky Sports' GAA coverage this summer.
Quinn – who has been a regular pundit on Sky Sports since his retirement in 2003 - has been considered as a favourite to front the GAA broadcast.
Sky’s search for a person with a profile to take on the pundit role has yet to be finalised, with the official announcement expected to take place in the coming weeks.
Quinn famously represented Dublin minors in hurling before he made the transition to professional soccer.
The Republic of Ireland centre forward enjoyed a lengthy professional soccer career in England, representing Arsenal and Manchester City, and a further spell as player, manager and chairman of Sunderland.
After his retirement from soccer, Quinn also played football for Co Kildare club Eadestown and won a junior county title in 2008.
Several Irish stars have been named by bookmakers to become the face of Sky’s GAA football coverage, including: Paddy Power’s favourite to land the pundit job, Kevin Moran; recently retired Kerryman, Paul Galvin; Kingdom’s Tomás Ó Sé and Colm Parkinson of Newstalk.
Last month Sky Sports won the rights to broadcast 14 games in the forthcoming Championship season, including two All-Ireland football quarter-finals involving the Leinster and Ulster champions.
Controversy surrounded the deal after it was revealed that none of the Championship games covered by Sky Sports, including the All-Ireland semi-finals and finals, will be available to British viewers on the internet.
This decision was announced despite a joint venture between the GAA and RTE, who are launching a paid-for worldwide streaming service that will broadcast games live.
Coverage of the Championship will begin on June 7 with the match between Kilkenny and Offaly.
