It can be nerve-wracking enough starting a new job, but when you have half the country watching you, this is a whole different ball game as Jacqui Hurley knows all too well.
In 2023, it was revealed that she would be the new presenter of the popular show.
Admitting that it had been a 'childhood dream,' a former presenter of The Sunday Game gave her some advice before her first show.
With the All-Ireland final on our doorstep, the RTÉ Guide sat down with both presenters, who have a long history of hosting one of the biggest shows in the country.
The Sunday Game has been broadcast since 1979, analysing matches that took place each weekend, and as the season rolls out, the passion and pressure intensify.
Asked whether she had any hesitation in taking on the position, Jacqui said, 'Not really, because by the time it came around, I'd been doing so many other shows; rugby, soccer, Olympics. I was ready for it. Years ago, I spoke publicly about not getting it, and probably would have been more nervous if I had, because I didn't have the experience.'
Des Cahill, who presented the show for over 13 years, gave the presenter some advice before taking on what many may call the 'Holy Grail' of sports shows for GAA supporters.
''Des told me, 'Your life is going to change because everyone has an opinion on The Sunday Game.' It's watched everywhere in Ireland and people come up to me talking about it all the time.'
Looking back, she said 'So while I wasn't nervous, I do understand the commitment and what it takes and what it means to people.'
In the past, the presenter has revealed that people haven't held back when giving their opinion on her knowledge and delivery of the sport.
Joining Angela Scanlon on her show 'Ask Me Anything,' she spoke about her time, 14 years to be exact, hosting Sunday Sport on Radio One 'At the start, it was probably an adjustment for people when I started doing Sunday Sport because not only was I the first ever woman to do the show, but I was the youngest.'
'I was in a bar a few years ago and this guy had come to me, and this was probably about 10 years ago, and he had said 'I think you're terrible, you're an absolute pain in the h**e, you know nothing about sport, you're sh***"!'
Refusing to let this get to her, the sports presenter went on to get her dream position on The Sunday Game and sharing the duties with Joanne Cantwell, both are playing a blinder.
