Yeah it used to be a novelty. I like Hamann although I understand why he might not be everyones cup of tea but you just have Sadlier there who is an extremely hard listen and then the token gender balancing act. You need characters, opposing viewpoints, chemistry or even people who have wildly different views and challenge the consensus.
I didnt watch the Ireland Australia rugby match but by all accounts I didnt miss much. But there was a segment after the match that I just saw today with Joe Molloy, Trimble, Kearney and Williams. The tension was palpable as they took each other on. Williams was talking shite but sometimes you need a fella to talk shite to highlight the rights and wrongs of a situation or even cover a myraid of points. Kearney looked like he wanted to hit him a dig and Trimble looked nervous and fidgety. Molloy let them at it, even landing a couple himself. There seems to be a clamour to get rid of fellas like Williams, Souness as they are of an age or bygone era but to do so leads to banal boring segments like we just witnessed.
Before Ireland played Italy in â94 my oulâ fella had noted that a chipper in Bolton Street was flying a massive Italian flag.
âIn the very unlikely event we win, weâll go up in the car afterwards and shove one right up themâ, he said.
I watched that Ireland v Italy game in my bare feet in a cold sweat after miraculously recovering about 8pm from a bout of hayfever that afflicted me for the whole of that day, including Dublin v Kildare at Croke Park. If the time Garth Crooks interviewed Sven-Goran Eriksen was the first time live sex between two men was broadcast on the BBC, me running out on the street and cavorting barefoot on the ground with my neighbour from two doors up the street was the first time live sex between two boys had ever been seen in broad daylight on my street.
I think I got a pair of socks on by the time my oulâ fella reversed out of the driveway around 8 minutes after the final whistle. But not shoes. I got in and we drove up OâConnell Street and gave an involuntary lift to at least one person on the bonnet. Then we drove up to Bolton Street and shoved one right up the chipper with the Italian flag. He was standing on the pavement looking bemused and mildly amused.
I feel mildly ashamed we did that but I do not regret it one bit.
I used to do a great oulâ impression of David Hanly of Morning Ireland even if I say so meself.
The morning after Ireland beat Scotland 2-0 at Hampden Park in Brian Kerrâs first game as manager, Hanly asks Des Cahill in the lead in to the sports news: âSo, Des, is Clinton Morrison the new black?â