TFTES 290

We talk the Cork, Bohs, Waterford and Sligo games in recent weeks and there's a new TFTES Hotline where 10 callers tackle our questions on exams, hat-tricks, Europe, derbies and merch.

It's the 4th of July, so instead of three match reports we have three American themed interviews. Former Rovers midfielder Jamie Duffy, born in Texas, raised in Tallaght and living in Hollywood, talks the 2006 First Division win, a life-threatening illness, his boy band and appearance on X-Factor. Then, another remarkable story in Cincinnati, Orlando and Nashville where Dylan Connolly, another Dubliner and Rovers supporter, was Ireland's only representative at the Club World Cup in the States this summer with Auckland City. Dylan tells us about life in New Zealand and swapping the Leinster Senior League for games with Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors on the world stage. The last segment is Brendan Crowley from 'Sports Books Reviews', a Limerick native who gives his personal take on the sports books he's read and written about in his newsletter all the way from his new home in the U.S. capitol, Washington D.C.

There's six points on the road against Shelbourne and Drogheda to talk about, with the help of journalist Barry Landy to cover Drogheda's European expulsion. Plus: Duffer's meltdown, the demise of Soccerway.com and the Club World Cup, and the greatest voice note of all time by Eoghan Rice.

Two shows this week. Here we've got some reaction to the European draw, and a double author feature ahead of Dalymount Park - although neither man has been to a derby in decades. Paul Howard recalls the smell of Milltown, and writing two of his books, "Gaffers", about Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane, and "The Rodfather", on Roddy Collins and his time at both Dublin clubs, while Donal Cullen tells us about following Bohemians from Canada, and the five new Irish football books he's just released on Bohs, Shels and the first three League of Ireland seasons.

It's part two of our 2000s series. Brian McKenna and John Byrne, who was part of the takeover of the club by the fans and media officer for five years, talk 2004 and 2005, with stadium skullduggery, unpaid wages, examinership and the High Court, survival, Roddy's reign, relegation heartbreak and a new dawn under Pat Scully.

Barry Murphy fills in for Gar this week where the only goal in Tallaght he got to commentate on was the Walking Football. Baz gives his mid-season report and talks all sorts of topics such as signing for Roddy in 2005 and cheques starting to bounce, a friendly win at Sunderland in 2007 under Pat Scully, Josh Honohan, Don Patricio, and all our potential European opponents in the Conference League draw with the help of Shane Kavanagh and Ryan McDyer.

We have Aaron McEneff's late winner in Derry and Irish managers winning league titles across the continent to talk about. No, not Robbie Keane - our author series continues with Sue O'Connell and 'The Man Who Saved Barcelona FC': The Extraordinary Life of Patrick O'Connell', the Dubliner who led Real Betis, in search of their first European trophy on Wednesday night, to their only La Liga in 1935.

We've got IKEA, haircuts, tonks and three wins out of three to talk about (first hour) before the conclusion of our Goodbye Goodison series with Robert Goggins, Robbie Gaffney, and Rovers and Everton fans Paul Clayton, Anto Matthews & Craig Mahon (Members Corner) and Dean O'Reilly.

No match reports in this one as we've got the Juz-Line, Christine Allen's women's team update and a double author feature, starting with Cian Manning's "I Love Me County: Waterford Sporting Stories", ahead of Friday's trip to the RSC. Then, for our Goodbye Goodison series, you'll hear from Steve Zocek on his book 'Goodison Memories: Looking Back Before Looking Forward', before another Everton fan, Ben Winstanley (A View From The Bullens) talks Sunday's emotional farewell to the famous ground. PS: all recorded before Tuesday's news. PPS: Happy Birthday Shannon~!

We're back to winning ways against Sligo, with Greener's 100th LEAGUE goal and a new TFTES Hotline. Paul Hayes, Nathan Johnston, Eric Brennan, Tony Grant, Damian Brennan, Greg Donaghy, Darren Gillen, Tommy Tormey and Dan Fulham are our nine callers with topics ranging from strike partnerships, 90s bands and Asian holidays to bad driving habits.