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Even with a bit of time to digest the achievement of two Irish clubs reaching the league phase, I still find it surreal.

I came from an era when Europe was often a piss up for players. It wasn't unusual for lads to sink cans in a hotel room the night before a game.

But then Irish football went through a transformation when the financial rewards on offer in Europe became more and more apparent. An awful lot has happened in the last 20 years.

We've had some great success in Europe, but we've also experienced disappointment across faltering years and taken some backward steps. Yet all of a sudden, we have two clubs contesting the league phase. It's a first in our history and something that must be celebrated and capitalised on.

It could have a profound effect on Irish football and should be a huge stepping stone for the stakeholders in the game to stand up and take control. There's something big happening with professional football in this country, but not everyone is seeing it.

This is the moment where the Government and the FAI - who continue to go through so much turmoil - need to take this sport to another level, not just talk about it.

We've heard it all before and it's why I feel the FAI really are in the last chance saloon with regards to the League of Ireland. If the association is not fit enough to take the game into the space it needs to be in, then the clubs should serve notice and break free once and for all.

Shamrock Rovers are tried and tested at this European level, and it's an outstanding achievement to reach the league phase without a safety net. But with my Shels hat on, I've never been so proud of my old club.

Founded in 1895, they have always been trailblazers, from European highs in the 60s, to becoming the first team to reach the Champions League third qualifying round.

Tolka Park was also the first all-seater stadium in the country, which is remarkable when you think about it. As a club, Shels have always pushed boundaries and this achievement should be celebrated after going through some horrible lows.

Credit must go to those people who kept the club alive in 2007 and everyone who has played their part since then. But I thought Joey O'Brien was a class act after the game in Windsor, quickly crediting Damien Duff's role in reaching this point. Joey was on a hiding to nothing taking over Duffer. The whole thing could have gone arseways, so he deserves a lot of credit.

And what about the draw itself? Crystal Palace and AZ Alkmaar for Shels, while Rovers play Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens amongst others. These are brilliant, brilliant games to test the players and to generate some financial security for clubs.

That we have more than one club qualifying for the business end in Europe, it puts pressure on the rest to follow suit and that will drive standards.

Here's hoping this is the new norm and that the Government and FAI finally wake up and realise it.

Bigger's better for Shels, so widen Tolka

Shels need to make the Tolka Park pitch bigger - and yes it can be done. Watching them against Linfield on Thursday, they thrive in the open spaces. And they will enjoy it in Tallaght too.

Tolka is tight but don't believe for a second that they can't widen the pitch. Ollie Byrne was about to do it when I played there but parked it when the s*** hit the fan financially.

Remove the first two or three steps on the Riverside and the Ballybough end, make it bigger and develop around it.

Ollie left memories that will last a lifetime

I never had a conversation with Ollie Horgan. In fact, I'd never even met him. And yet the news of his death hit me like a tonne of bricks. A guy in my office is a big Derry City fan and he broke the news to me on Thursday.

The League of Ireland has a unique energy and if you deem yourself a League of Ireland person, it's like you're from a certain kin. I didn't have to know Ollie Horgan to know he was League of Ireland through and through, and he will leave memories that last a lifetime.

People will talk about Ollie forever and that in itself may bring a certain amount of comfort to a devastated family.

It was heartbreaking to hear he hadn't been well, and then for his illness to take a grip so quickly. It must have been extremely difficult for his family to come to terms with.

I experienced something very similar within my own family and, of course, death brings heartbreak, grief and devastation. But there's also a recovery process of mending yourself again and it brings a great energy as you're sharing it with others.

I must be the only person around the League of Ireland who doesn't have an Ollie Horgan story. The fact that so many people do, sums up the character he was.

Electric Picnic, vibes in the area

I'm going to 'Electric Picnic' today.....to collect my two daughters.

I can't deal with tents, so therefore I can't deal with festivals. I also can't deal with the sheer number of Bohs jerseys being worn by anyone and everyone these days.

Watching the news on TV yesterday, there's footage of everyone pitching their tents at Electric Picnic, and then they interview a Kerryman ... in a Bohs jersey.

So tonight, I'll be the old fella listening to Fat Boy Slim's headline set from his car, revving the engine to get the hell out of there. I might even wear my Shels jersey!