Folks,
98FM's weekly sports show "Now That's What I Call Sport" airs every Sunday morning from 9-10am.
Presented by myself Johnny Lyons, this week's show broadcast on Sunday May 3rd features the following guests :
- Jacko McDonagh
I can't put into words how thrilled I am to have Jacko as my very special guest live in studio this Sunday.
Jacko's a living Shamrock Rovers legend.
And Jacko was way ahead of his time.
Not only was the Ringsend native one of the finest centre halves of his generation in the 1980s but he was a music and fashion icon of his time!
In fact you could say he was the David Beckham of his time - but don't call him Goldenballs !
Jacko arrived at Milltown just in time for the last golden period in Shamrock Rovers' illustrious history.
Twill not go down well with fans of de Bohezz but Dalymount was a nursery ground for Rovers back then.
Any Dalyer protege then was snapped up by Rovers and Jacko joined a team glittering with local superstars.
And I ain't engagin' in hyperbole here - from that era Liam O'Brien was the jewel in the crown going to Manchester United while Liam Buckley, Alan Campbell, Noel King and Jacko himself played on the Continent.
I was lucky enough to have the privilege of payin' in and watchin' these peacocks strut their stuff on the League of Ireland stage.
And Jacko was the most majestic of these paycocks and his world was in a state of chassis but not in a terrible way!
The most elegant of footballers, six footer Jacko strode around the penalty like the colossus he was and sporting the best barnet seen on this side of the world since A Flock of Seagulls were havin' hits !
One trend amongst these gifted footballers united them - they were all playing the beautiful game way before Barca and their tiki taka style came into being.
And as such - for the main - were not picked up by the English teams where centre halves were big and mean and centre forwards were even bigger and meaner !
So Jacko moseyed off to France where he enjoyed two top ten finishing seasons with Nimes playing with the likes of Holland's 1978 World Cup runner up Jan Poortvliet.
He played against a young Eric Cantona when the enfant terrrible was with Martigues.
After that Jacko was cursed by the bugbear of footballers - injuries and never scaled previous heights although he was still skilful enough to clinch a contract with the Belgian side Waregem.
Unfortunately Jacko was forced to retire at the age of 29.
Jacko won three caps for the Republic of Ireland including making his debut in a European Championship qualifier.
You have to remember that this was an era when you were forgotten about if you moved to Continental Europe - there was no internet or smartphones back then!
And so his time in France when he played sparkling football went unnoticed with his treasured caps earned in his spell with Rovers.
In the end, in relation to Jacko's career, we all looked up at the sky and asked the question - what is the moon, what are the stars ?
- Kevin O'Brien
Also joining us live in studio is the Dubliner who still holds the record for the quickest century in a World Cup cricket match - and scored against the English - King Kev !
Kev looks forward to the big One Day International against England in Malahide next Friday May 8th.
We'll also ask Kev about the newly appointed Ireland coach the New Zealander John Bracewell whom he played under at Gloucestershire.
And about the possibility of the ICC rowing back on the disgraceful decision to cut the next World Cup to just ten nations.
While I see Zimbabwe got in ahead of the Irish by agreeing to tour Pakistan - the first team to go there since the terrorism bombings in and around the Sri Lankan visit to Lahore in 2009.
We also hear from Waterford forward Pauric Mahony and Cork defender Lorcan McLoughlin on the day of the National Hurling League final in Thurles.
Competition:
Tix for the Royal London One Day International between Ireland and England in Malahide on Friday May 8th and signed Kevin O'Brien goodies.
Thanks,
Johnny.
