No licence fee required but you still have to pay
INNOVATION
CONALL COLLIER
Innovation by Meath GAA Co Board PRO Ciaran Flynn and his team of off-the-pitch helpers has benefited hugely the supporters who, at present, are unable to attend games due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The onset of Meath GAA TV has its origins in a desire by the Co Board PRO to take Meath GAA firmly into the digital age.
There was Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and probably a few more platforms that this writer would not even be aware of.
At monthly Co Board meetings (remember them) the report from the PRO would lead off with an update on the growing number of followers across all the Meath GAA digital platforms.
The concept of Meath GAA TV was not taken too seriously by many of the club delegates who attended those monthly meetings, but Covid-19 has changed all that.
Now Meath GAA TV is forming part of a must-view platform for behind-closed-doors action that continues each week at Pairc Tailteann and other venues throughout the county.
It's not without its gremlins although the growing popularity of Meath GAA TV produced a little benefit for the sole print media (remember them) representative at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.
The teams for the first game game between Clann na nGael and Blackhall Gaels were provided about an hour in advance via Whats App (that's another digital platform for any of you who might not be aware what it is).
A cynical (for a moment) suggestion would be that the information would not have been available until just before throw-in were it not for the requirements of Meath GAA TV?
It was in stark contrast to the non-availability of team information the previous weekend at Pairc Tailteann when there was a triple header of football action.
Or maybe it's just that the hurling clubs are better organised than their footballing counterparts?
The old TV gantry on the terrace at Pairc Tailteann appears to have been upgraded in recent weeks to facilitate Meath GAA TV, but not upgraded sufficiently it would appear also.
On Saturday during the first water break (another Covid-19 necessity) there was the spectacle of Ciaran Flynn and his team 'sprinting' across the lush green swathe of the Pairc Tailteann pitch as the players from Clann na nGael and Blackhall Gaels took a 60-second water break that lasted about three minutes.
The delay in resuming the action had 'supporters' in the stand urging referee Killian Jones to get the game going.
Ciaran Flynn won the race from terrace to stand (no mean achievement) and last up the steps was the Nobber clubman Larry McEntee who was handicapped by a video camera and a substantial tripod.
Ciaran Flynn was quickly telling viewers via live Twitter what happend (I just happened to turn up the hearing aid).
He explained that the power failed in the Meath GAA TV 'media centre' and that forced relocation to the plush surroundings of the stand press box where there was loads of power amid all the other ‘stuff’ that can be found there.
The game also resumed and Meath GAA TV got back on air (if that's the correct terminology and it probably isn't but you know what it means).
When the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann gets under way sometime in 2021 or later, it's guaranteed that there will be a premium level facility for Meath GAA TV and the rest of the 'media' will probably benefit as well.
In the meantime, watch out for strange-looking individuals walking quickly (sprinting) across the pitch at Pairc Tailteann during a water break.
If you see them resist shouting at the referee to get the game going again.