SHANE LONG will be getting his first taste of the other side of the camera when he makes his Premier Sports punditry debut this weekend.
The former Republic of Ireland, Southampton, and Reading star will be part of Premier Sports’ coverage of the Premier League.
The Irish broadcaster will be televising Liverpool‘s clash against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
And on Twitter, it announced: “Welcome, Shane Long
“The former Saint and Republic of Ireland national team striker will make his Premier Sports punditry debut this Saturday for the game between Liverpool and Southampton
“Watch our live coverage of the match from 2.30pm tomorrow on Premier Sports 1”
Long, 38, quietly retired from football at the end of the 2022/23 season after returning to Reading.
Back based in Ireland, he popped up at the Hurling for Cancer charity match last August.
He didn’t look out of place either as he competed with and against the likes of dual star Con O’Callaghan and established hurling aces Peter Duggan, Brian Carroll, Paddy Deegan, Richie Reid and Tom Morrissey.
Long famously played for Tipperary at minor level before ditching his hurl to focus entirely on making it as a soccer player across the Irish Sea.
But he’s now returned to his first love as evidenced by his cameo for Gortnahoe Glengoole in the 2024 Junior B Championship affair with traditional powerhouses Thurles Sarsfields.
He helped the former to close out a memorable 1-18 to 1-14 upset by firing over a late insurance point.
Their victory at the spiritual home of hurling in Semple Stadiums sent them to to the semi-finals of the Premier Credit Union Mid Tipperary Hurling Championship.
The charity fundraiser was broadcast on TG4 with Long speaking to their reporter afterwards.
The 88-times capped ex-Ireland striker hammered home how hurling was always his preferred sport with soccer only taking over due to the financial rewards it promised.
He said: “It was great to be involved.
“It is 20 years since I played a game of hurling so it was tough.
“But hurling was always my first love so I am delighted to be a part of today. It is a great cause.
“I thought it was going to be all ex-jockeys and ex-football players.
“Then I showed up and there was a shower of All-Stars making me look stupid.
“I played hurling until I was 17 and had to make a decision then soccer took over.”
