People are engaged in football at the moment because of the Euros. With national pride at stake, a different type of supporter is engaged with the game.
And coming off the back of almost 18 months of lockdowns, what's unfolded in cities across Europe has provided an emotional release for everyone.
People have left their critical hat at the door and just engaged with the game again and I get the impression that for our League clubs in Europe, there's going to be a huge focus on their performances.
It's just so important that they put their best foot forward now and I'd expect that one or two of the second leg games next week will be televised, Bohs in the Aviva especially.
With that engagement we need to see some progression.
I'm writing this before knowing the ECL results last night but, on paper, Bohs, Sligo and Dundalk have an opportunity to do well.
As we now know, Shamrock Rovers face an uphill task in their Champions League second leg against Slovan Bratislava, but they do have the fall back of the ECL if things don't work out next Wednesday.
I wouldn't rule Rovers out just yet. Alan Mannus' injury time penalty save is absolutely huge, it just gives them that glimmer of hope - and may be a source of frustration for the Slovenians coming to Dublin.
But Rovers will have to play the game of their life to reel in that 2-0 deficit. That may be difficult because they're not in flying form.
Still, they need to really embrace the importance of this game to themselves and to the general football community here.
They're playing next week in Tallaght and hopefully will have more than 500 in attendance.
When you look at the significant moments that Irish clubs have had in Europe, the teams in question found something special to elevate their performance.
It was something Shels had against Hajduk Split, Dundalk had against Bate Borisov and it's no different for Rovers now - they have to give everything and not give up that hope.
With the Euros ending on Sunday, Irish clubs have to be ready to step into the spotlight.
The last thing we need now is for our European representatives to get thumped when we're trying to push the game forward here.
Much to Love about his song
David Balfe is a Shelbourne supporter who lost two friends to suicide a few years back and wrote an album off the back of the grief he suffered, about how his life and their lives were completely intertwined with the football club.
I just wanted to highlight his new video for his song 'To Have You'.
It brings out the raw emotion of the song's subject matter, which focuses on the little things around supporting a football club - meeting up with a couple of pals on a Friday night, the pint you might have, the walk to the ground, the conversation...
It's all about the simple, natural, non-commercial engagement that a normal fan has around supporting their club.
The video is wonderful, a great track, and I'd love people to see it because everything in it epitomises all the other clubs and their supporters, too.
It's very much a replicated experience that occurs across the country, and hopefully that will become the norm again at some stage.
Window flopping
It's a surprise that there has been very little happening in the transfer market.
Richie Towell to Shamrock Rovers was a done deal a long time ago, while Sligo snapped up Seamas Keogh from Southampton last week, but in general for those clubs who are challenging for the title, it's been very quiet.
Normally at this time of year you do see a bit of movement, but the last thing a club wants is for someone to unsettle the balance a team has developed, plus there's the added complication of travel restrictions and quarantine this summer.
Is that making it a nightmare to bring someone new in?
They will all be looking for a potential game-changer in the title race. Rovers have the ability to find one, as they have done with Towell.
Also, experience tells in the title run-in and Rovers have that, but I still think they'll bring in one or two more, with the possibility of a European run as well.
Shels and the league need an instant Prem return
Shels looked nailed on for a Premier Division return - but it has been quite a poor First Division this season.
I thought it would have been one of the closest battles in years, given the quality of the clubs in the mix, but Shels have responded hugely to that need to get back to the top table by building a healthy lead.
I was down watching them a few weeks ago and there's no doubt they have a better squad than last year. Really, it's a Premier Division squad.
The League needs Shels back there as well. Not just because of the club's 125 year history, but because of their success they have had in more recent history.
For me, it's heartbreaking not to see them mixing it with the best.
As I said, they look in really good shape to get back there but it could be a difficult few months if they take the eye off the ball by getting too comfortable with that big lead.
