Kildare woman named in star-studded team of pundits for TV3's Euro 2016 coverage

It's not very often that Kevin Kilbane enters a room and he sits down beside someone who has more international caps for Ireland, but that is exactly the scenario that the former Sunderland star will face this summer.

TV3 have announced their punditry line up for the Euro 2016 coverage, and Kilbane will be joined on the sofa by Kildare native Emma Byrne. It will be the Leixlip woman's first punditry gig, and having amassed 125 caps in a stellar international career, she is sure to bring plenty of knowledge to the debates that are sure to take place.

She forms part of a very appetising looking collection of well known pundits, players and managers, with the inclusion of Joey Barton being the main story from the announcement. The former Manchester City player has recently signed for Rangers and is a highly controversial figure in the game, though his punditry work on television has been excellent to date.

He will be joined by another man with Rangers links, Graeme Souness, while Neil Lennon, Lawrie Sanchez, Harry Redknapp and Gerry Armstrong form the rest of the punditry team.

Pat Kiely, TV3's Group Managing Director, was particularly pleased to get Byrne involved as the Arsenal goalkeeper is the first woman to appear as a pundit on TV3's soccer coverage.

“This is an exciting time for TV3. We are thrilled to be bringing a festival of football to TV3 screens this summer and even more thrilled at the strong line-up of panellists that we have secured.

“I’m particularly happy to welcome Republic of Ireland women’s team captain Emma Byrne, the first female footballer to join the ranks. Emma’s credentials speak for themselves and we look forward to her input throughout the tournament,” said Kiely.