One of the emerging players in the Republic of Ireland squad as the Euro 2016 qualification campaign has unfolded has definitely been Darren Randolph.
Thrust on as a substitute for Shay Given in the famous win over Germany last month, the West Ham goalkeeper has not looked back, starting games against Poland and the two legs of the Bosnia playoff.
As qualification and his role in it sinks in, the Bray native joined us on Off The Ball to talk about a whirlwind few weeks for him.
"It was unbelievable. It was like a childhood dream come true to make it to a major championships," said the 28-year-old, who has now accumulated half a dozen caps to his name.
Darren Randolph is glad this was Superman because it's been a "Borat mankini" in the past *shudder* #offtheball pic.twitter.com/53aHEGE8Nr
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) November 17, 2015
He also spoke about the Germany game and how he did not have time to get nervous, given that he nor David Forde knew if they were the designated No 2 on the night.
The former Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City keeper also spoke about a childhood playing basketball (his favourite sport at the time), Gaelic football (as a centre half-back or midfielder) and soccer.
