It has been said that Pat Spillane is the Eamon Dunphy of RTÉ’s GAA coverage. It has also been said that George Hook was the Dunphy of RTÉ’s rugby coverage.

Jack Charleton may have overseen our national soccer team’s most successful era, but retired veteran broadcaster Bill O’Herlihy has revealed he was certainly not the former Ireland manager’s number one fan.

Another act in a great summer of sport has begun and if Giovanni Trapattoni’s team can capture our affections like Jack Charleton’s panel did all of those years ago, then the mood of the nation will surely lift.