This week I finally got to see the show that everyone is talking about. That MNS isn't bad, is it?
Every other week I've been too busy working on the programme right up to deadline and beyond to actually watch it in full. This week I'm sick but I'm not dead yet, although if you were to read Con Murphy's musings over the last couple of weeks you'd be mistaken for thinking I was 'The Late Tony O'Donoghue'!
Tony O'Donoghue's Inside Line Archive
So, a couple of the features arrived for transmission with seconds to spare, leaving the presenter and the director's gallery behind the scenes with a few more grey hairs to contend with. Hey, you've got to suffer for your art! And Con, it's good to keep you on your toes; if it wasn't live it wouldn't be half the fun.
The joys of summer soccer and bitterly cold conditions in Ballybofey, Drogheda's United Park, Inchicore, Tolka, Dalymount Park, Turner's Cross, The Carlisle Grounds and St Colman's Park in the first month of competition has done it for me, an early season casualty. Remind me to do next year's pre-season in a Polish fridge in temperatures well below zero.
Some people wondered whether travelling with the fans on the ferry, train and bus for the south coast derby between Cobh Ramblers and Cork City had an adverse effect on me.
But, as someone on one of the websites pointed out, the fact that I walked, swam and travelled by helicopter to the Holy Ground as well, and that this footage had to be abandoned in editing, just goes to show the lengths to which we are prepared to go to bring you behind the scenes at MNS.
What a week it was in soccer with Derry City overtaking St Patrick's Athletic at the summit of the eircom League Premier Division. The way the Foylesiders took all three points from Inchicore was the talking point of the evening on MNS.
No doubt Johnny McDonnell will be thinking back to the first Dublin derby of the season when Player-of-the-Month Keith Fahey scored a wonder goal and his side ended up with nine men as they beat Bohemians in their own backyard.
That was the night that first-choice goalkeeper Barry Ryan lost his head as only goalkeepers can, travelling thirty-odd yards to get involved in a row that was not of his making and none of his business. That was the night we focused on the team of referee Dave McKeon and his officials as they were faced with no choice but to brandish red all round.
Last week at the Carlisle Grounds as Pat's brushed aside Bray Wanderers, McDonnell revealed that they had prepared all week with substitute goalkeeper Brendan Clarke between the sticks and only learned late on that Barry Ryan's suspension hadn't yet come into effect.
Ryan was on the bench that night but it was Clarke in goal again at Inchicore and his bizarre attempt at a clearance went straight to Owen Morrisson, who showed remarkable vision to send the ball first time to the net from out on the touchline about 40 yards from goal.
Goalkeepers, unquestionably, can win you league titles, but the opposite is also true. Would the more experienced Ryan have booted the ball to row Z in similar circumstances and not handed an important initiative to Stephen Kenny's Derrymen? How important will that moment be as a fascinating season unfolds?
The fact that Derry went on to beat the Saints again in the Setanta Cup just three nights later will give them huge confidence and could well sow the seeds of doubt in a Pat's side that were beginning to look invincible.
The league has begun to sort itself out now and after quite a few shocks in the early games the weekend has seen a return to expectations.
Most of the results were narrow 1-0 home wins although Bohemians' win at Tolka Park against a resurgent Shamrock Rovers was probably the most notable scalp.
Pat Fenlon's men move ominously alongside Pat's in second place on 12 points, and with Glen Crowe in such scoring form alongside Jason Byrne expect the Gypsies to show Bray Wanderers no mercy next time out.
Derry will expect another three points at home to Sligo Rovers, while St Pat's have to make the long trip to the northwest again and a tricky assignment against Finn Harps.
Shamrock Rovers have to travel to Cobh for what should be another huge night for the home fans. They really enjoyed their first derby in the top flight for 13 years against Cork City and will be proud of the fact that they remain unbeaten at St Colman's Park.
Rovers are a club they have recently clashed with in the First Division and, despite the excellent performances of Pat Scully's men, the Hoops will hold no fears for Stephen Henderson's charges.
Champions Drogheda haven't been playing well; Paul Doolin would be the first to admit that, and a trip to Belfield where he learned his trade in management will be a worrying one for the Louthmen. However, it's early days and quality will always out so expect the Drogs to be back in the hunt as the league unfolds.
It's remarkable that it has taken Cork City so long to record their first win of the campaign and on a weekend when I watched everything on every channel – from rugby to racing, FA Cup to hurling and Olympic torch relays to Bertie's long goodbye – the most relief I felt from this blessed affliction came not from terrestrial or satellite television but from YouTube.
On Friday evening, within minutes of the final whistle, I could watch from the Shed End a phone-camera view of Dave Mooney's penalty winner. Dubious in the award yet clinical in the despatch, it may yet kick-start the Leesiders' stuttering season. A trip to managerless Galway should hold no fears for Alan Mathews' men.
I could get used to this couch potato stuff.
Tony O'Donoghue is Group Football Correspondent for RTÉ.
