THERE'S another Irish sporting product which could fill the summer schedules of Sky Sports – except this one wouldn't need any explanation about the rules. Sadly, were the League of Ireland ever to go that way, it's unlikely that 'Liveline' would work itself into a shrug, never mind a frenzy.

And yet, it seems strange that Sky Sports hasn't cast an eye to this country to fill their summer schedules with something other than, as some of those lost in the hysteria of this week put it, "fishing and cricket".

Gaelic games will give them a unique foothold into Ireland but, while there may be some chance that hurling could go global, it's more likely that the games will be viewed as a curiosity in much the same way as Australian Rules is outside Australia. It's possible to admire the game and those who play it without the desire to form your own team or rush out and buy the jersey.

The Premier League has been a battering ram for Sky Sports to get into the living rooms of their customers but, without the rights to either the World Cup or European Championships, competitive summer football hasn't been part of the schedule.

WITHDRAWAL

In the summers without a major championship, those people outside Ireland without access to live football suffer withdrawal symptoms and would, in all likelihood, watch just about anything. And the standard in the league is certainly better than "anything".

On Friday night, Dundalk put together a couple of goals which deserved a greater audience than that which tuned into RTE or among the 1,300 in Richmond Park.

Sean Gannon's strike to finish off a move which included three dozen passes or Daryl Horgan's technically brilliant effort would have made any Sky highlights reel and while featuring among the inanity of 'Soccer AM' as a guest isn't necessarily a good thing, a moment on the 'Showboat' would at least open their talents up to a wider audience.

RTE do a decent job with their coverage but their contractual commitments to rugby and the GAA regularly push League of Ireland games into slots that are neither conducive to decent viewing figures on television nor at the match itself.

So far this season they have shown five games, starting with a Sunday kick-off at 5.25, then the following Sunday at 3.15; the same kick-off time was used the following Saturday before the final two games which kicked off at 7.05 on a Friday.

It's the nature of non-dedicated sports channels that kick-off times have to be adapted but – in terms of affecting crowds at the games – it creates a chicken-and-egg situation of whether the crowd is small because the game is on television, or whether the unusual kick-off time due to television means the crowd is small.

RTE are contracted this season to broadcast a minimum of 15 live fixtures but the fact that they have rattled through a third of their contractual obligation already with 28 games still remaining in the season suggests that terrestrial viewers will miss out on the live action. Setanta Sports have booked to show seven live games on Friday nights in July and August but, like RTE, their coverage varies without a consistent foothold throughout the season.

One Thursday night game, on Sky Sports or elsewhere, every week kicking off at 7.45 would rarely be competing with any other decent sporting action, while those who would be going to a game on Friday anyway may well tune in.

TV exposure on Irish television doesn't seem to have brought in crowds but, with so many players who used to play in the league dotted throughout the English divisions who could promote it, there's a chance it could easily gain a niche summer audience on Sky. One day, who knows, even Joe Duffy might be interested in talking about it.

Indo Sport