"Since Jim McGuinness took over (in Donegal), it's gone extremely defensive. Donegal took it to extremes and now it has spread across all of Ireland."

All-Ireland winning manager Jim McGuinness and Kilkenny's seven-time All Star have been signed up by Sky Sports for the coming season.

The double swoop will be seen as a massive coup for the broadcaster's coverage of gaelic games.

McGuinness was appointed by Glasgow Celtic as a performance consultant in late 2012, fresh from lifting Sam Maguire with Donegal, and he juggled this role with his brief as Donegal manager for the next two seasons before retiring from his role with the county's footballers.

The 42-year-old will now be juggling his role with Celtic with a career as a pundit and will be working alongside former Ulster championship rival Peter Canavan.

“I’ve had the great honour of being involved in inter-county football both as a player and a manager over a long number of years and I’m looking forward to sharing some of my experiences and insights with the Sky Sports viewers,” said McGuinness.

“I really enjoy the way Sky Sports approach their coverage and analysis of matches and I am delighted to be joining the team for the 2015 Championship.”

JJ Delaney retired after lifting Liam McCarthy last year and is regarded as the greatest defender of his generation.

The 33-year-old, a nine-time All-Ireland winner and seven-time All Star, hung up his boots after a glittering career which began back in 2001.

JJ Delaney added: “The Hurling Championship has been a huge part of my life for the last 15 years, and having retired from the Kilkenny team I’m really looking forward to being involved in a different capacity as part of the Sky Sports team.

“I hope to offer a fresh perspective on the players and the games as they unfold in what promises to be a very competitive Championship.”

Presenters Rachel Wyse and Brian Carney will again front the coverage, with commentary from Dave McIntyre, Mike Finnerty, Nicky English and Paul Earley.

Sky Sports opening fixture is the Leinster SFC quarter-final on June 6th, with Kildare to face Laois or Carlow.

A fortnight later, Sky will show the Leinster SHC semi-final involving either Dublin or Galway and Carlow/Antrim/Laois/Westmeath or Offaly, and the Connacht Football semi-final with Sligo facing either Roscommon or London.

Sky are also set to broadcast an Ulster SFC semi-final, eight Qualifiers and two of the All-Ireland Football quarter-finals.

All of the Senior Football and Hurling semi-finals and finals will be live on both RTÉ and Sky.

Last week, Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin signed up as a pundit with RTE for this year's Championship coverage on the Sunday Game and will also feature on RTE Radio 1's Sunday Sport.

Online Editors