Watch Bohemians v St Patrick's Athletic live on RTÉ Two and worldwide on RTÉ.ie from 7.30pm on Friday. Live updates on Friday Sportnight on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch Premier Division highlights on MNS on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (WW) from 8-9pm every Monday.
'We don't have the Cobh-Harps feature!'
Not the words a presenter about to present the first programme of a new series wants to hear in his earpiece as the programme is on air. Particularly when the Cobh-Harps feature is the first item in the programme!
If I seemed slightly distracted at the start of the first MNS programme, well, there's your explanation. Instead, I was to go to the Galway versus Bohemians match edit.
Then, as I was just about to start into my introduction to the Galway match: 'We have Cobh, we have Cobh, go to Cobh-Harps feature,' in my ear.
It's great fun presenting live television programmes, but if you ever want to know why youngsters like myself and Tony O'Donoghue have grey hair, look no further.
Overall, the response to programme one has been hugely encouraging. We know there were things that need improving, particularly small points of detail, but the reaction to our features and match coverage has been most heartening.
If ever I needed persuading why bookies are rich, and punters are poor, last weekend's results in the Premier Division will have proved the point.
Even as a Shamrock Rovers fan, and even though the Hoops beat Drogheda twice at United Park last season, I couldn't have envisaged a Rovers win away to the defending champions on Saturday evening.
I think I gave Dave Barry and Roddy Collins a fright in our studio behind the goal where Alan Murphy scored, with the banshee-like cheer I gave when the ball hit the net. Two minutes gone, one goal up at Drogheda.
Carlsberg don't do starts to seasons, but if they did.....
Excellent atmosphere in Drogheda
We were pleased to get such an exciting game for our first live match of the season on RTÉ Two, and the fans made a huge contribution to what was an excellent atmosphere at United Park. Lots of flags, colours and vocals, all of which go to add to the televisual spectacle in a big way.
I still believe Drogheda will be a major force to reckon with in the league this season. Maybe day one was a good day to be playing them before they hit their stride, which I'm sure they will.
Another result I found hard to believe was Bray's scoreless draw at Turner's Cross. A Cork home win would have been my banker bet of the weekend (if I'd had a bet). This, despite the fact that Bray secured three draws against Cork last term in the league.
Eddie Gormley and Paul Osam will be thrilled with that start. Alan Mathews, like Paul Doolin, knows his team is capable of much better, and I'm sure we'll see that soon.
I was disappointed to hear about the jersey business at Inchicore. The league could do without this kind of thing re-occuring.
I know it's happened in other major leagues, and even at Champions League level, but leaving supporters sitting or standing in the cold for an extra half an hour is not good enough.
That this should happen on day one of the season, when the feel-good factor should be high, gives some neutrals, or fair-weather fans, pause to think again about attending games.
Thriller at the UCD Bowl
UCD's first league match at the UCD Bowl turned out to be a thriller, and when the rugby pitch is eventually turned into a soccer pitch by the groundstaff there, I'm sure it is a venue I'll enjoy going to throughout the season.
Peter Hutton once again did the business for the Candystripes, and it's nice to see Stephen Kenny back involved in the game here. He's a shrewd operator, and it's good to see him with a smile on his face again.
Performance of the weekend probably goes to former Shels man Darren McKenna, who grabbed a hat-trick in Longford's 5-1 win over Sporting Fingal. Already Longford look like they mean business in terms of returning to the Premier, although with just one team to be promoted, that race could be very interesting as the season progresses.
So week one of 36 is done and dusted and already attention turns to week two.
Our live game on Friday night is Bohemians versus St Pat's at Dalymount. Should be good. And don't forget you can also keep in touch with all the games on Friday night by tuning into Friday Sportsnight on RTÉ Radio 1 medium wave and Longwave 252, as well as here on the RTÉ website.
