Liam Mackey: Now that's what I call a double bill

30 October 1974; Republic of Ireland players, from left to right, John Giles, captain, Steve Heighway and Liam Brady on his senior international debut. European Championship 1976 Qualifier - Group 6, Republic of Ireland v Soviet Union, Dalymount Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Connolly Collection / SPORTSFILE

A word to the wise: the palatial Mackey Towers will be a strictly no-go area for an hour this coming Thursday night. Severe anti-social distancing will apply and we’re extending the exclusion zone around the house to a minimum of 10k.

Nothing to do with the plague, by the way: at 9.30pm that evening, RTÉ 2 will be revisiting two of the greatest victories in Irish football history and under no circumstances are father and daughter prepared to have their respective nostalgia fests disturbed.