Yes – TG4 Is Reviving One Of The Greatest Irish Shows To Ever Grace Television

Darragh Berry

We’re beyond excited that this is making long awaited comeback.

If you’re sport mad, you’ll have been wondering since it left our screens, why TG4’s ‘Underdogs’ was ever taken off television.

What a beautiful concept.

Find a panel of genuinely great GAA footballers who have been ignored/undiscovered by their country and put them through their paces all for the prospect of playing the current All-Ireland winners in a challenge game at the end.

It was the mid-noughties so more often than not, that All-Ireland winning team was Kerry.

If it wasn’t for this very special programme, there’s a good chance that Kerry’s great midfielder turned Full Forward, Kieran Donaghy would have slipped through the cracks and have been left unnoticed in the extremely talented pool of players that the Kingdom has to offer…

In a statement on their website, TG4 said that its “legendary GAA series ‘Underdogs’ is back. The search is on again to a find a squad of ambitious men with enough drive, skill and passion to take on one of the country’s greatest gaelic football teams.

“Ten years on from the last series of Underdogs, the search is on for a brand new team of footballing hopefuls. As before, players will be chosen by a panel of expert selectors – in previous series the Underdogs management included GAA legends such as Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Brian Mullins and Mickey Ned O’Sullivan. This year a fresh team of iconic selectors will step up to the sideline.

“Underdogs launched the careers of a number of All-Ireland champions, not least Kerry powerhouse Kieran Donaghy and Cork’s Pearse O’Neill. Could you be the next star to follow in their footsteps?

“This is a chance to be trained and managed by legends of the game. A chance for unknown players to go up against some of the country’s best gaelic footballers.

“TG4 and Adare Productions are now inviting applications for the new series of Underdogs. Nationwide trials will take place in May 2018.

“Who can apply?

“Male players who have never played gaelic football at a senior intercounty GAA championship level.

“All applicants must be 18 years of age on / by the 1st May 2018 to be eligible.”

We can’t wait for the programme to discover the next Donaghy.