MNS programme two was much less fraught behind the scenes than the first programme from our point of view.
Thanks to much hard work by all the team, everything was edited and packaged in good time for this week's programme.
I thought Tony's feature on Dave McKeon's preparations and thoughts on his officiating of the Bohs v Pat's game was really interesting. As I said on the programme, I think it's hugely refreshing that the ref would allow us the sort of access Dave did, and it also gives the fans some sort of perspective on the things the officials have to cope with. Thanks Dave!
My only major slip on the night was when I cued a break, instead of the Bray v UCD highlights. Steve the editor was saying "Bray" in my earpiece as Sean Connor was speaking, but I thought he was saying "Break". If you could hear his deepest Brummie accent you'd understand the problems I faced. Anyway, we continued on with the Bray v UCD match, no harm done, and I was impressed by College. An excellent win away from home.
The archive slot could turn out to be a real gem, if we can keep coming up with stuff like the Finn Harps OG against Derry City. As own goals go, it was an all-time classic. Keep your suggestions coming in to mns@rte.ie for any archive stuff you'd like to see featured.
On Friday night, RTÉ Two viewers and the decent sized crowd at Dalymount Park were witness to a classic goal from St Pat's midfielder Keith Fahey. He's well known for his brilliant dead ball strikes over the last few seasons, but this one topped them all.
Match director Stephen Alkin said that he thought the shot may have been as far as 40 yards from goal. Dave Barry and Roddy Collins thought it was somewhere between 30 and 35 yards.
But, to be honest, the yardage count doesn't matter all that much. The quality of the goal would have graced a Champions League final, or even a World Cup final - and if some barstool fans were forced to perk up and admit that this was a moment of sheer quality, then Mr Fahey has done the league some service.
Johnny McDonnell said in a post-match interview with Tony O'Donoghue that he wasn't surprised by the quality of the strike, as Fahey does it all the time in training. If this is true, maybe St Pat's might consider charging in to see the training sessions! I know I'd pay to see that sort of thing on a regular basis.
The only sour note on the night for me came after the match. Maybe it was because our studio was on the side of the ground where the majority of the St Pat's fans were based, but I felt the Saints supporters outdrummed and outsang their Bohemians counterparts throughout the game.
It was fabulous to see so many youngsters decked out in the colours of the two teams as well, but unfortunately after the game, one of the so-called St Pat's supporters thought it would be a good idea to lob a bottle at the window of our studio.
It was only a plastic bottle, but it was full of liquid so still potentially damaging to the window, and as we saw in a La Liga match this weekend, when someone is struck by one of these bottles (in that case, the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Armando Riviero) it can cause an injury to the individual. (The Real Betis versus Athletic Bilbao match was abandoned after this incident).
Fortunately we had just come off air, so the viewers at home weren't witness to this moment of idiocy, but imagine the damage to the image of the game here if we had still been broadcasting when this happened.
Having gone to the considerable expense of building a studio at the grounds for our live match coverage in an effort to give the match, and our coverage, a professional look, we could do without this sort of thing.
I have always loved going to Inchicore to watch matches, and I hope the real Pat's supporters will make sure that the goon who threw the bottle won't repeat the trick.
Incidentally, a bottle was also thrown onto the pitch during the game from the side of the ground occupied by St Pat's fans. Fortunately it didn't strike anybody and was removed from the pitch swiftly.
In conclusion could I take this opportunity to thank everyone who's made the effort to contact us at mns@rte.ie and who've written to us to compliment the programme.
We've been really pleasantly surprised at the very positive reaction to the show, and will endeavour to make it even better as the season progresses.
Remember, if you have any comments good or bad, or any ideas that you think we should be following up, please don't hesitate to drop us a line - all correspondence will be gratefully received!
We'll be back with the next MNS next Monday on RTE Two and worldwide here on RTÉ.ie at 8pm. In the meantime, don't forget, Cork City v Derry City live from Turner's Cross on Friday night from 7.30pm on RTÉ Two and again worldwide on RTÉ.ie.
