After each MNS programme we have a debrief session, where we analyse items in the programme that worked well, or occasionally not so well. Given the discussion about Dave Rogers' sacking by Dundalk this week, having a debrief after the programme seemed particularly appropriate!
It was interesting to see the divergence of opinion in studio about how the club had reacted to Dave's misdemeanour. Eoin Hand was 100% behind Dundalk's decision, but Damian Richardson and Tony McDonnell were both of the opinion that the punishment didn't fit the crime. We'd welcome your thoughts to mns@rte.ie
Tony slaughtered me in the pub after the show, for not laughing at his joke about UCD going through had they been drawn against the UCD Leinster League side in the FAI Ford Cup. The reality was that I hadn't heard him, but when he went on to say 'that's a joke', it only served to highlight the lack of response to his quip.
I'm sure if the organisers of the Cat Laughs Festival in Kilkenny were watching they'll be climbing over themselves to book Tony for a top of the bill slot. Watch out Tommy Tiernan, Colin Murphy, and Ardal O'Hanlon. Tony's coming to get you!!
My problem was, if memory serves me correctly, I was getting instruction from the director and editor in the gallery, into my earpiece which was in my 'good' left ear, whilst Tony was talking to me into my 'not so good' right ear.
Hence the glazed look on my face when I should have at least been smiling at Mr McDonnell's banter. Sorry Tone. Incidentally, myself and Derek Mooney are well known in RTÉ television for both having awful hearing, and when the earpiece is in my dodgy right ear, it can be turned right up to 10 out of 10 on the volume control, which has sound men on the studio floor wincing, but it works for me. (Most presenters would normally listen at about 4 or 5 out of 10).
So if you ever see me looking blankly at a guest trying to work out what they've just said to me, you now know why. By the way, just in case any of the RTÉ top brass are reading this, it's not a very common occurrence, so I'm still available for work!!
The draw for the third round of the FAI Ford Cup only threw up two all Premier Division ties. Shamrock Rovers will relish a first home cup tie at Tallaght against Drogheda United, and the Cork City v Sligo Rovers match will draw a huge crowd to Turner's Cross. It's nice that there are some all non-league ties which guarantees more fairytales for some clubs into the last 16.
As I mentioned on the programme last Monday, I've always had a very soft spot for the FAI Cup. I suppose most Shamrock Rovers fans do likewise, although recent years have been quite barren for the Hoops in a tournament they once seemed to win as of right.
Strangely, one of the games that sticks out in my mind was a semi-final at Dalymount when Shamrock Rovers played Waterford in 1979. The big blonde bombshell Syd Wallace was playing for the Blues, and Mick Madigan was sporting a perm - a la Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness, Terry McDermott at the time, and I was crestfallen when Waterford won.
I've very rarely shed tears after football matches, but that was one such occassion. I'm not sure entirely why, but I vividly remember sitting in the stand in Dalymount after that game feeling awful, possibly because I disliked Syd Wallace so much. (I'm sure he's a very nice guy, but at that time he was Drogba-like in inducing negative reactions from opposing fans).
Another memory that also stays with me was having to interview Johnny Glynn after he had scored the winner against the Hoops in the final for Galway United in 1991.
Even though I could have killed him for what he had just done, I couldn't help being impressed by his decency, and he was a very good interviewee to boot. Now he's back on the scene as manager of Mervue United and I wish him well once again.
I was also working at the 2002 final when Derry City broke Shamrock Rovers hearts with a brilliant Liam Coyle winner.
Strange that the most vivid memories I have are of those days when my team went out of the Cup. Any budding psychologists out there might have something to say about that.
But the FAI Cup has given me many memories and I've attended so many finals down through the years. Niall Shelley’s winner for Drogheda against Bohemians in the 1976 final, and the Home Farm team with the Bay City Rollers haircuts that surprised everybody a year previously, are some memories from the decade that fashion forgot.
In the 1980s, there was Limerick's fantastic Cup triumph over Bohemians, under the management of Eoin Hand, and who will ever forget Harry McLaughlin's great goal for Sligo that gave them their first victory in the famous competition. Here's hoping the class of 2009 give us a great tournament to savour.
Finally for now, while Tony McDonnell is swanning around Rome at the UEFA Champions League final, myself Eoin and Damien will be doing our homework ahead of next Friday's international friendly between Ireland and Nigeria in London.
We'll have the match live on RTÉ Radio 1, Longwave 252 and on the DAB service Radio One Extra, which is also available at www.rte.ie/sport from 7.00pm.
