This week's TV Review column looked at RTE's coverage of a super Saturday for Irish sport, and briefly mediated the unlikely vista of Eamon Dunphy's undimmed positivity in the aftermath of the famous win in Vienna.
Well, it turns out that he has been harbouring some pessimism, and has in fact held it back for his usual appearance on 2FM's Game On, where he has taken aim at the first-choice midfield axis of James McCarthy and Glenn Whelan.
McCarthy didn't play at all in Vienna through injury, and Whelan was forced from the field after twenty minutes through injury.
Harry Arter made his first competitive start in midfield, while David Meyler - one of two unused outfield players at the Euros - impressed when replacing Whelan, playing a crucial role in the goal.
Dunphy was impressed by the new pairing, which he used as the jumping off point for cutting criticism of Whelan and McCarthy.
We have been playing with nine men for eight years because Whelan and McCarthy don't turn up, ever.
There is no mystery why our results have improved. We wouldn't have won in Moldova without Wes Hoolahan and we wouldn't have won in Austria without Wes Hoolahan and James McClean.
There is no way that Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy would have been where Meyler was. There was no way they would have won the ball and there is no way they would have given the pass.
He also balanced such negativity with his unique brand of positivity: the ability to see talented opponents as no great shakes. Outside of Gareth Bale, he sees little threat against Wales:
Ramsey is a bit of a poser, he is a dangerous and can score goals.
Then they have Ashley Williams but besides that they don't have much else.
He also described Austria as "gutless".
Normal order restored.
