Matt Doherty told The Football Show about playing youth football with Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick, and his perceived rivalry with Seamus Coleman.
Doherty spoke of how his father, Tom, is his 'number one critic' but also fair-minded in his assessment. Tom also had an eye for other future Irish football stars.
"My dad isn't a liar; he would just say nothing. I remember when I was growing up I would not play well and I would dread getting in the car on the way home!
"He would say 'so how do you think you played?' and I just knew he didn't think I played well!
"He must have seen that I was able to play, he must have had an eye.
"When I was younger playing for Belvedere, and Robbie [Brady] and Jeff [Hendrick] were playing for St Kevin's and Belvedere, he said 'you, Jeff and Robbie will be the ones from this age group to make it abroad.'
"We were the three that he said would really have a go at it, and he's been proved right. I know John Egan was there as well, but he wasn't in our age group."
Doherty Sr also keeps the Wolves defender in check.
"Whenever we do speak, we talk about football all the time. He always tells me to stay humble and never get too far ahead of myself.
"If he sees an interview where he doesn't like my tone or thinks that I'm talking too much, he will tell me. He is my number one critic, but when he talks about football and life, in general, we might not agree, but I definitely listen."
Matt Doherty and Coleman
A theme of recent international Irish football has been the battle between Doherty and Seamus Coleman; one that is fuelled by friendship and respect.
"I wish that I had more caps, because I'm not 19 years of age, but when I really think about it: did I really deserve to be playing before we got to the Premier League?
"Probably not, because Coleman has been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League for the last ten years. It is just a situation where you have two players for one position playing really well for their clubs.
"You have to pick one of them. I have had to respect what decision has been made. I'm pretty confident so I always feel I can make a difference.
"I don't begrudge him if Seamus is playing; we're really good friends. If he plays, I support him - if I play, he supports me."
The situation led to a frosty atmosphere between Doherty and the previous management under Martin O'Neill.
"I have said some things before where, if you read between the lines, I was having digs here and there. Not at Seamus, but because I wasn't able to play. I have had to bite my tongue a few times.
But can the two play together?
"Because me and Seamus get on so well, it is just a shame that we both play in the same position. We can obviously play together, but it is just how you would do that.
"Enda Stevens is the left-back and he has been one of the best left-backs this season; I am a right-back so I guess it'll be a case of one or the other."
Doherty believes that he and Coleman think similarly about the game and they sit 'for hours' discussing the game.
Stephen Kenny will be looking at the versatile duo with great interest.
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