HOUSE OF FOOTBALL: Ireland’s glimmer of hope, selfies with Roy and the art of free-kicks

"People just seem to hear anything negative and that's it, they're off!"

In episode one of our new podcast House of Football our co-hosts Eric Lalor and Damien Delaney sat down with ex Leeds United and Irish international Ian Harte to discuss Ireland vs France and much more. Having both represented their country at the highest level, Delaney and Harte have significant skin in the game when it comes to the national side's fortunes. Both took positives out of the narrow defeat to France but had concerns over the build-up to such a big game and Stephen Kenny's side making similar mistakes again and again. Delaney gave a great response, too, when asked by Lalor about those in the footballing landscape that feel he may often come down too hard on Stephen Kenny.

"There seems to be a culture where you can't say anything bad about this Ireland team," he said. "[On Monday], I felt I gave an incredible amount of credit, an awful lot of credit, but I also had my reservations and I voiced those, as well. But people just seem to hear anything negative and that's it, they're off!"

Lalor was coming at matters from the avid supporter's angle, and has had his fair share of interactions with some of Ireland's top footballing talents. He recalled [LISTEN below from 17:20] the reaction from a packed out function room when Roy Keane once shut down down a selfie request. On House of Football, SportsJOE's new football podcast, Harte also detailed the year he played alongside Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke in a Sunderland team managed by Keane, his former teammate. Catch that story and more in the full episode:

House of Football: Episode 1 highlights

Also covered on House of Football, this week:

• Damien Delaney on his favourite club, growing up
• Tino Asprilla and Newcastle Brown Ale
• Looking back on Ireland vs. France
• Stephen Kenny's backroom staff
• Playing with, and being managed by, Roy Keane
• The art of taking free kicks

Eric Lalor and Damien Delaney are joined by Ireland and Leeds legend Ian Harte on the first episode of the House of Football. 18+ | gamblingcare.ie Related articles:

• 'It was a free hit' - Damien Delaney and Ian Harte on Ireland's performance against France
• Expectation soars as Evan Ferguson captures Irish footballing imagination
• James McClean gets straight on to Graeme Souness after being told "to get on with it"
• Kevin Kilbane and James McClean among leading figures to speak out over rebel song controversy

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