Episode 244 - Las Damas - The Trilogy

[00:00:01] Welcome to The Other 3 Amigos, Las Damas, your weekly unofficial SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Podcast

[00:00:11] with Declan McCormick, Eileen Ring and John O'Sullivan. So sit back, put the feet up because it's toe tap time.

[00:00:20] Hello and welcome to Las Damas Season 4 Episode 29. Episode 244 now of the full toe tap offering.

[00:00:29] We are the award winning podcast. We are now on Patreon. You can find us at patreon.com forward slash toe tap.

[00:00:36] Again, retweet, please. It's very important to help the pod grow. Our DMs are always open.

[00:00:42] And this week she's returned. Eileen is back and joins us. How was your trip to, I was going to say Highbury, but it's just not Highbury anymore.

[00:00:53] No, it's not unfortunately. My trip to London was lovely. Yeah, not the greatest of games of football, but sure.

[00:00:59] It's a common theme with Arsenal women at the moment. It's not, it's not a lot of fun, but lovely experience.

[00:01:06] The small one had a ball. We went to Paddington. So look, all is well.

[00:01:12] Is your man getting the sack? Is he? I can't think of his name, but I was reading somewhere yesterday that his job's at risk.

[00:01:18] I hope so. I sincerely hope so. Yeah.

[00:01:22] Another manager you want to see the back of. Like you'll never see as bad a footballing decision.

[00:01:26] That's the only manager I want to see the back of. Who else do I want to see the back of, Declan? I'm not you at all.

[00:01:31] Hey, I just opened that door for you. That's all I was doing.

[00:01:34] Come here, Declan. I, you can imagine my surprise. Like it never fails to amaze me.

[00:01:40] We're not long, you know, in the door of women's football. You're so in the know, aren't you?

[00:01:46] There I was flying home from London and there's Declan McCormick telling me what managers are on the move before clubs have even announced it.

[00:01:53] Very in the know, aren't you?

[00:01:59] I wasn't in the know. I thought it was openly, I thought it was knowledge everybody in the league had, to be honest with you.

[00:02:08] A man with his ear to the ground firmly all the time, aren't you really?

[00:02:12] You're some woman for shit story. They said that much in fairness. Yeah.

[00:02:16] Yeah. Look, it was, yeah, I'm, I'm clued in sometimes, clued in sometimes.

[00:02:22] The amount of stuff that we've been sent during the year or the things that we know that we have never said or we can't say like it's frightening.

[00:02:28] But I was thinking maybe the last part of the season, we might spend the last five minutes going.

[00:02:33] And these are things that we couldn't talk about at the time or things that couldn't make the pod.

[00:02:38] I just squirt a few of them out, but we'll see how it goes.

[00:02:41] Sounds like a great plan.

[00:02:45] Canceled for sure.

[00:02:47] John? Yes, canceled. Canceled is definitely coming our way anyway, without fail.

[00:02:51] John Hortings in Tipperary, sir.

[00:02:55] Great, actually. Yeah, I'm happy out. One week to go.

[00:02:58] I'm looking forward to a break, to be honest, at this stage. But I'm full of the joys of life today. Really, really in good form.

[00:03:06] Awesome stuff. Awesome stuff. As always, guys, we'd start with the week that was in Irish women's football.

[00:03:16] Then we will move to basically this week's all about the cup final.

[00:03:20] Cup final preview. Who's going to do what? What way the game's going to go?

[00:03:24] Oh, Eileen's going to tell us all. And I have had a dig into something that fascinated me during the week.

[00:03:31] So I went to the world of A.I. and I asked A.I. all about the forthcoming F.A.I. Women's Cup final.

[00:03:38] And I will report later on what A.I. has told me.

[00:03:43] But in the meantime, OK, John, sorry.

[00:03:46] Purple Damien. There's somebody I can hear from these feedback.

[00:03:50] I can hear my voice coming back from somebody.

[00:03:54] And I think it's from you, John, because when you go on silent.

[00:03:58] I can't hear it then.

[00:04:02] Just stay like that now for a second.

[00:04:03] How would I?

[00:04:05] How would I fix it?

[00:04:06] Yeah, I don't know. I don't know is the thing.

[00:04:12] I think the easiest thing is just from me.

[00:04:14] Eve? No, no, no.

[00:04:17] I want to stay on silent as much as I can.

[00:04:19] Yeah, I say, yeah, if you can just, you know what I mean?

[00:04:21] When when I'm talking, if you can just be on silent, I think that solves it.

[00:04:24] All right, we're back.

[00:04:28] All right, guys.

[00:04:31] This week in Irish women's football, as I was saying,

[00:04:34] I mean, we spoke last week in the last couple of weeks about players hitting milestones.

[00:04:39] One thing that we probably didn't touch on is that these players hit milestones.

[00:04:44] Others are actually going to probably end up leaving the game and retiring.

[00:04:47] And this week we've had a couple of announcements.

[00:04:50] Firstly, Niavred Burke, a.k.a. Nemo announced her retirement.

[00:04:55] And was that a bit of a surprise or was it one that you might have been expecting?

[00:05:01] Yeah, I suppose I wasn't overly surprised.

[00:05:03] Like, I mean, she's an awful lot still to give.

[00:05:05] And yesterday's game proved that.

[00:05:07] But look, she's someone who's around the league since the very start.

[00:05:10] And it's a huge commitment.

[00:05:13] So like, I suppose there's only such a life in all these things as well.

[00:05:16] And said she's around since since day one with Rahini and an incredible, incredible servant,

[00:05:23] a massive shithouse.

[00:05:24] So I've probably given her plenty of abuse from the stands at times.

[00:05:27] But look, I think somebody once told me you never abuse a bad player.

[00:05:31] So but like an incredible goalkeeper throughout it.

[00:05:34] And even listening to Avril talking about her on the commentary in the P-Mount game,

[00:05:38] you know, speaking about how she drives standards.

[00:05:40] And that's the thing with these players.

[00:05:41] And it's funny because last week you were talking on the pod about what player would you bring to Cork City?

[00:05:46] And you all were saying a striker, whereas like I'd love someone who like her who comes in and drive standards.

[00:05:51] Because I think that's what what's needed.

[00:05:53] But you could see that she was always kind of a bit of a headache for the coach, but it was always player focused and wanting just to be better.

[00:06:00] And look, she had an incredible career.

[00:06:01] I think she's the most successful player in the league.

[00:06:03] Like she's seven league titles and she's obviously international caps as well.

[00:06:08] And a big character.

[00:06:10] And like you can just see the outpouring of not just her teammates, but like opponents as well on social media.

[00:06:16] And it said, like, I think the league would be a lesser place without her because said a big character and like always a bit of crack and always a little bit kind of does a bit of mad things like you expect a good goalkeeper to do.

[00:06:28] But yeah, look, fundamentally a brilliant, brilliant goalkeeper and a brilliant player.

[00:06:32] And it said, look, seven league titles.

[00:06:34] I think it is.

[00:06:36] That's that's some going like, you know, I don't think too many will come close to that realistically, especially as was with the spread out of league titles or whatever.

[00:06:45] But yeah, I'm sad to see her go, but I wish her well for whatever comes next.

[00:06:49] And she's, I suppose, someone with such experience that you'd like to see her maybe back in the game, especially when goalkeeping is something that I think we could definitely improve a lot on.

[00:06:58] And to have someone like her that is such a good goalkeeper, I'd hate to think that she just would walk away from football completely.

[00:07:04] But look, as I said, you take a break and you probably miss it.

[00:07:07] And maybe you could come back, I said, coaching or something down the line.

[00:07:12] Yeah, John, after Nia's announcement, it was followed up with Steph Sambra announcing her own retirement.

[00:07:20] Again, another massive influence on the women's game in this country and following the push gas thing, I guess, internationally as well.

[00:07:30] Another sorry day for the league to see somebody of Steph's calibre step away.

[00:07:37] Yeah, yeah, we had, I think it was probably about a month ago now.

[00:07:40] We kind of, I think there was a question by Diemen who were some of the more influential players in the history of the league.

[00:07:46] And I think Steph, you know what we, I think we mentioned her on that, that, that episode.

[00:07:53] And it was, some of it was just around that push gas thing at the time, but she was like a player that's, you know, let the world know there was a league here before when a lot of people didn't.

[00:08:05] And, but like, that's, that was, that goal obviously is a highlight, but in a remarkable career, like she's, she's done it all.

[00:08:12] You know, you know, she's, she's a fantastic ambassador for the game as well here, you know, hugely talented footballer.

[00:08:20] And like, even the way she goes out on such a high scoring at the weekend, I mean, it's almost like, you know, she sets up a great ball.

[00:08:30] She takes the return and slots into the back of the net.

[00:08:33] Like, it's just, it's just her down to a tee.

[00:08:35] She's probably been one of Shamu Gover's better players this year as well.

[00:08:38] Like she also, she's gone out on a pure high as well, you know, on, on a real high.

[00:08:44] But yeah, just another fantastic personality for the league, a really well-known name.

[00:08:49] And obviously she's doing, you know, media work as well.

[00:08:52] And so she's a recognizable face from that point of view as well.

[00:08:55] But one of those players, I think really that, that put the league here on the map and another, another huge loss to the league.

[00:09:02] But again, I'm sure whatever she turns her hand to next, whether it's punditry or whatever else it is, she'll, she'll excel at that too.

[00:09:11] Eileen, just two quick ones for you.

[00:09:14] I don't know if you know Steph or not, but would you expect it to be punditry and media work as opposed to coaching and even managing that would be in her future?

[00:09:24] I don't know her at all personally, but like she has a coaching, like she has a coaching school.

[00:09:30] So obviously that's something that she is passionate about.

[00:09:32] So like, there's no reason that you can't do both, but like, yeah, I just echo kind of everything John said on her.

[00:09:39] Like, I think she's probably the first person, as you said, John, that brought the league to the public eye, but also she's kind of transcended football a lot.

[00:09:46] And like people in work were saying it to me about her today.

[00:09:49] Do you know, like people that wouldn't necessarily be football fans, let alone football fans in Ireland.

[00:09:53] Like, so I think that's probably the biggest thing you can say for her is that like everybody knows who she is and she's a household name.

[00:10:00] And she always stands out to me because a few years ago when she was still with Piedmont, there was a game in Turner's Cross and there was a young one had come down from Dublin.

[00:10:07] Like with her dad, she'd made her dad bring her down.

[00:10:12] And like, it was just to see her.

[00:10:14] And like, I think she ended up going up to her birthday party the next day and things like that.

[00:10:18] And there are different things you don't ever hear of.

[00:10:21] And like, that's incredible.

[00:10:22] And like that kid could go on to do anything because she had that moment at eight or nine years of age.

[00:10:26] And that's a big thing I've seen in social media, the amount of time she always has for everyone.

[00:10:32] And I think she was very much thrust into the spotlight, like and rightfully so with that podcast thing.

[00:10:36] But what an ambassador, like she speaks so well and always has.

[00:10:39] Like, and that's without media training or anything that we see a lot of professionals get.

[00:10:43] So, yeah, as I said, I think probably the first person we've seen, we've seen it a bit more now, like the likes of Katie and Denise,

[00:10:49] probably our household names, but she certainly was probably the first one that's outside of our own little bubble where, of course, we know all of them.

[00:10:56] Do you know what I mean?

[00:10:56] But once you step outside that, I think she was probably the original.

[00:10:59] But yeah, I did.

[00:11:00] I laughed because I think they asked Callie O'Neill about building for next year.

[00:11:03] And his response was, I tried to talk Stephanie out of retirement because she was excellent yesterday.

[00:11:09] Like it's a good way to go out in fairness to her.

[00:11:13] Speaking of Callie and Shamrock Rovers, Eileen, you were somewhat impressed by the way they handled the whole thing yesterday and the occasion they put on and the way they did things.

[00:11:24] Yeah, really, really impressed.

[00:11:26] I look, I like players announcing if they know where they're going.

[00:11:29] And I know, look, there probably will be more players going.

[00:11:31] Maybe they just haven't their minds made up.

[00:11:32] But like, it's important for players to, for a kind of American phrase, get their flowers like.

[00:11:38] And if you go in the off season, you're kind of, not that you're forgotten about, but you don't get these things.

[00:11:42] And like there was, they gave free entrance, entry in Tally yesterday.

[00:11:45] There was over 900 people there.

[00:11:47] They were screeching the whole game.

[00:11:49] Like a lot of the kids, you could visibly hear it on the stream.

[00:11:52] And then they had like a press morning with her as well, I think, which is mostly done on Zoom, which meant it was on RT News and stuff.

[00:11:58] And I thought they, it was really well handled.

[00:12:00] And look, as much as you can think about it with Shamrock Rovers, they're a very well-organized, well-run club.

[00:12:04] So you'd expect that from them.

[00:12:06] And no, it was brilliant to see.

[00:12:07] And as I said, I think it's important, same way.

[00:12:10] I know P-Mount can't do it on as big a scale because they're not as big a club with as much behind it as Shamrock Rovers do.

[00:12:16] But they had plenty of stuff up for Nemo all week as well.

[00:12:19] And as I said, I think it's really important for players to get.

[00:12:23] And look, for them, it's not about that.

[00:12:25] But I think it's important for people to be able to show their appreciation for everything that they have achieved.

[00:12:30] And again, it's about leaving the jersey in a better place.

[00:12:33] And they're two people who have very much done that.

[00:12:36] Yeah, here, here.

[00:12:37] Best of luck to both Niamh and Stephanie in their retirements anyway.

[00:12:41] And as Eileen has said, hopefully we'll see them around the game and that they won't be lost completely to the league here.

[00:12:49] In other news this week, as Eileen has already hinted at her, messed around with,

[00:12:55] treaty confirmed the departure of Dominic Foley.

[00:12:59] And the most interesting thing I thought about their statement was, John,

[00:13:02] was that they've intimated that they know who the manager is

[00:13:05] and that they'll be making an announcement next week as to who the new manager will be.

[00:13:12] Yeah, I guess they've obviously known that Dominic's going for a while, obviously.

[00:13:16] So they've obviously been working away with, I assume, in the background on his replacement.

[00:13:22] It's like from a club point of view, if they are announcing a manager next week,

[00:13:27] it's brilliant for them because one thing you don't want is a manager coming in

[00:13:32] when you're already starting pre-season.

[00:13:33] You don't want the good players that treaty have, and they have plenty of them.

[00:13:37] You don't want really uncertainty there.

[00:13:39] They're a void opening up between now and Christmas where players are wondering

[00:13:42] where they're going next season or if they're in the new manager's plan.

[00:13:45] So whoever comes in has the entire off-season to work with the players,

[00:13:51] get to know them, and get a look around the league as well,

[00:13:55] because I know treaty are ambitious, and they're not only going to want to keep

[00:13:58] their best players, but I'm sure they're going to be trying to attract

[00:14:01] some of the league's best players to them as well.

[00:14:04] So, yeah, a bit of a surprise to have someone announced so quickly,

[00:14:08] but it'll be interesting to see who they will be and where they'll come from

[00:14:13] and see if it'll be a name that we're familiar with

[00:14:17] or someone brand new in a bit of left field.

[00:14:21] Who is it, Decky?

[00:14:24] I have no idea.

[00:14:26] Stop, would you?

[00:14:28] Eileen, you weren't here last week, so I'm going to ask you,

[00:14:31] what was your reaction to the news that Dominic was going?

[00:14:35] Was it a surprise to you?

[00:14:38] Yeah, it was a surprise to me.

[00:14:39] They've had their most successful season,

[00:14:41] but obviously there could be a whole host of reasons behind it.

[00:14:43] It's not necessarily that it's from one side or the other.

[00:14:46] You just don't know what his own personal commitments are,

[00:14:49] things like that.

[00:14:50] But he's done a very, very good job there.

[00:14:53] There's no doubt about that.

[00:14:55] So I suppose from that, if you're looking at it just in face value like that,

[00:14:59] I would have expected him to stay on.

[00:15:00] But I said, you don't know people's circumstances either.

[00:15:03] But he's someone who came into the women's game.

[00:15:06] He's obviously a big name in the game in general here,

[00:15:08] and he wasn't around the women's game,

[00:15:10] but I thought he did a brilliant job.

[00:15:11] They were a joy to watch all season again yesterday.

[00:15:14] Very, very good to watch.

[00:15:16] I suppose the thing with Treaty is at times where the recruitment is done from.

[00:15:21] I think he's openly said a few times that he's not massively involved

[00:15:24] in the recruitment there, so it's kind of a different job.

[00:15:27] So then maybe some managers are totally hands-on with that.

[00:15:32] But look, Declan, you say clubs, what is it,

[00:15:36] live or die by their recruitment,

[00:15:37] and Treaty's recruitment has been brilliant.

[00:15:39] I mean, you could be rolling a dice at times bringing players from abroad,

[00:15:42] but everyone they've brought in have really, they've fitted,

[00:15:45] especially this season.

[00:15:46] They've had some of the top performers in the league.

[00:15:49] So as I said, their recruitment has been very good.

[00:15:51] But it's an interesting one kind of to see going forward.

[00:15:54] As I said, is it someone within the league,

[00:15:56] or is it just a totally new name?

[00:15:58] But fair play to Ciara and everyone at Treaty,

[00:16:00] for just having it sorted and ready to go.

[00:16:02] Because as Jan said, I think that's important,

[00:16:05] especially because there are some managerial changes.

[00:16:07] So there will be a bit of an unknown throughout the league now with players.

[00:16:12] Speaking of managerial changes, John,

[00:16:16] Wexford beat us to the punch today,

[00:16:17] because this was our big news tonight.

[00:16:21] They actually put it out today.

[00:16:24] But Hugh Strong has lost his job at Wexford.

[00:16:27] Now, to me, this one is just batshit crazy.

[00:16:32] They finished fourth.

[00:16:33] I don't think there's a whole lot more they could do.

[00:16:35] Okay, they started slowly.

[00:16:37] But obviously, Hugh would come from, I think it was Shelburne,

[00:16:40] under 17 boys or Shelburne under 17 men or under 19,

[00:16:43] something like that anyway.

[00:16:45] Took a few weeks to find his feet and get things going.

[00:16:47] But he's actually not somebody we've mentioned at all,

[00:16:50] at all in the podcast this year,

[00:16:52] simply because they were just tipping away nice and handy.

[00:16:54] And he wasn't on anybody's radar.

[00:16:57] I just, in football terms anyway,

[00:17:00] this is madness in my humble opinion.

[00:17:05] Yeah, look, there was rumblings the last few weeks

[00:17:10] and even a little bit longer that he might not be there next season.

[00:17:16] I think there were questions maybe about the style of play Wexford

[00:17:21] were playing at a particular time.

[00:17:23] But on the whole, I kind of do tend to agree with you.

[00:17:27] Like after a, you know, weak enough start,

[00:17:34] they just worked their way up the league really consistently,

[00:17:38] really good results.

[00:17:40] They went unbeaten for the best part of the season,

[00:17:44] I think once they got out of April.

[00:17:48] Last cup game is the only reason they got knocked out were on penalties.

[00:17:52] You know, they've been consistently good.

[00:17:55] And for what is meant to be a results business,

[00:17:59] it does sound that this one wasn't entirely results-based.

[00:18:04] But look, I think he's done a really good job there.

[00:18:07] Obviously, like Eileen said, you don't know what's going on

[00:18:11] or what plans the club has

[00:18:13] or what people's personal circumstances are

[00:18:18] in managerial circles as well and things like that.

[00:18:22] But it was a, the rumblings were there,

[00:18:24] but it was a strange one.

[00:18:25] All right.

[00:18:26] Just look, they also looking in from a purely results point of view,

[00:18:30] Wexford were really doing well

[00:18:32] and were, you know, moving up the ranks.

[00:18:35] And you'd expect them to, like, in an improving league as well

[00:18:38] with a lot of strong teams that they probably,

[00:18:43] you know, considering where they started the season,

[00:18:45] they did really, really well overall.

[00:18:49] Yeah.

[00:18:49] Eileen, I don't know what your take on this one is,

[00:18:51] as I said, mine is that it's batshit crazy stuff.

[00:18:54] But looking forward, if you're a manager,

[00:18:57] like you look at Wexford and you say,

[00:18:59] right, well, Hugh did as probably as well

[00:19:01] as anybody else could do last season

[00:19:03] and he lost his job.

[00:19:05] So that's not a job I'm touching, you know?

[00:19:09] Yeah.

[00:19:09] Now, again, we're assuming that,

[00:19:11] like, it was a fully Wexford decision.

[00:19:13] You don't know that either.

[00:19:14] Like, it could be partly,

[00:19:16] do you know what I mean, him as well?

[00:19:17] But like that, it does seem a strange one

[00:19:19] because in particular, the second half season,

[00:19:21] I thought Wexford were excellent.

[00:19:22] It obviously took a long time to bed in.

[00:19:24] And I don't know, maybe did that cause ructions down there?

[00:19:27] I don't know.

[00:19:28] But like I said, there's no,

[00:19:29] I don't think we can just assume that,

[00:19:31] or it's just that the decision has been made.

[00:19:33] Like, it could have been him as well.

[00:19:34] He's not based in Wexford.

[00:19:36] So there's a lot of traveling,

[00:19:37] like if you're not local to the area.

[00:19:39] But I think Wexford's always going to be

[00:19:42] an attractive job for any manager in the women's game,

[00:19:44] like within that region,

[00:19:45] because I said,

[00:19:47] like you have some very, very good experienced players

[00:19:49] and they have,

[00:19:50] as you've mentioned many times, Declan,

[00:19:52] a lot of very good young players coming through

[00:19:55] from all over the southern region and beyond.

[00:19:59] So like, I think for me,

[00:20:00] it's an attractive job,

[00:20:01] I think for anybody coming in.

[00:20:04] So I don't think they'll have any shortage of takers for it anyway,

[00:20:07] or applicants.

[00:20:08] Okay.

[00:20:09] Can I just say once more,

[00:20:10] if this is a Wexford decision and it's,

[00:20:13] you know,

[00:20:14] it's not Hughes' decision,

[00:20:15] then it's batshit crazy stuff,

[00:20:17] in my humble opinion.

[00:20:19] Just in case I didn't mention it already.

[00:20:22] Moving on,

[00:20:23] there was an Irish under-19 squad announced this week.

[00:20:27] This is kind of the first squad of the next generation

[00:20:30] or the new generation.

[00:20:31] A lot of the players who played in the European Championships

[00:20:33] have moved on.

[00:20:34] Obviously, they're over age.

[00:20:36] So Eileen,

[00:20:36] what did you make of the new squad?

[00:20:39] A lot of them are still under-19.

[00:20:41] I didn't realize like that so many of them are still available,

[00:20:44] like from like the Urals.

[00:20:46] Like,

[00:20:47] I thought the squad was grand,

[00:20:48] but I think not having Niamh Cotter in there,

[00:20:50] without my Cork City bias hat,

[00:20:52] but just someone who watches the league every weekend

[00:20:54] is absolutely bananas.

[00:20:56] Like,

[00:20:56] she's played all season at centre-half with Cork City.

[00:21:00] I understand we have conceded a lot of goals,

[00:21:02] but like if you were to sit down and watch Cork City,

[00:21:05] that defence and the goalkeeper's under the caution off a lot.

[00:21:08] You know what I mean?

[00:21:08] That's due to stuff further up the pitch.

[00:21:11] I think if you're a starting centre-half within the league

[00:21:14] and like she's been in team of the week,

[00:21:16] I would say three or four times maybe as well.

[00:21:20] Like any games,

[00:21:22] that we're holding teams out in,

[00:21:23] or like the score is down,

[00:21:25] like she's really pivotal to it.

[00:21:27] And I think for her personally,

[00:21:30] it's a bit of a kick in the teeth.

[00:21:31] But look,

[00:21:32] from what I know of Niamh,

[00:21:33] I think she's a strong kid

[00:21:35] and she'll probably take it a bit personally.

[00:21:37] And I don't know,

[00:21:38] God help the next person to come up against her.

[00:21:39] Probably be in a schools game now

[00:21:41] or something in the next oil.

[00:21:43] But look,

[00:21:44] she'll grow from it

[00:21:45] and that's football.

[00:21:46] And sometimes you don't make it,

[00:21:48] but you could see it.

[00:21:49] Look,

[00:21:49] I tweeted it

[00:21:50] because I was obviously a bit bull-tick at the time.

[00:21:53] And I hope she could take solace.

[00:21:55] Obviously,

[00:21:55] she can't see who's liked my tweets,

[00:21:56] but a lot of your peers have liked my tweets,

[00:21:58] Niamh,

[00:21:59] about you not being involved.

[00:22:01] People at other clubs as well.

[00:22:02] So I think people could see

[00:22:03] how good a season she had.

[00:22:04] So for me,

[00:22:05] I think it'll be tough to take.

[00:22:07] Other than that,

[00:22:07] look,

[00:22:07] that's not taken away from anyone who's in the squad.

[00:22:09] It's a very,

[00:22:10] very good squad.

[00:22:11] And I said,

[00:22:12] I think the fact that you have the backbone there

[00:22:13] of like the likes of Leah,

[00:22:16] Aoife Kelly,

[00:22:17] like that they're still under 19s

[00:22:18] and then bringing the experience

[00:22:20] of European championships as well into that,

[00:22:24] you would hopefully,

[00:22:25] that it bodes well

[00:22:26] for another successful campaign for them.

[00:22:28] Can I ask you very quickly,

[00:22:29] you said you tweeted,

[00:22:31] I saw your tweet.

[00:22:32] I also saw Danny Murphy,

[00:22:33] obviously Cork City manager,

[00:22:34] reply to your tweet.

[00:22:36] And he basically,

[00:22:37] no,

[00:22:37] I can't remember his exact word,

[00:22:39] but fundamentally what he's saying is,

[00:22:40] this is a load of bollocks.

[00:22:41] Like,

[00:22:41] you know,

[00:22:42] that's basically what he was saying.

[00:22:44] What's your feeling about managers

[00:22:45] kind of replying publicly like that to tweets?

[00:22:48] Cause I'm okay with it.

[00:22:49] I'll be honest with you.

[00:22:50] I'd love to see it happen more.

[00:22:52] But obviously Danny is.

[00:22:54] No,

[00:22:54] I'm like,

[00:22:55] I'm very okay with it.

[00:22:56] I think it's brilliant actually,

[00:22:57] to be honest,

[00:22:58] because he has a player like who,

[00:23:00] he obviously would know a lot better than what I know.

[00:23:02] And he knows exactly what she's capable of

[00:23:04] and where she's come from the start of the season to now.

[00:23:07] And I think for her at a time when she's disappointed,

[00:23:09] senior manager willing to go and put himself on the line like that,

[00:23:13] I think that that's helpful to a player.

[00:23:15] So like fair play to him.

[00:23:17] And as I said,

[00:23:17] I like seeing managers speak up for things.

[00:23:20] Like I said,

[00:23:20] we'd have,

[00:23:21] we've had Kieran on here and he's been really like,

[00:23:24] been very vocal about what he sees the FAI doing or not doing to the point

[00:23:28] when it comes to players in the league.

[00:23:29] So I said,

[00:23:30] managers have to kind of be willing to go out and speak up.

[00:23:34] And there's not a massive platform for anybody in our game to speak,

[00:23:38] to speak.

[00:23:39] So look,

[00:23:39] if it's Twitter or X or whatever it's called,

[00:23:41] so be it.

[00:23:42] But I think fair play to him anyway.

[00:23:44] Yeah,

[00:23:45] I tend to agree.

[00:23:46] Right.

[00:23:47] We parked the week that was there.

[00:23:49] So,

[00:23:51] as I said,

[00:23:53] somebody just,

[00:23:54] buy Dave Connell a map of Ireland,

[00:23:56] I guess,

[00:23:56] and show him the road from Dublin to Cork.

[00:23:58] And we'll see how that goes in time.

[00:24:03] Hmm.

[00:24:04] Right.

[00:24:04] Moving on to the underage results,

[00:24:07] John,

[00:24:07] under 17 tier one,

[00:24:10] Bowes one,

[00:24:10] Shamrock Rovers five,

[00:24:12] Treaty four,

[00:24:13] Athlone three,

[00:24:15] Cork City five,

[00:24:16] Shelburne one,

[00:24:17] and Waterford three,

[00:24:19] Wexford two.

[00:24:20] The tier two north was Mayo nil,

[00:24:23] sorry,

[00:24:24] my apologies,

[00:24:25] Sligo nil,

[00:24:25] Mayo five,

[00:24:27] Finharps nil,

[00:24:27] Dundalk two,

[00:24:28] Galway one,

[00:24:29] Drogs one.

[00:24:30] Tier two south,

[00:24:32] DLR one,

[00:24:33] St.

[00:24:33] Paths three,

[00:24:33] CK United nil,

[00:24:35] Kerry one,

[00:24:35] and Bray Wanderers three,

[00:24:38] Cove Ramblers nil.

[00:24:40] In the under 19 set up,

[00:24:43] the under 19 cup final was played today,

[00:24:46] Shelburne three,

[00:24:47] Athlone two,

[00:24:48] that game finished,

[00:24:49] an absolute cracker of a game.

[00:24:52] And we won't talk about that in a few minutes.

[00:24:55] In the under 19 league,

[00:24:56] tier one,

[00:24:57] so Bowes beat Shamrock Rovers three nil.

[00:25:00] A game,

[00:25:01] John,

[00:25:01] and in which a favourite player of yours participated.

[00:25:05] Lisa Murphy played for Bowes in the under 19 game against Shamrock Rovers.

[00:25:09] What's going on?

[00:25:11] It's within the rules.

[00:25:14] They obviously wanted to beat Rovers.

[00:25:17] It looks that way already anyway,

[00:25:19] doesn't it?

[00:25:19] And in the other game,

[00:25:20] it was Wexford one,

[00:25:21] Cork City one,

[00:25:23] tier two north,

[00:25:24] Dundalk nil,

[00:25:25] Galway one,

[00:25:26] DLR one,

[00:25:27] Piedmont three,

[00:25:28] Sligo one,

[00:25:29] Finharps two,

[00:25:30] and in the tier two south,

[00:25:32] Waterford one in Cove,

[00:25:35] and Treaty beat CK United five,

[00:25:37] three,

[00:25:38] and what sounds like a cracker,

[00:25:40] just going by the score lines.

[00:25:42] But I guess we've got to go back to the cup semi,

[00:25:44] or sorry,

[00:25:44] the cup final today,

[00:25:45] John.

[00:25:47] Shelburne three,

[00:25:48] Athlone two,

[00:25:51] probably three or four players on each side,

[00:25:53] who would be involved in the cup final next weekend.

[00:25:56] So,

[00:25:57] a little bit of a psychological boost for Shelburne?

[00:26:01] Yeah,

[00:26:02] possibly.

[00:26:04] And a cracking game by all accounts.

[00:26:07] Athlone started really well.

[00:26:08] Shelburne came back into it,

[00:26:11] and once they got in front,

[00:26:14] they handled the game quite well.

[00:26:15] I,

[00:26:16] I,

[00:26:16] like we,

[00:26:17] we touched on it last week,

[00:26:18] would,

[00:26:18] would,

[00:26:18] um,

[00:26:19] Athlone rest players that were likely to play in the under-19 cup final,

[00:26:24] um,

[00:26:25] last night.

[00:26:26] And Hazel Donegan played in the senior game,

[00:26:29] uh,

[00:26:29] scored two goals.

[00:26:30] She started again this morning,

[00:26:32] or this afternoon in the cup final,

[00:26:33] scored two goals again.

[00:26:35] Mary Phillips was involved.

[00:26:36] I don't know if that had any impact,

[00:26:38] but,

[00:26:38] um,

[00:26:39] it's,

[00:26:40] it,

[00:26:40] it,

[00:26:41] look,

[00:26:41] Athlone have,

[00:26:42] Athlone are doing some fantastic work,

[00:26:44] um,

[00:26:44] underage,

[00:26:45] and they,

[00:26:47] um,

[00:26:47] they probably were favourites going into this game.

[00:26:49] I think I would have had them as favourites anyway,

[00:26:51] but,

[00:26:52] um,

[00:26:53] absolutely brilliant by Shelburne.

[00:26:54] Um,

[00:26:55] you know,

[00:26:55] they got their nose in front,

[00:26:57] and even though Athlone came back into it late on,

[00:27:00] they held on for it.

[00:27:01] So,

[00:27:01] look,

[00:27:02] congratulations,

[00:27:03] congratulations to them and everyone involved in Shelburne.

[00:27:05] Um,

[00:27:06] they're,

[00:27:07] uh,

[00:27:07] they've got a couple of trophies in the cabinets already this year,

[00:27:10] and they've been looking for that to continue right across the club.

[00:27:14] Yeah,

[00:27:14] this podcast has fundamentally changed me,

[00:27:17] John.

[00:27:17] I think it's fundamentally changed you as well,

[00:27:18] because I know I was going to congratulate Shelburne Football Club on winning a national competition.

[00:27:23] It's just,

[00:27:24] it's just like,

[00:27:25] wouldn't that happen 10 years ago,

[00:27:26] that's,

[00:27:27] I can tell you that.

[00:27:28] Wouldn't that happen four years ago?

[00:27:29] No,

[00:27:29] no,

[00:27:29] no,

[00:27:30] no,

[00:27:30] no,

[00:27:30] no,

[00:27:30] no,

[00:27:31] no,

[00:27:31] no,

[00:27:31] but anyway,

[00:27:32] yes,

[00:27:33] congratulations to everybody at Shelburne Football Club on winning the under 19 cup today.

[00:27:39] Guys,

[00:27:40] we'll just take a quick look at what happened in the last round of the league games.

[00:27:44] I don't think we want to do each game individually,

[00:27:46] but just maybe an overall,

[00:27:48] um,

[00:27:49] assessment of the weekend and maybe a couple of talking points.

[00:27:53] But,

[00:27:53] Boaz beat DLR 2-0,

[00:27:55] Eileen,

[00:27:55] so that's Cement.

[00:27:56] Obviously,

[00:27:56] there was a chance for DLR to finish ahead of Boaz if they'd won that game.

[00:28:01] Cement's Boaz in,

[00:28:02] in,

[00:28:03] um,

[00:28:03] sixth,

[00:28:04] no,

[00:28:04] sorry,

[00:28:04] seventh,

[00:28:05] isn't it?

[00:28:06] Boat Club's relatively happy with their season.

[00:28:11] Um,

[00:28:11] yeah,

[00:28:12] I think,

[00:28:12] I think so.

[00:28:13] I think Boaz will be glad to finish it on a high.

[00:28:15] Um,

[00:28:15] and I think that was important because,

[00:28:17] as I mentioned before,

[00:28:18] I think after that cup loss really kind of derailed them.

[00:28:21] I know they'd won draw with Shelburne,

[00:28:22] but other than that,

[00:28:23] they have struggled.

[00:28:24] And I thought they were very,

[00:28:25] very good against DLR from what I saw of the game,

[00:28:27] because there was no stream for the first,

[00:28:29] like the stream doesn't come live until after Lisa Murphy's goal.

[00:28:33] Um,

[00:28:33] so yeah,

[00:28:34] what I saw of it,

[00:28:35] I thought they were good value for it.

[00:28:36] And I was kind of only thinking,

[00:28:37] I only watched it back today.

[00:28:39] And,

[00:28:39] um,

[00:28:39] I was just thinking,

[00:28:40] I think like Boaz,

[00:28:42] if they can hold on to their good young players,

[00:28:44] and obviously that's always a big thing.

[00:28:46] And especially in Dublin,

[00:28:47] um,

[00:28:48] I think they have like a chance to really over the next couple of years,

[00:28:53] build something really good,

[00:28:54] because again,

[00:28:54] a massive crowd there.

[00:28:56] Like they'd over 500 in there.

[00:28:57] Like every club needs to get onto them and ask them what they're doing,

[00:29:01] because they're the only club that are consistent with their crowds,

[00:29:03] good crowds and vocal crowds as well.

[00:29:06] Um,

[00:29:06] but yeah,

[00:29:07] look from DLR,

[00:29:08] I think very kind of up and down season,

[00:29:10] but,

[00:29:11] um,

[00:29:11] they obviously have announced Laura got a number of year,

[00:29:15] a multi-year deal.

[00:29:16] We love a multi-year deal.

[00:29:17] Um,

[00:29:18] so look,

[00:29:18] that's a bit of stability for them and for players in,

[00:29:21] like you could see the day in turn is crossed.

[00:29:23] Players are very happy there.

[00:29:25] So like,

[00:29:25] I can,

[00:29:26] I hope that she can,

[00:29:28] if there are kind of players sticking their head up above the carpet,

[00:29:30] and there has been this season that maybe look,

[00:29:33] they look at other players who've,

[00:29:34] who've left DLR for,

[00:29:35] for opportunities elsewhere and hasn't always worked out.

[00:29:38] Um,

[00:29:39] but like,

[00:29:39] again,

[00:29:39] if they can introduce a bit of consistency and both will feel the same,

[00:29:44] I think they could both kind of be looking at the way up.

[00:29:47] Like,

[00:29:48] so no,

[00:29:48] I think good seasons,

[00:29:49] they've been competitive throughout.

[00:29:50] So that's the most important thing.

[00:29:52] Yeah.

[00:29:53] John,

[00:29:54] treaty one away at P mountain,

[00:29:56] Sligo finished off at home against Wexford with a two all draw.

[00:30:00] Um,

[00:30:01] like it's a really,

[00:30:03] really disappointing season from P-Mount.

[00:30:05] They end up in sixth because Sean McRover has got a point.

[00:30:08] So,

[00:30:08] um,

[00:30:09] that moved them up to fifth.

[00:30:13] Treaty end up finishing seventh.

[00:30:15] Only three points behind P-Mount.

[00:30:17] P-Mount,

[00:30:18] I think I'm right in saying they have 26 points this year.

[00:30:22] I think they won the league with 52 last year.

[00:30:25] So they've taken half the points this season that they took last year.

[00:30:29] Last year,

[00:30:29] it's,

[00:30:31] I don't want to use the word disaster,

[00:30:32] but it's,

[00:30:33] it's been a really poor showing from P-Mount this year.

[00:30:35] There's no getting away from that.

[00:30:38] Yeah.

[00:30:38] They've dropped a lot of points in games that you would expect them to win.

[00:30:43] Um,

[00:30:45] I,

[00:30:45] I,

[00:30:45] I do think a little,

[00:30:47] we,

[00:30:47] we spoke about earlier in the season.

[00:30:48] I do think they struggled a little bit for goals the first half of the season.

[00:30:53] And that's kind of continued to a degree.

[00:30:56] Um,

[00:30:57] I,

[00:30:57] I,

[00:30:57] I,

[00:30:58] I do think like,

[00:30:59] look,

[00:30:59] and give a shout out to Cy Doyle who made her first appearance at the season.

[00:31:03] She came off the bench yesterday.

[00:31:05] They,

[00:31:05] you kind of almost forget this.

[00:31:07] a player of horror quality player of the year last year was missing as well for the season.

[00:31:12] Um,

[00:31:13] so their plans were kind of shot a little bit,

[00:31:15] I suppose,

[00:31:16] or,

[00:31:16] you know,

[00:31:16] their,

[00:31:16] their chances were kind of on the back foot a little bit from the outset,

[00:31:19] but they have added cleverly through the year.

[00:31:22] Um,

[00:31:23] I don't think they'll finish in the same position next year,

[00:31:26] but again,

[00:31:26] that probably depends on some of those players that,

[00:31:29] um,

[00:31:29] you know,

[00:31:29] will,

[00:31:30] will they hang on for another year?

[00:31:31] Will James hang on for another year?

[00:31:33] You know,

[00:31:33] like decky was retiring him last year,

[00:31:36] but,

[00:31:36] um,

[00:31:37] it was,

[00:31:38] it was,

[00:31:39] um,

[00:31:39] you know,

[00:31:39] but Eileen,

[00:31:40] as she always knows,

[00:31:41] was right when she said about the Lures Champions League football.

[00:31:43] So there could be changes in,

[00:31:45] in P Mount and that,

[00:31:46] that current interview that she did on the,

[00:31:48] come on,

[00:31:49] you girls in green podcast a couple of weeks ago,

[00:31:50] that where she said it was almost impossible.

[00:31:52] To keep this squad together because of the quality of the players they have,

[00:31:56] they're probably a team that's got a,

[00:31:59] you know,

[00:31:59] it's an interesting one to look at after the off season,

[00:32:01] because there's,

[00:32:01] there's players in there that have the same standards,

[00:32:06] background,

[00:32:07] talent,

[00:32:08] and willingness to win as clubs that have kind of,

[00:32:11] you know,

[00:32:12] been a good bit ahead of them this season.

[00:32:13] Um,

[00:32:14] and they want that,

[00:32:15] want that to continue,

[00:32:16] but yeah,

[00:32:16] overall a little bit disappointed for them.

[00:32:20] Eileen,

[00:32:21] one,

[00:32:22] quick incident in this game that a few people have gotten onto us about,

[00:32:26] um,

[00:32:27] some people unhappy with a Nia Farley challenge on,

[00:32:30] um,

[00:32:31] Delanna Friesian very late on.

[00:32:34] I think Friesian may have ended up with a,

[00:32:36] with a concussion,

[00:32:36] but as I said,

[00:32:37] some people have been onto us and are,

[00:32:39] should we say,

[00:32:40] slightly irked by the,

[00:32:42] by the robustness of the challenge.

[00:32:44] I actually,

[00:32:45] I'll be honest,

[00:32:45] I haven't seen it,

[00:32:46] so I can't comment on it,

[00:32:48] but I'm wondering if you've seen it.

[00:32:50] Well,

[00:32:50] you know,

[00:32:51] I've seen it because I wrote in the group.

[00:32:54] Um,

[00:32:55] I just,

[00:32:56] it was like,

[00:32:57] and she was already on a yellow card,

[00:32:59] like,

[00:32:59] but she was just like,

[00:33:01] again,

[00:33:01] Avril was in commentary and she just like,

[00:33:03] I think this game needs to be blown up because.

[00:33:06] Like,

[00:33:06] it was just getting to that,

[00:33:08] like Piedmont were so frustrated and that's all it was,

[00:33:10] pure frustration.

[00:33:10] And like,

[00:33:12] I'm sure if Niamh looks back at it,

[00:33:14] like she'll have her head in her hands,

[00:33:15] like,

[00:33:16] because it's,

[00:33:16] it's not a nice challenge to see like how all the officials completely miss it.

[00:33:21] I'm,

[00:33:22] I'm at a loss for like,

[00:33:23] because it's,

[00:33:24] it's very obvious.

[00:33:25] Well,

[00:33:25] I'm not actually really at a loss for,

[00:33:27] it might've been surprisingly saw.

[00:33:29] But,

[00:33:30] um,

[00:33:30] yeah,

[00:33:30] I just think it was born out of pure frustration.

[00:33:32] And I think it's something if she looks back at,

[00:33:34] she'll be a bit,

[00:33:35] she'd be a bit disappointed in herself because I think she's better than that.

[00:33:38] But look,

[00:33:39] these things happen on a football pitch.

[00:33:41] Um,

[00:33:42] it's just a little bit of madness in a moment.

[00:33:44] And you're probably just not thinking I've done stupid things myself.

[00:33:47] So I'm not going to be judging a player for doing something.

[00:33:50] Um,

[00:33:50] but yeah,

[00:33:50] look,

[00:33:51] it was poor.

[00:33:51] I think it's just the fact that it goes unpunished is probably what's extra frustrating for,

[00:33:56] for,

[00:33:57] um,

[00:33:57] treaty.

[00:33:59] Interesting.

[00:34:00] The day was wrapped up by the two big games that could have been title deciders,

[00:34:04] but unfortunately warned.

[00:34:06] Galway beat that lone tree too,

[00:34:08] well,

[00:34:08] Sean McRover's drew one all with Shelburne.

[00:34:12] Um,

[00:34:12] Eileen,

[00:34:12] I guess we spoke,

[00:34:14] you weren't here last week,

[00:34:15] but we were trying to try and guess whether at loan and Shelburne would go strong or whether they'd make some changes.

[00:34:20] Shelburne didn't really,

[00:34:22] they arrested Roma,

[00:34:24] uh,

[00:34:24] McLaughlin,

[00:34:25] obviously Megan Smith Lynch and,

[00:34:27] um,

[00:34:27] Rachel Graham came in.

[00:34:29] At loan left out four,

[00:34:31] I think maybe of the side that were maybe five,

[00:34:33] even of the side that we could expect to see next weekend.

[00:34:38] Yeah,

[00:34:39] I guess it's not a surprise then that Galway ended up winning that game.

[00:34:43] Um,

[00:34:43] no.

[00:34:44] Yeah.

[00:34:44] Like when I saw the starting lineup,

[00:34:46] um,

[00:34:46] I wasn't surprised.

[00:34:47] And like,

[00:34:48] if you'd asked me beforehand,

[00:34:50] I'd have said Shelburne aren't going to make a load of changes and,

[00:34:52] and that loan will.

[00:34:53] After winning a league,

[00:34:54] they've been out celebrating.

[00:34:56] You want to give people a chance.

[00:34:57] Like it's not,

[00:34:58] I'd have been,

[00:34:59] I think they have one or two,

[00:35:00] maybe that it was just a case of maybe minding them as well.

[00:35:03] A little bit.

[00:35:03] People just have little niggles.

[00:35:05] I think you're on set in his interview pregame.

[00:35:06] Like I suppose every player probably has niggles at this point of the season.

[00:35:10] Um,

[00:35:10] so look,

[00:35:12] I'm sure they would have wanted to,

[00:35:13] of course they wanted to win on the day,

[00:35:15] but,

[00:35:15] um,

[00:35:16] their eyes,

[00:35:16] I suppose had to be on getting everyone right and through for,

[00:35:19] for next weekend,

[00:35:20] especially with the amount of players they've lost throughout the season to,

[00:35:23] to injury as well.

[00:35:24] You kind of don't want to be,

[00:35:26] do you know,

[00:35:27] you have Maddie Gibson getting a bang on her already dodgy knee there to five

[00:35:31] minutes into the game and she's out for next week.

[00:35:32] So,

[00:35:33] and with Shelburne,

[00:35:34] playing their full 11 or what is their full 11.

[00:35:38] That's not surprising because they're in such good form and you want to keep

[00:35:42] that going and you haven't won a league title.

[00:35:43] So you haven't been on the piss celebrating.

[00:35:45] So I think all in all,

[00:35:46] it's probably not surprising that thing,

[00:35:49] but yeah,

[00:35:50] Galway were good,

[00:35:51] really,

[00:35:51] really good in patches,

[00:35:52] but like Athlone,

[00:35:53] even despite the fact they've brought in,

[00:35:55] they've made all those changes.

[00:35:56] They still have that kind of never say die attitude.

[00:35:58] They've no idea when they're beaten.

[00:36:00] Hazel Donegan gets two brilliant goals for them.

[00:36:03] Jen obviously wraps up the golden boot with a brilliant,

[00:36:07] brilliant goal to be fair to her.

[00:36:10] But yeah,

[00:36:10] it was a good game.

[00:36:11] Another TG Carr have got pretty much,

[00:36:13] I would say like 90% of excellent games of football this year.

[00:36:17] The only one that wasn't was like Bose DLR,

[00:36:19] I think.

[00:36:19] Other than that,

[00:36:20] they've had,

[00:36:21] they've picked out really good games every weekend.

[00:36:23] So yeah,

[00:36:24] no,

[00:36:24] it's a good game of football and a good crowd in Galway again,

[00:36:26] which is good to see because they've had a good season.

[00:36:29] I would have hated to see like that.

[00:36:31] You have a poor crowd then in for your last game.

[00:36:33] Do you know what I mean?

[00:36:33] Cause they've had a very,

[00:36:34] very good season.

[00:36:35] And just because they haven't won a league or weren't in contention on the last

[00:36:38] day,

[00:36:38] doesn't take away from that.

[00:36:41] Yeah.

[00:36:41] John,

[00:36:42] was there anything jumped out at you from any of those games that you'd like to

[00:36:45] mention before we move on?

[00:36:49] I suppose,

[00:36:49] look,

[00:36:50] I suppose we've kind of touched on it already,

[00:36:51] but it was,

[00:36:52] it was a nice way to go first.

[00:36:53] Samba in that Sheldon's Sharma Covers game,

[00:36:56] you know,

[00:36:57] just scoring the goal and things like that.

[00:37:00] No,

[00:37:00] I mean,

[00:37:01] okay,

[00:37:01] well,

[00:37:01] I suppose it was,

[00:37:03] it was a hard weekend to get motivated far from a league point of view

[00:37:06] because there were bar,

[00:37:09] possibly DLR P Mount in the middle of the table,

[00:37:12] Shamrock Rovers.

[00:37:13] There wasn't really going to be much,

[00:37:15] much movement in the table and none really where it mattered at the top.

[00:37:19] So yeah,

[00:37:20] I don't want to call the games dead rovers,

[00:37:22] but there was that kind of sense of the games this weekend.

[00:37:25] Although some teams went at a hammer and tongs at the same time.

[00:37:29] Yeah.

[00:37:30] So we do have a final league table look,

[00:37:32] and we will do a pod with a full review.

[00:37:35] Probably won't be next week.

[00:37:37] Probably the week after because the cup final is next Sunday and we won't be able to record

[00:37:40] next Sunday night.

[00:37:41] So I imagine it'll probably be a four nights time,

[00:37:44] which will also allow some news to break and maybe other players to say they're moving on

[00:37:48] or players join new clubs or some managerial switches might happen as well.

[00:37:54] So we'll see what happens in a couple of weeks time.

[00:37:58] There's nothing surprising about that final detail.

[00:38:00] I guess Shamrock Rovers finished fifth,

[00:38:02] P-Mount sixth,

[00:38:03] Treaty seventh,

[00:38:04] Bowers eighth,

[00:38:05] Cork City ninth,

[00:38:06] DLR tenth,

[00:38:08] and Sligo Rovers 11th.

[00:38:10] Somebody sent me in a fantastic statistical breakdown of the movements from last season to this season,

[00:38:19] and it's really,

[00:38:19] really interesting.

[00:38:21] So we,

[00:38:22] I'll use some of that in a couple of weeks time to break down teams performances.

[00:38:26] But like there's one team there has 18 points less than they had this time last year.

[00:38:31] And obviously P-Mount,

[00:38:33] I think they've got half the points they've got.

[00:38:34] So we look at all that in a couple of weeks time.

[00:38:38] Moving on guys,

[00:38:39] there's only one game to preview next year or next year.

[00:38:43] Only one game to preview next week.

[00:38:45] And that is the third FAI Women's Cup final in a row.

[00:38:50] I see Shelburne and Atlon go head to head.

[00:38:53] Earlier today,

[00:38:54] myself and John had a chat with Shelburne FC manager,

[00:38:59] Owen Weirin.

[00:39:00] And I started out by asking him if we should be congratulating them

[00:39:04] or commiserating with them for finishing second in this year's league.

[00:39:09] Yeah,

[00:39:09] I don't think with this group anyway,

[00:39:12] it's congratulations.

[00:39:14] You know,

[00:39:14] I think we're all disappointed in a sense,

[00:39:17] in terms of the way that,

[00:39:18] you know,

[00:39:19] a finish and ultimately come and run us up.

[00:39:21] But we're also really proud of the players of how good we've kind of been over the last few weeks,

[00:39:25] because I think we're probably five or six games to go.

[00:39:29] I think a lot of people really thought Atlon had one hand on it and we could only do what we could do.

[00:39:34] And that was win the remainder of our games.

[00:39:35] And we were able to do that.

[00:39:37] So look,

[00:39:38] disappointing not to eventually finish in first place,

[00:39:41] but I think it gives us good momentum now going into the cup final.

[00:39:46] Yeah,

[00:39:46] you just mentioned momentum.

[00:39:47] I was going to ask you that.

[00:39:48] Does that disappointment almost become a motivational tool then for the next week in the build up to this cup final?

[00:39:53] Yeah,

[00:39:54] absolutely.

[00:39:54] And I actually don't think that motivation comes just as a result of the league now.

[00:39:59] I think there's very much business after last year's final also.

[00:40:03] And I noticed it from the first day of pre-season,

[00:40:06] there were still players hurting from that day.

[00:40:07] And I think if anybody's followed the FAI Cup so far this year and they've seen the performances we've put in,

[00:40:14] you know,

[00:40:14] gone to Galway away and produced probably our performance of the season,

[00:40:18] then going to Rovers down to 10 players for the best part of the 60 minutes and getting a last minute winner.

[00:40:24] And,

[00:40:24] you know,

[00:40:25] a good Cork side,

[00:40:26] you know,

[00:40:27] convincingly beat them in a semi-final.

[00:40:29] So we produced some of our best,

[00:40:31] you know,

[00:40:31] our best performances in the cup so far this year.

[00:40:34] So hopefully we can do it again next weekend.

[00:40:36] Yeah.

[00:40:37] If you do win the cup final on Sunday,

[00:40:39] is there a plan for somebody else to plant a big flag in the middle of Tallah Stadium?

[00:40:43] Or was that just a wood sign?

[00:40:45] That was purely Gemma in the moment.

[00:40:49] And I'm sure,

[00:40:50] look,

[00:40:52] there's some great characters in our group and we've seen that throughout the year.

[00:40:55] So I'm sure if we're lucky enough to come out on top next week,

[00:40:58] we'll see some good celebrations.

[00:41:00] Is it more difficult to prepare after the way the league went?

[00:41:05] Or is it easier to prepare in terms of,

[00:41:07] I know you said the motivation just doesn't come from the league and it comes from the players

[00:41:10] and it's come from them all year.

[00:41:12] But do you find that maybe your job isn't maybe as difficult this week as it might have been

[00:41:17] if you were league champions?

[00:41:18] I actually think last week was the challenging week,

[00:41:21] you know,

[00:41:22] having to play one more kind of league game before the cup final.

[00:41:26] And just checking in with all our players regarding,

[00:41:30] you know,

[00:41:30] who are you in knocks and niggles like yesterday?

[00:41:34] We wrestled Roman McLaughlin,

[00:41:36] for example,

[00:41:37] even Leah Doyle as well.

[00:41:39] And we managed to get the likes of Kiva Keenan.

[00:41:41] And Alex Kavanagh off the pitch quite early.

[00:41:43] Kate Mooney,

[00:41:44] Rachel Graham,

[00:41:45] players like that,

[00:41:45] that we know will be important for us next week.

[00:41:47] So that was more of the challenging week,

[00:41:50] you know,

[00:41:50] how to manage that the best way possible.

[00:41:52] You know,

[00:41:52] it kind of looks after itself.

[00:41:54] Everybody will come in tomorrow night for training and,

[00:41:57] you know,

[00:41:57] be focused and ready to go.

[00:41:59] And everybody looking forward to it.

[00:42:01] And,

[00:42:01] you know,

[00:42:01] you said that yesterday you left out Roma and,

[00:42:05] but you bring in Megan Smith Lynch,

[00:42:06] you bring in Rachel Graham,

[00:42:07] you bring in,

[00:42:08] when you're bringing in players of that caliber on,

[00:42:10] like how difficult is it for you to pick a team for next Sunday?

[00:42:13] You know,

[00:42:14] when you have all these names,

[00:42:15] all these really,

[00:42:16] really top class players around that squad,

[00:42:17] and you can only give 11 jerseys on the day.

[00:42:20] Yeah,

[00:42:20] look,

[00:42:21] it's,

[00:42:21] it's a headache that I've had all year,

[00:42:23] you know,

[00:42:23] coming towards the end of the week,

[00:42:25] every week.

[00:42:25] It's,

[00:42:26] and that's what you want ultimately though,

[00:42:28] is,

[00:42:28] is players pushing each other,

[00:42:29] making each other better and making sure there's no complacency in the group.

[00:42:33] And I think,

[00:42:34] you know,

[00:42:34] we're very fortunate.

[00:42:35] You mentioned the likes of,

[00:42:36] of Megan and Rachel that,

[00:42:38] you know,

[00:42:39] look,

[00:42:39] Megan missed the first half of the year.

[00:42:41] We've been patient.

[00:42:41] We're kind of easing her back in and,

[00:42:43] you know,

[00:42:44] she scored,

[00:42:44] I think two or three goals in that space of time and,

[00:42:47] and key important goals and games.

[00:42:49] And,

[00:42:50] you know,

[00:42:50] Rachel's just been so consistent,

[00:42:52] not just this season,

[00:42:54] but for a number of seasons now.

[00:42:55] And,

[00:42:55] you know,

[00:42:56] you're talking about players who are,

[00:42:57] who care about the bigger picture and the group.

[00:43:00] And I think that's what's so important.

[00:43:02] They put the team first above all else.

[00:43:04] And,

[00:43:05] you know,

[00:43:05] and I have no doubt whatever 11 I put out next,

[00:43:07] next Sunday,

[00:43:08] they'll be ready to go,

[00:43:09] but not just that.

[00:43:09] I think if you look back at all our games this year,

[00:43:13] because of the strength of the squad,

[00:43:14] we've been able to empty the bench and use all five subs.

[00:43:17] In most games.

[00:43:18] So I think that's the strength of us,

[00:43:20] you know,

[00:43:20] is that strength and depth that we have and knowing that every player is capable of performing at any moment.

[00:43:25] Probably an unfair question though,

[00:43:26] but I love them anyway.

[00:43:28] As you sit there now,

[00:43:30] how many of that starting 11 are you sure of,

[00:43:32] or that you know of for next week?

[00:43:33] Or could anything happen this week that,

[00:43:35] that changes those thoughts and those plans?

[00:43:38] Look,

[00:43:38] in all honesty,

[00:43:39] you know,

[00:43:40] it's,

[00:43:40] it's probably,

[00:43:41] you know,

[00:43:42] over the last week or so,

[00:43:43] you start to think about it.

[00:43:44] And it even,

[00:43:45] you know,

[00:43:45] we think about it going into the last,

[00:43:49] yesterday evening's game against Rovers.

[00:43:51] And I think we're probably always 90% of the way there,

[00:43:54] but,

[00:43:54] you know,

[00:43:54] a lot can change in the week and the build up.

[00:43:57] But look,

[00:43:58] we know exactly what loan are about this year.

[00:44:00] You know,

[00:44:00] we've played them on three occasions,

[00:44:03] twice in the league and once in the,

[00:44:05] in the All-Ireland Cup.

[00:44:05] And we know their kind of strengths and we know,

[00:44:08] we know where hopefully we'll be able to exploit them and expose them maybe.

[00:44:12] So look,

[00:44:13] look in terms of the team selection,

[00:44:15] we're probably 90% of the way there,

[00:44:17] but you never know.

[00:44:18] There's still,

[00:44:19] there's still a long way to go,

[00:44:20] as they say,

[00:44:20] in football.

[00:44:21] So.

[00:44:22] You mentioned there at loan and yourselves,

[00:44:24] there's,

[00:44:24] there's this rivalry building on over the last couple of years.

[00:44:28] Obviously they won the FA Cup last year.

[00:44:30] I didn't do this deliberately,

[00:44:32] you know,

[00:44:32] sorry,

[00:44:32] they won the league this year,

[00:44:33] but prior to that,

[00:44:34] you were the dominant side,

[00:44:35] but rivalries like that can be good for a league and they can good for the,

[00:44:39] the profile of a league.

[00:44:40] So as you head into the third cup final,

[00:44:44] are you hoping that this rivalry is something that can,

[00:44:47] that the,

[00:44:47] that the league can build a profile around and maybe,

[00:44:51] you know,

[00:44:51] rising waters,

[00:44:52] carry all ships type scenario.

[00:44:54] Yeah,

[00:44:55] definitely.

[00:44:55] I look,

[00:44:56] I think the more exposure the league can get,

[00:44:58] the better.

[00:44:58] I think,

[00:44:59] you know,

[00:45:00] if,

[00:45:00] if people look at the league this year and the quality and show on cross the

[00:45:04] board and how competitive the league has been,

[00:45:06] I think,

[00:45:07] you know,

[00:45:07] we've come out on top,

[00:45:09] I think in terms of goal difference this year,

[00:45:10] which is plus 27.

[00:45:11] And I think that's something that you need to look at compared to previous

[00:45:14] years and just how,

[00:45:16] you know,

[00:45:16] the,

[00:45:16] the margins closing and closing every year.

[00:45:18] So,

[00:45:19] and I think looking at,

[00:45:20] with Athlone,

[00:45:21] I think what they've done,

[00:45:22] not just that,

[00:45:22] a first time level over the last couple of years,

[00:45:24] but within their academy set up at 17s and 19s,

[00:45:27] they're doing a lot of great work there.

[00:45:29] And that was a real,

[00:45:30] a real powerhouse of the women's game now.

[00:45:32] And I think they'll be,

[00:45:33] they'll be there to stay and hopefully we'll,

[00:45:36] we'll stay up there with them.

[00:45:37] And,

[00:45:38] you know,

[00:45:38] and I'm sure like teams like Rovers and Piedmont will,

[00:45:40] will come back stronger.

[00:45:42] Galway have a really good young squad as well.

[00:45:44] So it's,

[00:45:45] it's certainly not a case where it's just going to be us and Athlone for the

[00:45:49] foreseeable.

[00:45:49] I think other teams will come back even stronger next year,

[00:45:52] but look,

[00:45:53] in the meantime,

[00:45:54] you know,

[00:45:54] you have to enjoy these rivalries.

[00:45:56] I think when you're,

[00:45:57] when you're a player,

[00:45:57] a manager,

[00:45:58] you know,

[00:45:59] I have a really good relationship with here on as well.

[00:46:01] And we used to play against each other and we,

[00:46:04] you know,

[00:46:04] we'd speak regularly before the games and stuff like that.

[00:46:07] So,

[00:46:08] look,

[00:46:08] I think it's a healthy rivalry,

[00:46:10] but certainly one that that's pushing both sides.

[00:46:12] One more for me now here.

[00:46:14] And then I leave John jump in.

[00:46:16] Just when you're preparing this week,

[00:46:18] how much of that preparation or what's the balance kind of between

[00:46:21] preparing for what you want to do and preparing to stop Athlone doing what

[00:46:26] they want to do.

[00:46:27] You know,

[00:46:27] how do you balance that out in a week's training?

[00:46:29] To be honest with you,

[00:46:30] one thing we've been very conscious about throughout the year.

[00:46:34] So whether it's the league,

[00:46:35] the FAI cup,

[00:46:36] the All-Ireland cup,

[00:46:37] even Saturday,

[00:46:38] you could say,

[00:46:39] okay,

[00:46:39] there wasn't much at stake on Saturday,

[00:46:40] but we tried to make every week look as,

[00:46:43] as normal as possible and not change too much in terms of our

[00:46:46] preparation for any game.

[00:46:47] So that'll be certainly the case this week.

[00:46:49] We'll focus very much on ourselves.

[00:46:51] As I mentioned,

[00:46:52] we know where Athlone strengths lay,

[00:46:56] you know,

[00:46:56] and we will absolutely prepare for that and give them the respect they deserve.

[00:46:59] They're champions for a reason and they have players that can hurt us if

[00:47:03] we're not at it.

[00:47:03] So look,

[00:47:05] I think that's the case going into any game.

[00:47:07] Probably in this case,

[00:47:09] will we give it a little more attention?

[00:47:11] We might do,

[00:47:11] but it's still very much so about ourselves because we,

[00:47:14] if we can perform on the day,

[00:47:16] then hopefully we'll get the outcome that we want.

[00:47:19] Can I ask kind of a,

[00:47:21] go down a kind of a different line.

[00:47:23] In my mind,

[00:47:25] you're probably favorites for the cup.

[00:47:29] And I,

[00:47:30] I did that,

[00:47:30] I don't mean that in a sense of disrespect that loan,

[00:47:33] but like Deci Smiley now,

[00:47:34] cause I've been saying for the last month or so that I think you're the best

[00:47:37] team in the,

[00:47:38] in the league.

[00:47:39] And I think since Kate Mooney came in mid season,

[00:47:43] it's,

[00:47:44] it's given you an outlet up top that you've got so many talented players can pick

[00:47:48] a pass and,

[00:47:49] and her occupying defenders as well.

[00:47:51] Like,

[00:47:52] do you think that,

[00:47:54] do you think right now after the favorite tags will be justified or is that

[00:47:59] being a little unfair to that loan?

[00:48:01] Look,

[00:48:02] I think it's,

[00:48:03] it's probably being unfair in a sense.

[00:48:05] And I,

[00:48:05] I mean that because I think you look at how well they finished the season as

[00:48:10] well.

[00:48:10] It's not just the case where they,

[00:48:11] they fell over the line and,

[00:48:13] you know,

[00:48:13] they probably,

[00:48:14] we were hopeful that they might drop,

[00:48:16] you know,

[00:48:16] more points in the running than they did.

[00:48:18] But,

[00:48:19] you know,

[00:48:19] it shows the,

[00:48:20] the quality and the mentality of their group that even with one or two

[00:48:23] injuries and setbacks,

[00:48:25] they were still able to grind out results.

[00:48:27] I think you're right in terms of our own performances over the last couple of

[00:48:30] months.

[00:48:32] Maybe,

[00:48:32] maybe the performances were really,

[00:48:34] really good in the first half of the year,

[00:48:35] but we dropped points in games where we maybe shouldn't.

[00:48:38] And we couldn't find that cutting edge on front of the goal.

[00:48:41] And if you look back over the last few weeks,

[00:48:43] we've,

[00:48:44] I think in most games,

[00:48:46] I know we scored four against three.

[00:48:48] We,

[00:48:48] I think it was,

[00:48:48] was a four or five against Cork.

[00:48:50] And,

[00:48:51] you know,

[00:48:51] there's a couple of other guys,

[00:48:52] four against Sligo.

[00:48:53] So the goal three against Piedmont.

[00:48:55] And so we,

[00:48:56] we've certainly been,

[00:48:57] you know,

[00:48:58] flourishing now in front of the goal.

[00:48:59] Kate's been a massive part of that.

[00:49:01] But I also think even the output of our wingbacks,

[00:49:04] I think Leah Doyle and Christie,

[00:49:06] the second half of the year have,

[00:49:07] have really stepped up in terms of what they're offering in the final third.

[00:49:11] And look,

[00:49:12] I just think it's clicking at the moment.

[00:49:14] You know,

[00:49:14] we are in a really good place.

[00:49:16] Confidence is high.

[00:49:18] You know,

[00:49:18] we've,

[00:49:19] we've obviously kept 13 clean sheets over the course of the season.

[00:49:22] So we believe at both end of the pitch,

[00:49:24] we're in a good place going into the final.

[00:49:26] Actually,

[00:49:27] as you mentioned,

[00:49:27] Christie Gray,

[00:49:28] that was kind of going to be my next question.

[00:49:29] Because obviously you've kind of,

[00:49:31] you've got a situation really like from the outside,

[00:49:33] looking in where you've got Maddie Gibson on one side,

[00:49:37] Christie Gray on the other side,

[00:49:39] basically how much do each have to worry in your head about what the other's going

[00:49:43] to do?

[00:49:44] Or,

[00:49:44] you know,

[00:49:45] does that limit each other,

[00:49:46] their own game?

[00:49:47] Or do you just let them off the leash?

[00:49:49] Do you think,

[00:49:49] well,

[00:49:50] obviously you can only speak for Christie,

[00:49:51] but you know,

[00:49:52] how much additional defensive duties is she going to have with that kind of

[00:49:56] lineup?

[00:49:57] Yeah.

[00:49:57] Look,

[00:49:58] I think Christie,

[00:49:59] we all know Christie's strengths lay,

[00:50:01] you know,

[00:50:01] in the opposition half.

[00:50:03] And we want her getting as high of the pits as possible.

[00:50:06] And,

[00:50:07] and hopefully forcing the likes of Maddie or Oshin or Isabel or whoever plays on

[00:50:12] that side,

[00:50:12] forcing them back and do more defending than attacking.

[00:50:14] And that would be the ideal situation.

[00:50:17] But,

[00:50:17] you know,

[00:50:18] one thing I'll say about Christie is she,

[00:50:20] she doesn't neglect her defensive duties.

[00:50:22] She's,

[00:50:22] she's a great attitude.

[00:50:23] She's a great engine.

[00:50:25] For me,

[00:50:25] she's probably one of the outstanding athletes in the league as well,

[00:50:28] in terms of the ground she can cover.

[00:50:29] So,

[00:50:30] you know,

[00:50:31] look,

[00:50:31] we've been really delighted with her.

[00:50:32] Particularly,

[00:50:33] as I said,

[00:50:34] she was doing a lot of good work in the first half of the season,

[00:50:36] but maybe not getting the rewards from it.

[00:50:38] But I think over the last few weeks,

[00:50:40] as I said,

[00:50:41] her on one side and Leah on the other side,

[00:50:43] you know,

[00:50:43] they give us so much going forward on defensively.

[00:50:46] The,

[00:50:46] the last kind of thing,

[00:50:47] I guess then is,

[00:50:48] you know,

[00:50:49] you've got some,

[00:50:51] obviously you've got the experienced people like Rachel Graham,

[00:50:53] Alex Kavanagh,

[00:50:54] even though she's still very young,

[00:50:56] Pearl,

[00:50:56] you know,

[00:50:57] and you've got that right through the squad,

[00:51:00] but you've also,

[00:51:01] you know,

[00:51:01] been bringing in like,

[00:51:02] like the likes of Leah this year,

[00:51:03] bringing in younger players,

[00:51:05] giving them that,

[00:51:05] that,

[00:51:05] that,

[00:51:06] that kind of exposure.

[00:51:07] And on a,

[00:51:09] on a cup final day,

[00:51:10] how important is it like that you have people who've been there and done it,

[00:51:14] like the Pearl salaries,

[00:51:15] like,

[00:51:15] you know,

[00:51:16] Rachel,

[00:51:16] who's done it so many times before to have them just so that you make sure the occasion,

[00:51:21] that the players end up playing the game and not the occasion,

[00:51:23] I guess.

[00:51:24] Yeah,

[00:51:24] it's so important and not just on the match day itself,

[00:51:28] but I think on the,

[00:51:29] over the whole week and the build up to it.

[00:51:32] And you can,

[00:51:33] you can come in tomorrow and you might see a few people and they might look a little bit more nervous than usual,

[00:51:38] or they might change routines slightly.

[00:51:40] And I think that's what the senior players are so good for because ultimately,

[00:51:44] you know,

[00:51:44] myself and Rory have,

[00:51:46] of course we have a huge impact on the group,

[00:51:48] but,

[00:51:48] you know,

[00:51:49] ultimately the dressing room,

[00:51:50] you know,

[00:51:51] they're together.

[00:51:52] They've been through a lot together.

[00:51:53] They're the,

[00:51:54] the experiences they've,

[00:51:55] they've had over the years.

[00:51:56] And I think that's invaluable for the young players.

[00:51:58] And I think the profile,

[00:52:00] the age profile of the squad was something we were conscious of at the start of the year.

[00:52:03] We've got,

[00:52:04] you know,

[00:52:04] I think four players that are 35,

[00:52:07] you know,

[00:52:07] have turned 35 this season.

[00:52:09] And,

[00:52:09] you know,

[00:52:10] we've got four or five that are,

[00:52:11] that are 18 and have played a lot of minutes this year.

[00:52:15] And then we obviously,

[00:52:16] like you said,

[00:52:17] we have that middle,

[00:52:18] middle group,

[00:52:18] which is the likes of Maggie Pierce,

[00:52:20] Christy Gray,

[00:52:21] Alex Kavner,

[00:52:22] um,

[00:52:23] Leah Doyle,

[00:52:24] you know,

[00:52:24] who are,

[00:52:25] who are coming into their kind of prime years at the moment as well.

[00:52:28] So there's a real healthy balance in the group and the young players need the old players for experience.

[00:52:33] And the older players need the younger players for the legs.

[00:52:35] So very good.

[00:52:37] Do the two league games so far this season,

[00:52:40] Owen,

[00:52:40] have any bearing on,

[00:52:41] on how next Sunday goes in your opinion?

[00:52:43] No,

[00:52:43] not at all.

[00:52:44] Um,

[00:52:44] I think cup final day,

[00:52:46] you know,

[00:52:47] form goes out the window probably,

[00:52:50] um,

[00:52:50] you know,

[00:52:50] league positions go out the window.

[00:52:52] So I think in both cases,

[00:52:54] if we look back at those two league games,

[00:52:55] obviously,

[00:52:55] if you look at the three times we played them this year,

[00:52:58] there's,

[00:52:58] there's a win for each team.

[00:53:00] Um,

[00:53:00] and then the draw down on that loan at the start of the season.

[00:53:02] So,

[00:53:03] you know,

[00:53:03] it just shows you how,

[00:53:04] how little separate the two sides.

[00:53:06] I think down,

[00:53:08] down there at the,

[00:53:09] at the start of the season,

[00:53:10] you know,

[00:53:11] obviously we concede an injury time,

[00:53:12] which draws the game,

[00:53:13] which in hindsight turns out to be,

[00:53:15] especially in a league where there's so few games.

[00:53:17] Fortunately,

[00:53:17] it turns out to be,

[00:53:18] you know,

[00:53:20] a big two points that,

[00:53:21] that we,

[00:53:22] um,

[00:53:23] and then look,

[00:53:24] the,

[00:53:24] the less I say,

[00:53:25] the better about the,

[00:53:27] the,

[00:53:27] how the,

[00:53:28] the game and talk of park fared out at the moment,

[00:53:31] you know,

[00:53:31] that's,

[00:53:31] that's distant memory now at this stage,

[00:53:33] or we're,

[00:53:34] we're,

[00:53:34] we're trying to keep it that way.

[00:53:36] So I think we,

[00:53:37] we treat this occasion,

[00:53:38] um,

[00:53:39] as a one-off as best as we can prepare as best as we can.

[00:53:42] And as I said,

[00:53:43] we've,

[00:53:43] we've got a healthy group fitness wise going in.

[00:53:46] So touch wood,

[00:53:47] we have no issues throughout the week.

[00:53:48] And I think we're going into it in a good place.

[00:53:50] You talked there about casting side,

[00:53:52] bad memories and whatnot,

[00:53:53] but as we speak to you,

[00:53:54] I'm not sure if you're still in talk of park or not,

[00:53:56] but obviously the 19 cup final has just finished maybe an hour or so ago.

[00:54:01] You guys won that three too.

[00:54:03] There's probably three or four players in each of those squads today who will,

[00:54:06] be involved in the game next Sunday.

[00:54:09] A small little psychological win for you guys a week before the big one.

[00:54:14] Look,

[00:54:14] I,

[00:54:14] I think winning across the board and I believe,

[00:54:17] and I'm not just speaking about the women's section,

[00:54:18] I think for the club,

[00:54:19] it's something that,

[00:54:20] you know,

[00:54:21] I feel strongly about.

[00:54:23] and even from a point of view where getting fans out to support next week,

[00:54:27] I think if,

[00:54:28] you know,

[00:54:29] the,

[00:54:29] the 17s boys when,

[00:54:30] when last weekend,

[00:54:31] the 19s girls this weekend,

[00:54:33] hopefully we can do the business the following weekend.

[00:54:35] And then you're hoping that springboards the men on then to a,

[00:54:38] to a strong finish and they can get over the line also.

[00:54:41] And I think that's got to be the mentality of the club is we're,

[00:54:44] we're all one club.

[00:54:45] We support each other.

[00:54:47] And,

[00:54:47] you know,

[00:54:48] as I said,

[00:54:48] I think success breeds success.

[00:54:50] And,

[00:54:50] and hopefully,

[00:54:51] as you said,

[00:54:52] that will be a springboard because there is four or five girls that play today.

[00:54:55] That will be in the squad next week.

[00:54:57] And today they'll be coming into a flying and in good spirits this week.

[00:55:01] Finally,

[00:55:02] I spoke to Ciarán Kildoff after their game in Limerick against Treaty.

[00:55:07] It was probably a month ago now.

[00:55:08] And Ciarán made the point that at that stage,

[00:55:10] the semifinals hadn't been played,

[00:55:12] but whichever four clubs or whichever two clubs ended up in the final,

[00:55:15] he wanted to see the FAI build massively towards the final.

[00:55:20] There was three and a half thousand at it last year.

[00:55:22] Ciarán's point was he couldn't see why we couldn't get a sellout in Tala.

[00:55:26] Is that something that you would echo?

[00:55:28] And you'd echo that call for the FAI to,

[00:55:30] to build this cup final properly?

[00:55:32] Yeah,

[00:55:33] a hundred percent.

[00:55:34] I think,

[00:55:36] you know,

[00:55:36] this is,

[00:55:37] you're probably going into the last couple of finals.

[00:55:39] And I'm not saying that there's never been much between the teams in general,

[00:55:42] but particularly this year,

[00:55:44] you're talking,

[00:55:44] you know,

[00:55:45] really,

[00:55:45] really small margins.

[00:55:46] I think everybody would agree that the two top teams in the country without a shadow of a doubt.

[00:55:51] And I think the quality on show and,

[00:55:53] you know,

[00:55:54] our own homegrown Irish players,

[00:55:56] but also the international players from both sides as well.

[00:55:59] There's,

[00:55:59] there's a lot of talent.

[00:56:01] I think the quality of football and the product will be there.

[00:56:03] I think,

[00:56:04] look,

[00:56:04] I've noticed the push in the last week or so,

[00:56:06] in particular with the FAI and,

[00:56:08] on social media and things like that.

[00:56:10] And I think,

[00:56:11] you know,

[00:56:11] we have to push it within our own clubs.

[00:56:13] One thing I will say is,

[00:56:15] you know,

[00:56:15] people claim to be fans of women's football in this country and want to push women's football on.

[00:56:21] And that can't just be going out and getting 20,000 senior international game.

[00:56:26] That's got to be shown.

[00:56:27] And what's our domestic showcase,

[00:56:29] which is the cup final.

[00:56:30] And I think,

[00:56:31] again,

[00:56:31] in this case,

[00:56:32] as I said,

[00:56:33] you're echoing it.

[00:56:34] It's the,

[00:56:34] it's the two best sides in the country.

[00:56:36] And I think,

[00:56:36] you know,

[00:56:37] both sides will deliver on the day.

[00:56:38] I think it would be a great occasion.

[00:56:40] I think hopefully we,

[00:56:41] we get the attendance and the crowd and the support that,

[00:56:43] that we feel that both sides deserve for the seasons that they've had.

[00:56:47] And,

[00:56:47] and the,

[00:56:47] you know,

[00:56:48] the game and the show that we'll put on.

[00:56:50] So,

[00:56:51] you know,

[00:56:51] anybody who,

[00:56:52] who is listening and claims to be a fan of women's football,

[00:56:55] I,

[00:56:55] I think if you're not there next weekend,

[00:56:57] then,

[00:56:58] you know,

[00:56:58] I'd cast a doubt over that.

[00:57:00] Very,

[00:57:01] very true.

[00:57:02] Very,

[00:57:02] very true.

[00:57:03] And what's,

[00:57:03] that's a great spot to leave it,

[00:57:04] I guess.

[00:57:05] Owen,

[00:57:06] very best of luck to,

[00:57:07] to yourself and Shelburne next weekend.

[00:57:10] And,

[00:57:10] um,

[00:57:11] hopefully we'll catch up with you in the media tunnel afterwards and,

[00:57:15] get your views on how the day has gone.

[00:57:18] Yeah.

[00:57:18] But until then,

[00:57:19] best of luck.

[00:57:20] I appreciate that lads.

[00:57:21] Thanks very much.

[00:57:24] Cheers.

[00:57:24] No bother.

[00:57:25] Thanks Owen.

[00:57:25] Yes guys.

[00:57:26] Thank you.

[00:57:30] And,

[00:57:31] um,

[00:57:33] very confident.

[00:57:34] I thought about what he thinks is going to happen next Sunday.

[00:57:39] Yeah.

[00:57:39] And,

[00:57:40] and I,

[00:57:40] I think he's right to be,

[00:57:41] um,

[00:57:42] when you,

[00:57:42] when you go through the players,

[00:57:44] the way he,

[00:57:44] he called out there,

[00:57:45] you know,

[00:57:46] he's got the experience with the Megan spit Lynch,

[00:57:50] the Pearl salaries on his cabinet.

[00:57:52] Um,

[00:57:53] he,

[00:57:53] you know,

[00:57:53] and he's got those young players coming up or true.

[00:57:56] Like there's a,

[00:57:57] there's a brilliant squad there,

[00:57:58] brilliant blend of experience and talent.

[00:58:01] Um,

[00:58:01] and again,

[00:58:03] at the risk of,

[00:58:04] I know I told him he kind of,

[00:58:06] not dodge,

[00:58:07] but he very politically,

[00:58:08] um,

[00:58:09] answered that question when I said they were favorites.

[00:58:11] I,

[00:58:11] I think they are.

[00:58:12] I think he's got,

[00:58:13] um,

[00:58:13] I think he has the form team in the league at the moment.

[00:58:16] And while he's right about the way at loan finished the league off,

[00:58:19] despite,

[00:58:20] you know,

[00:58:20] keep bouncing back with the team,

[00:58:22] the,

[00:58:22] the,

[00:58:23] the,

[00:58:24] the difficulties and injuries that they've had,

[00:58:26] um,

[00:58:27] as much as I would love to see Roisin Molloy win the double.

[00:58:31] Um,

[00:58:31] I,

[00:58:31] I do think it's going to be,

[00:58:33] uh,

[00:58:34] a tough night for them next week.

[00:58:39] I think John has hung his hat the last month or so,

[00:58:42] last six weeks or so on this whole,

[00:58:45] Shelburne are the best team in the league.

[00:58:48] Malarkey is probably the word I'd use to describe it,

[00:58:50] you know?

[00:58:51] Um,

[00:58:52] I actually think he's right though.

[00:58:53] I think Shelburne,

[00:58:55] if we,

[00:58:56] when the bookies open their,

[00:58:57] their book on Tuesday or Wednesday,

[00:58:59] whenever they do,

[00:59:00] I think Shelburne will be slight favorites,

[00:59:03] but I,

[00:59:03] I genuinely can't separate them.

[00:59:05] I,

[00:59:05] I,

[00:59:05] I don't know how anybody could.

[00:59:08] Yeah.

[00:59:09] Well,

[00:59:09] obviously like John is incorrect.

[00:59:10] Athlone are the best team in the league.

[00:59:12] Like they are of course.

[00:59:13] Yeah.

[00:59:13] Yeah.

[00:59:13] That's established now,

[00:59:15] but he's also correcting that Shelburne are the form form team.

[00:59:18] Like,

[00:59:18] um,

[00:59:19] I look as we unfortunately know,

[00:59:21] 2005,

[00:59:22] it's very,

[00:59:22] very difficult to win a cup double,

[00:59:24] to win that double,

[00:59:25] to come down,

[00:59:26] especially for Athlone.

[00:59:27] Like you've won that first title.

[00:59:30] And I think it's very,

[00:59:32] very hard to set your focus on a cup final.

[00:59:35] Like I,

[00:59:35] I think it's really hard to do a double for that reason.

[00:59:38] Um,

[00:59:38] for that reason,

[00:59:39] I probably lean towards Shelburne,

[00:59:40] but there's going to be nothing between them.

[00:59:41] Um,

[00:59:42] they really don't like each other.

[00:59:43] Like,

[00:59:44] which makes for,

[00:59:45] as a neutral,

[00:59:46] it's going to be a very,

[00:59:48] very good game.

[00:59:48] It's going to be a real,

[00:59:49] it's going to be a battle.

[00:59:50] Like we saw last year,

[00:59:51] some brilliant goals and just some brilliant drama.

[00:59:54] Like if you've got a fraction of what we got last year,

[00:59:56] we're going to get a great cup final.

[00:59:58] And look,

[00:59:58] they are the two best teams in the league.

[01:00:00] Um,

[01:00:01] I said all their,

[01:00:01] like there's been nothing to give between them.

[01:00:03] Do they draw on Athlone?

[01:00:04] And then obviously one nil,

[01:00:07] the penalty,

[01:00:08] the Kerryann Brown penalty in Talky Parks.

[01:00:09] There's,

[01:00:09] there really is nothing between the two sides and I look forward to it.

[01:00:13] I hope there's a good crowd in there.

[01:00:14] I think there will be.

[01:00:15] Um,

[01:00:15] I'm delighted that my,

[01:00:17] my two podcasters are,

[01:00:18] are official media.

[01:00:20] What's going on?

[01:00:21] I leave for a week and look at you with your gradation.

[01:00:24] Jesus.

[01:00:25] Um,

[01:00:26] so yeah,

[01:00:26] look,

[01:00:26] it's,

[01:00:27] it's going to be,

[01:00:27] it's a great day out.

[01:00:28] It always is a great day.

[01:00:29] Um,

[01:00:29] I don't think there's been too many cup finals.

[01:00:32] There's one cup final in memory that I'd like to forget about.

[01:00:35] Um,

[01:00:35] but like in the last couple of years,

[01:00:38] it's,

[01:00:38] it's always been a very,

[01:00:39] very good game.

[01:00:41] And yeah,

[01:00:41] I'm very much looking forward to it,

[01:00:42] but I,

[01:00:43] Athlone will be hanging this on,

[01:00:45] under the dressing room wall because the three of us are dipping Shelburne,

[01:00:47] are we?

[01:00:49] No,

[01:00:49] we're not.

[01:00:50] Sorry,

[01:00:50] sorry,

[01:00:51] Shelburne.

[01:00:52] It's just two of you tipping Shelburne.

[01:00:55] I think,

[01:00:55] I genuinely,

[01:00:56] I think it goes to penalties.

[01:00:58] I genuinely think it goes to penalties.

[01:01:00] I don't think there's like,

[01:01:01] there's so little between them.

[01:01:03] It's frightening.

[01:01:04] And I know John's and your team's probably all the Kate Mooney effect.

[01:01:08] And yes,

[01:01:08] she's been brilliant.

[01:01:09] She,

[01:01:09] she came in and she's,

[01:01:10] I,

[01:01:11] she scored again yesterday against Rovers.

[01:01:12] I think she's finished with eight,

[01:01:14] which is two behind the golden boot,

[01:01:17] if I'm correct.

[01:01:18] If she's there for the season,

[01:01:19] she wins the golden boot by seven or eight.

[01:01:22] I'd have given a penny for her thought when she was taken off yesterday.

[01:01:25] She knows at that point,

[01:01:27] the golden boot is done.

[01:01:29] Do you know that kind of way?

[01:01:30] Like,

[01:01:30] because she had a few chances and like,

[01:01:32] she's somebody said he's in the right place at the right time.

[01:01:35] Like that's,

[01:01:36] but yeah,

[01:01:36] look,

[01:01:36] there's not good,

[01:01:37] but Brenda's has had as good an effect for Athlone to be fair up the other end.

[01:01:42] So like they're too,

[01:01:43] so like if you're saying,

[01:01:45] if they have Kate Mooney from the start,

[01:01:46] I could say if,

[01:01:46] if they have Brenda from the start,

[01:01:48] maybe they,

[01:01:49] they don't lose to Galway in that game.

[01:01:51] Maybe they beat Shelburne in the game in Athlone.

[01:01:53] And you just don't know.

[01:01:54] So,

[01:01:55] yeah,

[01:01:55] said look,

[01:01:56] it's my,

[01:01:56] just,

[01:01:57] I'm excited because I know they don't like each other and that's what I'm most excited for.

[01:02:01] The kicking.

[01:02:02] It's also been two years since there's,

[01:02:05] you know,

[01:02:06] there's been one game between them in two years.

[01:02:08] That's been more than a goal in the difference.

[01:02:10] So when they do come together,

[01:02:13] invariably they,

[01:02:14] you know,

[01:02:15] not that they cancel each other out,

[01:02:17] but one doesn't get away from the other easily.

[01:02:20] Like,

[01:02:20] so yeah,

[01:02:21] look,

[01:02:22] I,

[01:02:22] I say,

[01:02:23] I would say the tip of shells,

[01:02:24] but I,

[01:02:24] I,

[01:02:25] I could see equally a penalty shootout and just hopefully it's a,

[01:02:30] it's a warmer evening than it was last year because that's the coldest I've been in a long,

[01:02:35] long time watching that penalty shootout.

[01:02:40] Yeah.

[01:02:41] Yeah.

[01:02:41] Look,

[01:02:41] I mean,

[01:02:42] you mentioned golden boot and everything else,

[01:02:44] but Owen addressed that in the interview that we did there.

[01:02:46] And you,

[01:02:46] you know,

[01:02:47] it sounded like they had pre-planned almost substitutions.

[01:02:52] They were happy to get Alex Kavanaugh off after a certain number of minutes.

[01:02:55] Kate Mooney,

[01:02:56] which plays into what was said last week,

[01:02:58] more or less by John,

[01:02:59] that they wouldn't want to lose to Shamrock Rovers.

[01:03:01] I wouldn't want to roll over for Shamrock Rovers.

[01:03:03] So started out with the strongest team,

[01:03:05] but the plan was always to take some of those key players off after whatever it was,

[01:03:11] 60,

[01:03:11] 70 minutes.

[01:03:14] Joy Ralph was another one who was chasing a golden boot and she didn't start against Wexford the week before.

[01:03:19] It's just kind of like,

[01:03:19] hmm,

[01:03:20] interesting as well.

[01:03:21] Like,

[01:03:21] you know.

[01:03:22] Yeah.

[01:03:23] But again,

[01:03:23] it's just what Shelburne,

[01:03:24] like you're saying,

[01:03:26] they rest their starters.

[01:03:28] Like,

[01:03:28] who they bring off the bench is mad.

[01:03:29] Like,

[01:03:29] do you know what I mean?

[01:03:30] Yeah.

[01:03:32] There's just no weakening it.

[01:03:33] Like,

[01:03:33] and I think maybe,

[01:03:35] especially in a cup final that there's very high probability that it'll go to extra time.

[01:03:40] Does that stand to them?

[01:03:41] Like,

[01:03:42] the quality that they can bring off the bench.

[01:03:44] And again,

[01:03:45] like not because we're touching it a lot,

[01:03:47] the amount of injuries that loan have had.

[01:03:50] They don't have that,

[01:03:51] probably that real strength off their bench,

[01:03:53] although they have some very good players in their bench.

[01:03:54] I don't know if they have the strength and experience that Shelburne can bring on.

[01:03:57] So I think,

[01:03:58] I think that's where you could see,

[01:04:00] what do they call them now?

[01:04:00] Finishers.

[01:04:01] They're not substitution.

[01:04:02] They're not substitutes.

[01:04:03] They're game finishers.

[01:04:05] I saw someone say that in a rugby interview the other day.

[01:04:08] Oh my God.

[01:04:09] Desperate.

[01:04:11] Desperate.

[01:04:13] I'm glad you're the one saying it anyway.

[01:04:15] You're not making me the one who says it.

[01:04:16] I died a bit.

[01:04:17] When she said it,

[01:04:18] I died a bit in the inside.

[01:04:19] I think it was the Ireland New Zealand game.

[01:04:20] She was like,

[01:04:21] we don't have subs.

[01:04:21] We have finishers.

[01:04:22] I was like,

[01:04:23] they're subs,

[01:04:24] girl.

[01:04:25] They're subs,

[01:04:25] girl.

[01:04:29] My good God.

[01:04:30] Right.

[01:04:30] If that's where we're heading,

[01:04:31] I want to jump off the ship anyway,

[01:04:33] before it hits the iceberg,

[01:04:36] because I'll have enough at that stage.

[01:04:39] So yeah,

[01:04:40] this week,

[01:04:40] so during the week,

[01:04:42] I was doing some shit with work and got kind of tied into the whole AI thing.

[01:04:47] And you were on a training course.

[01:04:49] I was on a training course and this lad was doing a load of a true AI.

[01:04:52] It was like,

[01:04:53] you don't have to do all this anymore.

[01:04:54] Just stick it into AI and it'll generate all this for you.

[01:04:57] And then you can drop it into a spread.

[01:04:58] And I was like,

[01:04:59] man,

[01:04:59] this is my first thing with AI.

[01:05:01] So my wife was driving me home that evening and I stuck into AI this,

[01:05:06] this prompt,

[01:05:07] please prepare me a detailed tactical analysis,

[01:05:09] analysis,

[01:05:10] including likely team formations,

[01:05:12] key players,

[01:05:13] and predict the result based on that analysis for the upcoming FAI women's cup final.

[01:05:18] And this is what AI came up with.

[01:05:19] Tactical analysis for the FAI women's cup final at Lone Town versus Shelburne.

[01:05:23] Unlikely team formations at Lone Town,

[01:05:26] 4-3-3.

[01:05:27] Defenders,

[01:05:28] solid backline with wingbacks pushing forward.

[01:05:31] Midfielders,

[01:05:32] Laurie Ryan is a central figure providing leadership and linking play.

[01:05:35] Forwards,

[01:05:36] Brenda Tabby and other wingers exploiting width and pace.

[01:05:40] Shelburne,

[01:05:41] 4-2-3-1.

[01:05:42] Defenders,

[01:05:43] strong central pairing with fullback supporting attacks.

[01:05:46] Midfielders,

[01:05:47] two holding midfielders to shield the defence,

[01:05:49] allowing attacking midfielders to roam.

[01:05:52] Forward,

[01:05:52] a lone striker supported by three attacking midfielders.

[01:05:56] Key players,

[01:05:58] at Lone Town,

[01:05:58] Laurie Ryan,

[01:05:59] central midfielder,

[01:06:00] crucial for ball distribution and defensive cover.

[01:06:03] Brenda Tabby,

[01:06:04] forward,

[01:06:04] known for her pace and ability to exploit defensive weaknesses.

[01:06:09] Shelburne,

[01:06:09] Jess Gargan,

[01:06:11] versatile defender,

[01:06:13] keen shutting down at Lone's attacking threats.

[01:06:16] Roma McLaughlin,

[01:06:18] attacking midfielder,

[01:06:19] pivotal in creating chances and linking play.

[01:06:23] Predicted result,

[01:06:26] given at Lone's recent form and tactical adaptability,

[01:06:30] they have a slight edge.

[01:06:32] However,

[01:06:32] Shelburne's experience in crucial matches could balance the outcome.

[01:06:37] Predicted score,

[01:06:38] at Lone Town,

[01:06:40] two,

[01:06:41] Shelburne,

[01:06:42] one.

[01:06:43] At Lone's solid defensive structure and effective counterattacks may secure them the cup,

[01:06:48] which Shelburne will likely put up a strong fight.

[01:06:51] So lads,

[01:06:53] AI is going for Lone anyway,

[01:06:55] so look,

[01:06:56] you might know a lot about Irish women's football,

[01:06:59] but the artificial intelligence is telling us,

[01:07:02] and has laid out a reasoned plan as to why

[01:07:05] Shelburne or Athlone are going to win this game 2-1.

[01:07:09] I wonder what are the odds of me,

[01:07:11] like,

[01:07:11] picking up some kind of media coverage of this game during the week with some journalist who doesn't actually really know much about the women's game and reading that word for word.

[01:07:23] Lads,

[01:07:23] there's so much stuff going to be generated out by AI,

[01:07:27] it's frightening,

[01:07:27] like,

[01:07:28] you know,

[01:07:29] so yeah,

[01:07:29] I didn't take it at,

[01:07:30] but it could happen.

[01:07:33] You don't need me in the idea anymore,

[01:07:34] you can just sit in your own reading,

[01:07:35] AI,

[01:07:36] just like,

[01:07:36] AI,

[01:07:37] you can do it.

[01:07:38] Now,

[01:07:38] you would definitely get yourself cancelled after two episodes,

[01:07:41] like.

[01:07:42] I get myself,

[01:07:43] yeah,

[01:07:43] yeah,

[01:07:43] yeah,

[01:07:43] for you here to keep a rain on me and keep me under.

[01:07:46] AI wouldn't be able to rain you in the way me and John do,

[01:07:49] to be honest.

[01:07:51] It would be funny though,

[01:07:53] wouldn't it?

[01:07:54] Oh,

[01:07:54] yeah.

[01:07:54] So,

[01:07:55] Aileen,

[01:07:55] yeah,

[01:07:56] interesting.

[01:07:57] I thought,

[01:07:58] no,

[01:07:58] I just thought it was interesting.

[01:07:59] I was able to identify Athlone,

[01:08:01] you know,

[01:08:01] and they're attacking strengths out wide and things like that,

[01:08:04] like stuff that you wouldn't think AI should know,

[01:08:07] but I just thought that was interesting.

[01:08:10] It's an interesting thing.

[01:08:12] We should say that Athlone,

[01:08:14] like Owen was on,

[01:08:16] Athlone,

[01:08:17] there seems to be some breakdown in communication,

[01:08:19] between ourselves and Athlone.

[01:08:20] They had provided somebody to come on,

[01:08:22] giving me contact details,

[01:08:24] et cetera.

[01:08:25] And as the day went on today,

[01:08:27] we just weren't able to touch base.

[01:08:29] So,

[01:08:30] look,

[01:08:31] we don't have any Athlone representation with us tonight,

[01:08:34] unfortunately,

[01:08:34] but there's no story there for those who would love there to be.

[01:08:37] It's just a complete breakdown in communication.

[01:08:43] So,

[01:08:45] what are we expecting in attendance wise,

[01:08:48] John?

[01:08:49] Because obviously,

[01:08:50] Ciarán has said that he thinks it should be a sellout,

[01:08:54] that everything should be put behind it from the FAI.

[01:08:58] Owen said in his interview that he feels they have ramped it up the last week,

[01:09:03] but I don't know.

[01:09:06] I'm not so sure,

[01:09:06] to be honest,

[01:09:07] which I think it's,

[01:09:09] it's been done in all the usual areas,

[01:09:11] FAI social media channels,

[01:09:13] et cetera.

[01:09:13] But the people following FAI media,

[01:09:15] social channels,

[01:09:16] have an interest in the game.

[01:09:17] I'm not sure again,

[01:09:18] that we're hitting anybody outside football,

[01:09:21] really,

[01:09:22] you know?

[01:09:24] Yeah,

[01:09:24] I tend to agree.

[01:09:25] I mean,

[01:09:26] look,

[01:09:26] I've noticed it over the last week or so that,

[01:09:29] you know,

[01:09:29] if you're on the FAI mailing lists for tickets and things like that,

[01:09:34] that they are pushing it quite strongly in those,

[01:09:36] in those avenues.

[01:09:37] But again,

[01:09:38] like you said,

[01:09:39] those are,

[01:09:39] you're,

[01:09:40] you're probably talking to a lot of people who are already aware of the

[01:09:43] game in that situation.

[01:09:44] So hopefully they're doing something.

[01:09:47] This plans to do something like radio,

[01:09:49] TV,

[01:09:50] a bit more online advertising through the week.

[01:09:53] They have been pushing the clubs and schools tickets,

[01:09:55] and allocation is pretty,

[01:09:56] pretty good.

[01:09:57] From my point of view anyway,

[01:09:59] I,

[01:09:59] I will be available,

[01:10:01] availing of that in our local club as well.

[01:10:03] And it's,

[01:10:04] it's a brilliant,

[01:10:05] especially like if someone is looking,

[01:10:07] if someone,

[01:10:07] anyone listens to this coaching girls,

[01:10:09] especially for coaching kids,

[01:10:12] like it's,

[01:10:13] you know,

[01:10:13] especially if you're a Dublin base,

[01:10:14] just,

[01:10:15] you know,

[01:10:16] walk there if you have to,

[01:10:17] Jesus,

[01:10:17] it's,

[01:10:17] it's a brilliant advertisement for the league and for the game here.

[01:10:21] And there's nothing better for like young players than to see

[01:10:24] people,

[01:10:25] play the game live.

[01:10:27] But my,

[01:10:28] my gut says that the,

[01:10:29] the,

[01:10:30] the attendance will be slightly higher than last year,

[01:10:32] but,

[01:10:32] but not by much.

[01:10:34] Unfortunately,

[01:10:35] I,

[01:10:35] I just,

[01:10:37] I just don't know if there's,

[01:10:39] if the push is,

[01:10:40] is coming too late.

[01:10:43] But at the same time,

[01:10:45] look,

[01:10:45] there's,

[01:10:45] there's a bit of a story and a bit of a rivalry building between that loan and

[01:10:48] Shelburne now,

[01:10:49] which hopefully will help sell a few extra tickets.

[01:10:52] But look,

[01:10:54] from,

[01:10:55] from,

[01:10:56] from the,

[01:10:56] from last years and the years before finals,

[01:10:58] they're just brilliant days out and they've been two brilliant games.

[01:11:01] So hopefully people,

[01:11:03] you know,

[01:11:04] choose not to watch it on TV and go to,

[01:11:06] go to the game instead.

[01:11:09] Yeah,

[01:11:09] Eileen,

[01:11:11] I would be in my bonnet now again.

[01:11:12] Um,

[01:11:13] I was researching stuff today and I went on to next Sunday to look.

[01:11:18] And I was absolutely stunned.

[01:11:21] Like I'm still,

[01:11:21] I can't believe it that there's a full round of under 19 women's league fixtures next Sunday while the cup final is going on.

[01:11:31] Shelburne under 19s play Cork City at two o'clock.

[01:11:36] Cup final kicks off at three o'clock.

[01:11:38] Atloans under 19s play at four o'clock.

[01:11:41] Like this is like,

[01:11:42] I said the Wexford thing way to go was batshit crazy.

[01:11:44] Like this is absolute nonsense in my opinion.

[01:11:49] Like,

[01:11:49] I mean,

[01:11:50] you're taking all those players,

[01:11:52] all those coaches,

[01:11:53] all those parents,

[01:11:54] whoever it is,

[01:11:55] all those members of the famous football family out of the cup final equation.

[01:11:59] Nothing like,

[01:12:01] and like there may be girls playing in that Shelburne under 19 and Shelburne and Athlon under 19 teams who were pretty close to the squad who were,

[01:12:09] you know,

[01:12:09] right on the verge of making that cup final squad.

[01:12:13] And instead they're above an Issey Woolen or Talc or somewhere else,

[01:12:17] some AUL complex somewhere playing an under 19 game.

[01:12:20] Like it's nonsense.

[01:12:23] Yeah,

[01:12:24] it's really poor.

[01:12:25] Like I,

[01:12:25] I think all the games in general should be off for cup final day.

[01:12:28] All the women's games to give clubs,

[01:12:30] nation,

[01:12:31] countrywide a chance to go.

[01:12:32] Like as John said,

[01:12:33] look,

[01:12:33] they go every year and a lot of like,

[01:12:36] they're,

[01:12:37] it's not,

[01:12:37] grand the teams are from Athlon and Shelburne,

[01:12:39] but like there's players based all over the country.

[01:12:42] Like,

[01:12:42] do you know what I mean?

[01:12:42] That are from,

[01:12:43] have played with clubs all over the country.

[01:12:44] So like,

[01:12:45] for me,

[01:12:45] it's just one of those days that like,

[01:12:48] if you look at cup finals in the past and players who've lit up a cup final,

[01:12:51] who've gone on to do incredible things,

[01:12:53] like obviously Katie McGaib is the obvious one that comes to mind.

[01:12:57] And like how many people,

[01:12:58] do you know,

[01:12:59] we're in,

[01:12:59] in the Aviva that day when she scores that goal,

[01:13:01] probably only a handful of people.

[01:13:02] Like,

[01:13:02] do you know what I mean?

[01:13:03] And I just think,

[01:13:04] look,

[01:13:04] we have some really exciting young players and could this not be one day in the

[01:13:07] calendar where we just park all school girls games.

[01:13:10] But like,

[01:13:11] if we can't even park the underage games for the clubs involved,

[01:13:16] we're probably pissing in the wind a little bit,

[01:13:18] hoping that school girls games across the board are off on that Sunday.

[01:13:21] Like,

[01:13:21] because it's,

[01:13:23] yeah,

[01:13:23] as you said,

[01:13:23] like you're,

[01:13:24] it's very,

[01:13:25] very hard because a lot of the times like 19s and senior teams will train

[01:13:28] pretty much side by side.

[01:13:30] They'll be in,

[01:13:30] there's certainly everyone in the 19 squad will have probably trained at

[01:13:33] least twice or three times with the senior squad.

[01:13:36] Even if they're not close to making it,

[01:13:38] they'll still have been given that opportunity.

[01:13:40] And like,

[01:13:40] yeah,

[01:13:40] it's just really poor.

[01:13:42] And it's,

[01:13:42] as you said,

[01:13:42] like,

[01:13:43] again,

[01:13:43] it's hitting a crowd as well.

[01:13:44] And because it's probably another,

[01:13:47] what,

[01:13:47] 40 people straight away that aren't there plus parents or whatever else it is.

[01:13:50] So yeah,

[01:13:51] look,

[01:13:51] it's disappointing.

[01:13:52] I just think we need to get to a point,

[01:13:53] where like cup final day is our big day out and make it,

[01:13:58] as Jan said,

[01:13:58] like,

[01:13:59] look,

[01:13:59] the FAI are doing stuff and they're trying to get things out to clubs,

[01:14:01] but clubs can't go to games if they have games.

[01:14:04] So like,

[01:14:05] it's just one day in a calendar where you can just pause everything and say,

[01:14:08] this is where our entire focus is on.

[01:14:11] And I get,

[01:14:11] there's always going to be this little struggle with clubs,

[01:14:14] not liking national league and they take our players and this and that,

[01:14:18] but this is a showcase for the best of what our country has to offer in the

[01:14:21] women's game at this time.

[01:14:23] So for that reason,

[01:14:24] and just park all the stupid politics that are involved in football and just

[01:14:29] say,

[01:14:29] this is where we're all trying to be on one day.

[01:14:31] And if it's not looked at the viewing figures alone on TV or good,

[01:14:34] or that clubs have watched parties or something like that.

[01:14:37] And so that's how we want the league to grow.

[01:14:39] But it's very hard then us shooting for something like that to happen when

[01:14:43] said,

[01:14:43] like there's potentially a game on over the road and talk park,

[01:14:46] like with girls who want to be at the cup final.

[01:14:48] Like,

[01:14:48] so yeah,

[01:14:49] it's,

[01:14:49] it's hard.

[01:14:50] It's,

[01:14:50] it's silly.

[01:14:51] Like it's completely and utterly.

[01:14:53] I believe is what you said.

[01:14:54] So.

[01:14:57] John,

[01:14:57] I know this is your,

[01:14:59] this is where your heart lies in the underage game and everything else.

[01:15:02] But I'm actually,

[01:15:05] as I said,

[01:15:05] I'm not from a women's football background.

[01:15:07] So I'm learning the whole time.

[01:15:08] So I lean there now.

[01:15:09] I presumed that there was no underage girls football on Sunday.

[01:15:14] I presumed all the leagues were not playing games because it's cup final day.

[01:15:19] And that gives clubs like yourself who are doing it a chance to bus kids to the

[01:15:23] tallah and go to the cup final.

[01:15:30] Sorry,

[01:15:31] purple.

[01:15:33] Now I'm finding out that there are girls game,

[01:15:35] that there are league games,

[01:15:36] that there are girls games around the country on Sunday.

[01:15:39] Like this is,

[01:15:40] that kind of stuff.

[01:15:41] I just can't get my head around that.

[01:15:44] Yeah,

[01:15:45] it's,

[01:15:45] it's bonkers really.

[01:15:47] Yeah.

[01:15:47] Look,

[01:15:47] some,

[01:15:48] some school girls leagues play Saturdays,

[01:15:50] some play Sundays,

[01:15:51] but we'd say if you're,

[01:15:53] if you're in a Dublin league that plays on Sundays,

[01:15:55] we'd say,

[01:15:55] I don't know if Kilna Manor,

[01:15:57] I take them as an example though,

[01:15:58] but Kilna Manor in Dublin,

[01:16:00] you know,

[01:16:00] huge club,

[01:16:01] really good history of developing female players,

[01:16:05] former club of Katie McCabe,

[01:16:07] Lauren McCabe,

[01:16:08] and many others in the league.

[01:16:10] How,

[01:16:10] how are you going to get the committee or,

[01:16:13] or the,

[01:16:13] the league that they're playing in to agree,

[01:16:17] you know,

[01:16:17] and they'd be very close to Sharmick Rovers.

[01:16:18] How do you get that,

[01:16:19] that club to call off all their games or petition their league to call off all

[01:16:24] their games on a Sunday?

[01:16:25] If Sharmick Rovers under 19s are out as well at the same time,

[01:16:28] it's absolutely ludicrous.

[01:16:30] Like,

[01:16:30] and I,

[01:16:31] it's,

[01:16:31] I know what I mean to say,

[01:16:33] like when you said 40,

[01:16:34] 40,

[01:16:35] you know,

[01:16:36] people off the gate,

[01:16:37] it's likely hundreds because if,

[01:16:40] like,

[01:16:41] I would imagine,

[01:16:42] take,

[01:16:42] take Cork City,

[01:16:44] for example,

[01:16:44] they're,

[01:16:44] they're,

[01:16:45] they're up and playing in Tolka at two o'clock before the cup final kicks

[01:16:49] off.

[01:16:50] Like from a lot of those girls would go to the cup final every year.

[01:16:55] if they weren't playing a match,

[01:16:57] you know,

[01:16:57] it's,

[01:16:58] it's,

[01:16:59] it's where you want to be in your career,

[01:17:02] maybe in next year,

[01:17:04] two years time,

[01:17:05] three years time,

[01:17:06] whatever.

[01:17:06] So players all around the country within League of Ireland circles are looking at

[01:17:12] that fixture,

[01:17:13] but every,

[01:17:13] every school girl really in the country should have the option to travel to

[01:17:19] that game and,

[01:17:20] and having school girls in particular,

[01:17:23] but having school girls or school boys fixtures,

[01:17:25] on the day of a cup final is absolutely ridiculous.

[01:17:28] It's a complete own goal that we,

[01:17:30] I know the league is,

[01:17:31] is delayed,

[01:17:33] but it's going to go into the third of November anyway.

[01:17:35] So at this stage,

[01:17:36] what's the difference between the 10th of November and the third of November?

[01:17:38] Like they can still make the decision,

[01:17:40] you know,

[01:17:41] cancel games next Sunday.

[01:17:42] It's the easiest thing in the world.

[01:17:45] And they really want to cop themselves on the FAI league office and do that.

[01:17:49] It's just,

[01:17:49] it's bonkers stuff.

[01:17:50] Bonkers.

[01:17:52] Yeah,

[01:17:52] it's madness.

[01:17:53] I was,

[01:17:54] um,

[01:17:55] we're supposed to be going to the circus today.

[01:17:57] This is completely off tangent though.

[01:17:58] And I woke this morning and as you guys know,

[01:18:00] I was,

[01:18:01] I was physically sick a couple of times and my wife wouldn't allow me to go to

[01:18:04] the circus then.

[01:18:05] She said,

[01:18:05] yes,

[01:18:05] I had a stomach bug or something and I give it to everybody.

[01:18:09] But my daughter insisted that she was going to take photos and send them to

[01:18:13] me,

[01:18:13] you know?

[01:18:13] So I was sitting inside,

[01:18:15] throwing down the coach,

[01:18:16] watching the NFL game and photos start coming through.

[01:18:20] And I'm getting these photos of this random circus,

[01:18:22] small circus and whatnot.

[01:18:24] And I just wrote back to my wife going,

[01:18:25] that's not a real circus.

[01:18:27] She goes,

[01:18:27] what do you mean?

[01:18:28] I just said,

[01:18:29] there's nobody in an FAI officials,

[01:18:31] uh,

[01:18:32] blazer.

[01:18:32] So it can't be a real circus,

[01:18:34] you know?

[01:18:34] She had no idea what I was talking about,

[01:18:36] but I thought it was very funny,

[01:18:37] you know?

[01:18:38] Um,

[01:18:38] and then I asked her for a picture of the clones and she sent me a picture

[01:18:41] of the clones and sort of,

[01:18:42] it was three clones in the ring.

[01:18:45] And I was like,

[01:18:46] ah,

[01:18:47] are they clones?

[01:18:48] Can you check their right hand sleeve?

[01:18:49] If they've got an FAI referees badge on their sleeve,

[01:18:52] then they're real clones.

[01:18:54] If they're not,

[01:18:55] if they don't,

[01:18:55] they're not,

[01:18:56] you know?

[01:18:56] Your wife was so glad you weren't there.

[01:18:58] Oh,

[01:18:59] I can imagine.

[01:18:59] Yeah.

[01:19:00] Yeah.

[01:19:00] I had a great joke.

[01:19:01] He was sick.

[01:19:02] I had a great joke then about a fourth clone over the side,

[01:19:04] just telling everybody in the front,

[01:19:05] walking up and down and telling everybody in the front row to sit down for 90

[01:19:08] minutes,

[01:19:09] you know?

[01:19:10] Jesus.

[01:19:11] But anyway,

[01:19:12] as I said,

[01:19:13] I weigh off tangent here.

[01:19:15] Um,

[01:19:15] so back to the cup final.

[01:19:19] Predictions,

[01:19:20] John,

[01:19:20] I know what you're going to say,

[01:19:21] but look,

[01:19:22] officially prediction.

[01:19:26] Three,

[01:19:27] two shells after extra time.

[01:19:29] Three,

[01:19:30] two shells after extra time.

[01:19:31] Eileen?

[01:19:35] Two,

[01:19:35] one shells,

[01:19:36] normal time.

[01:19:37] Noel Murray,

[01:19:37] two goals,

[01:19:38] player of the game.

[01:19:42] Very definitive.

[01:19:43] I'm going to say two all.

[01:19:44] Yeah.

[01:19:47] After normal time,

[01:19:48] two all at the end of extra time and somebody wins on penalties.

[01:19:52] And it's a cruel way for anybody to lose a game.

[01:19:58] It's a penalty shootout.

[01:19:59] Sure,

[01:19:59] you can't predict the winner of a penalty shootout,

[01:20:01] Eileen.

[01:20:01] You know,

[01:20:01] it's just,

[01:20:02] I mean,

[01:20:02] it's,

[01:20:04] um,

[01:20:04] I think you just can't.

[01:20:06] It's a lottery.

[01:20:08] Yeah,

[01:20:08] you told,

[01:20:09] you can't,

[01:20:10] no,

[01:20:10] you have,

[01:20:10] you can't get us to do predictions and not make a prediction.

[01:20:14] Come on.

[01:20:14] Athlone win on penalties.

[01:20:15] Finish.

[01:20:16] Who's lifting the cup,

[01:20:17] Declan?

[01:20:18] Okay.

[01:20:18] Thank you.

[01:20:18] Athlone.

[01:20:19] Sorry,

[01:20:19] thank you.

[01:20:20] You can't,

[01:20:21] like,

[01:20:22] you can't go,

[01:20:23] like,

[01:20:23] that's every time somebody goes against them,

[01:20:26] like they just come out and put it all to bed again.

[01:20:29] So,

[01:20:30] um,

[01:20:30] I'm going to say Athlone on penalties and we move on very quickly,

[01:20:36] John,

[01:20:36] just for you.

[01:20:46] Okay.

[01:20:54] Okay.

[01:20:59] I should just say,

[01:21:03] and we've said this before,

[01:21:04] we don't know,

[01:21:05] you don't know what's going on in people's lives.

[01:21:07] And I just got a message here from the person at Athlone that I was trying to get onto.

[01:21:11] And they've had some stuff go on,

[01:21:13] nothing major or anything else,

[01:21:15] but they just weren't able to make it.

[01:21:16] So look,

[01:21:17] there's absolutely no issues,

[01:21:18] no apologies needed or anything else.

[01:21:20] Um,

[01:21:21] shit happens.

[01:21:22] And there is absolutely no problem.

[01:21:25] So guys,

[01:21:26] the mailbag,

[01:21:28] which I just need to open now and hope is still in place.

[01:21:31] And of course it's not.

[01:21:33] Um,

[01:21:33] I got a DM last.

[01:21:39] So this one,

[01:21:40] it is a bit long,

[01:21:41] but look,

[01:21:42] um,

[01:21:43] just a quick note to say how disappointing things are as someone who follows Slager Rovers women.

[01:21:47] The team entered the National,

[01:21:48] the women's national league in 2022 and had a fantastic season.

[01:21:51] Although league form took a dip last year,

[01:21:54] a cup run made up for it.

[01:21:55] This year has been bitterly disappointing with the lack of support,

[01:21:58] both inside and outside the club and insult to the hard work that the group and all the background staff put in.

[01:22:05] So that goes on behind the scenes without any recognition.

[01:22:08] As a club,

[01:22:09] Slager Rovers are to the forefront in terms of all positives that are happening in all aspects of the club.

[01:22:14] But I can't help but feel that the women's side of the club are being left behind.

[01:22:19] It's difficult enough fighting against other clubs with more backing and support.

[01:22:23] But when people within the club don't really care about the women's side,

[01:22:26] apart from the positive PR from the formation of a women's side,

[01:22:30] and it being a box ticking exercise,

[01:22:32] it's disappointing that a side with such promising potential

[01:22:35] hasn't been given the opportunities they should be given.

[01:22:40] Aline, a bit to unpack in that,

[01:22:42] but I think it basically covers maybe more purple.

[01:22:50] I think it's maybe hammers home Tommy's point last week,

[01:22:53] a little more forcibly about investment and what needs to be done at Cygo.

[01:23:00] Yeah, and look, obviously, look, we're not privy to what's going on up there.

[01:23:03] And that person obviously is as well.

[01:23:04] And I'm always, I don't want to, but like, yeah,

[01:23:08] I think it's something we can see a lot of clubs.

[01:23:11] I know it's something I've accused Cork City of at times.

[01:23:14] I don't think it's as much anymore,

[01:23:15] but for a long time,

[01:23:16] the women's side seemed to just be kind of a box ticking exercise.

[01:23:19] As I said, I think we've improved.

[01:23:21] I think there's a long way to go,

[01:23:22] but we have slightly improved on that.

[01:23:25] But like, it does seem that way.

[01:23:27] And I suppose if you're in the middle of it and you see investment going one way

[01:23:31] and not coming another way, it's frustrating.

[01:23:33] And like,

[01:23:33] it's like we've shown in the last few weeks as a squad,

[01:23:36] what they're capable of when everyone's fit and things like that.

[01:23:39] So, but like on the other side of it,

[01:23:41] like Anna McDaniels will just take her.

[01:23:43] She came on, scored her first touch yesterday.

[01:23:45] She, I think if,

[01:23:46] I don't know if you're listening to the game or even just tweeted it after the

[01:23:48] game,

[01:23:49] like she'd just come from like a inter-county like championship game where she'd

[01:23:53] scored one five.

[01:23:54] Do you know what I mean?

[01:23:55] So she's obviously a very promising Gaelic footballer as well.

[01:23:58] Like they'll just go to Gaelic football and it's like our overs will be left

[01:24:02] with nothing.

[01:24:02] Do you know what I mean?

[01:24:03] So I think you have to invest.

[01:24:05] They're not like,

[01:24:06] and Tommy said it last week,

[01:24:07] they're not looking for big,

[01:24:08] big money.

[01:24:08] Like there's no manager in the league looking for big money,

[01:24:11] but don't have a women's side.

[01:24:14] And just for the sake of having a women's side,

[01:24:17] do you know what I mean?

[01:24:17] Because if you're not going to do it right,

[01:24:18] it looks worse than not having one at all.

[01:24:20] Like that's my opinion,

[01:24:21] because all you have is people left with their backs up and female players

[01:24:27] feeling like they're less than.

[01:24:28] And I kind of have got a bit in trouble over the last few weeks of people at

[01:24:32] Cork city saying that,

[01:24:34] you know,

[01:24:34] no,

[01:24:34] like you need to cop on like their women's side.

[01:24:36] Aren't being this or they aren't being that.

[01:24:38] But like,

[01:24:39] that's grand for a man to say who has never played women's sport in their life.

[01:24:42] Like,

[01:24:43] but there'll come a day when your daughter's playing football and you won't want them to

[01:24:46] be less than,

[01:24:47] or your sister will be playing football and you won't want her to be less than,

[01:24:50] or your niece or anything like that.

[01:24:52] So like,

[01:24:52] that's always my thing.

[01:24:53] If you're having a women's side,

[01:24:54] give it the respect it deserves.

[01:24:56] Give the players the respect they deserve and treat them equally.

[01:24:59] I mean,

[01:24:59] we're not talking about full-time contracts or anything like that,

[01:25:01] but give them the respect and time and investment that that's required for a

[01:25:07] successful team and look at the likes of Athlone and look what can be done with

[01:25:12] the said little bit of backing and not anything OTT or anything like that.

[01:25:16] And they get back,

[01:25:17] you get it back in spades.

[01:25:18] Galway are another example.

[01:25:19] Shelburne are an example.

[01:25:20] Shamrock Rovers are an example of it,

[01:25:22] of what can be done.

[01:25:23] Look at Bowles.

[01:25:24] Do you know what I mean?

[01:25:24] So things can be done without a huge amount of money being thrown at stuff,

[01:25:28] in my opinion.

[01:25:29] And I hope Psycho can sort it out because it's a,

[01:25:32] it's a brilliant footballing town.

[01:25:33] And I hope that it can be sorted out and they get the investment they need

[01:25:39] because I do think it's an area with a lot of potential as well.

[01:25:49] Funny enough,

[01:25:50] all I took out from that was that somebody,

[01:25:51] somebody was giving me a shit about stuff we say about Cork City.

[01:25:54] Sure, don't try all of it.

[01:25:54] All I ever get is shit about what I say at Cork City.

[01:25:57] Sure,

[01:25:58] yeah.

[01:25:59] Who was that?

[01:26:00] Anyway.

[01:26:00] Who was that?

[01:26:01] Tell the world.

[01:26:06] We lived to fight that day.

[01:26:09] With the league finished,

[01:26:10] who's in your team of the season?

[01:26:12] Right.

[01:26:12] We're going to leave that until we do the season review pod in a couple of

[01:26:16] weeks time.

[01:26:16] And we'll do our teams of the season then.

[01:26:20] Is the managerial merry-go-round already starting?

[01:26:24] Yes.

[01:26:25] And I didn't think there would be one this year,

[01:26:27] but it does appear like there will be no,

[01:26:28] John.

[01:26:30] Yeah.

[01:26:31] No,

[01:26:31] no,

[01:26:31] it started straight away.

[01:26:34] There's three jobs up for grabs,

[01:26:37] even if treaty have got someone lined up,

[01:26:40] that's still part of the merry-go-round.

[01:26:42] Someone's getting on one of the little horses or whatever it is.

[01:26:46] They're on merry-go-round these days.

[01:26:47] And,

[01:26:47] you know,

[01:26:48] there's probably a couple of other places where managers are going to look

[01:26:52] at where they are in their careers and,

[01:26:55] you know,

[01:26:55] are they going to stay on for another year and things like that.

[01:26:58] But yeah,

[01:26:59] no,

[01:26:59] it has started definitely.

[01:27:00] And it did create opportunities for other people as well.

[01:27:04] And hopefully good people could get into good clubs and keep things going.

[01:27:09] No,

[01:27:10] no,

[01:27:10] I knew this question was here.

[01:27:12] So this is why I didn't do this at the very start of the pod in the week that was.

[01:27:18] But,

[01:27:19] are DLR leading the way with their multi-year deal for Laura?

[01:27:22] The league needs more stability and it can't be good for the players to have this constant uncertainty looming.

[01:27:28] So they have Danny on the same,

[01:27:29] but his remit looks to be more club wide and not solely focused on the women's side.

[01:27:35] So,

[01:27:36] I think DLR have given Laura Heffernan a deserving multi-year deal.

[01:27:41] She has the chance to build and develop senior side anyway,

[01:27:47] if not the whole club over the next number of years.

[01:27:49] But is that the way forward for clubs?

[01:27:51] Not this,

[01:27:51] not the continual turnover of one-year deals,

[01:27:54] but two,

[01:27:55] three-year deals for managers that gives them time and space to build something?

[01:28:00] Yeah,

[01:28:00] I think that's important.

[01:28:02] And I said,

[01:28:03] it's especially like for clubs that are trying to reach the top of the table.

[01:28:07] It takes time because as much as the league has improved,

[01:28:10] I still do think there's a gap like between the consistency that,

[01:28:13] that top three in particular found this season.

[01:28:16] I think to be fair to Danny,

[01:28:17] while I know he does other work at Cork City,

[01:28:20] he does a huge amount of work at Cork City.

[01:28:21] Like he is 100% focused on the women's side,

[01:28:25] like,

[01:28:25] like very much.

[01:28:26] So there'd be no doubt in my mind that anything would be taking,

[01:28:29] like while he does other stuff that's community based.

[01:28:32] And I,

[01:28:32] I don't think that affects his,

[01:28:34] his role as women's manager,

[01:28:35] but yeah,

[01:28:36] I like the multi-year idea.

[01:28:38] I think multi-year contracts.

[01:28:40] It's the only League of Ireland that we say multi-year contracts.

[01:28:42] Like it's such a weird phrase.

[01:28:44] Like,

[01:28:44] just tell us how long it is.

[01:28:45] But,

[01:28:46] um,

[01:28:47] yeah,

[01:28:47] look,

[01:28:47] I mean,

[01:28:48] Shamrock Grovers are the same.

[01:28:49] I think like Declan,

[01:28:51] you in particular have wondered why they haven't changed a manager,

[01:28:54] but I,

[01:28:54] I sometimes wonder what Shamrock Grovers do.

[01:28:57] Do they kind of make a comparison to Stephen Bradley early days?

[01:29:00] And look,

[01:29:00] there was people who used to be shouting for his head,

[01:29:02] like shouting for his head and look what he's went on to achieve.

[01:29:05] And I think they've given,

[01:29:07] like they're looking at the approach that maybe they're playing a long game.

[01:29:10] And like Collie's already spoken in an interview with Shamrock Grovers about planning for next season.

[01:29:14] So,

[01:29:16] um,

[01:29:16] and I,

[01:29:16] I would think at most clubs,

[01:29:18] players are fairly aware,

[01:29:20] um,

[01:29:20] of what's happening anyway.

[01:29:22] But yeah,

[01:29:23] it's no harm for them to kind of be set in stone as the season ends.

[01:29:26] Like Wexford now are kind of probably the prime example of what's happening.

[01:29:30] Do you know what I mean?

[01:29:30] And like you have some older players down there as well,

[01:29:32] who maybe be making minds up and stuff like that about,

[01:29:35] do you play next season?

[01:29:36] Younger,

[01:29:37] talented players possibly having opportunities elsewhere.

[01:29:39] So you need to know who your manager is.

[01:29:41] So yeah,

[01:29:42] look,

[01:29:42] I think multi-year or two,

[01:29:44] three-year contracts either way forward,

[01:29:46] especially when deserved,

[01:29:47] I think.

[01:29:49] Okay.

[01:29:49] Final question.

[01:29:51] It's from JP Owens.

[01:29:53] Um,

[01:29:54] he wants to know how good was the commentary from Keith Coffey during the Rover shells game yesterday?

[01:30:01] Commentary from the two lads.

[01:30:02] Brilliant.

[01:30:03] It's David,

[01:30:03] I think does it all the time.

[01:30:04] He's brilliant.

[01:30:05] And then when he has the,

[01:30:06] uh,

[01:30:07] Keith in from 17.

[01:30:08] Excellent.

[01:30:09] They're just tactically.

[01:30:11] They're always so spot on.

[01:30:12] I learn a lot from them because tactically I'm not very bright.

[01:30:15] Um,

[01:30:16] so no,

[01:30:16] very,

[01:30:17] very good.

[01:30:17] And great knowledge of the league.

[01:30:19] Great knowledge.

[01:30:19] It's great to hear him talking like about the younger players.

[01:30:22] And it's just a little bit,

[01:30:23] it's,

[01:30:24] it's a personal touch because he knows them.

[01:30:25] He knows their families and he knows,

[01:30:27] I suppose,

[01:30:27] their story of coming through.

[01:30:29] And yeah,

[01:30:30] brilliant.

[01:30:30] I think Sean McGover's LOI TV package is always chef's kiss spot on to be fair to them.

[01:30:38] Yeah,

[01:30:39] John,

[01:30:39] I mean,

[01:30:41] you can't really top that like,

[01:30:43] but I,

[01:30:43] I guess I could say something like,

[01:30:45] you know,

[01:30:46] the commentary from Sean McGover's media team has probably been the best thing about watching Sean McGover's this year.

[01:30:53] But that'd be,

[01:30:54] that'd be awful.

[01:30:55] That'd be cruel.

[01:30:56] You can't help yourself,

[01:30:58] like.

[01:30:59] Oh my God.

[01:31:00] Oh,

[01:31:00] look.

[01:31:01] No wonder they hate us.

[01:31:03] Those who know,

[01:31:04] those who know.

[01:31:05] Ah,

[01:31:05] that's all true.

[01:31:06] I see.

[01:31:06] Sometimes,

[01:31:07] sometimes.

[01:31:08] You're not missing at all.

[01:31:12] I,

[01:31:13] look,

[01:31:14] I,

[01:31:14] as I said,

[01:31:14] I think they've,

[01:31:15] I don't know,

[01:31:16] was it 18 points to finish?

[01:31:17] 18 points less they finished this season with compared to last season.

[01:31:21] Like,

[01:31:22] come on,

[01:31:23] like I'm not doing it again.

[01:31:24] I just get so frustrated.

[01:31:26] So frustrated.

[01:31:27] Don't do it.

[01:31:27] With the talent,

[01:31:28] the talent there is off the scale.

[01:31:30] And look,

[01:31:31] look,

[01:31:32] anyway,

[01:31:32] if it's not for me,

[01:31:34] I don't care.

[01:31:34] I'm a carcassie supporter.

[01:31:35] If everybody's Sean McRover's is happy with the performance this year,

[01:31:38] then fair play to them.

[01:31:41] Drive on.

[01:31:41] So,

[01:31:43] look,

[01:31:43] that's it.

[01:31:44] Hopefully we will see everybody in Tala on Sunday to watch the third component of a trilogy.

[01:31:53] We'll see what happens.

[01:31:55] But until then,

[01:31:56] if you do see us there,

[01:31:57] make sure you go up and say hello to John.

[01:31:59] Please leave me alone.

[01:32:01] That probably sounds awful.

[01:32:02] No,

[01:32:03] go up to both of them.

[01:32:04] Go up to them both,

[01:32:05] will you?

[01:32:05] Okay.

[01:32:06] Declan likes hugs.

[01:32:08] Sorry,

[01:32:09] just for everyone who's listening.

[01:32:12] I'm six foot five with long black hair and a very,

[01:32:17] very deep tan.

[01:32:18] So,

[01:32:19] it'd be very easy to spot me in Tala.

[01:32:21] Oh,

[01:32:22] let's stop.

[01:32:24] Somebody said that Declan loves hugs thing about two years ago.

[01:32:27] And I was,

[01:32:28] there was people fucking hugging me in Turner's cross then one night just for the crowd.

[01:32:31] Declan loves hugs.

[01:32:32] Pass it on.

[01:32:33] Yeah.

[01:32:33] We don't want that to happen.

[01:32:34] We certainly don't want that to happen again anyway,

[01:32:37] you know?

[01:32:38] But look,

[01:32:38] guys,

[01:32:39] enjoy the cup final.

[01:32:41] We will be back in,

[01:32:41] I think it'll be two weeks time,

[01:32:43] but an end of season roundup.

[01:32:44] We don't know.

[01:32:45] We might get some guests on,

[01:32:46] depending on if anybody's still talking to us at that stage.

[01:32:50] Until then,

[01:32:51] adios.

[01:32:52] Adios.

[01:32:53] Adios.

[01:32:53] Los Damas,

[01:32:54] your weekly unofficial SSE AirTrusty Women's Premier Division podcast with Declan McCormick,

[01:33:00] Eileen Ring and John O'Sullivan.

[01:33:02] Find us on Facebook,

[01:33:04] Twitter and Instagram.