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The mighty (?) All Blacks are in town this week, fresh from a narrow, opportunistic win over England. They weren't outstanding.... besides the three incredible tries they scored. Post-peak NZ are not great, but still very good, and will take some beating on Friday night in Lansdowne Road.
Jamie Wall is in studio to talk about Ballygunner's path to All-Ireland club glory, the breath of fresh air provided by new champions and new names at the top table... and the legacy of James McCarthy, the Dublin football legend who retired earlier today. He might just have been the greatest footballer on the greatest team of all time.
We also salute the exquisite news-nose of Eoin's 5-year old son, and there's an extremely wholesome story related to the 2024 Footballer of the Year, Galway's Paul Conroy.
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They've only gone and done it... we talk about Shelbourne's title win and how Damien Duff has succeeded where some illustrious predecessors failed.
The season keeps getting better and better for Liverpool as Arne Slot keeps winning matches and rivals keep having problems.
Mark Critchley and John Brewin join us to talk over some more of the weekend's football. How did Manchester United's thinking evolve since last month, when Mark felt sacking Erik ten Hag would be too embarrassing for the club's hierarchy? Has Enzo Maresca finally found a Chelsea midfield combination that works? How did Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth beat Manchester City on Saturday afternoon? And what do they think of the news that Edu is leaving Arsenal when glory seems almost within their grasp?
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On this week's edition of our World Service tasting platter; we look forward to the grand finale of the League of Ireland which sees Damien Duff's Shels needing a win to ensure their first league title in 18 years, Ken hones in on what exactly makes Ruben Amorim an exciting prospect for Man United and Lawrence Donegan fills us in on his cross-country expedition ahead of November's US Presidential Election.
Plus, we pay audio bed tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle.
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Just as we were about to wrap up today's bank holiday football pod recording, the news came through that Manchester United had finally fired Erik ten Hag. The very-much-in-studio-and-not-on-holidays Ken gives his live initial reaction to the most overdue story in football. (1.25.18)
Saturday night saw a sensational return to form for the Real Madrid v Barcelona fixture - and a stunning personal humiliation for Kylian Mbappé - which dangles the tantalising prospect of old-fashioned intrigue and backstabbing at the Galactic club. (1.30)
And Lars Sivertsen and Nick Ames join us to talk about Arsenal v Liverpool (a failure of nerve by the man some people are calling the new Mourinho?), Chelsea v Newcastle (is it coming together for Enzo or is Cole Palmer just really really good?), and the ongoing will-he-or-won't-he-abandon-his-beliefs-and-principles drama around Russell Martin. (40.10)
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It’s been another hectic week on the Second Captains podcast, we’ve had the Champions League, the addition of Johnny Sexton to the Ireland rugby brains-trust in a non-executive capacity, and we also had Eddie Dunbar in studio, one of the best road-cyclists in the world. While Ken, told us about Oleksandr Zinchenko’s new book, written by FriendOfTheShow Raphael Honigstein.
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The Gaelic football patient checked itself in at the weekend, gladly submitting to extensive, experimental surgery in full view of the watching public.
We speak to Paul Flynn and FRC member Michael Murphy about the new rules (or enhancements, as Jim Gavin insists we call them) that worked, the rules that jarred... and the rules that our Murph reckons they put in just so we could get rid of them and feel like we were being critical.
There's also the latest earth-shattering press release from the World Conkers Confederation/Corporation, GAA arithmetic, and Paul Flynn looking to double his career points tally with Dublin.
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Howard Webb provided some good grist to the conspiracy mills over the weekend by getting himself filmed texting and earpiecing before Saliba's yellow card was changed to a red. But maybe the PGMOL supremo deserves some praise to go with the flak. At least his referees are providing an element of unpredictability otherwise missing from a lot of overcoached Premier League football.
Branno brings us up to speed on his trip to Sligo to see Bohemians play their small role in the climax to the League of Ireland season.
We also talk about how in a few short weeks under Arne Slot, Liverpool have undergone a complete transformation from the side they have been for years under Jurgen Klopp.
And Neil Atkinson and Rich Jolly join us to talk about the game at Anfield. Could Slot's start have gone any better? Are the regular complaints about the poor atmosphere at Anfield and other Premier League grounds based on reality or nostalgia? And does the increasingly convergent style of play we see in the Premier League give the crowds much to work with?
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The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England manager has divided both the proud nation of England and the ignoble profession of football journalism into two camps: Little Englanders and Merchants of Woke.
Yesterday we heard from The 42's Gav Cooney and Rory Smith of the New York Times, and today had his say. Have the FA made the right choice in appointing a foreign coach?
Earlier in the week we were joined in studio by one of the all-time greats of hurling, Joe Canning to talk about his new autobiography, whether he thinks he max-ed out on his potential and how he and his family have dealt with the loss of their mum.
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Johnny Sexton has won European Cups, Grand Slams, has the all time Irish and Six Nations points records and is a former world player of the year. It takes talent but also an obsessive drive to get this good, and his new autobiography, Obsessed, explains the mental toll this took on Sexton.
He joins us in studio to discuss his big breakthrough in 2009 at Croker, his pattern of bust-ups followed by regret, Lancaster's personality test, about needing to change how he communicated with teammates and refs, how he feels about the RWC 2023 QF loss, and his relationship with ROG.
Plus there's the contrasting management styles of Schmidt and Farrell, Snyman's paws, Doris the Swiss Army Knife and over-confident Scots.
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thens for breakfast, Barcelona for brunch, Fairview for lunch. Ken is back from his Grand Tour of Continental Europe, traveling through the night to bring you his thoughts on Ireland's latest adventures in the Nations League.
Joining us in the studio to reflect on an international window in which we actually won a game is Richie Sadlier.
We also try to decipher just what Lee Carsley is actually saying and why.
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This week we released a podcast on our world service - Sally Hayden, Irish Times Correspondent and author of My Fourth Time, We Drowned, spoke to Ken about life in Beirut under fire from the Israeli army - and such was the reaction that we decided to release it to non members.
Sally explains the religious mix in Beirut, how embedded Hezbollah is in Lebanese society, the huge number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the internal displacement caused by the invasion and the anxiety of tomorrow.
Ken and Branno also discuss the grim reality of the death toll in Gaza, empty words and two recent documentaries, one called We Will Dance Again about the Hamas attacks on Oct 7th 2023 and Al Jazeera’s investigation into Israeli army war crimes in Gaza.
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Ken has returned from the Land Of The Rising Sun, and he has stories to tell - of Shinto shrines (went to "one of" the most famous ones in Tokyo), Buddhist temples, and... storied sumo amphitheatres. We dominate the dojo in the company of our very own Alan Whicker.
Branno missed the most dramatic week in the HISTORY of the league of Ireland last week, as he was recuperating from invasive surgery - we discover which Second Captain presenter was a constant reassuring presence through his recuperation, and who was marked absent.
Plus there's rawdogging, the Bering Strait, and whether Shels still have the league title in their own hands.
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Ken is back from Japan and we take the opportunity to revisit some of the highlights he missed over the last two weeks.
We talk about the varying fortunes of Kai Haaland Havertz, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Ange Postecoglou before Mark Critchley joins us to talk about what we had mistakenly anticipated would be the game of the weekend at Villa Park.
Will this be the week when Manchester United finally pull the plug on ETH, or is it just too embarrassing for them to do that right now?
Plus there's Ken's great Japanese regret and transatlantic travel: the small man's revenge.
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This week on the Second Captains World Service we were joined by Lars Sivertsen and Glenn Evans from The Athletic and the 1874 Podcast to chat about last night’s incredible win for Villa, with some bonus Steve Bruce cabbage content thrown in for good measure.
Closer to home, the League of Ireland title race has gone absolutely wild, with six teams out of a ten team league seemingly in contention for the top spot. We reacted to Shels vs. Pats, which might just be the greatest game ever played in the greatest league in the world (TM).
And we chatted to US Murph about Shohei Ohtani putting in the greatest regular season in history. Join the party for just a fiver a month—no contracts, no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no hidden charges, and no ads. Head to secondcaptains.com/join for more details.
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Less than a year ago the Irish women's rugby team had finished bottom of the Six Nations table, were playing the likes of Kazakhstan in the third tier of WXV, had not qualified for the previous World Cup and along with stories of interprovincial teams changing in front of wheelie bins and 7s players being taking in and out of the 15s camp, there was very little positivity about.
They have since come third in the 6N, qualified for the 2025 World Cup, made it into the top tier of WXV1, hammered Australia, and now best of all, beaten NZ, the team that has won 6 of the last 7 World Cups. We chat to Leinster head coach Tania Rosser, and Alison Miller, both of whom played against NZ last time Ireland beat them, in the 2014 World Cup.
We also discuss world-class Aoife Wafer, Munster's leaky defence and Conor McKenna's AFL title win with the Brisbane Lions.
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The Manchester United content-creating machine trundles remorselessly on: another day, another humiliating home defeat. Jack Pitt-Brooke and Dion Fanning were watching, goggle-eyed at the latest United capitulation - this one with added red card drama.
Tottenham on the other hand had a delightful day at the office. It turns out the only thing a Premier League crisis club needs is a visit to Old Trafford.
And there's also Liverpool's almost-silent progression to top spot in the Premier League, and Mikel Arteta trying to reverse out of a war of words with Pep.
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It's been another bumper week on the World Service and we want to serve you up a tempting slice of the action.
There was our chat with Dara Ó Briain live from London on the best summer of his sporting life, Barney Ronay and John Brewin on the still smouldering City-Arsenal discourse, and a sneak preview of our brilliant chat with legendary former League of Ireland player and manager Dermot Keely, which goes out tomorrow.
Plus one of the country's best GAA journalists Cahair O'Kane joined us to talk about the end of the Casement Park Euro 2028 dream and where we go from here.
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The sport of rugby barely survived the Ken Early Rugby Special on Second Captains last week, but after a weekend deluge of tries, drama and upsets, it's back, baby!
We do a quick series recap of "last season, in rugby" including a reminder that the international team did rather well in 2023/24, while the provinces struggled.
Gerry Thornley joins us to discuss the 10-try interpro that went loco, Connacht's dynamic halfback duo, Munster's brain drain, Ireland and Leinster's outhalf subplot, Ulster's last-gasp win and the rise of coach Contepomi.
Plus there's bridesmaid Rory McIlroy's continuing psycho drama, Tony Ward the codebreaker and Ireland, THE NUMBER 1 TEAM IN THE WORLD.
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We had been told that Manchester City/Arsenal games are guaranteed snooze-fests, but it turns out we had been misinformed. John Stones got the final goal of a 2-2 thriller in the eighth minute of injury time, and it was a game so rich in drama, so packed with shithousery, and so laden with meaning for this year's Premier League title race that we simply had to hear from Jonathan Wilson and Gavin Cooney.
It might not have been a good week for Mr Mourinho in Turkey, but it will have gladdened his heart to tune into the Greatest League In The World to see both the top 2 turn into Jose teams.
It turns out he had the answers all along - why have a back 5 when you can have a back 6, and when all else fails, why not put a centre-half up top and try and get him on the end of a few diags.
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On this week's World Service roundup; Ken offers fresh perspective on Mikel Arteta's professional pickpocketer scheme, Eoin reopens a 34-year-old debate as to who was at fault for Toto Schillaci's goal that booted us out of Italia 90, and we share some of our chat with the great Katie McCabe live from the eartH Theatre in London last week.
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Rory McIlroy was 4 shots clear at the top of the leaderboard early in yesterday's final round of the Irish Open, was playing at his home-from-home course Royal County Down, against a field shy on world class golfers... nothing could possibly go wrong.
Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times wants to take away the stigma of choking in sport, thinks putting is the base issue and explains why he thinks Rory will win another major, but simultaneously comes to the realisation that he may be the last person alive to admit that these late-Sunday collapses are a problem.
The 1,700 page report into the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people in west London in 2017, released 12 days ago, accused Kingspan of “deeply entrenched and persistent dishonesty” and having a “complete disregard for fire safety”. We discuss Shane Lowry ending his association with Kingspan and whether Cavan GAA should follow suit.
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If Ange Postecoglou's set-up yesterday harked back to the days of Ossie Ardiles, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal paid tribute to the spirit of an even earlier time. The Basque has reconnected Arsenal with their roots - and what lies beneath.
We also talk about Heimir Hallgrimsson's blithe lack of concern for Optics.
Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to talk about the North London derby, the measures Ange Postecoglou has taken to address what are quickly becoming world-famous problems, and how Arsenal are likely to approach a week when they've had no favours from the fixture computer.
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We welcomed Eddie Dunbar into studio last summer to talk about the impact that a series of devastating crashes had on his career and his health. Since then he has had another run of injuries including in this year's Giro D'Italia, but with that bad luck finally behind him, Dunbar has just won 2 stages of the Vuelta España, the second of which is the biggest win of his life.
We talk to cycling journalist Cillian Kelly today about why this was such a timely reminder of Eddie’s class, why he has had so many crashes and what the future holds for the Cork cyclist.
This weekend Branno took a time machine back to a more sedate, more gentrified Dublin, and he is now a fully-fledged polo man and a fan of complicated menus and the British commonwealth.
Plus there’s a defeat for democracy at Central Council, and Oasis break the news of the status quo being maintained for another season in the GAA.
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You want it to be one way. You want it to be one way. You want it to be one way. But it's the other way.
Rice '11, Grealish '26 - a script written by an English sadist. Did we manifest this?
Damien Delaney and Richie Sadlier join us to sift through the wreckage. What didn't they like about Ireland's approach? What could we have done instead? And what should we do next?
We also hear the latest from the press conference where John O'Shea had to insist that he is not actually at the wheel of the national team.
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On this week's World Service tasting platter we drum up some excitement ahead of Saturday's Nations League showdown with England, Ken goes toe-to-toe with Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce on TalkSport and Craig Ray tells us why Ellis Park in Johannesburg is the toughest place to go in world rugby,
And the brilliant Ellen Keane chats to us about seeing magic, introverted extroverts and seeking spontaneity.
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This year's US Open will be the first in 20 years to not feature at least one of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer in the round of 16. This is a....good thing?
Novak Djokovic's shock departure came less than 24 hours after Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz also crashed out of the tournament. We dial in to New York City to chat to Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine.
Ballygunner win again in Waterford as a Comer hop-ball sends Murph’s (original) club packing in Galway, and Scottish Rugby players have been running their mouth again.
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There’s always a quote; “United's high-profile catastrophic start to the season has rightly brought every player under the microscope, but the purchase of a world-class holding midfielder could mark a change in fortunes at Old Trafford”. So read the Daily Mail in August 2022 - the world-class holding midfielder being paraded around Old Trafford before a match against Liverpool that day was... Casemiro.
We chat with Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney as the Arne Slot era begins in such style that he can even moonlight as a post-match pundit offering a tactical breakdown of his vanquished rivals.
Plus there's Dyche-ball and Branno goes blackberry picking as Bohs down Shamrock Rovers.
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Welcome to your free weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service. This week we had non stop entertainment from Ken - from Alexander The Great to Oasis to train stories to strolls with Sean Fitz - he is a true song and dance and stories man. We also chatted to Rhasidat about the need for speed (but when) and her poor health at the Olympics. Plus there was Transfer Deadline Day nonsense, the new Champions League format, a Time Machine malfunction, and a Rossie's plans to down the Dubs, with Carlow.
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Paul O'Donovan won yet another rowing world title this weekend, while Jakob Ingebrigtsen shattered one of the longest-standing track world records - but the man who stole the world's attention, and money, was pole vaulting charisma machine Mondo Duplantis.
We chat to David Gillick and Gavin Cooney about Rhasidat's latest 4th place finish, her road to endurance, the anti doping issues in Bahrain, O'Donovan's dominance and Ingebrigtsen's blistering times.
Plus there's Ken on WWI's eastern front, trusting coach Flo, and Murph's buzzkill.
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Lars Sivertsen and Rich Jolly join us to talk through the weekend's football. What is happening at Everton, where we see Dyche, but not Dycheball? What kind of impression has Fabien Hürzeler already made after a couple of games in the Premier League? How are Norway managing not to qualify for international tournaments these days? And is it really true that any idiot can play Wonderwall?
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Welcome to your weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service. This week we have Ken on the Chelsea cash elevator, Maresca's man management and football's great gamble. Plus there's Conor Niland in studio on Novak's secret sauce and Michael Darragh Macauley on his passion for his new role as CEO of Sanctuary Runners, a group that uses running as a way to bring together asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and all Irish residents, with the aim of creating a more inclusive, integrated and happy society.
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Branno went to Kerry this weekend to see the kingdom get taught a football lesson, but instead got an education in floats, parades, Roses and mass. Branno is now back in Dublin having seen some of the TEN DAYS of the Rose of Tralee festival.
Today’s show tries to answer important questions such as: what would Ken’s B-boy name be? Why are Australians so good at sport? Is it ok to laugh at people who aren’t much good at sport (by Olympics standards)? And is there any topic that can't be turned into a culture war?
We chat to Rohan Connolly - Managing director of FOOTYOLOGY, and AFL commentator for ESPN and 3AW about Raygun, the Australian break dancer who's crime was to be below average at her chosen event.
Plus there's stadium winning streaks, Branno Furiosa and window wiper fun.
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John Brewin and Dion Fanning join us to talk about the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
John was at Portman Road to see the debuts of Kieran McKenna and Arne Slot and reports on the respective animal magnetisms of the two up-and-coming coaches. We also talk about Chelsea and their offences against football.
Elsewhere, the latest instalment in the Perarnau-Guardiola series is upon us and we sample some characteristic vignettes.
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Welcome to your weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service. This week we have a Premier League preview show, Man Utd's nostalgia money, anatomy of a 4 x 400m Olympic final, and Steph Curry's GOAT status.
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Ken came into this Olympics a doubter and left it a believer. Was this the greatest ever Games?
We chat to Cathal Dennehy and Gavin Cooney about the event, the Irish mentality, the 4th-place-a-thon, the drugs question, and how the future looks for us as an Olympic nation.
Plus there's woozy Wiffen, sports tapas, pickleball rules and as ever Satan has his way with ceremonies and just Europe in general.
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Today we grieve for the Paris Olympics, now already receding into history, but who could fail to be re-energised by the prospect of the PSR League starting up again in four days time?
Arne Slot succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool is one of the buzziest storylines ahead of the new season, so it's a good time for the club's former head of research Ian Graham to bring out a new book explaining how he and Michael Edwards helped the club to make so many good decisions during the Klopp era. Can Edwards do it all over again?
Mark Critchley joins us to talk about Manchester City's penalty shootout win over Manchester United in the Community Shield and take us up to speed on the summer changes at the two clubs. Is Oscar Bobb already one of the best wingers in the Premier League? What does United's reported interest in another two members of the Ajax 2019 side say about the evolution of their transfer policy? And can anyone believe the size of the fish Sir Big Jim Ratcliffe has just caught?
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Welcome to your weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service. This week we celebrated Kellie Harrington's back-to-back Olympic gold medals, look ahead to Rhasidat Adeleke potentially following her onto the podium and see what Ken has to say about his trip to Paris as a paying punter.
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Total medals for Ireland at the Olympic Games between 1960 and 1992 - 6. Total medals for Ireland during Week 1 of the Paris Olympic Games - 7.
Michael Foley of the Sunday Times and Sinead O’Carroll of The Journal were in Paris for Rhys’ gold, Kellie’s master-class and Wiffen’s third-place-that-felt-like-a-disappointment-but-is-in-fact-historic.
We recorded the show just in time to see Rhasidat Adeleke’s powerful, composed start to her 400m campaign that has us all dreaming big.
Plus there's the 100m extravaganza, the gold medal table, coach Flo's form and St Lucia speed.
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He's an Olympic champ now, but back in 2022 we had Rhys McCleneghan in studio, fresh from a world championship win, but still navigating his way around a few obstacles and setbacks. He was engaging and intelligent and it was such an enjoyable chat and so full of insights into what has since made him into a dominant force, we thought we would post it for those who missed it first time.
He wasn’t the only Irish Olympian who had a big weekend of course and Monday’s podcast will reflect on all that. Enjoy.
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It's wall-to-wall Olympics on the World Service this week. Mona McSharry managed Ireland's first medal of the 2024 games, Daniel Wiffen backed up his supreme confidence with a Gold medal performance and Simone Biles cemented herself in Olympic history.
Meanwhile, Andy Lee joined us in studio to chat about his time at the Athens Olympics in 2004, a lonely experience for Ireland's solo fighter at the dawn of the Irish High Performance era.
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Back in March Ken and Eoin sat down with Daniel Wiffen. He promised a summer of gold. This morning he set the fastest time in the swimming heats, 7:41.53 seconds, the fastest of those making it through to the medal race. He is living up to his big, big talk. We speak to Gavin Cooney, who was poolside in Paris.
While our island nation may not always have excelled in the pool, the boxing ring has been a happy hunting ground. We watch on as Kellie Harrington begins her journey to what will hopefully end with back-to-back Golds.
While the still distraught (but always professional) Ciarán Murphy lets us know - through the medium of The Frances Murphy TV Guide - what to watch out for tonight and tomorrow.
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Last week we saddled up and rode north to Crossmaglen. Ciarán Murphy was confident riding into the old Armagh market town, he was a little less confident leaving.
Yesterday Armagh won their first All-Ireland since 2002. Kieran McGeeney, their Captain then their manager now. We chat to Michael Murphy and Paul Flynn on a tense final that had a thrilling end. We go easy on Murph.
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Welcome to our World Service tasting platter. This week we travelled to Crossmaglen to chat to Oisín McConville and weigh up the mood ahead of this weekend's All Ireland Football Final, Ken offered us up some strongly held views on the future of Hurling and Joe Callaghan gave us the run down of the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
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Tony Kelly climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand yesterday to raise his county’s fifth-ever Liam McCarthy Cup and in a haze of hurling and religious fervour, declared Brian Lohan ‘God’.
A down-in-the-dumps Jamie Wall and an elated Podge Collins join us to today to pick over how Clare managed to pip Cork by the finest of margins, weigh up the extra time debate, and reflect on what was a final for the ages.
Ken, meanwhile, has major issues with Hurling’s imperialism and scoring system. Plus, there's Nesbitt watch, Clare's Flair and Jarlath Burns on Irish emigrants.
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For our 3000th episode we trekked up to the Temple of Dunphy. Eamon was one of the earliest guests on the pod and has made numerous - always memorable - appearances over the years.
We chat to Eamon about the latest wild happenings in the US Election, the rise of nationalism, the new Ireland manager and his old job of stopping Robin Friday from sparking up a spliff during their days together playing for Reading.
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Welcome to our weekly best of the world service show. We discuss Southgate's departure, disharmony in the Bellingham/England camp, the contenders to take over, Rory's blocks, Heimer's arrival and Frawley's future.
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Kieran McGeeney joined the Armagh senior panel for pre-season training in 1989. Thirty-Five years ago. On Saturday in Croke Park he led his county to their fifth ever All-Ireland Final. There they will face Galway.
Neither county were a red-hot favourite when the ball was thrown in on this Championship back in April, McGeeney dealing with internal slings and arrows while Galway's squad consisted mainly of damaged chassis. But there they will be. And football thanks them for adding unfamiliarity to the sporting summer.
Plus, amongst the chaos, there was Carlos Alcaraz's back-to-back Wimbledon titles after beating Djokovic in straight sets yesterday. Has the tennis torch been officially passed?
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How should we play this game? We turn and ask Spain and once more they show and tell. Tonight they won their fourth European Championship, playing in a manner befitting of champions. To Iniesta, Xavi, Pique, Busquets, Alonso and Alba now add Rodri, Laporte, Cucurella, Yamal and Williams.
By the time the World Cup comes around England will have been waiting, expecting, hoping to win a men's football tournament for 60 years. Sixty. It's quite incredible.
As he has done all summer long Ken dials in from the stadium after full-time joined by Miguel Delaney of The Independent and Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic while we also chat to our Basque correspondent Beñat Gutierrez and ask, given the Basque heavy make-up of this Spanish side are the people of Bilbao dancing in the streets..?
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We've had a mad busy week on the World Service between an All Ireland Hurling Championship for the ages, Lamine Yamal marking his spot on the world stage and England making a second consecutive Euros final. All that before you throw in the announcement of Heimir Hallgrímsson as the new Republic of Ireland Head Coach.
Join the party for a fiver a month – there’s no contracts, no hidden fees and no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.
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Saturday in Pretoria was supposed to be many things, a battle between two teams who don’t like each other very much, the teams ranked 1 and 2 in the world, a chance for Rassie Erasmus to finally coach a team to victory over Ireland… in the end, it came down to 2 hours of watching to see if James Lowe had stepped out of touch in various weird and wonderful ways.
South Africa 27-Ireland 20 - we speak to Shane Horgan and Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent about why this was a deserved Springbok win, how a couple of huge errors cost us, and how a bruised and battered Ireland can salvage something from next Saturday's second test.
Plus we join Ken in München to discuss what impact the French election results will have on the striking French footballers, England's buddy system on penalties, and the exquisite joy of seeing the world's biggest laundrette right beside your new hotel.
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There'll always be an England, and under Gareth Southgate it’ll always reach the latter stages of major football tournaments. This was his fourth straight ¼ final and now his side are one game away from back-to-back European Championship Final appearances. So what’s the bloody problem then? We chat to Ken from the stadium, accompanied by Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic.
While England may be the footballing equivalent of a week away at Centre Parcs, watching Turkey has been whatever the same length of time would feel like at Wayne Lineker’s compound. Fun. But maybe a little too much. Jonathan Wilson joins us from Berlin where - like Recep Erdoğan, he saw the Netherlands advance past the surrogate host country.
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It's been a great week here at Second Captains as we chased Ken around Germany as he followed the Euros Circus from Frankfurt to Berlin. Murph also developed a sense of wanderlust and packed the car for Cork where he met with Jamie Wall to chat though this coming weekend's All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals.
Join the party for a fiver a month – there’s no contracts, no hidden fees and no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.
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Dublin are out at the quarter-final stage of the All-Ireland senior football championship for the first time since the “startled earwigs” of 2009, and it took an incredible second half performance by Galway to take them down.
Michael Murphy and Paul Flynn talk to us about the end of an era (?) Galway’s tactical bravery, Kerry’s safety-first approach to handling a misfiring Derry, Donegal’s serene march to an All-Ireland semi-final… and why Armagh are a dangerous animal as we get to our final four.
Plus there’s joyous local radio commentaries, the Sawdoctors in Fairview, central casting in Galway, and Branno’s requiem for Dublin’s dream.
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England were truly awful for most of tonight’s game against Slovakia, until Jude Bellingham's sweet finish bailed out his country at the death.
We get Ken’s post-match analysis from Gelsenkirchen. Southgate lives to fight another day but surely this crew can't beat the Swiss army knife?
And Lars Sivertsen gives us his thoughts on the Spain game, Nico Williams' superstar status, and what this tournament has meant to the proud, skilful Georgians.
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Welcome to our best of Euros show. It’s been a great tournament so far with underdog wins, Willy's mighty Georgia, Turkish finesse, lunatic fans, English mediocrity, and loads of 0.0% and 5.1% Pilsner Ken.
Join the party for a fiver a month – there’s no contracts, no hidden fees and no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.
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The Gaelic football season is the party that no-one was allowed to leave for large spells of this summer... but now the blade is being lowered with ruthless efficiency, and the narrative quickly moves on to those teams left standing.
Michael Murphy and Paul Flynn say goodbye to Mayo, Tyrone, Monaghan and Cork in short order, before we look ahead to this weekend's All-Ireland football quarter-finals.
We also discuss the possible end of Conor McManus' glittering inter-county career, a Cork-man manages to be both bored and infuriated simultaneously watching his football team, and Paul Flynn's support for Louth wins him some Wee County love.
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Scotland have qualified for 12 international football tournaments, and they have failed to get out of their group at each and every one of those 12 tournaments. This time around it was a 98th minute winner for Hungary that finally put paid to their hopes.
Jonathan Wilson joins us from Stuttgart for the latest episode of Scottish tournament heartbreak while Ken was at the other game in that group to see Niclas Füllkrug score a late equaliser and further burnish his own sparkling global reputation, and ensure the hosts qualified for the Round of 16 as winners.
Plus there’s Ken's thought on pitch invaders harassing Ronaldo, a Grunge Week 2024 teaser, and the first rule of qualifying as a third-placed finisher (finish third).
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Welcome to our best of Euros show. It's been a great tournament so far with wild games, mad fans, power ballads, low-energy England, Mbappe's politics, and a happy Ken on tour. Join the party for a fiver a month - there's no contracts, no hidden fees and no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.
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Oh Rory. Oh Rory, Rory, Rory. Lawrence Donegan and the lads wrestle with what we saw last night. Is it career-defining? How can it not be?
Paul Flynn is with us to discuss two draws in the Gaelic football championship yesterday, with vastly differing outcomes. And there’s the Football Review Committee’s ‘sandbox games’ this weekend, trialling some revolutionary new rules - committee member Michael Murphy talks us through them.
And there’s also the inevitable mentions of Bill Buckner, Scott Norwood, Doug Sanders, Jean van de Velde…
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England expects. England awaits. England bores. England Wins. We chat to Ken and full time England watcher Miguel Delaney.
While riding the rail to Gelsenkirchen Ken encounters an Albanian man who literally risks his life and limbs for our football correspondent. The Euros may not even be out of the first weekend but the littlest hobo is all in.
Elsewhere we saw Italy grind it out, Hungary confirm their Aviva form-line, and Spain answer those podcasts (like ours) who insist on sleeping on them.
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As Ken heads off to the Euros in Germany, now is the time to become a world service member if you want to gain access to our all our coverage throughout the tournament.
Plus there's instant access to all our archives (almost 3,000 shows), there's features such as this week's fun chat with Conor Niland and Gavin Cooney about the tennis netherworld, we have Jamie Wall on hurling, we will be covering the Olympics. the URC semis and final, all the GAA football, the summer tour of South Africa, and all the big golf and tennis stories, plus all the breaking news.
It’s 5 euro a month; there's no contracts, no hidden fees, no ads, and we're independent and member-led. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.
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Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday with Germany v Scotland in Munich - and here's our tournament preview pod.
James Horncastle and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk through the contenders. What can we expect from the champions, Italy, under Luciano Spalletti? Can England justify their status as tournament favourites? What about the hosts, Germany, who have lately put in their most pathetic tournament performances in memory? Why does Wilson continue to disrespect Kylian Mbappe? And who do they think is going to win?
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It was an incredible weekend for Irish athletics. Last Friday, Sonia O'Sullivan was the only Irish person to have ever won gold at a European Championships. Ronnie Delany, Eamon Coghlan, John Treacy - all had tried, none had succeeded. By this afternoon, we had added 5 names to that roll of honour, after the success of Ciara Mageean and our mixed relay team.
Cathal Dennehy and Derval O'Rourke join us to talk about the extraordinary achievement of our (geographically, demographically) diverse team which marries youth and experience - and how richly deserved this is for Ciara Mageean, who now has a gold to go with her silver and bronze European medals.
Ken predicts gold for Ireland in tonight's 400m women's final, and we raise a toast to Jerry Kiernan, so fondly remembered in the RTE studios last night.
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This week on the World Service we had Ken on Man City's latest legal power grab, Caitlin on turbulent times in the tennis world, and Ian Madigan on Irish rugby's inability to fix the 10 succession plan. Plus we have daily Euros shows coming up with Ken in Germany, Murph as Gaeilge, the Olympics, the summer tour in SA, football with Flynn and Murphy, and hurling with Jamie.
There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s 5 euro a month, it's independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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Real Madrid did that Real Madrid thing to win a staggering 15th Champions League title at Wembley - but it takes more than that to impress Don Diego Torres, who joins us from the Spanish capital to evaluate their triumph.
Has this Madrid generation surpassed the Di Stefano-Puskas team of the 50s? Do Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Ancelotti deserve to be considered the world’s best? Who are the players who really make this team tick? And how is Kylian Mbappe going to fit in?
And we talk about how Borussia Dortmund’s sponsorship deal with Rheinmetall might be the biggest sportswash of all time.
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This week on the World Service we had a top-class Champions League final preview with Sid Lowe and Rapha Honigstein, we discussed Carlo's chill, watery Dortmund, Duff man said a lot of things to Richie Sadlier, plus there was hurling with Jamie, football with Flynn and Murphy and we will chat to Brian Murphy about Celtics legend Bill Walton who overcame a childhood stutter to become an NBA all-star, a legend of the flower power generation and one of the great US broadcasters.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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Erik ten Hag finally cottoned on to the winning formula for Man United managers - treat the press scum with the contempt they deserve and win the hearts of the crowd.
But did this display of alpha dominance come too late to save his job? We argue the case for and against.
Mark Critchley and Barney Ronay join us to look back at the FA Cup final - and forward to United's season review. Where did it all go wrong for City? Does a glorious win secure ten Hag's future at United? Should it?
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Yet again it was Champions Cup misery for Leinster, this time with Extra Time, for maximum pain and anguish.
Despite trumping Toulouse on almost every conceivable metric and spending lots of the game in the opposition 22, they conceded 19 turnovers and failed to score a try in normal time. We chat to Shane Horgan and Ruaidhri O'Connor about death by poach, the "take your points" decision-making process and a performance for the ages from Antoine "everything everywhere all at once" Dupont.
Are Leinster’s issues simply rooted in a fragile mentality? Has their old attacking DNA been neglected? Where exactly was the Nienaber knockout rugby mentality? What do they do about their gaggle of outhalves? And can they win the URC with all those broken hearts knocking about the place?
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Welcome to our World Service Best Of show. This week, we feature a chat about the brave new world of top-level football management with Jonathan Wilson, celebrity St. Pats fan Ciarán Murphy's trip to Richmond Park, the culmination of what's been a box office Munster Hurling Championship, and why Shane Horgan is feeling shaky about Leinster's chances ahead of this weekend's Champions Cup Final.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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Having been dubbed “Mr Thursday” by certain ill-informed commentators last week, Xander Schauffele answered every criticism in securing his first major title.
We review a wild US PGA championship with Gavin Cooney and Lawrence Donegan, featuring arrests, Kentucky Cops, divorce, Rory's repeat and Shane Lowry’s 62.
We also discuss Oleksandr Usyk’s thrilling split-decision win over Tyson Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday night - and Ken asks when is a knockdown not a knockdown?
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Manchester City are champions, as it was foretold by Eoin McDevitt some months ago following their 0-0 draw with Arsenal. No Premier League opponent got within two goals of them since, as also foretold by Eoin McDevitt.
With all this having been so long foretold, we start off today talking about Jurgen Klopp's farewell at Anfield and what the early reactions might be foretelling us about the future.
Dion Fanning and Lars Sivertsen join us to look back on the final day and the Premier League season in general. How excited were they to watch City's historic four-in-a-row? How does Jurgen Klopp manage to always leave his clubs wanting more? Is Rodri correct that Arsenal lacked the winning mentality to seal the deal? And while we're about it, what's next for Roberto de Zerbi?
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This week on the Second Captains World Service Ken sat down with Brian Kerr to reflect on Kerr's short stint back in the Republic of Ireland dugout. Meanwhile, Olympic medal hopeful Rhasidat Adeleke joined us for a chat about her love for relay.
However, things turned sour for Jacob Rees Murphy who found himself confronted by critics/haters of his neolib views on the much maligned streaming service, GAAGO.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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Cork/Limerick was an occasion for the ages, and Murph was there with today’s guest Jamie Wall to experience the home team’s 3-28 to 3-26 win in a raucous Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
We reflect on how Cork managed to pick holes in Limerick’s defence, the champions’ come-back, the last-minute penalty that won it, and why Paul Kinnerk was losing it on the line with the Cork bench.
There has also been some discussion around the fact the game was on GAA GO… Ken, as ever, stands up for the little man.
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Does it say something about the level of drama in this Premier League title run-in that the most-talked-about thing this weekend was the leaking roof at Old Trafford?
Or is that just because everybody is making the same unjustified assumption about Tottenham strewing Man City's path to the title with rose petals tomorrow night?
Mark Critchley and Clive Palmer join us to talk through Arsenal's win. Is their season a success now even without the title? What do you have to do to get dropped from this Manchester United defence? And why is everybody - with one or two exceptions - apparently so sure that City are going to cruise through these last two matches?
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Welcome to our World Service Best Of show which this week features a look at what's likely next for Erik ten Hag and the managerial merry-go-round that's sure to follow. There's also Steve Staunton the true Gael and Gus Poyet getting quantified.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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Leinster are going to London and before Eoin gave up on his buffering Wi-Fi it looked as if they were cruising. Instead, they somehow found themselves staring down the barrel of one of the great European Cup comebacks - no need to remind you of the other one..
We chat through a huge day for Leinster and Irish sport with Shane Horgan and the BBC's Chris Jones.
A happy Murph details his day in the Salthill Sun and we get ahead of ourselves in predicting just how many medals the Irish Athletics relay team - powered by Rhasidat - will be bringing home from Paris.
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Welcome to our World Service Best Of show which this week features Ken's rousing rendition of You May Be Right by Billy Joel, a debate as to the real ability of Jude Bellingham, Welcome to Wrexham, reaction to the Munster Hurling Championship and much more.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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After the fireworks of their defeat of Derry in the Ulster quarter-final, it was always going to be something rather different and more difficult for Jim McGuinness' Donegal team this weekend, and they needed extra time to overcome Tyrone and set up an Ulster final against Armagh.
Michael Murphy and Oisin McConville are on hand to talk through their respective counties' wins at the weekend, and also run the rule over Louth, who reached successive Leinster finals for the first time since the 1950s by putting sorry Kildare out of their misery and into the Tailteann Cup.
We also discuss Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry's tandem win on the PGA Tour last night, Rory's pipes, and sartorial elegance in the GAA management class.
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Eoin presides again over the weekly humiliation ritual in which Ken is forced to grudgingly accept that Kai Havertz played well over the weekend while grumbling vaguely about opportunity costs.
Jonathan Wilson and Lars Sivertsen join us to talk about the NLD and other weekend football lines. Is Havertz the signing of the season? And how long can Ange Postecoglou get away with a vibes-based approach to set-pieces?
We also talk about why the issue of 'tourist' fans at Premier League games is becoming increasingly heated, and find out how optimistic Jonathan and Lars are for Arne Slot's prospects at Liverpool.
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Welcome to our world service best of show which this week features reaction to Liverpool's loss to Everton, an exploration into Klopp's likely successor, Ken and Murph's trip to Tolka Park and just how popular Rugby continues to be in Ireland.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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It was a classic weekend of GAA action, but maybe the surprising result of all came in Celtic Park, as Donegal travelled to Derry and knocked off the league champions with a four-goal, five-star performance.
Michael Murphy was working for BBC TV, was in attendance, and was designated driver for a car full of Donegal legends on Saturday night, and he joins us today to talk about Derry's lethargy, Jim McGuinness' impact, and the future of Odhran Lynch's upfield excursions.
Ken brings us the news that Jose Mourinho is finally paying attention to Kieran McGeeney's tactical innovations, and we discuss Leinster's incredible popularity as they sell out Croke Park - with some public service announcements for their ticket- (and pint-) hungry fans.
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Coventry City almost pulled off the greatest FA Cup comeback of all time, but thankfully VAR was there to save us all from that happening by spotting one of the most fractional offsides of all time. Blessed are we who live under its eye.
We also discuss Marc Canham's video communiqué from last Friday, what he seemed to be trying to say and what he might have said instead.
Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about his experience at the Cup semi-final, and also the reverberations of Nottingham Forest's inflammatory comments about Stuart Attwell.
Does a club accusing a referee of bias represent some kind of radical break with the norms and traditions of football? How else are clubs supposed to respond to the nonsense foisted on them by refs? Are corruption accusations inseparable from the use of VAR? And is there anything referees can practically do to extricate themselves from the conspiracy vortex that is engulfing them?
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Welcome to our world service best of show which this week features reaction to Man City's dramatic loss to Madrid, a backlash to the relationism backlash, a meaty hurling preview and Oisin McConville explains why he is so open with the media.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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It's (maybe) set to be a big week for the Irish Football Family with a new Men's Senior manager imminent but GO TOBANN just as Ken goes to grab the mic news breaks that FAI CEO Jonathan Hill will be stepping aside. Events, they just keep occurring.
Outside of the FAI internal re-structuring The Great Debate of our epoch revolves around the conflict between Relationism and Positionism. On today's show Ken goes deep with tactics guru Jamie Hamilton.
We also discuss the small matter of Liverpool and Arsenal handing the title to Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen triumphing in Deutschland.
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Leinster went for a 6/2 bench, a Will Connors horse for the La Rochelle course, and defended with manic speed and aggression to beat ROG's team for the second time this season. They won with 27 points to spare, and the Nienaber factor was there for all to see.
We chat to Shane Horgan and Ruaidhri O'Connor about slaying the dragon, the mental strength and skill required to score the Ryan Baird try after halftime, Ross Byrne's best-ever performance, peak Furlong, Leo Cullen's role in the side's evolution, how dangerous Toulouse look, Aviva boos, selling out Croke Park for a bank holiday weekend and how the Irish women's team ended their long 6N losing streak by winning in style against Wales.
Plus there's Larmour's comeback, ROG's rebuild, Scheffler's dominance and a McTepid Masters prediction.
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This week on our World Service highlights show; Ken exalts the value of watching football in double speed, Branno reviews Eric Cantona's live musicianship and Eoin bravely asks the big question - can Rory McIlroy win the Masters this weekend?
To join up go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month plus VAT, with no contracts, no minimum stay and no sneaky fees.
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Man United v Liverpool used to be a byword for stultifying boredom and dreariness. Not any more. We discuss another Liverpool fumble-job at Old Trafford, the cult of Darwin and the maniacally optimistic analysis of Erik ten Hag.
Simon Hughes and John Brewin join us to talk about the game at Anfield. Did Liverpool get what they deserved? Is Ruben Amorim likely to succeed Klopp in the summer. What did John make of the Kev Show at Selhurst Park? And who do they feel is looking the strongest out of the three title contenders?
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As Manie Libbok placed the ball on the tee for the kick that would have knocked La Rochelle out of Europe, you just knew the Rugby Gods (and Libbok's 66% kicking stats) had other plans. And so it's come to pass that ROG and Will Skelton will march on Dublin once more, and Leinster will have to try and pass their greatest mental and physical challenge, once more.
We chat to Shane Horgan and Ruaidhri O'Connor about Gibson (s)Park, lethargic Leinster, the case for Nienaber's defence, Munster's rotten luck and why speed, and a lack of it, is becoming a huge problem for the Irish provinces.
There's also Connacht's big win in Pau, Ulster's surprising shot at a trophy, why losing a RWC winning prop might be good news, what Tadhg Beirne, Bundee Aki and Gibson Park have in common, and McDevitt warns ROG him not to feed the animals.
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Welcome to our world service best of show which this week features an on form Pep, Duff and the regime, Rassie's rabble rousing and Leinster's battle at ten and drive for five.
Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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A great weekend of football at Tallaght Stadium, at Anfield, at St James' Park, at Stamford Bridge, at Croke Park - joy, fun, excitement everywhere except at the Etihad Stadium where Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta's two sets of brightly coloured robots offered a terrifying portent of the future.
Jonathan Wilson and Jon Mackenzie join us to talk about what it all means. Was this game bad? If so, whose fault was it? Did this game represent a decisive episode in the ongoing ideological war between positionism and relationism? Are we ready for a football future in which everything is under control except the egos of the coaches? Let's get stuck in...
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It seemed like everyone was piping up to have a go at the Irish football team after not even registering a goal during the drab March international break.. including the Swiss media, as we were alerted by a World Service member based there.
US Murph chatted to us about the latest sporting superstar in the US, Iowa State basketballer Caitlin Clark who has recently broken the all-time NCAA scoring record across both the men's and women's game.
Closer to home, Derry play Dublin in the Division 1 league final at HQ this weekend. However, Michael Murphy has much greater ambitions than that for the back-to-back Ulster Champions.
To join up go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month plus VAT, with no contracts, no minimum stay and no sneaky fees.
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Clare and Kilkenny are in the National Hurling League final, and Jamie Wall is back on the pod for the first time as the reigning 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup winning coach to talk us through their semi-final wins this weekend.
Limerick were abysmal, according to their own manager John Kiely, and they’ve also been wrestling with the Kyle Hayes court case. We discuss what likely impact the case will have on Limerick’s Drive For Five.
We also find time to outline just why jersey-ripping has become such a key part of our Gaelic football consumption, and Eoin and Murph admit their complete ignorance when it comes to what exactly it is that insurance companies do to turn a profit.
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Cold? Boring? Meaningless? Not from the point of view of the manager for whom the game was a top-level debut. John O'Shea saw a lot to like in Ireland vs Belgium on Saturday evening.
We talk through the details of the game and wonder if we are about to see a second interim coaching appointment transform into a permanent one.
Germany produced a shock 2-0 victory away to France on Saturday night; six months after taking the national team job, Julian Nagelsmann is winning people over. We talk to Archie Rhind-Tutt about the state of play for the host nation just a few weeks out from the Euros.
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It's been a week to remember on the World Service, for none more so than our own proud Galweigen and 'Top Red' Ciaran Murphy.
We were delighted to chat with hurling legend Joe Canning on the latest edition of our 'I'll Tell You Who Wrote It Second Captains Book Club. Joe spoke to us about John Feinstein's A Good Walk Spoiled, his own impressive golfing CV and how now living in Limerick brings him into contact with a lot of, well.. Limerick people.
Back in Dublin, Ken's attention over the long weekend was dominated by, of all things, the FA Cup. Specifically, the classic that played out between United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
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Ireland have won back-to-back Six Nations and have been a very consistent team over a long period of time now. We put their achievements into context while also examining their form, which has tapered off since the Italy game.
We chat to Chris Jones of the BBC, former 6N winner Andrew Trimble, and Tom English of BBC Scotland about Ireland's second-half power show against Scotland, if their attack needs a re-think, how they will cope if Peter O'Mahony retires, Central Gibson Park, and how Jack Crowley has settled in at 10.
We also examine the quality of this year's Six Nations, if mid-table England will in fact be the most satisfied of all, Italy's rise and Wales having as much of a nightmare off the pitch as on it.
Plus there's the greatest ever Galway sports person, Murph wilts under the McGeeney Gaze and Farrell bites back.
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The secret to any truly great sporting rivalry is some genuine animosity between the two parties, and when it comes to Ireland and the Scottish rugby team - these two straight up don't like each other. Even if one of them keeps beating the other time & time again.
Elsewhere, the Champions League knockouts have finally caught fire. We chatted to Rory Smith of The New York Times and Nick Ames of The Guardian about Arsenal's progress and ask what is driving the trend of multi club models.
To join up go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month plus VAT, with no contracts, no minimum stay and no sneaky fees.
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The Irish team didn't perform and the Irish media got this one badly badly wrong, except for a humble GAA man from Galway.
We chat to Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about England's powered-up attack, Ireland's end game, O'Mahony's yellow, the lineout issues, the 6-2 split and what a 6N Championship would mean, and what a loss to Scotland might mean!
We also discuss our various scapegoat options, Murph's Turph, Italy's win over Scotland, and Ken's admiration for Rob Kearney.
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Liverpool and Manchester City played another great game at Anfield and the big winners were Arsenal. The league leaders earned another important win against Brentford on Saturday evening. We discuss the edge of ruthlessness Mikel Arteta's players are showing as they chase a first title in 20 years.
Dion Fanning and Gavin Cooney join us to talk over the Liverpool-City game and other Premier League weekend business. Klopp and Guardiola have defined the Premier League, their teams pushing each other to greater and greater heights, but there is ultimately only one question anyone cares about: who is better? Has Caoimhín Kelleher's decision to stay at Liverpool been vindicated? And how do they interpret Evan Ferguson's 19-game goalless run?
We also get Branno's thoughts on who should be taking over from Declan Devine at Bohs.
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It's the year 2024 and ex Scottish Rugby International's are backing humble England over arrogant Ireland. Is this the future we wanted? Well, it's the one we have and this weekend could see Ireland push even closer to a back-to-back Grand Slam with victory in Twickenham. But first, Eoin is here to warn you with tales from the past.
Yesterday Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson put their thinking caps on about why the Champions League has lost its appeal in recent times, and what could be done to get it back
After being one of the first GAA players to take part in the NFL combine we caught up with Rory Beggan, by which time he was supposed to be back in Ireland, but there was a bit of a change of plans.
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The FAI formally unveiled new interim manager John O'Shea at a press
conference at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon - Ken reports from the
scene...
...and if you want to listen to that straightaway scroll to the end.
First we talk through some of the action from a weekend that saw
Nottingham Forest's refereeing lobbyist Mark Clattenburg swing into
action.
Mark Critchley and John Brewin join us to talk about the Manchester
derby. Is it really too much to expect Man United should be able to
give City more of a game than this? And if the future is looking bleak
for Erik ten Hag, how is it looking for Marcus Rashford?
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Ireland are once again raging hot favourites to win a 6N game, which may sit ok with us when it's Italy or this 2024 Wales team, but this time it's England, in Twickenham! We're not in Kansas anymore.
We talk to Gerry Thornley about the dynamics at play including a warning from 6N history, Hugo Keenan's knee injury, Steve Borthwick's reputation, and Ryan Baird's red-hot form.
Plus there's Sam Warburton's tackle power, Beggan's boot, and Jim McGuinness bemoaning the rampant use of the 'Rodri Foul' in Gaelic Football.
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Nearly 100 days on from the announcement that Stephen Kenny’s time as Republic of Ireland manager was up, we finally have a successor... on an interim basis for the March friendlies against Belgium & Switzerland. We digest the news and speculate on what might happen if things go well for John O'Shea, and the heat this appointment takes off the FAI.
Elsewhere, Ken fears for Man United ahead of the Manchester Derby this weekend with an emboldened City side lying in wait.
Plus, it's been a big week for the GAA with the much-trumpeted appointment of Jarlath Burns as president, who has made it his mission to save Gaelic Football.
To join up go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month plus VAT, with no contracts, no minimum stay and no sneaky fees.
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Ken was at Wembley to see Caoimhin Kelleher help Liverpool to what Jurgen Klopp described as his sweetest-ever trophy.
We talk through the action of the day, why young players seem to play better for Liverpool than they do for Chelsea, and why Chelsea don’t give their supporters anything to get behind.
Rich Jolly and Jacob Steinberg join us to talk over the Carabao Cup final - and also Fulham’s late win at Old Trafford. Why did this trophy mean so much to Klopp? How much longer can Mauricio Pochettino cling on? And while we’re at it, what about Eric Ten Hag?
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"Too much winning", we cry, as Ireland march relentlessly towards another grand slam.
The expectations are now so high that a flurry of penalties in the second half and some aimless attacks in the first half against a young Wales side have us demanding improvements, and fast. We chat to Chris Jones of the BBC and former Ireland winger Shane Horgan about Bundee's power, Ireland's bench strength, the fast start Frawley and Nash have made to their international careers, and if a reduced gameplan for England would trouble Ireland in two weeks time.
Plus there's Duhan the try-machine, Garbisi's tee trouble, and the new Eddie Jones documentary.
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Did you hear the one about the CEO who jokingly asked for cash in lieu of holidays, had the nuance of the gag missed by the Finance Director and was accidentally paid more than the allowable salary agreed under the state bailout, leading to the President of the association openly doubting confidence him in from of a government committee? It may sound insane.. but this is the FAI we're talking about.
Meanwhile, breaking news around the redevelopment plan of Belfast's Casement Park ahead of the 2028 Euros had us asking questions into the actual usefulness of the project as well as the geopolitics at play.
Finally, we got around some football talk after an emotional Liverpool comeback win over Luton had Klopp reminiscing on some of his greatest nights as a manager.
To join up go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month plus VAT, with no contracts, no minimum stay and no sneaky fees.
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Jamie Wall’s Fitzgibbon Cup pedigree is pretty special. He was a selector for Mary I’s first win in the competition in 2016, was in charge in 2017, and in another David vs Goliath triumph won their third national title on Saturday, against 3-in-a-row chasing University of Limerick.
He joins us on today’s show along with his selector Podge Collins, the former Clare All-Ireland winner and All-star (and his first cousin), to talk to us about their relationship, what makes the Fitzgibbon so special, and their post-match celebration seen around the world.
We also discuss our two-time world champion Daniel Wiffen, and the imminent return of Flynn and Murph.
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Irish football fans don't ask for much these days, but when it comes to finding a new national team manager they still want a little mystery in their lives. So over the weekend when Chris Coleman shot to the top of the contenders list the general response appeared to be, through a chink too wide comes in no wonder.
We chat to Dion Fanning and Gavin Cooney in studio about Coleman's credentials, the real/rumoured list of candidates, the FAI's fun faction, and how messy the whole managerial search appears to be.
We also look at the form and feet of Liverpool and Ireland's Caoimhin Kelleher, the Nathan Collins stock market, Evan's goal drought, Erling's misses, and the Jota - Nunez master blaster strike partnership.
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Welcome back to your weekly taster of the Kevin Brannigan World Service. With the domestic leagues kicking off this weekend, we've reunited the Sneyd & Branno dream team to raise the curtain on the League of Ireland season and weigh up Stephen Bradley's potential as the future Republic of Ireland manager.
Plus there's a clip from tomorrow's show where we delve into the prospect of a doping-friendly sporting event fronted by Australian swimmer, James 'The Missile' Magnussen.
To join go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and you can listen to us on Spotify or any normal podcast app on your phone, laptop or tablet, or on our website. Email members@secondcaptains.com with any questions.
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Declan Rice: to be fair, quite useful. A pity most West Ham fans didn't wait around long enough to see his goal. In the wake of a record-equalling home defeat for West Ham, we wonder what David Moyes has to do to get a little credit around here?
Manchester United remain undefeated in 2024. They might not yet be the most spectacular of the teams chasing the Champions League spots but perhaps they look the most sustainable.
Archie Rhind-Tutt joins us from Germany to talk about Bayer Leverkusen's 3-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso's team are the only unbeaten side in the top 5 leagues. Is it too soon to say we have found the new Pep?
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Ireland have won 10 Six Nations games in a row now, and continue to do it in style with another 6 tries against Italy, and their first 6N/5N clean sheet since 1987.
We chat to Gerry Thornley of The Irish Times and Tom English of BBC Scotland about Jack Crowley's passing game, Henshaw's case for holding onto the 13 jersey, who would replace Hugo Keenan if he's badly injured, why England are going to be tough to beat in Twickers, and if Scotland should blame the ref, the TMO, World Rugby's protocols, or themselves, for a defeat to an out of sorts French team.
We get told to turn that frown upside down by a listener, and Murph looks at Jim McGuinness' soccer CV and wonders if he could do a job for the Republic of Ireland.
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Welcome to our regular best of show which this week features Arsenal's lightly celebrated win over Liverpool, a mild mutiny at Chelsea and AFCON fun with Oluwashina. We also have Vegas Murph, Ireland's Grand Slam plan, lotsa (GAA) league analysis and pedants on pedants.
To listen to our programming throughout the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s 5 euro a month for independent, commercial-free, member-led podcasts with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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It's not supposed to be this easy! Ireland's previous biggest win away to France was by 7 points, way back in 1948. In the wake of a record win in Marseille, we let a mix of emotions - joy, awe, confusion, expectation - wash over us.
We chat to Shane Horgan about the unbridled optimism of our running game, our rejuvenated lineout, Jack Crowley's mental resets, Beirne's brains, a defanged Shaun Edwards and what's up with France?
Ireland are now strong favourites to win a slam, but who is our main challenger as the Scots win but lose, as Finn Russell ticks off his teammates, as England learn on the job and as Wales somehow build belief from nothing.
And after watching Derry outplay Tyrone Murph tells us who is going to win the All-Ireland.
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Last Friday, the football world was shocked to learn that Jurgen Klopp will leave his job as Liverpool manager at the end of the season. This week, we focused our gaze on what happens next, and who will fill the shoes of this legendary figure.
Elsewhere, Ireland are away to a bruised and emotional French team this weekend in the opening round of the Six Nations. What better way to dust off a World Cup hangover than to dive headfirst into a potential championship decider?
Plus, we caught up with US Murph after his beloved San Francisco 49ers pulled off a miraculous second-half comeback to beat the Detroit Lions to the NFC Championship and set the stage for a date with destiny in Las Vegas.
To join go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and you can listen to us on Spotify or any normal podcast app on your phone, laptop or tablet, or on our website. Email members@secondcaptains.com with any questions.
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The FAI's search for a new manager is not going well. Pot stirrer Eoin McDevitt is still doing his bit though; he chatted to Neil Lennon on Premier Sports over the weekend, and today on Second Captains it's Gus Poyet, who is very keen on the job.
Man United just about got past "County Newport" but the big story is nightclub enthusiast Marcus Rashford. Ken reviews the reviews of the clubs of Belfast.
Plus there's the incredible shrinking Barcelona, Dion Dublin's pro-am, and all the things that Liverpool will miss about Klopp.
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The National Football League is winning hearts and minds on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Irish version of the NFL kicked off this weekend, with some cracking games and away upsets.
Michael Murphy is back in the Second Captains saddle for another year, and he talks to us about conversations with Jim McGuinness about a sensational playing return, conversations for 10 years about Roger Schmidt and gegenpressing, and why 1-20 in Ballybofey in January is pretty good shooting.
We also discuss bogey teams in the GAA - Galway can’t beat Mayo, Monaghan can’t lose to Dublin (in the league, at any rate), and Mickey Harte is still inflicting pain on Kerry football.
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The murder by a loyalist gang of Sean Brown, the Chairman of the Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Derry in May 1997 was a heinous, violent act, and one that has reverberated through generations of his town and his family.
In this special Second Captains episode, we travel to Bellaghy to talk to his daughter Siobhán and grandson Damán about their continuing fight for justice.
We talk about the obstacles that have stood in their way over the last 27 years, and the impact of the NI Troubles Legacy and Reconciliation Act on the inquest currently ongoing into his death. Their barrister is Des Fahy, author of “How The GAA Survived The Troubles”, also talks to us about who Sean Brown was, and why being a member of a GAA club was enough to get an innocent man killed.
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The All-Ireland club finals don’t always deliver quality games, but they are usually good for a narrative arc or two… and in 2024, we managed to get the best of both worlds.
Maurice Brosnan of the Irish Examiner talks to us about Éanna Burke’s last-minute wizardry that won it for St Thomas’, and we discuss Conor Glass’ mastery of the big moments which will be the stand-out memory of Glen’s maiden All-Ireland club final win.
Ken weighs in on what hurling can do to improve itself - and his findings may enrage traditionalists - and Eoin makes the argument for wet-weather-only fixtures.
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Ivan Toney seems to have made good use of his time away from the game, learning how to use his mind to manipulate and control the Universe. With this new skill in his locker it's looking like a big 2024 in prospect for the big man.
We also talk about new developments in game management, Darwin's 10/10 and Manchester United's latest stunning boardroom "coup".
Then Samindra Kunti joins us from Doha to report on the Asian Cup, where Palestine still have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stage after drawing with the UAE in their second match.
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US Murph joined us on the World Service for a round-up of the NFL Playoffs, a hearty laugh at the Dallas Cowboys and to give credit to the punting abilities of The Wicklow Whacker - Dan Whelan. Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho's time at AS Roma has come to a close in his customary third season at the club. We ask where next for the self-proclaimed 'Little Magpie'?
Plus, there's Ken's beef with the Germans over Jadon Sancho and a return to pedant's corner.
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Munster were on a bad run of results, injuries and performances, hadn't won away from home all season, and were 10-0 down away to Toulon in a must-win tie.... so naturally they shot the light outs, got a 4-try BP win, and changed the entire complexion of their Champions Cup campaign.
We chat to Ruaidhri O'Connor about Munster marrying the old and the new, the impact Peter O'Mahony's return had on the team and why, almost 30 years into professionalism, big characters can still make all the difference.
We continue to put grit into Murph's gears, take a lift to the top floor of the Lions experience, have a peek at the 6N form guide, seek the help of Permutations Man, and Ronnie O'Sullivan wins an 8th Masters title while also goading and chastising everyone around him.
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If Jadon Sancho feels a bit hard done by after his treatment at Manchester United maybe he should take a look at what is happening at Forest Green Rovers, where charismatic young coach Troy Deeney is showing what can happen when managers are prepared to take off the kid gloves and start dealing out some harsh truths.
Jack Pitt-Brooke and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the weekend’s PL action. How can Ange Postecoglou get his B-team to play the same way as the injured first-teamers? Will Dave Brailsford succeed in putting Manchester United into a challenge-state after a decade of threat-state? And would football be better if it cast off the shackles of regulation and allowed the richest owners the freedom to express their visions and dreams to the max?
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Welcome to our regular world service highlights show. For our second week of podcasting in 2024 we covered Mo's rep in Egypt, Darwin Nunez's misses in slow mo, BCM (?), Taylor Swift's impact on the form of the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Farrell taking a break from the Ireland job to do the Lions job, an Irish football managerial update and Ken's reflections on teflon Beckenbauer. Plus there was ugly Chelsea, America's assholes, Aaron Rodgers V Jimmy Kimmel, Nienaber's Leinster deadline, the Mack Hansen hole in our 6N squad, Carbery's career, Jim McGuinness' ban, and Ronan Finn in studio on his glorious career.
To join go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and you can listen to us on Spotify or any normal podcast app on your phone, laptop or tablet, or on our website. Email members@secondcaptains.com with any questions.
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The All-Ireland club final between Watty Graham's Glen and Kilmacud Crokes was one of the most controversial sporting events of 2023... and 7 days into 2024, they got a chance to go at it again. This time around, in yesterday's semi-final in Newry, the action on the field was completed to everyone's satisfaction... even if it was enshrouded in fog.
Oisin McConville saw as much of it as the rest of us, and we talk to him about Glen's resilience, Jim McGuinness' return to GAA management... and why he could be about to lose his Wicklow goalkeeper to the NFL.
We also discuss Eoin's newly bald jawline, Fog On The Tyne, and who might overcome their hangover to win the Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup.
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Every year it becomes more culturally embarrassing for us to talk about the third round of the FA Cup, and yet... here we go again.
This time - the Sunderland-Newcastle damp squib, the latest gut-punch for Arsenal, and plaintive cries from the Saudi coast suggesting one more possible reason for Liverpool's successful transformation.
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HNY and welcome to our regular Second Captains snifter. For our first week back in 2024 we covered Darwin Nunez's net positive contributions, the poor man's Todd Boehly (Garry Cook), Wayne Rooney and the golden generation's hapless coaching careers and what challenges a teenage sports star such as Luke Littler faces after they make their first breakthrough. To join go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and you can listen to us on Spotify or any normal podcast app on your phone, laptop or tablet. Email members@secondcaptains.com with any questions.
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Happy New Year from all of us at Second Captains! To celebrate we've decided to dip into the vault and dig out our favourite interview of 2023, an all-timer with Ronnie O'Sullivan live in our Dublin studio.
Ronnie O’Sullivan joins us to talk about anxiety, his childhood, his relationship with his father before and after his father went to jail, his relationship with Snooker and why he looks to Messi, Jordan and Tiger for lessons on how to get better.
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A feast of festive football games, coaches who can’t read the room, ref nixers, viral fakes, the Thirty Years War - it must be the annual post-Christmas football pod with Jonathan Wilson.
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Welcome to our weekly Second Captains snifter. To join go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and we’re independent and Irish owned.
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Munster appeared to be in a winning position away to Exeter, before some bad kicks, bad bounces, poor refereeing decisions and an intercept turned 5 game points into 1, putting a big hole in their European campaign in the process. On the back of the draw with Bayonne and the news that RG Snyman will likely be moving to Leinster next year, it's been a rough week for the URC champs.
We chat to Ruaidhri O'Connor and Shane Horgan about Munster's slick attack and weak basics, the rights and wrongs of RG"s move, Leinster's good cap bad cop routine, Ulster's tap dance and Connacht's miserable defence.
Plus there's Figo's flip, club hurling's screen battle and the best talker in Irish sport.
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With the action at Anfield making for slim pickings, we turn to the spreadsheets in search of fresh narrative. The results MIGHT surprise you...
There's also Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez, Peter Walton's idea of acceptable dissent, Phil Foden's latest betrayal of Pep Guardiola and a clash of fire and ice in prospect on the shores of the Red Sea.
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Liam Brady brought the house down at our end-of-year live show last week, arriving with anecdotes full of insight, levity and physical comedy that were warmly received by the Liberty Hall crowd and our World Service members alike.
Elsewhere, Ken has been marvelling at Manchester United's ill-fated Champions League campaign which has served us up a six-part series of appointment-television, dramatic perfection fit for an Emmy Award.
To join go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and we're independent and Irish owned.
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Leinster went to war in La Rochelle, and at the fourth time of asking against ROG's team, got the win they craved. It won't make up for the last three seasons in Europe, but it was a deeply satisfying win.
We chat to Shane Horgan and Murray Kinsella of The42 about Frawley's monster kick to seal it, the levels of animosity between these two teams, and Leinster's toughness, tackle technique and lineout masterclass.
There's also Munster's weak set piece, Connacht taking a hammering at home and Ulster's roll of the managerial dice.
And Ken gives us his take on Wiffen's short-course world record.
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A great weekend for Unai Emery and Lewis Dobbin, not only because they were winning but because they were celebrating in the right way, according to the people who pay attention to these things.
Manchester United's 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth came as no surprise to Mystic Murph - but Erik ten Hag's team selection did. Still, if the title of Sir Big Jim's new book is anything to go by, help is on the way.
Lars Sivertsen and Gavin Cooney join us to talk about the weekend's football. Is Emi Martinez emerging as Mikel Arteta's biggest transfer mistake that nobody really noticed at the time? Why might Martin Odegaard be struggling to hit the levels of last season? And how long can Chelsea hide in the shadows from their own reckoning?
Gavin also brings us up to speed with some of the happenings of the FAI AGM on Saturday.
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After what could be considered one of the greatest performances in the club's storied history, it’s time to welcome a new force into the world of Premier League superclubs - Unai Emery's Aston Villa. Miguel Delaney and Rory Smith joined us to delve into their past and ask if they truly are contenders for this year's title.
Plus, Malachy Clerkin and Sinead O'Carroll were in studio this week to review the best sports books of 2023. This time around, with the added wrinkle of having a book written by one of our judges on the shortlist.
It's been a mega week on the World Service and there's so much more to come. To join go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and we're independent and Irish owned.
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In front of 8,100 fans in a packed out Sportsground, Connacht had Leinster beat; until the very death when Ciaran Frawley broke their hearts. We discuss the many ebbs and flows of psychic energy in this game and whether the pain will linger for Connacht.
Gerry Thornley was in Galway to witness a deeply flawed Leinster display and a thrilling Mack Hansen comeback. We also discuss Munster's magic attack, Ulster's internal strife and big Thomas Ahern's shot at being a starter in Europe.
Plus there's Match Of The Day McDevitt, Big Sam's hat and Ronnie O'Sullivan's numbers.
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We can be sure that Friday's live show guest Sam Allardyce would have been appalled at the spectacle of City 3-3 Spurs.
For the rest of us it was pretty good. Spurs' devotion to their apparently suicidal gameplan, Kulusevski arriving at the back post like the wrath of god, Haaland screaming at the ref for calling it back as Grealish ran through - and Pep revealing in his post-game comments that he is a Master & Commander guy.
John Brewin and Rich Jolly join us to talk about some of the weekend's action. Has Ange Postecoglou proved he is the real deal? What has gone wrong for Jack Grealish this season? Why is there such a wave of anger towards Marcus Rashford from Manchester United fans? And will Jadon Sancho succeed in outlasting Erik ten Hag?
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Welcome to our Second Captains taster menu which this week features Madchester United, the no fun GAA and the battle to be Ireland's next top outhalf. To join go to secondcaptains.com/join – it’s a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and we’re independent and Irish-owned.
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It turns out that Irish footballers literally cannot stop scoring and creating goals right now. Does this make the Ireland job the hottest vacant property in world football?
The weekend brought the sad news of Terry Venables' death at the age of 80. We look back on the broadcasting masterclass that ended Venables' chances of managing Ireland back when the job paid a lot more than it does now.
We also talk about the anti-corruption protest at Everton and whether the Everton fans really are on to something about the corruption of the Premier League.
There is even time to talk about a very 1230ish edition of Man City v Liverpool.
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"Don't ever doubt me again" - Ireland, consider yourself told.
Katie Taylor avenged her only professional defeat with an exceptional points victory over Chantelle Cameron in the 3Arena on Saturday night, with a performance that franks her boxing greatness and rubber-stamps her place as one of Ireland's most beloved sports-people.
We speak to former middle-weight world champion Andy Lee and the42's Gavan Casey about an extraordinary atmosphere, a display for the ages, and the possibility of a final act for the trilogy.
There appears to be widespread enthusiasm for the idea of Croke Park hosting Taylor/Cameron III, but one of our presenting team is intent on bringing down the mood... and it's not the Croke Park area resident in our midst either.
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On the same night that Stephen Kenny said his farewells to the Lansdowne Road crowd, James McClean, too said goodbye after more than 100 caps for his country. Both gave us plenty to argue about on the World Service.
We also spoke to Mark Langhammer, Trade Union leader and vice-chairman of Crusaders Football Club on why he believes Casement Park is the right choice of Northern Irish stadia for Euro 2028.
Plus, Ken gives his thoughts on Brazil vs Argentina and ‘useless pissheads’.
To join go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and we're independent and Irish owned.
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Pele did it first with Santos and the NY Cosmos, playing half a game with his boyhood club, and the other half with his adopted big city club - and our Murph is definitely the only other athlete to have done it, with Milltown of Galway and Templeogue Synge Street of Dublin. Did he play equally badly for both, as instructed?
A proposal to remove counties with fewer than five adult club hurling teams from competing in the National Hurling League has been hammered from the moment it was suggested earlier this month - we speak to Jamie Wall about what the future holds for hurling in those counties, and why many hurling people are happy enough with the status quo.
And there’s one last round on the carousel for the David Clifford Player of the Year debate, as he became the first back-to-back winner of that award in history last Friday night...... despite missing a free!
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We look back on Saturday's game in Amsterdam and the lessons from Ireland's disastrous qualifying campaign. "What was the alternative?" was Stephen Kenny's reply to questions about his approach following the latest defeat - but will his successor have to think of one?
We talk to the deputy chair of Everton's shareholders association, John Blain, about the 10-point penalty imposed on the club after they were found guilty of breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
How are Everton fans feeling about the punishment? Why have the league come down so heavily on Everton? And what might this mean for other financial cases currently in the pipeline?
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We chat to the legendary Tim Vickery about why Luis Diaz Sr was abducted in Colombia, why no ransom was sought, and how strong the links are between crime and football in Colombia, in the wake of the cartel era.
We also welcomed Daryl Horgan to studio to discuss his time working under Stephen Kenny, Damien Duff and Anthony Barry in the Ireland set up and what happened before that infamous Ireland V England game. Plus there's Ken on Michael Owen's twitter feedback.
To join go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's a fiver a month with no contracts, no minimum stay, no sneaky fees, no obligations, no ads and we're independent and Irish owned.
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Today we speak to director Laura McGann from Ireland about her brilliant documentary The Deepest Breath which last night picked up two Critics Choice awards for Best Sports Documentary and Best Cinematography.
In just one week in late July The Deepest Breath had been watched on Netflix by 4.6 million people. The story revolves around two characters - Alessia Zecchini, a world-class free diver from Italy, and Stephen Keenan from Ireland, who made a name for himself as a safety diver and was in a relationship with Alessia. Its a gripping, emotional and often shocking documentary about two people devoted to a sport and to each other.
And Murph looks at the career of legendary Armagh and Crossmaglen star Aaron Kernan who announced his retirement this weekend having won 18 county titles, 8 Ulsters and 3 All-Irelands.
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St Patrick's Athletic beat Bohemians 3-1 in a record-breaking FAI Cup final. FAI CEO Jonathan Hill had promised in his programme notes: "I trust memories will be made to last a lifetime as we all take another step on our respective journeys." Today we share the memories we made in that step along our respective journeys.
We talk about the sensational 4-4 at Stamford Bridge, and the truth underlying the narratives now developing around "embattled" Eddie Howe and Ange "is this guy even a football manager" Postecoglou.
Gavin Cooney joins us to talk more about the FAI Cup Final. How does he explain the Cup final's rise? What gave Pat's the edge on the day? Why can't Bohs match off-field development with on-field success? And what are we to make of the fact that all this played out against the backdrop of another embarrassing storyline coming out of Abbottstown?
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Spurs - Chelsea was a box office affair, both during the game and after the final whistle. Ange Postecoglou’s nine-man high-line high-wire act stirred up the Spurs base and baffled everyone else.
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The Kerry county final should be one of the showpiece occasions of the GAA club season, but when East Kerry won their fourth title in 5 seasons yesterday, there was a hint of a cloud overhead.
There is nothing more labyrinthine in the GAA than Kerry's club championship structure but our guide today is Maurice Brosnan of the Irish Examiner, as he talks to us about proud clubs getting relegated, amalgamated sides dominating, and the impact of the split season.
We also discuss back-up quarter-back Josh Dobbs' heroics with the Minnesota Vikings yesterday, who used his background in aerospace engineering to show that playing quarter-back in the NFL isn't exactly rocket science.
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Mikel Arteta is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it any more. That much is clear. But why were Arsenal so angry on Saturday night, and what do they actually want to see changed?
Miguel Delaney and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the weekend's football. What did they make of the Newcastle-Arsenal aftermath? Why does Miguel fancy Poch to slam the brakes on the Ange Express tonight?
We discuss the art of the come and get me plea, and the glorious hysteria of the Libertadores final on Saturday night.
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Everyone's favourite World Service duo (maybe) David Sneyd and Kevin 'Branno' Brannigan were back this week to chat about "Shamrock's" record-equalling fourth league title in a row, the ethics around the guard of honour and the key to success in the League of Ireland.
We also spoke to 2013 All-Star and All-Ireland Winner, Conor Ryan whose intercounty career was cruelly cut short for medical reasons. Conor talks to us about finding a life and identity away from GAA, how he managed to return to play with his club Cratloe, and what lessons he was able to bring back to his teammates.
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Ireland lost but won.. at least as far as the World Rugby’s ‘Dream Team of the Year’ selection is concerned, which is all we really wanted anyway, isn’t it?
The Rugby World Cup final was a tense and compelling affair, but maybe not the showpiece we had hoped for. We chat to Shane Horgan and The Irish Independent's Rúaidhrí O’Connor about how the Springboks got it done, claiming some Irish credit and Eddie Jones’ return to Japan.
Plus Ken gives us his thoughts on the Manchester derby, Antony’s antics and where Ten Hag seemed to get it so wrong.
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On this week’s World Service taster, we check in with Johnny Doyle, the 45-year-old man of the match who inspired his club Allenwood to their first Kildare County title since 1990. Johnny joins us live from the fabled Monday Club.
We also chatted to Ciara McCormack, the Canadian-born former Ireland international who became international news after blowing the whistle on abuse within Canadian football. Ciara talks to us about channelling those experiences into her new role as the first-ever female CEO in the League of Ireland with Treaty United in Limerick.
Plus, Scotty Stevenson & Ruaidhri O’Connor give us their take on World Rugby’s plans for the future which have brought with them much controversy and confusion.
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South Africa looked ragged and anxious against a rejuvenated England team, but once again showed they're the strongest squad, both mentally and physically.
We chat to Chris Jones, the BBC's rugby union correspondent and co-host of the excellent Rugby Union Weekly podcast, and Shane Horgan, Ireland and Lions winger and veteran of two world cups, about the South African management team's triumphs and failures, allegations against SA's hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, of using racist language on the pitch, why the scrum plays such a huge (too huge?) role in some games, Pollard's amazing penalty, and who will win the final between NZ and SA.
Plus there's radio silence, Matt Williams goes viral, Ken equates penalty worms with scrum laws, and we get a high-performance email.
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What a monster of a team Unai Emery has put together... using most of the same players the previous coach reckoned weren't up to it. After their demolition job on West Ham, the time is right to hail Villa's accomplishments - and to remember a certain somebody who hasn't been given due credit for the part he has played in their resurgence.
Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal promised much and delivered... another argument over just what exactly a goalkeeper is meant to be these days.
We also discuss why James Milner's managers seem to enjoy watching him suffer and look at the relationship between Bobby and Jack.
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Welcome to our weekly world service platter. We chat to Kenny apologists Ken and Richie about Irish football’s next step, we had our best ever Grunge Week, Ken Burley comes out fighting after Ireland’s loss to NZ and we look at the Farrell Divide
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As much of a spectacle as this weekend’s quarter finals were, going out in a classic will be of little consolation to Irish players, coaches and supporters. The World Cup hoodoo lives on - and it’s probably the most painful one yet.
To pick apart this carcass we’re joined by Shane Horgan, The 42’s Murray Kinsella and Scotty Stevenson from TVNZ. Did the NZ coaches outsmart us on the day? What effect did having to chase the game so early have on Ireland? Where do we go from here? And how utterly daft was the France - South Africa game?
And we check in on Ken Burley who made his grand return to the NZ airwaves.
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A Irish sporting weekend that will echo in eternity began with a dismal 2-0 defeat to Greece on Friday night. New tactics, same old outcome.
"I'm going to lose the argument whatever I say here. It's not an argument I can win," Stephen Kenny admitted afterwards. The most encouraging words were provided by Greece coach Gus Poyet who was impressed by the amount Irish fans spend on official sportswear.
We sift through the ashes of defeat, as is tradition, and consider the warped incentives that await Ireland in Amsterdam next month.
We also discuss the limited scope of Jordan Henderson's off-field work in Saudi Arabia and the latest developments in the Manchester United takeover saga.
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The World Service is a fairly broad church and this week was no different. Ken got around to watching the David Beckham Netflix documentary and was suitably unimpressed by what he deemed to be a 'tissue of lies'.
Meanwhile, we got word from New Zealand legend Justin Marshall on how he feels his boys are set for their clash with Ireland this weekend. Interestingly for us, it's not all rosy in the garden for the All Blacks.
Plus, US Murph fills us in on the most dramatic news to come out of America in ages.
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At least there was one Scot who turned up on Saturday. We savour the anguish in the voice of our Stretford End correspondent, who sent a message of hopelessness late in the second half when all seemed lost.
We were (mostly) spared another week of “it’s not incompetence it’s corruption” thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected winner at the Emirates.
Lars Sivertsen and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk about the two big games of the weekend.
Is it finally really happening for Arsenal? What is the problem with Lars’s boy, Erling Haaland? Why was Brighton-Liverpool one of the most interesting games Jonathan has seen in a long time? And what can Scandinavia teach us about football’s fight for Freedom?
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Ireland put in one of the best performances of the Farrell era to beat Scotland out the gate by halftime, at which stage everyone's thoughts turned to the mighty, but maybe less mighty than they used to be, All Blacks.
We chat to Shane Horgan, Gerry Thornley and Scotty Stevenson of TVNZ about the level this Irish team are now playing at, the injury issues and what decisions Farrell will have to make over the next few days, whether past World Cups or the series win in NZ are relevant, the Joe Schmidt factor, and who they see as the more likely winner.
Meanwhile, Ken is impressed by Ireland but is worried about the other nations, Murph says "I told you so" to Scotland and Simon caught up with Caelan Doris and Andy Farrell after the match in Paris.
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This week on the Second Captains World Service we discussed André Onana's transformation into a Just Stop Oil protestor, Shane Horgan pleaded with our Permutations Man to be quiet (!), while Eamon Carr joined us in studio to tell us of his life on the road with the Horslips, which included some run ins with John Law.
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All we ask of the Ryder Cup is that it be close… and if it’s not close, can we at least make sure that Rory McIlroy is picking fights in the car-park on the Saturday night?
Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and Gavin Cooney from the 42 are back in studio to talk to us about Rory’s fightin’ talk, Patrick Cantlay’s cap, and why these things keep finishing in crushing wins for the home team.
There’s also a triumphant/boring return for Permutations Man, Marcus Aurelius, and five-team groups in the Rugby World Cup.
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The fastest current player in the Premier League, De Zerbi De Stroyed at Villa, and the psychology of charity penalties... just some of the things we talk about today before moving on to the main event of Referees and their Video Review helpers.
Miguel Delaney and Dion Fanning join us to pick through the entrails of the post-Spurs v Liverpool carnage.
Is this the biggest VAR mess yet? Does it have the potential to grow from an embarrassment into a genuine scandal? Are there solutions that can improve the current situation? Or - since VAR clearly doesn't work - is the obvious fix not just to... bin it altogether?
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This week on the Second Captains World Service we discussed the joys and high farce of the Ryder Cup, Kimmage told us some home truths, we look at some scary RWC permutations and we have a football show coming up on Thursday. Are Man United back?
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Thursday 21st September 2023 was Murph Day, as friends, family, colleagues and Fíor-Ghaels assembled in the Sugar Club in Dublin to celebrate the launch of his new book “This Is The Life”.
Ken, having read the book, realises there was a lot he didn’t know about his old pal – and now feels bad for constantly bringing up the county final Murph lost and played so terribly in, all those years ago.
Second Captains regulars Oisin McConville and Jamie Wall joined the party too to discuss the book, the GAA’s fetishisation of hardship, its use of emotional blackmail and why it is the perfect “third place”.
Plus there’s young Murph, selfish Murph, talented Murph, Tony’s van, “the anywheres”, and a live rendition of Frances Murphy’s TV guide.
“This Is The Life” is available in all good bookshops now, or available online here https://linktr.ee/CiaranMurphy
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Ireland showed guts and defiance in an epic battle against world champs South Africa, and while there's talk of the two teams meeting again in a final, have we all got too carried away with a win that doesn't even come close to getting us into a QF?
We get reactions from And-versity Farrell on their mental toughness, Tadhg Beirne on their lineout issues, Ryan Baird on what won it for Ireland, and SA head coach Jacques Nienaber on their decision to kick at goal so often, given they didn't pick a proven goal kicker.
We chat to Daily Maverick sport editor Craig Ray about some of SA's decision-making on and off the field of play and his theory on why they used their lineout and maul so rarely.
Andrew Trimble tells us what most pleased him about Ireland's performance, the display of James Lowe, the bench impact, the huge impact the Irish fans are having on this tournament and why this is so much bigger than just another pool win.
Plus there's permutations man and we discuss Zombie nation.
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Ireland managers down the years have got used to being asked whether there is anything they can learn from Rugby, but is it time to put those same questions to Mikel Arteta?
After the NLD post-mortem, we talk about why Chelsea are too big to fail and how Szoboszlai is ensuring that Jordan Henderson's reputation continues to crater. With apologies, there is a brief section about VAR.
The Ireland WNT started the Nations League campaign with a 3-0 win against Northern Ireland, in front of a record crowd of nearly 36,000 at the Aviva. Ken was there to see whether the team is ready to move on from Veraball.
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Graeme Souness joined us last week in the sold-out Olympia Theatre as part of our tenth birthday celebrations to discuss his philosophy on punditry.
We look at the many myths surrounding Mack Hansen's journey to Irish Rugby superstardom, and there's Gabriele Marcotti on how to rediscover the magic of the Champions League.
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Ken hasn't always pulled for the team of us but the anti rugby discourse is sending him the other way. Can Irish rugby hold onto its newest fan?
We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Ireland's improved lineout, their ability to cope with South Africa's defence, Andy Farrell's bench options, Fiji's demo job on Australia and if teams should fear England in a potential semi final.
Plus there's live show news, Dave Kilcoyne on Farrell's happy camp and Gloria Gaynor.
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"There's no new way to play football," Graeme Souness told us at the Olympia on Thursday night. But has anyone mentioned this to Roberto de Zerbi?
We talk about why Brighton's way of playing football really is new, and why some kneejerk voices in the MSM (Ken) are already turning on Erik ten Hag after what was, to be clear, only his second home league defeat in a year.
Then we talk to Paul Brown (@pbsportswriter), who has reported extensively on Everton's prospective new owners, 777 Partners, for Josimar magazine in Norway.
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Ireland briefly stuttered before romping to a feel-good win that included some under-12's tactics, a bit of Bundee brilliance, a lap of honour and Mack in his cacks.
We chat to Shane Horgan and World Cup winner Joel Stransky about how happy Andy Farrell and Sexton were afterwards, what we can learn from the Scotland SA game, why France will put the fear into the other teams and why don't more players kick drop goals, a la George Ford, especially considering they have won World Cups for SA (Stransky), England (Wilkinson) and NZ (Carter).
Plus there's smooth Sexton, how Ireland can beat the Boks and tears for Fiji.
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Things are not looking good.
Stephen Kenny, the preacher of revolution, outdone once again on the European battlefield by an opposing manager with an ability to tweak in-game tactics.
Ireland have lost four out of five in the group, bringing Ireland's total number of competitive defeats to 13 in 26 matches. Bare facts have begun to conspire against Stephen Kenny.
On today's Football Pod we are joined by Richie Sadlier and Damien Delaney. We talk through the tactical missteps and, respectfully, look towards the future.
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It was all about the Irish national teams this week on the World Service. First up, the Irish Football team who fly into Paris for their Euro qualifier against the French as lambs for the proverbial slaughter - if Richie and the lads are to be believed.
More hope, maybe, for the rugby team as the Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday with Ireland going in as slight favourites - if AI supercomputer data models are to be believed.
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It's a new week on the Second Captains podcast, one which features both the Irish soccer team playing France, and the start of our Rugby World Cup campaign. Ken finds out today that our football team are not, in fact, playing in the Stade de France for rugby reasons - a revelation which while late in arriving, we should offer thanks for arriving at all.
We talk to Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine about the new wave of American tennis talent that is in danger of taking over Flushing Meadows and the US Open. They seem completely uninhibited by the baggage of American tennis' underachievement of the last 20 years (Williams sisters besides) and are electrifying the already-raucous New York crowd.
There's also Carlos Alcaraz, whose AI tennis brain has bowled Caitlin over and Ken's thoughts on the 'Devil Genre'.
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On Saturday evening, Evan Ferguson became the first 18 year old to score a hat trick in 25 years. This is an incredible sporting achievement, so why does it seem like everyone's first instinct now is to start babbling about money? It actually wasn't always this way..
After Arsenal's late surge to victory against Manchester United we discuss Mikel Arteta's new folksy wisdom-based communication style, and wonder how Jadon Sancho thought it was a good idea to post that message disputing his coach's account of why he didn't make yesterday's squad.
Andrew Mangan and Lars Sivertsen join us to talk about the weekend's football. Four games into his Arsenal Premier League career, how happy are Arsenal fans with Declan Rice? Are there worrying indications that Erik Ten Hag might be about to jump over the fence (baby)? And, when you get right down to it, is Evan Ferguson better than Erling Haaland?
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This week on the world service we covered the Vera Pauw saga, looked on in horror at the Rubiales family dynamic, built up to Bohs V Rovers with Declan Devine, and looked at the mess that's left when the worlds of American Football, the deep south, conservatorships and Hollywood collide.
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Another day, another Second Captains presenter making their way to a swiftcare clinic - this time it's brave Ciaran Murphy. What's the prognosis, soldier?
There were no surprises in Andy Farrell's World Cup squad, but Cian Healy's omission is a blow to their chances. We talk to Andrew Trimble about the time he missed out on the 2015 RWC, how to play Joe Schmidt, the team's patchy form in the warm-ups, and, after two positive doping tests over the weekend, whether he thinks rugby has a potentially huge issue with performance-enhancing drugs.
Plus there's Femke Bol's redemption and fans with typewriters.
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Oh, Eddie. Half an hour in, Trent Alexander-Arnold was having one of the worst games of his career. At full-time he was hailing "one for the ages", as Darwin Nuñez' late double fired Liverpool to one of their best-ever Premier League wins.
Ken has finally sat down to watch some of the Newcastle documentary and is wowed by the genius of the corporate titans now running NUFC. But can the show give any indication as to what might be happening with Al Ittihad's reported pursuit of Mohamed Salah?
John Brewin and Dion Fanning join us to talk through the weekend's football. Where does Darwin stand after that immortal glory show? Is Eddie Howe's approach turning out to be a bit belt-braces-and-hands-in-pockets for St James' Park? Where did it all go wrong for Brighton against West Ham? And are comeback kings Manchester United building momentum - or papering over the cracks?
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This week we hit all corners of the podcast world, from brave journalism in the mixed zone to to Ken wondering if maybe a famous GAA coach is the devil .Enjoy at your leisure.
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Spain are the women's World Cup champions - a victory for both the universally-admired Spanish coaching system and for one not-very-admired Spanish coach in particular.
Mark Critchley and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk through the weekend's football.
Chelsea crashed and burned at West Ham - teething problems or a portent of doom? Critch saw Manchester City defang Newcastle, with Phil Foden exceptional - where is he likely to be playing this season?
Meanwhile, Wilson was at Spurs to see the liftoff of Angeball. What are the early signs of the new approach at Tottenham? Can Richarlison replace Harry Kane as the centre-forward? And why do Manchester United seem surprised to find themselves playing Premier League matches already?
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Ireland eased to a comfortable RWC warm up win over England, but the moment that had everyone cheering was Keith Earls' tumble-try which reminded us all how much he is loved, how fit he is and how good he is at rugby.
We chat to Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent about Earls' chances of making the squad, Mack and Lowe's magnificent creations, Ireland's lineout woes and Dan Sheehan's injury issues.
Plus there's awful England, Rhasidat's run and Ken's 2007 Stephen Jones/Andrew Sheridan RWC memories.
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Legendary broadcaster Michael Parkinson has died, aged 88. Today we re-release an interview we did with him in 2014, looking back on an unrivalled journalistic career which all started with him writing about football for his local newspaper in Barnsley. He went on to become a well respected sports columnist for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times, and was named sports writer of the year in 1998.
In his early days on the beat in Yorkshire he came across Arthur Hopcraft, who wrote one of the greatest sports books of all time, “The Football Man”, which Parkinson wrote the foreword for. The two were friends for life, sharing a similar philosophy on the game.
We talked to Michael about Hopcraft, football's relevance to English society in the 50's and 60's, why it still matters, writing about the game at a time of huge upheaval, how George Best changed everything and why the modern game held little joy for him.
We join all those today saluting one of the greatest broadcasters of all time.
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A while back we dared to dream of Rugby World Cup semis and finals, but a proper look at the draw soon sobered us up as the reality of facing France or a fast-improving NZ in a QF hit home. Now with Scotland beating and then pushing France close in successive weekends, we're getting increasingly worried about making it out of the pool stages (and let's not even mention Tonga for now).
We ask Tom English, chief sportswriter with BBC Scotland, If Scotland are now the fifth-best team in the world, and why he thinks they have a better chance of beating South Africa than of beating Ireland.
France just about won the game on Saturday but lost two stars, Romain Ntamack and Cyril Baille, to injury. This is the first major blow to their long-term plan to win a home world cup - are France finally feeling the pressure?
Owen Farrell has run out of "tackle school" tokens and faces a ban after his latest reckless challenge, this time on Wales' Taine Basham. We ask why so many players are losing their discipline when their RWC place depends on them keeping it.
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The opening weekend hasn't even finished and Ken already wants to walk back Thursday's top four predictions. Is he getting carried away by one 90 minute Newcastle demolition job? The next couple of games will tell us a lot.
We talk about the continued transfer frenzy as Chelsea aim to follow up their signing of Moises Caicedo by adding Romeo Lavia - who Liverpool have forlornly gone back to - and, it says here, Michael Olise.
Rich Jolly and Jack Pitt-Brooke join us to talk about the opening weekend. Do Chelsea have just the right type of squad to bring the best out of Mauricio Pochettino? Can anyone understand how Chelsea can afford what they're doing? And how do Spurs really feel about selling Harry Kane to Bayern?
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Whether you're ready for it or not, the Premier League is back with Burnley taking on the treble winners Manchester City tomorrow night. We caught up with Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin to ask all the important questions ahead of the upcoming season - Can anyone lay a glove on City? Is England's Declan Rice the man to help Arsenal kick on even further? And can anyone make as big a mess of it as Ken did with last season’s predictions?
Plus, it's been a roaringly successful Synth Week on the World Service with the listener entries pouring in.
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Caelan Doris was the clear man of the match for Ireland at the weekend, but the most important performance came from outhalf Jack Crowley. His season ended well with Munster, and he continued that good form against Italy. Is he now ahead of Ross Byrne?
We chat to Shane Horgan about World Cup warm ups, trying too hard, the back three contenders, dangerous Scots and how Farrell, Catt and O'Connell's horrible experiences at World Cups might be shaping the easy breezy approach this time around.
Johnny Sexton will play in a training match against Portugal this week but because of his ban it is most definitely not a game of rugby he is taking part in.
Plus there's hat trick hero Amy O'Connor, the. battle of Bayonne and peno shootout drama.
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We have entered the individual award part of the GAA Season aka ''silly season''. Where once this was all we had to get us through the dark winter, now we have the Club Championship and sure it's not even winter! But those factors aside it seems that individualism still holds a powerful candle in the collective world of the GAA. As we saw this week when tweets and talk turned to the POTY debate.
The other great culture war that is this summer tearing at the fabric of our society revolves around two blockbuster films of no semblance to each other. Barbie and Oppenheimer. We sent Ken to watch and review one of them.
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Ireland's World Cup campaign came to an end with a clean sheet, a point, and a public disagreement between the manager and captain.
Gavin Cummiskey joins us from Brisbane to report on Pauw's last press conference of this World Cup, in which she revealed details of a heated in-game exchange with Katie McCabe about who should get substituted next. As for Katie's side of this developing story - she's not giving much away...
We also talk to Oluwashina Okeleji, who looks forward to Nigeria's likely second-round encounter with England.
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Dublin are All-Ireland champions again, and if this was James McCarthy, Mick Fitzsimons and Stephen Cluxton's ninth medal, it was celebrated as if it was their first.
Our crack analysis team of Michael Murphy and Paul Flynn talk to us about why this meant so much to Dublin, their mentality monsters, and how the day went so badly wrong for David Clifford. We also discuss Jack McCaffrey's impact, Brian Fenton's composure and Mick Fitzsimons' ultimate vindication.
Plus there's the BBC's GAA outreach programme, a celeb-laden halftime show, tactile McDevitt, and taking a whack on the cheekbone for the Dubs.
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What's your man Early like? A regular question posed to the non Ken Early members of the Second Captains team. In this week's Taster episode Eoin and Murph give some thoughts on their colleague - mainly that he's a bloody Pedant.
While Oisin McConville joined our front-liners Paul Flynn and Michael Murphy for a very special All Ireland final preview.
We also tripped back in time to 1979 to hear how a young Ronnie Whelan - then playing for Home Farm - led out an Irish team against the Basque Country in what was a very hot political atmosphere.
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After Brazil defeated Panama 4-0 with lashings of jogo bonito Ken has a stat from the opening 15 WWC matches that may surprise you.
Elsewhere, it's reported today that Saudi Arabia would like to spend a billion euros to have Kylian Mbappe grace the Pro League for a single season. How to make sense of this monetary madness?
We talk about the Saudi bid with reference to a recent piece by the historian Quinn Slobodian which took a big-picture view of the Kingdom's bid for the future. Can those who profit from climate change.... save us from climate change?
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Limerick's four-in-a-row was secured in Croke Park yesterday in thrilling style, and Jamie Wall and Malachy Clerkin are with us today to answer a question being more and more insistently asked - are Limerick the best ever?
We congratulate Ken on Limerick's success while he studies the hurling history books and explains why Kilkenny's Cody era is not all it was cracked up to be.
And we look at some extraterrestrial performances in the Tour de France and the madness of rain delays in cricket.
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The World Cup in Australia and New Zealand kicked off this week, and Ireland are down but certainly not out after an opening-day loss to the hosts. Our man, Ken Early, couldn't be there in person, but he joined us from our studios, huddled around a not-so-tiny TV to watch the game. Meanwhile, Sinéad O'Carroll was on the ground in Sydney, capturing the mood music surrounding the game and the shock in the press box as news broke about Australia losing their star player.
Closer to home, it's All Ireland Hurling Final weekend with Limerick and Kilkenny set to clash in what could be some inclement weather conditions. Much to the glee of our senior analyst Jamie Wall.
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Three more days till Ireland kick-off in the 2023 World Cup and Denise O’Sullivan looks likely to make it after Friday’s injury scare.
In the meantime, there are some typical July stories. Why did Harry Maguire feel the need to comment extensively on losing the Man United captaincy? How much will PIF charge PIF for Allan Saint-Maximin?
And why did Memphis Depay’s message in support of Benjamin Mendy seem to strike a chord with so many famous footballers?
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It’s the height of summer so that means choices must be made; do you watch the All-Ireland semi-finals, the latest stage in the Tour de France or the epic Wimbledon Final?
Thankfully, for you, both Eoin and Ken have had eyes on all events, with Eoin even managing to appear in the flesh at two of the aforementioned peak summer sporting highlights.
To chat about the weekend's Gaelic Football the old-school dream team of Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn join us on the line. As we reflect and also look ahead to what could be a mic-drop final for Cluxton and co.
While Ken details how he once lost €100k* on a Roger Federer Wimbledon Final, forever tainting his view of the white blazer-wearing Swiss man. He does though like this Alcaraz kid.
*not real money
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Welcome to a sample of the Second Captains World Service which this week includes Malachy Clerkin and Jamie Wall running the rule over a mouth-watering Hurling weekend that was, with Murph asking are Kinnerk and Kiely the best 'in-game' management duo the GAA has ever seen? With Down and Meath facing off in the Tailteann Cup Final this coming weekend, we take a trip back in time to when a Young dorky Murph and young athletic Shane Horgan had 1 thing in common – the 1991 All Ireland Final The first one either had attended. Murph was smuggled in, while Shane earned his spot by coming through a gruelling, ruthless Meath mini 7’s combine. And with the World Cup now within touching distance we continue to bring the Hype.
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This Ireland under 20s rugby squad have achieved a lot on the field, but off it have had to deal with a series of tragedies connected to the playing group, including the sudden death of Greig Oliver, whose son Jack plays with the team.
We talk to Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor about the team's ability to cope, the performances that have got them this far, and some of the stand-out stars who look destined for bigger things.
Murph was in Croker this weekend and once again found himself juggling the hurling action with cricket updates, all in the company of some esteemed guests. With Kilkenny in the final again, and Galway left behind, did Henry back the wrong horse?
Plus there's 145kg humans, some worryingly good form shown by NZ and SA, Eddie Jones' hatred of smart arses and Murph bids farewell to Hoggwatch.
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In one month and one day, the Premier League 2023/’24 season will commence with Manchester City’s away day in Burnley. Will Connemara’s Harry Kane be taking his place in the Greatest League On Earth, for another season of scoring lots of goals and winning no trophies - or will he be off to Munich?
One man who is out the gap is the last survivor of the Alex Ferguson era. David De Gea’s departure means that for the first time since the relegation season of 1973-74, United in 2023-24 will not feature anyone who has made an appearance for the Glasgow titan. And so the sands of time shift on…
Ken also has some breaking news in the quite literal sense. An injury picked up over the course of the weekend has seen the Flame-Haired-Flame-Thrower-Of-Truth struck down and questions now need to be asked over whether or not he is fit to make it down under for the World Cup.
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Welcome to a sample of the Second Captains World Service which this week includes a Ken Early sit-down interview with Irish Captain; Katie McCabe, a happy Paul Flynn chats all things Rampant Dubs and academic and author, Mark Jones joins Ken for a Politics Pod based around his new book; 1923. The Forgotten Crisis in the Year of Hitler's Coup
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As Ireland get ready for their last World Cup warm-up game against France this Thursday, The Athletic has published a long investigative piece about Vera Pauw's time as coach of Houston Dash back in 2018.
The article includes comments from several players and staff members who worked at the club under Pauw and also an interview with the Ireland coach. We talk through some of the claims and counter-claims that have been made.
We also discuss FIFA's plan to trial Arsene Wenger's latest idea for ruining the game, before going through some of what's been going on in the transfer window of the £60 millions.
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Murph is of course a true gael, but also the only known link between the GAA world and the cricket world. So with bazball, boos, allegations of cheating and four QF's in croker, he's had a busy weekend.
Twelve boxers, five medals, two champions; it was a very goodtrip to the European Games in Poland for Ireland's boxers with five now qualified for next year's Olympics in Paris, including Olympic and world champ Kellie Harrington.
We chat to The42's Gavan Casey about the fallout from Kellie's controversial tweet in October 2022 and her tetchy, awkward interview on Off The Ball in March of this year. In the absence of any real clarity from Kellie on that tweet, we wonder is her reputation treading water until she speaks about it again.
We also discuss Zaur Antia's incredible record as a coach and what Amy Broadhurst - who failed to qualify for Paris through these Games - has to do now to get to the Olympics.
And Ken and Murph discuss Elon's hate hose and pray that one day he will switch it off.
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Robbie Keane's coaching career, which includes short spells at Leeds, Boro, Ireland and India - hasn't hit the heights so far, which makes his move to Maccabi Tel Aviv especially intriguing.
We chat to Jonathan Wilson about coach Keane, Declan Rice's future plans and what a total failure PSG"s Mbappe-Neymar-Messi project has been.
Plus there's Branno at the wheel, and we give excuse after excuse for our pathetic display in the Fair Play Cup - organised by the UNHCR & SARI (Sport Against Racism Ireland) as part of the first ever Refugee Week in Ireland.
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The games, and the draws, are now happening at such break-neck speed that Eoin can barely keep up, but we endeavor to capture the madness of a manic weekend of Gaelic football with Michael Murphy and Paul Flynn.
Mayo are through, and Galway are out - Kildare rue a bundle of missed goal chances, and the Cork football revival continues apace. Monaghan are the team that will not die, and Tyrone are really starting to rumble. And we have Tyrone/Kerry and Dublin/Mayo to look forward to next weekend!
Plus there's the world's largest telescope, Portumna's status as the greatest club hurling team of all time, and Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow's unsuccessful charge at a major championship.
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Welcome to a sample of the Second Captains World Service which this week includes Damien Delaney on how a coach loses the dressing room, Ireland's Eddie Dunbar on his issues with concussion and Michael Murphy's proud Donegal soul.
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Another major Sunday in contention, another heart-breaking end for Rory McIlroy. Many of us stayed up until 3am for this latest iteration of Rory's vale of tears, and that didn't help either.
Joe Callaghan and Lawrence Donegan join us to discuss whether this was even more difficult to take than St Andrews last year, if Rory needs a new voice in his camp he actually listens to, and what constitutes failure for a man of such sumptuous talent.
There was also Leona Maguire's second win on the LPGA Tour, with 4 birdies and an eagle in her last 6 holes, and there was drama closer to home as well as the Gaelic football championship finally sparked into life.
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Tonight the Republic of Ireland take on Gibraltar in the 'more or less sold-out' Aviva Stadium - but the result in Athens on Friday night has cast its shadow right across the weekend… leading to a charged Press Conference on Sunday.
One of those Press Conference participants, James McClean, tonight makes his 100th appearance for Ireland. Alongside David Sneyd and Dion Fanning we chat about the trials and tribulations of McClean's career in England, and his unfaltering commitment to Ireland.
And so to tonight.... It's a no-win 'must win' game for Stephen Kenny and Ireland. But what of the future? What of the Project? Is Gibraltar to be the rock on which this era runs aground?
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Welcome to a sample of the Second Captains World Service which this week includes a preview of the Greece Ireland Euro qualifier, the rise of the alien athlete, a close up of Rory-world, Dublin Murph, and the terrible movie that won't go away.
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Novak Djokovic won his 23rd Grand Slam event at the French Open yesterday but in truth that was only the final act of a hugely dramatic fortnight at Roland Garros.
Caitlin Thompson of Racquet magazine talks to us about Djokovic’s remarks about Kosovo, the toll being taken on Ukraine’s biggest tennis stars, and Russian and Belarusian players being ignored at the net.
We also discuss Kilkenny’s late winner in the Leinster hurling final, Murph’s ultimate humiliation, and our now regular 'look what new amazing thing Rhasidat Adeleke has just done' slot.
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Manchester City made sure that Abu Dhabi could look Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the eye when the Persian Gulf powers reminisce about the 22-23 football season by delivering the club and the emirate's first Champions League win in Saturday's final in Istanbul.
We talk through the events of the game before Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us from Istanbul to discuss City's Treble.
How did they feel about the City supremacy? What is the future for Guardiola? Where does the game go from here?
Plus there's Julia Roberts' loyalty, Robbie's red hot form, Cannon's decision, Istanbul gridlock, and Ken's donkey.
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After over 1000 games as a professional football manager, David Moyes has finally won his first major trophy. And what a time to do it, offering a much need reminder of the joy that still exists in this farcical world of ours.
We chatted about West Ham's last-minute heroics to claim the Europa Conference League trophy and why 'mickey mouse' tournaments like this are becoming all the more important. Lawrence Donegan and Gavin Cooney also joined us to pick apart the bombshell merger deal that continues to reverberate around the golfing world and beyond. Plus, in the middle of all this, lest we forget there's a Champions League final taking place and our man Ken will be on the ground in Istanbul covering it in style for the World Service.
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Two down, one to go for Manchester City, after they eased to FA Cup final victory over Manchester United.
We talk through some of the key moments of the final before Mark Critchley and John Brewin join us to reflect on where the defeat leaves United at the end of Erik ten Hag’s first season. Who should stay? who should go? and will they have to sell before they buy?
Plus there's Sancho the scapegoat and Londoners' problems with "The North.
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This week on the Second Captains World Service Murph Paul Flynn and Michael Murphy tried to find a way forward for Gaelic Football; a route that can take the game away from six minute periods of possession. Rule changes, mentality changes? Evolution.
In our Second Captains World Service 'I'll Tell You Who Wrote It'' Book Club, we focused on Christopher Mc Dougall's 'Born To Run', with Olympian Ciara Mageean.
And with the Most Important FA Cup Final in recent memory fast approaching we chatted with life-long Manchester Red, Nooruddean Choudry, author of Inshallah United.
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What you win is important, but so is how you do it and who you beat along the way, and Munster's gritty run away from home against The Stormers. The Sharks, Glasgow, Leinster and The Stormers again in the final in Cape Town have turned an up and down season into a great one.
We drag Barry Murphy away from the celebrations in Limerick to put this URC title in context, and Ruaidhri O'Connor joins us fresh off a flight from Cape Town to discuss the performance, the Hodnett try, the job this coaching team have done in one season and how it may influence Andy Farrell's extended World Cup squad, which is named later this week.
Plus there's "le block", Murph on a hot steamy weekend of hurling action and the f bomb cover up.
And Kevin "Branno" Brannigan is in studio to talk about his new documentary Kevin Moran: Codebreaker, which airs 9.35pm tonight, Monday 29th May, on RTE 1.
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Everton live to get away with it another day after finding the relegation plughole already jammed with the soggy remnants of Leeds and Leicester. We trace some of the steps of Leicester's long sleepwalk to the Championship.
Erik ten Hag bewitched the Old Trafford crowd with his final-day address and we look at where one of his predecessors went wrong.
Raphael Honigstein joins us to talk about the final day of the Bundesliga, when Dortmund produced a mega-bottle to hand Bayern their 11th straight title. How did Oliver Kahn chief-executive his way out of the job? And is Thomas Tuchel sticking around to build the next Bayern team?
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This week on the Second Captains World Service football man Damien Delaney and our own Ken Early finally went head to head in heated debate the motion: Is Trent at centre mid the long-term solution to Liverpool’s problems? We were also joined in studio by the Jamie Wall / Malachy Clerkin punditry axis. The best duo in the business.
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Jose Mourinho once said, with a nod to Hegel: the truth is in the whole. We try to apply that spirit to today’s Salute The Champions podcast.
We also talk about the international incident that has been sparked by the racist abuse and controversial sending off of Vinicius Jr at Valencia last night.
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Leinster once again had a lead against La Rochelle, once again went behind late on, once again were handed a yellow card lifeline, and once again lost a heartbreaking epic Champions Cup final. We herald a truly great coach and leader in O'Gara, pick through the wreckage for Leinster and look at the possible impact on Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.
Shane Horgan and Ruaidhri O'Connor join us to discuss the psychological ebb and flow, why Leinster couldn't change the plan mid-game, the tunnel incident, eye contact at the toin coss, the Drop Goal plan and if ROG is a cert for the Ireland job.
Plus a listener reveals how Murph and the Second Captains Hurling cadre changed the course of his weekend and in doing so opened his eyes to the power and the glory of Munster Hurling.
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This week on the Second Captains World Service we spoke about movies about crisps, the rigs on refs, cold killers Man City (with Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson); we also previewed Leinster V La Rochelle with a worried Shane Horgan and chatted penos and the group stages of the football championship with Paul Flynn and Michael Murphy.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan was in studio with us to talk about his new book "Unbreakable". We discuss his career, his childhood, his father, his complicated relationship with success and the decision that almost derailed his career. Here is a taster.=
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Munster have finally beaten Leinster, in an epic, in the Aviva, at a stage in knock-out competition where they’ve fallen short time and time again. No wonder Jack Crowley channeled his inner Ronan O’Gara as he wheeled away in celebration after his winning drop goal.
Friend of the show, former Munster centre and Live 95 commentator Barry Murphy, joins us today to talk about what a lift this gives his old team before the final against the whoopin' hollerin' Stormers of Cape Town. We discuss Munster's transformation under Rowntree, Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy, Earls' lazarus-like recovery, and Leinster's haunted dreams.
We also look at the pressure that was on the Ireland women's sevens team to make it to the 2024 Olympics, how they coped, and what hope they have of getting a medal in Paris.
And there was a marathon Ulster football final which was completely overshadowed by allegations made against Rory Gallagher.
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I know it's over, still I cling, I don't know where else I can go... actually, many of the Arsenal fans at the Emirates had already left the ground by the 90-minute mark and never got to see Roberto de Zerbi's triumphant knee slide to celebrate Brighton's third, salt-rubbing goal.
We discuss the pretty-much-end of the title race and Arsenal's prospects for next season, with mentions for Matt Damon, Charlton Heston and Eddie Howe.
Then we're joined by John Brewin and Lars Sivertsen to talk about the weekend's action. How do they interpret the end of Arsenal's challenge? How did Southampton get it all wrong this season? And how is Lars dealing with Norway's sudden, unexpected domination of the Premier League?
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Ulster were firm favourites to beat Connacht at home in the URC QF's but Andy Friend's side out-thought and out-fought their opponents in what feels like a significant result for both sides. Why do Ulster continue to struggle in knockout games and why does the province provide so few players to the Irish set up? Gerry Thornley joins in studio to look at what Connacht have done on and off the pitch in recent times, and if an injury-hit Munster can have any optimism against Leinster in the SF next week.
We look at how Terenure have become the template for others to follow by rebuilding the club top to bottom over the last 10 years, resulting in a 50 point drubbing for defending champions Clontarf in the All Ireland League final at the Aviva.
We also hear from one lucky man holidaying with Shane Curran in the Bay of Naples, and the GAA GO controversy rumbles on, with RTE getting hit hard on this issue... by two of their own flagship programmes, Liveline and The Sunday Game.
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Eddie Howe was left choking on thick creamy spoonfuls of his own medicine as Arsenal gamesmanshipped their way to glory at St James' Park. Might a change in approach benefit the angry Mags?
We discuss Martin Ødegaard's team-of-the-season credentials, David de Gea's nightmare at West Ham - and whether the unexpected disorder of the last few minutes against Leeds is a distant rumble of thunder in Man City's clear blue sky as they prepare for the defining match of their season.
Then Gavin Cooney joins us in studio to talk about the recent story involving the FAI's request for a new distribution of betting tax to involve sports other than horse and greyhound racing. What is this controversy about? Can anyone say for sure where the government funds for horse and greyhound racing are coming from? And are the FAI being accused of getting the tone wrong?
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This week on the Second Captains World Service we spoke about the departure of Souness, Steph's shithousing, Big Sam's return, Klopp's manners, Keys and Gray on Messi, Dublin bias, Frank LLLLLampard and lots more.
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Limerick were beaten by Clare this weekend....but the game wasn't on terrestrial TV? Murph defends GAA Go, and wonders if this might be the year when a very good Munster county gets knocked out of the championship. Waterford are gone, but could the All Ireland champs also be in trouble?
Leinster once again outplayed and outsmarted Toulouse in the European Cup, and once again face La Rochelle in the final. Leinster have improved this season, but Shane Horgan explains why he thinks ROG's team will be favourites.
Gerry Thornley also joins us in studio to discuss Jack Conan's form and fitness, Josh Van Der Flier's role in Neti's yellow card, the dangers of a 6-2 bench split, why it wasn't a sellout and if the IRFU need to rethink their strategy on separating the 7s and 15s women's teams.
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Seeing her brother Nhat walk out for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics as Ireland’s number 1 badminton player inspired Thammy Nguyễn to revive her own olympic weightlifting dream, which she’d left on the back burner to run her business and start a family. Now, after winning bronze at the European Championships, Thammy has taken a giant leap forward in her hopes to join her brother in Paris next year.
We welcomed both Nhat and Thammy onto the World Service this week to chat about their background, how sport helped them assimilate into Irish life and how a certain Stephen Cluxton played a role in Nhat’s early badminton career.
Plus, we get into whether the Limerick hurlers have done much to rehab their reputation since last week and how this current Man City team matches up against the great treble winning United squad of 1999.
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We start today's show with a life-changing email for Murph who realises he's been getting it all wrong, all along.
The All-Ireland senior football championship went all-out this weekend with ten games in four provinces - Paul Flynn and Michael Murphy talk us through the highlights including Damien Comer’s tour de force, Donegal’s limp exit, the shambles in Meath, and Armagh rediscovering their mojo (for 1 half, at least).
And we discover just what Ken gets up to when the shackles are off.
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With Arsenal chasing the title on Friday and FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday and Sunday, this weekend was never going to be about Spurs. And yet here we are.
We look back at a very special performance by both sides at St James Park.
We also talk about whether de Zerbi is standing on the shoulders of giants (or Graham Potter) at Brighton and why proper football people don't use Google.
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Ken has been beating the Trent Alexander-Arnold to central midfield drum for quite some time, to a mixed response from listeners and pundits alike. However, with Liverpool struggling for form Jurgen Klopp saw fit to test this theory against Leeds United, leading to a good display from Trent. Our man saw fit to bask in the glow of vindication.
Plus there’s Mal and Jamie Wall on whether Limerick push the rulebook too far while asserting their dominance on the rest, and why everyone loves Todd Boehly.
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Monaghan weren't many people's idea of a likely winner in their Ulster championship quarter-final against Tyrone in Omagh yesterday, but in a manner befitting the best, most ignorant traditions of their proud county, they did the business, winning a thriller 2-17 to 1-18.
One of the people who did believe they could do it though was Colin Walshe, former All-star and Monaghan team captain, and he joins us in studio to talk to us about the ageless, irrepressible Conor McManus, the tactical tweaks that made it such an entertaining game, and fly-keepers.
Eoin salutes the mad-cap number 1s making the Ulster championship such a thrilling watch, and we discuss why Ulster has been the hotbed from which most of the new tactical evolutions in the game have sprung.
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Unai Emery could have been a local hero in a city somewhat further to the north, but the Fate that watches over Eddie Howe decreed otherwise. Now the Aston Villa Express is functioning perfectly - except for the brakes - while poor Dan Burn discovers that the revolution devours its children.
We discuss Arsenal's latest collapse, Man City's menacing new vibe and some of the initial remarks from Joan Laporta's big Negreira press conference.
Jack Pitt-Brooke and Miguel Delaney join us to talk more about the weekend's football. Have Arsenal blown it? How can we explain Brighton's increasing success despite the talent drain they've had to deal with? And how does a club go from smart to stupid?
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Call it ‘cosmic consciousness’ or ‘capturing the zeitgeist', but it just so happened to have been a very American week on the World Service. We hear Ken’s scorching takes on The Masters and rev up the campaign to get him over in Augusta as soon as possible. We also take a look at the green shoots for the Ireland Women’s team, even after a couple of losses against the US in our World Cup warm-up series.
Plus, there’s Todd Boehly’s brash over-optimism around Chelsea, as well President Joe Biden’s gaff-ridden visit to our fair city.
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A great match at Anfield ended in a Pyrrhic non-victory for both sides, and a return, oh yes, of the eternal Trent Alexander-Arnold discourse. Maybe we will never agree on what the solution is for Trent - move to midfield? several years national service? - but we can agree that with Man City now on a run of eight wins in a row, while Guardiola gives a masterclass in how to stop a top team going stale, it's looking ominous for Arsenal's title chances.
What an afternoon for Roberto de Zerbi at Tottenham: a defeat, four huge calls going against his team, a red card that might ban him from the touchline for the FA Cup semi-final, and an official apology from the referees' company. Brighton have had three apologies in 2023 from PGMOL - is it time for some accountability?
Andrew Mangan and Richard Jolly join us to talk more about the game at Anfield. Did Arteta overestimate the Anfield factor? Why do Liverpool need to be disrespected before they wake up? And is it really OK for officials to elbow players now?
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Frank Lampard returning to Stamford Bridge as interim manager is a twist nobody saw coming, in a season that’s already been packed with surprises. While we wait with giddy anticipation for Franks's presser, we have a chance to look back over the week that was on the Second Captains World Service.
Unlikely podcasting partners Joe Brolly & Dion Fanning stopped by the studio to chat about their new project ‘Free State’. Ken and Murph chatted to them about Gurus, Twitter madness and GAA exceptionalism. We play a short extract today.
Plus, Ken sees an opportunity to add some drama to his life - Netflix documentary style.
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The moon boot, the limp, the grimace of pain - Katie McCabe looked badly injured against Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but played 80 minutes and scored a beauty against Man City this weekend. We were all fooled, except for one Second Captains presenter.
Ulster didn't do much wrong in the rain against Leinster and still couldn't get within two scores. We chat to Lions, Ireland and Leinster backrower Jack Conan about playing in a downpour, his red hot form over recent weeks and the good friday QF against Leicester.
We also discuss Munster melting in the African sun and why we it will be a long time before the Irish women's team will be compettiive again.
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There are seasons when nothing happens and there are weekends when seasons happen... the weekend just gone left us with a lot to get stuck into on today's pod.
Graham Potter's nightmare is over, Brendan Rodgers too has skiied off leaving Leicester to fight their way out of the relegation zone without him, and an angry Manchester United fan has been in touch demanding the smooth head of Erik ten Hag.
We discuss why Newcastle players run so much, and why Liverpool players don't, before John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk about why didn't it work out for Potter. Can Nagelsmann skate straight in and sort it all out? Where does Brendan Rodgers go next? And do they agree with Ken's sick FSG apologism?
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On Saturday evening Sligo play Wicklow in the Div 4 league final, and it will be an emotional occasion for all involved as it falls on the one-year anniversary of the death of Red Óg Murphy, a hugely talented Sligo and DCU footballer.
Last year, aged 21 and just a few days before he was due to collect an award for being named in the Sigerson Cup Team of the Year, Red Óg died by suicide.
Today we welcome his parents Geraldine and Redmond into studio to talk about his life, his career as a footballer, his impact on them and the community, how they are processing it all now, and why they wanted to talk to us on the show.
If you’re affected by anything you hear please ask for help from groups such as the Samaritans or Pieta House. You can go to samaritans.ie or call them on 116123. For Pieta go to pieta.ie or call them on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
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Ken went on the attack in the wake of Ireland’s gallant scoreboard-defeat / moral-victory against France on Monday night. Yes, the image of Jason Molumby prowling around the Aviva launching into tackles and revving up the crowd was great to see, but the overriding emotion following the game was one of frustration. How can we keep doing this to ourselves? Will this anger spur us on to greener pastures, or are we doomed to side-pass our way in circles forever more?
Plus, we ponder why Dublin are getting the old band back together, why is freed from desire played so quickly and what is the best stadium song of all?
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Stephen Cluxton's desire to lead a quiet life is constantly being undermined by his habit of dropping major bombshells in the most dramatic fashion possible.
His return to the Dublin senior football squad over-shadowed much if not all of the football played yesterday - but salt a de earth true Dub Eoin McDevitt isn't sure it's the right idea.
On the field, Oisin McConville guided Wicklow back to Division 3, winning promotion on a tension-filled last day. We welcome him back to the podcast to talk about the steep learning curve, the stuff he got wrong, and the priorities for teams in his position.
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Ireland have Evan Ferguson, Bossman Steo, a fan base that loves their team again and Ken argues that France's 4-0 win over the Netherlands is, surprisingly, yet another reason for us to be hopeful! But as the World Cup finalists comes to town we have oh so many fears too - welcome to our Ireland V France preview show!
Is Kenny a slave to the system to the detriment of the team's chances? Is there a chance Evan Ferguson won't start? And will Nathan Collins' fast mind beat Mbappe's fast feet?
We chat to Philippe Auclair about France's destruction of The Netherlands, turmoil in the French FA and Deschamps' homework on the plucky Irish.
We also discuss the Griezzmann - Mbappe fake news, Ireland's possession game, fault de Giles, and "stone age stuff".
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Antonio Conte took the opportunity of a 3-3 draw at Southampton to point the finger at the real enemy - all the losers and failures who have represented Tottenham on the field for the last 20 years. How can even a great coach such as he be expected to overcome the mediocrity which is hard-wired into the very bone marrow of Spurs?
We also talk Evan Ferguson, Arsenal’s too hot for broadcast title challenge, and the disappointing quality of the secret football IP which is leaking out of the super-FCB clubs.
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Even with a grand slam fresh out of the oven and a historic series win over NZ in his back pocket, Andy Farrell was already looking ahead to the World Cup in his post-match press conference on Saturday evening; unlike other big Irish moments in the past, this one felt more like the start of something, rather than the end.
We get Andrew Trimble and Shane Horgan on to put this title in context, to explain why Ireland played so badly for an hour, to examine the evolution of Johnny Sexton and to marvel at Ireland's ability to get out of sticky situations.
We discuss the Freddie Steward red card, Ireland's incredible defence ad discipline stats and how nice it is to see the players be backed to express themselves, on and off the pitch.
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Grand Slam weeks don't come around too often (for now) so we went all out this week with Connacht's Andy Friend dropping by on Wednesday to chat about Mack Hansen's Snake Hips, versatility and general ‘looseness’.
Fresh from offering the best analysis around on the Gary Lineker Tweet debacle, Ken dusted down his Columbus Egg as proof he had been right about Trent Alexander-Arnold all along.
Plus, there’s Guardiola on how a Julia Roberts trip to Old Trafford both hurt and motivated him in equal measure.
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Gary Lineker's brief exile from Match of the Day has ended in an apologetic climbdown by the BBC director general Tim Davie, after the immediate support shown by his colleagues in BBC Sport checkmated the broadcaster.
We talk today about aspects of the affair. Was the tweet that got Lineker in trouble really so outrageous? And what does the BBC's commitment to impartiality mean in a media landscape where nobody believes in anyone else's impartiality?
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There was all manner of things thrown at the Ireland team in Murrayfield but as fans and pundits are coming to realise, this team don’t panic.
We chat to Stuart Barnes and Shane Horgan about the invention, versatility and deep confidence this side displays, and we ask if there is any way England, who got dismembered by France, can pull things around in a week.
We marvel at Peter O’Mahony’s clarity of thought, Jack Conan’s modesty, Mack Hansen’s creativity and Scotland’s mental and physical collapse.
Plus Murph quenches his Quaich thirst and we put Rhasidat Adeleke’s latest achievement in context.
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Much admired long-time zoom contributor, first-time live guest, Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine, joined us in The Brass Monkey in New York’s Meatpacking District. Caitlin regaled us with tales from John McCain’s election tour bus ‘The Straight Talk Express’ and how that experience convinced her to drop political reporting in favour of sports journalism.
Plus there’s an extract from our chat with Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster ahead of our game with Scotland as well as a deep dive from Ken into the fallout from the 7-0 at Anfield.
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We've arrived in New York, eaten a hot dog, and made our way straight to the Ghostbusters building to record today's show.
All five of us are on air at the one time (for the first time ever?) a7.51.130nd we have a chat about that scary day 10 years ago when we left Newstalk for pastures unknown.
Eoin warns us about Slimer, Mark does his Michael Jordan hall of fame speech, Murph talks about Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure a bit too much, Simon explains the art of the deal and Ken talks in flight movies.
We love you all, thanks for sticking with us, more shows coming from New York this week.
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Ken watched but did not understand what he saw at Anfield today as previously weak, fragile, inconsistent Liverpool turned this game into a massacre.
Ten Hag called it unprofessional, which, considering the source, may be the deepest cut of all for Man United. Ken wades into the errors and the implications of this historic defeat.
Salah was brilliant today, which begs the question - where has he been all season?
We talk to Ryan Hunn of the Stadio podcast and Wrighty's House about an epic comeback win for Arsenal.
Plus there's mystic Souness, Gunnersauras TV and Ken calls the title, again.
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In 2014 the Dubs lined out against Donegal in the All-Ireland Senior Football Semi-Final. Paul Flynn was clipping scores from all angles as Dublin paraded their personal brand of rock-and-roll Gaelic Football. Unknown to the Footballing public however was that the 3-14 that Michael Murphy’s Donegal were able to slip by them that day would set the course for a rebuild that saw Jim Gavin’s men go on a 45-game winning streak, notching 6 All Ireland Titles in the process.
We talked to Flynn and Murphy on the World Service this week about that fateful game in order to seek answers to Dublin's poor form at the moment.
Plus, we seek some clarity on exactly what the Italian band did to our poor anthem before last weekend's Six Nations game in Rome and there’s an extract from our chat with Ireland’s athletics superstar-in-waiting; Rhasidat Adeleke.
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Yesterday Erik ten Hag won the first trophy he could win as manager of Man United. Jose Mourinho also won the League Cup in his first season there - but this time it feels different, right?
We also talk about Graham Potter’s unfortunate habit of comparing his situation at Chelsea with Mikel Arteta’s early days at Arsenal.
Laurie Whitwell and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the Carabao Cup final. Why did it never quite get going for Newcastle? How have the leopards in Manchester United’s dressing room managed to change their spots? And with Avram Glazer a visible presence at yesterday’s final, what is the latest on the takeover front?
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Ireland's season, and all the good vibes surrounding this team, hung in the balance for long periods of the second half in Rome, but a brilliant 18-phase try, finished by Mack Hansen, won the game and kept the Slam dream alive.
We discuss Six Nations 7's rugby, Ireland's new midfield, Hugo Keenan's metres, Italy's brilliant attack, Scotland's failed comeback in Paris, Welsh gardening and anthem skulduggery.
And we digest listener feedback on our Full Swing episode, which was.... mixed.
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Elite managers are an interesting bunch, often willing to die on the hill of protecting the brand of football that got them success in the first place. This week, as Klopp-ball stuttered to a halt, it’s become abundantly clear that some sort of change is required at Liverpool. Fortunately, we’re all about solutions on the World Service and suggest that maybe some salvation can be found in the teachings of the shapeless, formless, water-like outlier that is.. Carlo Ancelotti?
Plus there’s Shane Horgan’s startling Scottish fandom, a Ken injury newsflash, as well as a taste of our chat with Malachy Clerkin and Lawrence Donegan on the ups and downs of the new Netflix golf documentary ‘Full Swing’.
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Jarlath Burns is the new President-elect of the GAA. He's a former Ulster title-winning captain with Armagh, which already makes him a different animal to many GAA presidents. But as talk of a border poll in the North shows no sign of going away, having a man who has never been shy about expressing his opinions on a united Ireland will make for a very interesting few years ahead.
As Ireland prepare for stage 3 of their inevitable march to Grand Slam glory we discuss who is in and who is out of Farrell's squad for the trip to Rome.
The Welsh Rugby Union continue to hold the title of worst-run organisation in pro sports; in the wake of allegations of sexism and bullying, this week they face the possibility of the players going on strike for their Six Nations game against England in Cardiff. The Welsh players have given the WRU until Wednesday to meet their demands, and they aren't asking too much - they basically want to know if they have a rugby career beyond the end of this season! We discuss the story with Steffan Thomas of Wales Online.
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Many listeners were enraged by last week’s premature doom mongering about Arsenal’s title hopes. After the Gunners’ Emi Martinez-inspired comeback at Villa, Ken deals with the fallout.
We also discuss the Man United takeover situation, why it’s not working for Graham Potter at Villa, and what to make of Darwin’s weird numbers.
Jack Pitt-Brooke and Richard Jolly join us to talk about the weekend’s football. Can anyone explain Marcus Rashford’s sensational form? Why do many Man United fans think they need Qatar? Will Graham Potter last the week at Chelsea? And is the departure of Lee Mason from PGMOL a good sign for the future of PL refereeing?
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A new GOAT has entered the stable, the name; Patrick Mahomes. US Murph joined us in the aftermath of a Super Bowl for the ages to talk Mahomes playing through the pain barrier and Las Vegas Octopuses.
Over in London Town Arsenal’s title charge has continued to crumble, while closer to home it's Rovers' title to lose. Contenders ready.
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As Pep Guardiola begins to further resemble the Captain of a Pirate Ship, his crew at the Good Ship Etihad raised the Black Flag of Lord Pannick in what may just be the lamest Premier League moment yet.
Down in London where Pannick has yet to grip the streets, contented Chelsea Boss Graham Potter stayed too calm for some pundits. Could his easy-going ways be put down to the large pay-off which will surely come soon... or his healthy lunches?
We also chat Arsenal - Robbed!, Lord Palmerston's Famine record and the Gavin Bazunu situation.
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Ireland came into this game as the disputed number 1 team in the world, but after Saturday's thrilling win over France few could argue they are now a special group with no limits to what they could achieve.
We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about how entertaining this game was, the ambitious coaching plan, Doris' 10/10, Ireland's fitness levels, whether they can be "worked out", the Atonio high hit, the squad depth and Ross Byrne's emergence as a reliable back up to Sexton.
Murph goes full JFK magic bullet on the Lowe try TMO angles.
Plus there's MOTM awards, Sexton's tears, Corcoran at full throttle and Lowe's Poker Face
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Six Nations Fever is not the only ailment gripping the rugby world this week. An injury crisis has struck Ireland ahead of our clash with France and the Twickenham crowd seem to have come down with some gastrointestinal problems, according to one Clive Woodward.
We talk to Romain Bergogne of L’Equipe about how he sees the game playing out at the weekend, plus there's Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney chatting to Ken about how important the Premier League's allegations against Manchester City may turn out to be.
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It was a thrilling opening weekend of the Six Nations with all six teams having their moments. Ireland made a fast start in Wales, then wobbled for a period, then impressively took back control. We chat to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about Ireland's 18th win in 20 games and how nice it is to be the team that everyone else now hates.
We marvel at the clarity and ferocity of those opening 20 minutes, the detail required in attack, the performance of Hugo Keenan, how well Finlay Bealham and Ross Byrne did coming in for two all time greats, and where the team can and need to improve if they are to beat France.
After scoring some stunning tries to beat England, again, we ask if the Scots can change the script for round 2 against Wales, and if we can read much into France's issues with Italy.
And with the Glen - Crokes saga finally coming to a close, we are left with more questions than answers.
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Stuart Hogg is back with a vengeance ahead of the 2023 Six Nations and Chelsea Football Club continue to break international transfer spending records. We tackle these issues on the World Service this week, as well as Ireland V Wales and Katie Taylor's Croke Park dreams being crushed.
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Yesterday's FA Cup matinee, The Assassination of Evan Ferguson by the Coward Fabinho, played to generally poor reviews. Audiences were turned off by the gratuitous bursts of mindless violence and absence of any justice or comeuppance for the perpetrators. Critics say the latest dark vision from the mind of policeman-turned-auteur Howard Webb, with its unsettling themes of child sacrifice and bankrupt authority, is perhaps still too far ahead of its time.
We discuss Man City's decision to let Joao Cancelo go on loan to Bayern Munich, with the option to make the move permanent in the summer. Why has Guardiola said goodbye to one of his best players of recent years?
And Sean Dyche has been confirmed as the new manager of Everton. Ken gives his immediate verdict on whether they will escape relegation.
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Rory Mcilroy brightened up our Monday morning with a clutch 20-foot putt on the last to beat golf's number 1 heel, Patrick Reed, by 1 shot in the Dubai Desert Classic. We discuss clutch Rory and the horror of seeing the tee-throwing, subpoena-wielding, LIV golf-subscribing Reed going so close to beating the Irishman (and I mean an Irishman).
This year's Six Nations will have the number 1 and 2 ranked teams in the world, England under new management, a confident Scottish squad, a best ever Italian team and Wales getting the band back together under Gatland once again.
We chat to former England flyhalf Stuart Barnes about him rating Ireland as favourites, if we have maxed out on our talent, if Gatland can be as successful again without Shaun Edwards, why we all continue to underrate the Wales-Gatland dynamic, and if France can go back to back.
Plus there's a streaming speed hullabaloo and we wonder if Novak is emoting for real after his latest Australian Open triumph.
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The All Ireland Senior Club Football Final is a big day in the calendar but nobody expected the result of Kilmacud Crokes and Glen to become the water cooler topic of the nation this week. We welcomed Paul Flynn & Michael Foley onto the show to discuss how farcical this has all been.
Plus there's Eddie Howe's likeness to Dr Frankenstein and how Hollywood has come knocking in Milltown Co, Galway.
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Kilmacud Crokes beat Glen of Derry to win the All Ireland Club Football Final this weekend, but footage shows they had 17 men on the pitch for the final play of the game. Should Glen appeal? Should the GAA offer a replay? Or should they go with Ken Early's suggestion and kick Kilmacud out of the competition altogether?
Munster scored one of the greatest tries in their history, away to Toulouse, thanks to a series of sharp passes and smart running lines. They lost the game but even in defeat gained energy, joy, excitement and hope that they can be a great side once again.... even if they have a horrible last 16 tie away to Siya Kolisi's Sharks.
We chat to Gavan Casey of The42 about World Champion Amy Broadhurst's defeat to Grainne Walsh in the National Elite Boxing Championship Finals, and what it means for Broadhurst's Olympic Qualification hopes.
And with Edinburgh failing to understand what they needed from their game against Saracens, permutations man feels compelled to have his say.
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Mikel Arteta described Arsenal's 3-2 win over Manchester United as "increlliant" - which just about covers it.
Led by Saka and Zinchenko (thanks Pep!), Arsenal recovered from the gut punch of Marcus Rashford's brilliant opening goal to turn the game around and all but knock United out of the title race.
Andrew Mangan and David Sneyd join us to talk about the weekend's football. If Arsenal do win the title should Pep Guardiola get a medal for selling them Zinchenko? Did City's 3-0 defeat of Wolves suggest they might be about to go on one of their 18-match winning runs? And the question everyone is asking: who is better between Haaland and Ferguson?
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We were delighted to welcome Ian Wright to the World Service this week to talk about Arsenal's hot streak, how he eventually came to find his voice in broadcasting, as well as the role of the modern striker - namely Haaland and our very own Evan Ferguson.
Plus there's US Murph on how it's often the humble kickers that shape lives and legacies.
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Starting with a McGrath Cup game for Kerry on January 5th, 2022, he played 34 games, scored 20-187 and won eight trophies from nine competitions. David Clifford has had a hell of a season.
Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times joins us to talk to us about Fossa’s win in the All-Ireland junior club final yesterday, and the travelling circus that has accompanied their route through the Kerry, Munster and All-Ireland championship, with crowds following Clifford wherever he went.
We also pay tribute to Paudie Clifford’s victory speech, comparing it favourably to Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame acceptance, and there’s also the return to top-class international rugby of Eddie Jones.
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Manchester United surging back into title contention, Arsenal winning at Spurs, City and Liverpool losing on the same Saturday for the first time in ten years... is the long-established PL order transforming before our eyes?
But while many things thought solid are melting into air, other old truths remain: Chelsea are outspending everyone, Everton are engulfed in revolutionary tumult, and VAR is still happily inserting mistakes.
Miguel Delaney and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the Manchester and London derbies, whether Manchester City have what it takes to reel Arsenal in, and whether Jurgen Klopp is reaching the end of the road at Liverpool.
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One of the great Irish sporting controversies dominated the World Service this week.. who really was at fault for the opening French goal in our 2-0 defeat in Paris in 1976?
There's also Ken's case for Bale's footballing immortality, as well as US Murph on what's making the Buffalo Bills' march to the NFL playoffs just so damn Hollywood.
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2023 is but a pup and already Irish rugby fans are fretting over the team's World Cup chances if Johnny Sexton isn't fit.
Since his switch to loosehead prop just over a year ago Andrew Porter has become almost as important to both Leinster and Ireland. Simon caught up with him to discuss winning streaks, how Porter separates work from the rest of his life and his work with the Tackle Your Feelings campaign which aims to help people be proactive about their mental health, a topic close to Porter's heart since he lost his mother to cancer at 12 years of age.
We also look at Ulster's latest loss in Italy, Vialli's stats and The Buffalo Bills.
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Graeme Potter is the Chelsea coach... but why were the Chelsea fans singing the name of Thomas Tuchel at the Etihad last night?
The Currency's Dion Fanning and Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian join us on today's show to talk about Chelsea supporters' unrealistic expectations, why Potter's body language matters, why none of this is his fault - and why his blamelessness doesn't actually matter.
We also talk about Evan Ferguson's prospects of playing for England (hands off, Lee Carsley), Wout Weghurst's triumphant return to the Premier League, and why Zinedine Zidane has fallen foul of a quote-friendly sports administrator.
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The Premier League has returned to our screens in the wake of the winter World Cup, so there's been plenty to get into in the first week of the year on the Second Captains World Service.
Firstly though we pay tribute to the life and career of Gianluca Vialli, the legendary Italian striker who died this week aged 58. Terry Daley joins us from Milan to discuss the style, charm and dignity of the man, whose appeal transcended club and national loyalties.
We also dust off an old interview from 2007 featuring a young Eoin McDevitt and Ken Early grilling the great man with questions like 'Is Ruud Gullit a bit of an asshole?'
Plus Bohemians coach Trevor Croly, who coached Ireland's emerging Premier League talent Evan Ferguson, on how they worked on his game at Bohs and brought him into the first team at just 14 years old. As well as Ken on where Cristiano Ronaldo stacks up against the great players of his generation.
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As dawn breaks on a New Year most Premier League clubs have only completed 16 fixtures - the season is about to get intense, but that doesn't stop Ken making a bold prediction on the destination of the title.
Guardiola's big-man-up-top system continues to reap goals for Erling Haaland; Eoin, Ken and The Guardian's John Brewin, discuss whether or not the Norwegian's scoring stats are enough for Manchester City to catch Arsenal.
One man who tried to halt the Arsenal title march was former Bohs striker Evan Ferguson. The 18 year old became Ireland’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer on Saturday when bagging Brighton & Hove Albion’s second in their 4-2 defeat by Arsenal at the Amex Stadium
While Ken and Eoin debate whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to a country he recently told Piers Morgan he would not be transferring to, has finally settled where his place in the football pantheon lies; 'second-tier' greatness.
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Yesterday, at 3.27 pm local time, a statement from a Sao Paulo hospital confirmed the death of the great Pele, “our dear King of Football”.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pele to the footballing world, is considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Aside from scoring over 1200 career goals, he also was seen as one of the great innovators in football, with many tricks and skill moves we commonly see today being attributed to his creation. As Erling Haaland put it so succinctly, “Everything you see any player doing, Pelé did it first. RIP”.
In tribute to the great man, we’ve chosen to revisit a chat between Ken & Tim Vickery from last year about the Pele documentary on Netflix, discussing the life of Brazil’s finest player and where he fits into the conversation of the all time greats.
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Amid the joy and celebrations after the Irish women's team qualified for the World Cup, a now infamous video from the team’s dressing room involving a republican song went viral and the subsequent controversy surrounding it seemed to almost immediately overshadow the achievement itself.
The reaction to the song then gave way to a much broader debate about nationalism and its place in Irish sport and Irish life.
With that in mind we asked Una Mullally of the Irish Times and former Republic of Ireland Manager Brian Kerr to join us live in Liberty Hall Theatre to reflect on the video, the reaction to the video, and the conversation the country needs to have about border polls, nationalism and where we want to be in 10 years time.
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It’s never a true Gang’s All Here week without the charisma & enthusiasm of everybody’s favourite West Coast sports radio powerhouse, US Murph. Having just touched down on Irish soil, he was expecting a relaxing few days of conversation and merriment but instead was greeted with word that the biggest Baseball story of the year was breaking back home.
We get the lowdown on how he had to cover the news from the warm embrace of Fallon’s Pub in Dublin City, how it feels to be back with us for the first time since the heady days of 2019, as well as a rundown on his Top Three US sport stories of the year.
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At the start of December Ulster were 22-3 up against Leinster and cruising against 14 men, but fell apart and lost the game 38-29. Then the following week they lost 39-0 to Sale, and this weekend were losing 29-0 at half time to La Rochelle, before a 29 point comeback secured them a losing bonus point and a 4 try bonus point.
We ask former Ulster and Ireland centre Darren Cave to explain Ulster's mental state, both now and historically.
Gerry Thornley is in studio to look at what has gone wrong and right for the province and if coach Dan McFarland and CEO Jonny Petrie were right to go public on their frustrations with the EPCR for not allowing the game be played in Belfast, rather than an empty Lansdowne Road.
Plus there's ROG's facial expressions at the final whistle, Munster's renewed appetite for battles and tackles and we crowbar a mention of Puma legend Hugo Porta into the chat.
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Lionel Messi and Argentina have won the World Cup, and in a fashion so outrageous that no one watching will ever forget it.
Tim Vickery and Philippe Auclair give Argentina their due while puzzling over the paucity of the French challenge for 80 minutes.
And Ken Early, the Lion of Lusail, joins us one more time, mere hours before his flight home to talk us through the almost unbearable tension of normal time, injury time, extra-time, and injury time in extra-time, before penalties secured Messi’s legacy forever.
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Welcome to the Second Captains World Service taster show.
Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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As the World Cup in Qatar has taken the majority of our attention over the last few weeks, the rugby wheel has kept on turning.
We chat to Shane Horgan about Munster's progress but also basic errors made against Toulouse in the fog in a packed-out Thomond Park. Is the game plan starting to come together, and do they have the players for said game plan?
Elsewhere, Leinster & Ulster experienced very different results with the former strolling to an impressive away win over Racing 92, while Ulster seemed to concede every type of try imaginable as they were thumped 39-0 by Sale.
Plus there's Eddie Jones being relieved of his role as England Coach, the return of Warrenball, ROG committing his future to La Rochelle and the GAA making the ballsy decision to go toe to toe with the World Cup Final.
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Welcome to our bonus Sunday World Cup pod after four of the most dramatic quarter-finals in the competition’s history.
We chat with Tim Vickery about the scenes between Argentina and The Netherlands, Brazil’s limp exit and some of the strange refereeing performances over the last few days.
We pay tribute to the life and career of American writer and broadcaster Grant Wahl who sadly passed away in Qatar while working on the Argentina game.
Plus there’s Ronaldo’s tears, Rue Giroud, England’s missed opportunity, big Wout, Moroccan magic, Messi’s moment.
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England and France dealt with Poland and Senegal with the minimum of fuss today, but how will they handle each other?
Ken got his first look at England in the flesh at this tournament, and he was suitably impressed with Jude Bellingham… but has Kyle Walker got what it takes to stop Kylian Mbappé?
We talk to friend of the show Philippe Auclair about Mbappé's red-hot form, and about Giroud, now France’s record goal-scorer.
And we discuss Messi's one man band, how much Louis van Gaal is loving life at the moment, and why Declan Rice can safely return to Ireland now that he’s just a middle-aisle Jude Bellingham.
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It’s the end of the World Cup group phase and after another day of chaos and disorder we have Luis Suarez in tears, South Korea triumphant and Granit Xhaka sealing his reputation as an Ulster senior football championship-level shithouse.
Ken was at both the Uruguay Ghana and Switzerland Serbia games yesterday and he tells us how gleefully Ghana celebrated their own demise when faced with the image of a weeping Suarez and just why Serbia limped so pathetically out of the World Cup.
Plus there’s Uruguay’s valid VAR complaints, South Korea’s deserved progression and another relaxed evening of football with Argentina.
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it's been an eventful World Cup for our man on the ground. Ken was on hand to watch Messi inspire his team to the top of Group C with a display that flew in the face of everything we know about attacking football.
We also discuss Pulisic's knee to the groin which brings up painful memories for Murph. And Ken gives us the rundown on what delights Doha has to offer.
With episodes every night after the matches, there's maybe never been a better time to become a World Service Member. Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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It’s been another bonkers weekend of World Cup action and there’s only one way to cover it all…. that’s right, it’s a double helping of His Ken-ness!
In the big game of the day Germany saved their bacon by going FULL KRUG while Spain forgot to keep playing football.
There’s also golden Mbappe, Croatia crushing Canada, “relish it Rabat” and Messi to Miami.
Don’t forget we’ve another show out earlier today on Argentina’s win over Mexico.
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Lionel Messi saved Argentina again last night with a stunning goal to break the deadlock against Mexico. They're back in contention, but can they go all the way?
Tim Vickery is far from sure, but the arrival of Enzo Fernandez in their midfield gives them a chance.
Plus there's misguided vox pops, Eoin's favourite dressing-room moment of the World Cup so far, and a short audio history of Argentinian post-match celebrations.
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Ken has been on hand to witness both Japan's victory over South Africa in the 2015 RWC and their recent win over Germany in the 2022 football World Cup, but the king of world cup upsets didn't stop there as he was also at the Saudi Arabia Argentina game.
We discuss Germany's silent gesture, the joyous positivity of Cameroon's Joey N'Do and have a new bed for Ken's glass door incident.
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Ireland laboured to a win over Australia to make it three wins from three in the autumn internationals, and yet again a backrower won MOTM. Murph has a theory on this trend.
We talk to former Ireland stars Gordon Darcy and Shane Horgan about Ireland's muddled attack, strange decision making, but also their guts and defiance. How did debutant Jack Crowley do, have we an issue with taking high balls, has our phase game been worked out and will we be the better for these hard fought wins?
We also look at how the Nic White concussion was missed by those responsible and if the independent doctors are relying too much on the Head Injury Assessment process while missing the key information seen by all 50,000 people in the stadium.
Plus there's the rise and rise and rise of Josh Van Der Flier, ROG for England and the Welsh football song that made Murph weep at breakfast time.
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The 2022 World Cup has begun and Ken was at the Al Bayt stadium to see the hosts lose 2-0 to Ecuador with a hopeless display. You still can't buy success in international football, well not yet anyway.
We catch up with Miguel Delaney to talk about Gianni Infantino's outlandish press conference performance on Saturday, and the bizarre scene of an opening world cup match being played in front of an almost empty stadium.
And with Ken's world cup barely 12 hours old he's already had his first traumatic travel tale to tell.
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Tim Vickery, Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson joined us on the World Service this week to preview the first ever winter World Cup - who will win it, and why.
AND, with three days to go before the tournament starts we spoke to anthropologist John McManus whose new book, Inside Qatar, offers an insightful portrait of the host nation.
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It was a limp display from Ireland this weekend and Andy Farrell wasn't shy about showing his displeasure with the performance, the attitude and the decision to kick their last possession into touch.
We talk to Andrew Trimble about Farrell's post match reaction, Jack Crowley's rapid progression, and Rassie's latest tweet tirade.
Plus there's fan trouble at the FAI Cup Final and in Parnell Park and we marvel at the charisma of NZ's Ruby Tui as her team shocked England to win the WRWC final.
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Six days left until the start of the World Cup, but there's one last weekend of Premier League to talk about, and City's defeat to Brentford means the first part of the season has ended on a cliffhanger...
Then we're joined by Dion Fanning and Rory Smith to talk about Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan, Newcastle's win over Chelsea, and whether Todd Boehly knows something FSG doesn't.
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No World Cup build-up is complete without a chat with our friend in Nigeria, Oluwashina Okeleji. We asked him about Senegal's chances, if Mane will play, Cameroon's WC build up, and attitudes in Africa to Qatar's record on human rights.
Ireland's first Gymnastics World Champion Rhys McClenaghan popped into studio with his medal during the week. We spoke about the inevitability of mistakes in Pommel Horse, the lessons you learn, and the questions of identity he was forced to face when it looked like he wasn’t going to be allowed to compete for Northern Ireland at this year’s Commonwealth Games.
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This was the goaling-est weekend of the Premier League season thus far, even notwithstanding the tactical chess match that was Chelsea/Arsenal. Gavin Cooney of the42 and Jonathan Wilson join us to discuss Liverpool's win over Spurs, Eddie Howe's rise, trouble at the bridge and Marsch madness.
There are also reports from David Ornstein of the Athletic that Liverpool are up for sale - another chance for some nation-state to get involved maybe?
Plus there's the return of Permutations Man, 10 red cards from Argentina, and the argument for the FAI to dabble in our native tongue.
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Ireland survived an almighty onslaught in the first half against SA before playing some brilliant attacking rugby of their own. Did this game prove this team can cope against the most powerful sides in the world?
We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Ireland's grace under fire, the ability to transition from defence to attack, the job Paul O'Connell is doing in scrum and maul, and if this result means anything for the world cup.
We also examine Rassie's conspiracy tweet, Mack Hansen's licence to roam, and the atmosphere at the Aviva. Plus, there's chill Cheika beating Eddie the workaholic.
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Liverpool battled to a win over Napoli and once again it was hard to take your eyes off Darwin Nunez. Eoin wants someone to measure a footballer's "presence" on the field but Ken is all about the facts and figures and compares him to a few other star PL strikers.
As Iran prepares to play a World Cup on its own doorstep, the country has been swept by waves of protests after the September 16th killing in police custody of 22-year old Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested by the Morality Police in Tehran for wearing her hijab 'loosely'. The security forces cracking down on these protests have since killed at least 284 people, including 45 children, according to Iran's Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Now a group of current and former Iranian athletes has written to FIFA asking that their country be banned from the World Cup for human rights violations, while the Ukrainian FA has asked for Iran to be thrown out in retaliation for supplying Russia with attack drones for its war against Ukraine.To talk about this story, we welcome back to the pod Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter who was arrested and imprisoned in Tehran in 2014, and who first spoke to us on the pod during the 2018 World Cup.
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We talk about Arsenal keeping up their two-point lead, Manchester United keeping up their 85-year run, and as Newcastle roll into the top four, Eoin tries to force Ken to give due credit to Eddie Howe.
After another defeat for Liverpool prompted fresh rounds of comparisons between this season and Klopp's last season at Dortmund, we discuss the relevance of the "seven-year-itch" theory. If you are a Liverpool fan, the conclusions may disturb you...
Then we're joined by David Sneyd to talk about Shamrock Rovers' third successive League of Ireland title. How have they become so dominant, and where is the next challenge likely to come from?
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It takes a big person to admit that they were wrong. This week on The Second Captains World Service, Ken Early was prepared to do just that as he trawled through his own back catalogue to a piece written in advance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Also, we were joined last night in Windmill Lane by Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington in what was a fascinating chat to launch her excellent new autobiography with Roddy Doyle.
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Munster may have lost on Saturday evening in the Aviva, but were there enough reasons to be cheerful about the manner of their defeat to Leinster - and was it a positive portent for Irish rugby to see two young Irish outhalves playing so well at full-back? We also discuss the Jean Kleyn yellow card and if some moments are impossible to referee.
Kilmacud Crokes are the Dublin Senior Football, Hurling and Women's Football champions for 2022, and Eoin McDevitt for one is in the mood for a celebration.
Plus there's news from Ken's inbox, and a chance for 10 listeners to join us for the launch of Kellie Harrington's brilliant new book in Windmill Lane this Thursday.
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As the games pile up the flames of crisis are blazing brightly at Leeds, Spurs, Wolves, Brighton and Liverpool, but for one happy club the only light on the horizon is the golden glow of a new dawn. Today is all about Aston Villa's world record new manager bounce.
We also identify the qualities Casemiro has brought to Manchester United, and why Roy Keane was so eager to defend Ronaldo on Saturday night.
The Ronaldo debate leads into our chat with the Wall Street Journal's Josh Robinson, who has written a new book with Jonathan Clegg: Messi v Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATS, And The Era That Remade The World's Game - which is published here on November 10th. The book traces the evolution of Ronaldo and Messi's parallel superstardom, and shows how their influence transformed the sport and defined an era.
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It's been a sparkling week on the World Service as Roddy Collins and Paul Howard joined 30 of our members for what was a highly enjoyable debut live show in our new city centre studios. We also spoke to Dion Fanning & John Brewin about Ronaldo's failure to read the room & Darwin "Shredder" Nunez.
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Munster finally got their season up and running on Saturday with a convincing win over The Bulls. They still butchered a lot of chances but a confident looking Joey Carbery got MOTM, new coach Mike Prendergast got a tune out of his attack and a number of fringe players - Edwin Edogbo, Shane Daly, Tom Ahern and Jack Crowley - all made an impact.
We chat to Shane Horgan about rays of hope down south, improved standards in the URC and with Wasps and Worcester going into administration, why the English Premiership may have more bleak days ahead.
And as we prepare for tonight's live show with Roddy Collins and Paul Howard we have a reading from the Rodfather.
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Liverpool beat Manchester City in a match that had more than the usual share of morbo. We pay tribute to the men who did more than anyone else to make this occasion so memorable: Anthony Taylor and Darwin Nunez.
We also discuss some of the weekend's other action, including Xavi's mediocre record at Barcelona, Jordan Pickford's actually rather exceptional record at saving shots this season, and a scandalous suggestion that Arsenal may have benefited from the L-word in their narrow win at Leeds.
Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse the match at Anfield. Did Jurgen Klopp's comments about City's funding have a direct influence on what happened on the pitch? What to make of the mess that is 'let it flow'? And will City's loss of control in the second half give Guardiola cause to brood on the best way to approach the big tests to come?
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Ken met up with the Irish WNT this week and had an interesting chat with Vera Pauw about the achievement of making it to the World Cup, her self belief, tactics, bringing on Amber Barrett and the team singing a Wolfe Tones song in the dressing room afterwards.
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A lot of South African people appear to have discovered for the first time that Johnny Sexton likes a word with the referee - we talk about Sexton's commanding seasonal debut on Saturday as Leinster and the Sharks shared 13 tries.
Mark O'Connor was celebrating a Grand Final victory with his Geelong team-mates in Melbourne a few weeks ago, and in Tralee on Saturday night, he was able to celebrate with a gang of them again as a dozen of them pitched up to Dingle's Kerry county championship quarter-final win over Dr Crokes. Between that and David Clifford facing off against Sean O'Shea on Sunday afternoon, it was a fairly exciting weekend of football in the home of the All-Ireland champions.
Plus we announce the latest book to get the "I'll Tell You Who Wrote It" Second Captains Book Club treatment.
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Arsenal defeated Liverpool 3-2 in extremely entertaining fashion yesterday, and they remain top of the league. High time, then, for some flowers to be laid at their feet.
Ken lines up to give them their dues, and he's joined by Miguel Delaney and Andrew Mangan of the Arseblog podcast.
There's also Ireland's horror draw for Euro 2024 qualification, with France, The Netherlands, Greece and Gibraltar... but where others see obstacles, Eoin only sees opportunities.
Plus there's Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol, and when is a handball not a handball.
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On the world service this week we discussed Conte's troubles at Spurs, Trent trolls, the Norwegian Sun God, Pep's glasshouse, and what football can learn from F1 - all while MC Devitt ran the show for 90's hip hop week.
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It seems there is no safe harbour in the world of sport from the scourge of cheating, not chess, and not even professional fishing - Eoin brings us the latest.
We discuss the legacy of Brian Mullins, the man who best epitomised the youth and exuberance of Dublin in the 1970s.
Sibling rivalry turns sour in European GAA for 2 world service members, and we launch 90s Hip-Hop week, with Eoin outlining the parameters in stark detail.
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Eight weeks into the Premier League season and rampant Norwegian goal yeti Erling Haaland has already burned through the existing stockpile of superlatives. We trawl the archives in search of fresh supplies.
Meanwhile, Florentino Perez is back on the Super League war trail with a new battle cry: "Think of the Children." But is he right to see football as competing with entertainment products?
John Brewin and Mark Critchley join us to talk through some of the weekend's action. Has Haaland proved Pep has spent the last ten years exploring a cul de sac? And how crushing is the impact of this result on the delicate flower of confidence at Man United
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On the world service this week we had Nations League mayhem, the similarities between sports stars and actors, loss of Kencentration, chess cheats and Stephen A gets put in the shade.
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Yes, Eliud Kipchoge knocked 30 seconds off his own marathon world record but.. he still didn't break through the 2-hour barrier. We have some simple advice that should do the trick.
Federer charmed and sobbed his way through his farewell event, the Laver Cup, winning fans' hearts one last time - but has he got what it takes to become a great coach?
A listener argues the GAA should embrace its amateur status and eradicate under-the-table payments to managers and set the players free from the training "arms race". And Murph puts into context how good Zach Tuohy is at a game he didn't grow up playing.
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Ireland have done it again, starting well and taking the lead against a higher-ranked side away from home and then going down to defeat in the second half. We analyse the game and some of the criticism that has followed.
We also discuss some recent interviews with Mark Lawrenson and Eric Cantona.
Dion Fanning and Kieran Canning join us to talk about the match at Hampden. As we fight to stay positive, can we take heart from Scotland's development over the last few years? and to look ahead to Nations League B new boys England's dead rubber against Germany tonight.
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Jack McCaffrey hasn’t played for Dublin since a cameo off the bench which ended in injury against Tyrone in Omagh in February 2020. Paul Mannion’s last game was the 2020 All-Ireland final.
They were both off the Dublin panel, presumed retired - until yesterday evening. We get the Fair View of their surprise return to inter-county football, what it means for Dublin… and what it means for everyone else, with 4-time Kerry All-Ireland winner Sean O’Sullivan.
We also pay homage to David Beckham’s queueing stamina, Ken casts his eye over proceedings in London this morning, and we salute Eddie Butler’s love of Wales.
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There's more than one way to make your name in the Premier League. Until now Nathan Collins has been trying the quiet excellence way, but on Saturday against Man City he hopped on the fast track to building his profile internationally.
We also discuss a disgraceful episode in Spain, and the sad scenes at Munich's Oktoberfest, where Bayern's top brass tried and failed to look like they're having a good time despite dropping nine of the last 12 points.
James Horncastle joins us to talk about how Juventus lost their stranglehold on Italian football. What and who is to blame for their fall? And who will win the culture war between the traditional values of Italian football and an ambitious new generation of internationally-influenced coaches?
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Why are English football people so down on Todd the mouthy American interloper? What is a long snapper? And would it surprise you to hear the New England Patriots were involved in one of the oldest cheating scandals in NFL history?
That means US Murph, Champions League and fun times on the World Service this week. Join us for ad-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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After a series of terrible VAR decisions in the Premier League last week we heard many VAR advocates claim "it's only in England they don't know how to use it, VAR is working perfectly everywhere else." Right on cue, Juventus-Salernitana generates the Exxon Valdez of VAR decisions.
We also talk about whether Pep Lijnders' recent book is as dangerous a signal for Liverpool as Didi Hamann fears, and relay the views of our favourite Argentine football writer on the signing of Darwin Nuñez.
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Shane Lowry is back in the winner's circle for the first time since his Open victory at Royal Portrush in 2019, courtesy of a faultless Sunday performance at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth yesterday.
He was pushed all the way by Rory McIlroy, who fell literally an inch short of forcing a playoff - we talk to Malachy Clerkin about Shane's lovely habit of winning big tournaments, why Shane described this as one for "the good guys", and why human rights have disappeared from the PGA/LIV war of words.
We try and find out, as Malachy wrote a few weeks ago, if Rory is the most underrated person in Irish sport. There's also Terry Kennedy, Georgie Best, and why is Garth so big in Monaghan.
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The Champions League is back, Thomas Tuchel has been shown the door and friend of the show, Rory Smith of the New York Times has a new book out on the data revolution in football... That means lots of football on the World Service this week, and lots of good reasons to sign up now.
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Shane Walsh made his debut for Kilmacud Crokes in the Dublin senior football championship, and his new club sent a message to every other club in the country with a powerful display. If they were a county, would they win Division 3? But it was salt of the earth Dublin GAA man Eoin McDevitt making impassioned calls for one young footballer to put his life on hold to give back to his community today - as retired Dub Paul Mannion put on a clinic.
Nick Kyrgios has the star power to keep the celebrities coming to Flushing Meadows after Serena departed the scene over the weekend, and Ciara Mageean finally gets the better of Laura Muir.
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VAR will be good, they said. It will reduce the amount of time people waste pointlessly arguing over wrong decisions, they said.
Ever mindful of the wants and needs of our listeners we tried not to do too much VAR talk today but after a weekend like that it's not easy.
Mark Critchley was at Old Trafford to see Erik ten Hag's clinical Manchester United end Arsenal's 100% start.
And after Celtic's 4-0 win against Rangers, Kieran Canning talks to us about their fantastic form heading into tomorrow night's Champions League match against Real Madrid.
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Welcome to our weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service which includes Ken on grammar, Caitlin on Serena's secret sauce, Murph on losers and Pep's machine gun dilemma. Join for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. It takes less than two minutes to set up, there’s no contract, no obligations and no hidden fees.1
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Rory McIlroy became the first 3-time winner of the FedEx Cup last night, chasing down the world number 1 Scottie Scheffler who held a 6-shot lead going into the final round.
But what’s the difference between the 18.5 million dollars Rory won last night and the Saudi money on offer in LIVgolf?
There’s also Damien Delaney’s dad’s hurling exploits for Cork, Paul Galvin in Leap last week, and why watching a brilliant sportsperson mentally implode is so enjoyable.
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Spurs suffering, Arsenal allegedly overcelebrating, Richarlison’s swift justice, Steven Gerrard’s brow scrunching up ever more tightly – season 22-23 is boiling up nicely. Thankfully we can still say: nobody beats Mark Travers ten times in one game.
We also dissect the Sunday Times’ inside story of the Cristiano Ronaldo-Man United stand off.
Lars Sivertsen and John Brewin join us to talk about the weekend action. Is Haaland showing up the Premier League? Why are Aston Villa fans so angry with Steven Gerrard? And will Antony prove cheap at the price?
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Anthony Joshua had a couple of things he wanted to get off his chest after he lost a split decision to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night - listeners wanted Ken's thoughts, and Ken is more than happy to provide them.
It was a brilliant European athletics championships for Ireland, with Ciara Mageean and Mark English both winning medals on the track, and we have a new Dublin hurling manager in Micheál Donoghue, who won an All-Ireland title with Galway in 2017.
And we also have Pat Kenny's thoughts on the soundtrack to the long, hot summer of 2022.
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Jesse Marsch is winning points faster than friends in the Premier League as hard-running Leeds make a lot of other managers look bad.
After Casemiro's tearful Real Madrid farewell, we debate whether his signing is a good idea for Man United. Meanwhile there are hints of trouble in paradise as Jurgen Klopp points out he's not in charge of deciding how much Liverpool spend on midfielders.
John Brewin and Miguel Delaney join us to talk over the weekend's action. Did they enjoy the spectacle laid on by Saudi v UAE? Has Gabriel Jesus brought Man City's culture with him to Arsenal or is he playing so well because he's left it behind? Are Spurs' title-contending credentials looking less convincing after their midfield struggles against Chelsea and Wolves? And why have Tuchel's Chelsea lost control?
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There were contrasting weekends for the two stars of last month’s All-Ireland senior football final as Fossa’s David Clifford got mobbed by tiny pitch invaders so cute even Ken couldn’t have a problem with them, while Kilkerrin-Clonberne's Shane Walsh was at a wedding as his club secured a dramatic win over Headford.
Paul O’Donovan's unstoppable march to becoming by-common-consent Ireland’s greatest ever sportsperson continued this week at the European Championships - so what the hell is Murph complaining about?
And with Jamie Vardy now being linked to Manchester United, does the transfer committee at Old Trafford now include… every Twitter user on the planet?
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The weekend marking the 30th anniversary of the Premier League belonged to Graeme Souness who declared after watching Chelsea 2-2 Spurs that "we've got our football back."
We argue about what that means and whether this new direction is likely to lead anywhere good.
Laurie Whitwell and Dion Fanning join us to talk about the weekend's football. Should fights between managers become a more regular PL staple? And what's the fallout at Man United after their 4-0 thrashing at Brentford?
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Welcome to our weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service which includes Ken on goal hatching, poor Bernardo Silva, US Murph on the Irish-American broadcast poet, and rugby's uncomfortable conversation. Join for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. It takes less than two minutes to set up, there’s no contract, no obligations and no hidden fees.
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The GAA's first foray into using a ref-mic was a resounding success on tg4 yesterday (as exclusively revealed by Frances Murphy during her TV guide on Friday), and we had a thrilling, tense, physical, All-Ireland camogie final this weekend as well.
If we're playing rugby league commentary on this show then you better believe it has an extremely high "northern English people shouting at each other" quotient. And we've further proof that Xhosa commentary is the best rugby union comms around.
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City's midfield made the passes, Erling Haaland scored the goals, and all is rosy in their garden, once Guardiola gets used to his new job as a guy who talks about the younger Haaland for a living.
Elsewhere it appears the Premier League has rolled out interesting new rules which mean lots of random fouls are no longer fouls. Will this encourage the fast-flowing furious football we all crave?
Jonathan Wilson and Jack Pitt-Brooke join us to analyse the weekend's football. Are there any obvious solutions to Man United's problems in the short term? How did Gavin Bazunu get on at Spurs? And just what are PL defenders supposed to do about Haaland?
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Welcome to our weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service which includes a Premier League Preview show, the GAA's tug of love, and US Murph on America's winning machine. Join for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. It takes less than two minutes to set up, there's no contract, no obligations and no hidden fees.
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England are European champions, after a final that attracted the biggest-ever UEFA tournament crowd and the biggest UK TV audience of the year.
Liverpool won the Community Shield as Darwin Nuñez enjoyed a better debut than Erling Haaland - what wild conclusions about the season to come can be extrapolated from this one friendly?
Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about England's Euros win and to give his impressions of a highly successful tournament.
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Ken has returned from holidays and it's time to ease back into familiar routines, starting, obviously, with Frank Lampard and moving on. Why does Antonio Conte make his players run till they puke? Might Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish make City the most watchable team in Europe this season? And how are we meant to make sense of what is happening at Barcelona?
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It was a classic All-Ireland final, and it was a fitting stage for two of the great individual final performances of all time.
David Clifford scored 8 points to win his first Celtic Cross, and was still almost over-shadowed by the luminous brilliance of Galway's Shane Walsh.
Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn talk us through the major talking points, as Kerry answered all the questions and won their 38th title.
Plus there's the burning question of whether Murph attended David Clifford's afterparty, and a goodbye to Brian Cody.
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Welcome to our weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service. Ken is back next week so today we play a snippet from our chat with Ken and Lars Sivertsen on Lars' fellow countryman Erling Haaland who explains why the Man City striker is so blunt with journalists. Plus Paul Flynn says Galway to win and Richie tells us what it was like being on mind altering drugs. Join for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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It was impossible not be impressed by both Kilkenny and Limerick yesterday, but in coming through the ultimate test Limerick can now party like its 2020, 2021 and 2022. We discuss the magical points, the big performances and the outpouring at full time.
Rory seemed to be on course to finally win a major after an 8 year break but slow and steady wasn't enough on a day when Cameron Smith was rolling in putts from everywhere. We chat to Lawrence Donegan about what he could have done differently, his incredible record in majors this year and why the LIV chat won't go away any time soon.
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It was the way they won it, the team they were facing, the history at stake and the drama, guts and glory in the second half that made this perhaps the greatest day ever in Irish rugby.
We chat to All Black legend Justin Marshall and Shane Horgan about the breathtaking quality of Ireland's tries, the Tadhg Beirne masterclass, the mental strength shown and just why this tops even the Grand Slams for the sheer quality on display.
Plus there's tears before breakfast, Sexton's hopes and dreams and Mark Horgan has weaved a beautiful audio blanket for you.
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We had a great time on the World Service this week including chats about Ireland winning the transfer window, "new" old Brian Cody, the immense pressure on NZ ahead of the third test and the hugely enjoyable new Netflix basketball movie, Hustle, starring Adam Sandler.
To hear all our shows from Monday to Friday join for just five euro a month.
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England/Norway could be the game of the group stages of Euro 2022 and Miguel Delaney will be there tonight.
He tells us about the host nation’s reaction to the tournament thus far, and we also discuss Chelsea’s first post-Abramovich summer so far, their new-found canniness in the transfer market… and where a kite being flown about buying Ronaldo fits into that.
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Another wild weekend of football in Croke Park ends with Galway and Kerry as the last men standing in this year’s All-Ireland championship.
The best in the business Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn talk Dublin’s lack of a sweeper, Clifford magic, red cards, penalties and the Damien Comer effect.
And as Sean O’Shea’s last-second free takes its place in the pantheon, we give it the full audio-bed treatment.
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All Ireland football semi-finals, Ireland's tour of New Zealand, Euro 2022, the climax of Wimbledon, the All Ireland hurling final... The list of massive sporting events taking place this month goes on and on and we've got it all covered on the Second Captains World Service.
Listen to some of the highlights of this week's independent, member-led podcasts and sign up now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Ronaldo has told Manchester United that he wants out, as he hasn't seen enough ambition in the club this summer to suggest a tilt at the Premier League title next season is likely.
Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss whether Ronaldo coming out and demanding an exit might actually be the perfect solution to Erik ten Hag's biggest problem at Old Trafford.
Plus there's the arrival of Christian Eriksen, and the club almost embracing the 40 hour working week.
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Nobody said it was going to be easy, but even against our most pessimistic outlook, this has been a chastening first week on tour for Ireland in New Zealand.
Two games down, two dispiriting defeats, and a squad being stretched thin already by injury - Shane Horgan and Jim Kayes from Sky Sports New Zealand are on the show today to sift through the wreckage.
We also had two All-Ireland hurling semi-finals this weekend, and the fallacy of minimising Kilkenny's chances before a big game was revealed once again, while Murph's exquisite pain is mined for the benefit of our audience.
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All the way from the tender green shoots of the grassroots game to the swollen red giant of Neymar's declining career... the extreme fisheye perspective of today's football pod can mean only one thing: it's summertime.
That also means TRANSFER TALK, including Jesus to Arsenal, Bale to LA, De Jong to Man Utd and Neymar to nowhere.
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After the goals, the fightback, the fight, the red cards, the penalties and the tears, we had a lot to get through with Oisin Mcconville and Murph today, but we start by asking how the GAA, and Armagh, should deal with the scenes at the end of normal time.
Murph prays there will be no appeals process, but what about Galway and their late collapse, their inability to deal with high balls, their brilliant goal in extra time and superb penalty technique?
Plus there's Ken TV, meek Mayo, Dublin's stroll in Croker and Derry looking good not just for a final, but maybe an All Ireland title too.
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This is our weekly reminder about all of the great shows you can access when you become a member of the Second Captains World Service, for just 5 euro a month. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.
We spent a surprising amount of the week discussing summer camps and John Stockton's mid 90's trips to Ireland, and we had a great chat with Joanna Harper, a competitive runner who transitioned a number of years ago, and since then has become one of the leading voices in this area. She's now a medical physicist and an advisor to many international sports federations and is based at Loughborough University in the UK, where she’s researching transgender athletic performance.
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Eoin returns to the football pod and gives his long awaited take on the Nations League and Ireland’s best goal, meanwhile Ken is accused of twisting facts to suit his narrative, which just goes to show the kind of stuff that comes in from scum around the country.
We also chat about Richard Arnold’s pub talk with Man United fans, what's happening with Frenkie de Jong and Murph's solution to the FAI's sponsor issues.
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Eoin is back in the hot-seat, and to celebrate his return, the All-Ireland hurling championship has been whittled down to its last four - Jamie Wall and 2013 All-Ireland winning captain Pat Donnellan join us to discuss the two quarter-finals this week.
Galway beat Cork, but don’t have a rat’s chance against Limerick, while Shane O’Donnell continues to perform miracles for Clare, even when they’re under-performing. And when Plan A works, but has been rumbled, how important it is to adapt - the two teams that did at the weekend, are still alive this morning.
Plus there’s Murph’s superpower, Eoin on a farm, Ken's golf power rankings and the butcher of Ballybrack strikes again.
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From calling out Phil Mickelson, to pronouncing the LIV Series dead in the water, to questioning the pursuit of money, Rory McIlroy has been nothing if not outspoken these last few months. He looked like a man with a point to prove as he defended his Canadian Open title this weekend, taking him to 21 PGA Tour wins, one more than.....somebody else.
Meanwhile Charl Schwartzel was winning four times as much as Rory over on the LIV tour, but wasn't wrestling with his conscience. And world number 374, GMAC, sees only one set of footprints in the Saudi sand.
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Victory this weekend was never, of course, in doubt and that is precisely what Ireland delivered.
We chat to Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney about our over-reaction to every Ireland result, the reality that this group of players, and this manager, will continue to make mistakes and be inconsistent, and a heated debate breaks out over whether long shots, dribbles or passing moves are the best kind of goals.
Plus there's the joy of simplicity, the Hendrick debate, and Ken on the beauty of Poland.
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The Irish football team: a consistent source of disappointment, or a consistently bracing source of perspective on life? Ken and Murph disagree, just as they disagree on many things about the game.
One thing they do agree on is that in international football, a superhero isn't necessary, but as Wales and Norway demonstrate, it sure helps.
Richie Sadlier and Gavin Cooney join us to analyse what happened in Yerevan. Why can't we create chances? For all the supposed improvement are there any signs of the development of real confidence? Is there anything to be said for another system change?
Plus there's wild talk of "creativity", "passing triangles" and the need for "De Bruyne crosses".
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We had four pretty awful provincial Gaelic Football finals this weekend, the undoubted main story of which was Derry outlasting Donegal in a dour, defensive Ulster final during which Donegal played a risk averse, low energy game.
Galway keep marching on in Connacht, and then there was the galling sight of Dublin and Kerry once again filleting provincial opposition in their finals on Saturday.
Why on earth did Kildare not use a sweeper against Dublin and will Derry get it so easy outside of Ulster? We set the scene for our chat with Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn, coming up on the World Service on Wednesday.
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The universe gave Ken all the signs in the world, including an actual, real-life rat infestation on the streets of Paris, but he refused to listen. Real Madrid are champions of Europe.
After a chaotic, dangerous and depressing night in Paris for so many Liverpool fans, Ken speaks to Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson about whether they're a great team or not, the mistakes made for the Vinicius goal and just how Madrid keep winning this competition.
Liverpool played 3 cup finals this season, failed to score in any of them, and now it looks like Sadio Mané is leaving and Salah will go soon after. How does Jurgen Klopp go about rebuilding from here?
Plus there's El Chiringuito on the streets, Liverpool on parade and the behaviour of the French police towards Liverpool fans.
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Last month, Waterford were the number 1 contenders for Limerick’s All-Ireland crown. Today, they’re out of the championship. Did expectation and big talk kill them?
Ken wants to know why the Dublin hurlers haven't bought the Liam McCarthy Cup, and with the All-Ireland finals no longer in September he accuses the GAA of ripping up the fabric of Irish life.
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Manchester City are the Premier League champions, again sealing the title with a 3-2 comeback win at home.
We talk about City's win and how in the end the players carried their manager over the line.
We are joined by Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson to talk about City's win. The last day provided the drama, but is the competition in a healthy state? Is the billionaire-worship of football fans an ominous sign for wider society?
Plus there's Mbappe's staying power and who was right in Saipan, anyway?
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It's been a wild week on the Second Captains World Service with Frank's redemption, Everton's fan power, Rangers in Seville and we even take the time to have another pop at Derry football. This is just a taste of what we've been up to, for access to all shows Monday to Friday go to secondcaptains.com/join, its five euro a month with no minimum contract, no sign up fee and you can cancel whenever you want. It's sexy podcasting, with no strings attached.
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Cork were mad as hell and they just weren’t gonna take it anymore… and their defeat of Waterford yesterday has blown the entire championship wide open.
Waterford are now relying on winless Tipperary to do them a favour next week, otherwise the league champions won’t even qualify out of Munster.
And a packed Cusack Park in Ennis was a stark contrast to how spinelessly Meath exited the Leinster football championship – a situation which moved Ken almost to tears.
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There was little in West Ham’s record against Guardiola-era Man City to suggest they would cause many problems to the aspiring champions yesterday, but it turned out Jarrod Bowen and Lukasz Fabianski had other ideas.
Meanwhile Liverpool won the FA Cup yet defiled the occasion by booing both the anthem and the second in line to the throne.
Dion Fanning and Gavin Cooney join us to analyse the weekend’s action. How confident can Jack Grealish be of getting his hands on the league trophy next Sunday? Why can’t Liverpool beat their closest rivals? Why are Everton’s matches now appointment television? And we also discuss the controversy around Newcastle’s Saudi Arabia-style change kit.
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Munster had 41,000 fans roaring them on to what, after 65 minutes, looked like being a famous victory over Toulouse. In the end they lost it in the most heartbreaking way, by shanking a few kicks in a penalty shootout. It had ,however, all the drama, atmosphere, desire and great play shown by the teams in the 2000's, but will that be of any solace this week?We also discuss Leinster doing just enough against Leicester, their date with the French double winners, Zombie coming alive at the Aviva and if there's a better way to finish games than penalty shootouts.
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Ep 2328: Liverpool's Quad Dream Dies, Pep Doesn't Feel The Love, Klopp's Conte Criticism - 09/05/22 by Second Captains
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After a bonkers week of Champions League football Ken reflects on his childhood, and a book he shouldn't have read.For coverage of the Champions League, Premier League, the GAA season, the Champions Cup and everything else that's going on in the wide world of sport join us for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. No contracts, no minimum stay, no hidden costs.
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Ep 2323: Long Ball Lampard, Chelsea Sale, The Ramsdale Express, Ricey's Bad Weekend - 02/05/22 by Second Captains
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It was a beautiful weekend to be out west, especially when your team silences all the losers and haters out there, as Murph's Galway tribe did on Sunday by beating a much fancied Mayo team. Murph also details his very western weekend which involved football, a funeral, and some booze, and Ken wonders why his colleague keeps appearing on TV.
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The ghost of The Slip haunted yesterday's Merseyside derby, as Everton took an old-school approach to getting out of Anfield alive. We talk about why this was a terrible idea. Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the weekend's action. Did Everton ever have a chance with Lampard's game plan? Do Mohammed bin Salman's Mags already look a Champions League qualification contender for next season? And how likely is Antonio Conte to stick around at Spurs?
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The best of this week's fare on the World Service. Join us for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. No contracts, no minimum stay, no ads, just lots of podcast goodness.
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Liverpool will play Chelsea in the FA Cup final after a Wembley semi-final that burnished Ederson's reputation almost as much as Mane's.Meanwhile, after Eintracht Frankfurt's fans turned the Nou Camp white, Barcelona's directors claim they are shocked, shocked to find that ticket reselling is going on in here. John Brewin and Jack Pitt Brooke join us to analyse the weekend's action. Is City's defeat on Guardiola? Can Ronaldo do it again at Anfield? And which of the three sides hobbling after fourth place is going to make it?Plus there's Brendan's magpie love, Arsenal's collapse and Wreck-It Ralf.
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Yesterday on the World Service we did a big piece on what's been described as the unprecedented international action being taken against the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, and on the depth of Daniel Kinahan's continued involvement in boxing. If you'd like to hear it, alongside all our great Champions League and Champions Cup coverage, sign up now at secondcaptains.com/join for just €5 + VAT a month.
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The US Masters was won by the world number 1 Scottie Scheffler last night, but in another, more important way, surely Rory McIlroy should be declared the winner? We discuss how Rory enlivened what would have been an otherwise routine Sunday evening in Augusta, and how Shane Lowry continues to excel in the big tournaments. There was also Tiger's grind, and Jim Nantz's minimalist commentary style, and a possibly superfluous Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mention.
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Frank Lampard chases away the vultures while Ralf Rangnick sardonically dismisses his team's chances, but Arsenal are doing everything possible to keep them alive. Meanwhile one Irish warrior is cut down in his prime, while another spreads his wings...All that before we get to the main event - the latest in the stunning series of matches between football friends, Manchester City and Liverpool.Dion Fanning and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the game at the Etihad (and some of the rest of the weekend's football). Why does Critch still think City are better? And if we're honest, would we prefer this rivalry to get a bit nastier?
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Tiger's return to the Masters, Champions League quarter-finals, a potential Premier League title decider, the Champions Cup last 16: we're in the middle of an amazing fortnight of sport, which means it's a brilliant time to come try out the World Service for just €5 + VAT a month. Plus there's plenty of Ken's political podcasts to sink your teeth into too.
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Kerry and Waterford were crowned national football and hurling League winners at the weekend, and as befits spring champions, their prospects are looking very rosy indeed for the summer ahead. Murph reports on the David Clifford Show from his front-row seat at Croker yesterday, and why he's prepared to call him the greatest to ever do it... already.
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Irish talent was dominating at every level this weekend, with Chiedozie Ogbene lighting up the Papa Johns and Michael Obafemi the Championship; as for the Premier League, at this rate it cannot be long before Tottenham rename their ground The Matt Doherty Stadium.We also talk about the World Cup draw, Frank Lampard's new direction and the challenges Graham Potter faces managing the not-helpful suggestions of Brighton fans.We then chat to Miguel Delaney about his visit to Qatar for the World Cup draw. Did it leave him more or less convinced that Qatar is a suitable venue for a World Cup?
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We chat to Richie Sadlier about his Mo Salah moment and Brian Kerr about Ireland's path to becoming a multicultural society.Join for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. No contracts, no minimum stay, no ads just lots of podcast goodness.
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Yesterday gave us plenty of GAA drama as Monaghan pulled the rabbit out of the hat on the last day of the league yet again, Dublin in turn got relegated to Division 2, with four other Leinster teams also dropping down a division. If that wasn't enough, it all played out with the GPA-GAA row looming in the background. We'll be discussing all that on your second free show of the day before chatting to the McConville-Flynn dream team on the World Service tomorrow.
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We look back on Ireland 2-2 draw with Belgium's still-pretty-useful B-team. Some inept defending aside, it seems the Irish team is now a river to its people. Gavin Cooney joins us to give his thoughts on Ireland's progress in the year and a day since we lost 1-0 to Luxembourg.
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Any evening we're lucky enough to spend at Liberty Hall Theatre with our World Service members feels pretty special, but Wednesday's show took it to another level. The voice of Irish football, George Hamilton joined us for a chat, yes, but he also gave us a pretty spectacular rendition of one of his favourite tunes alongside our house band.To join the World Service and hear our chat with George, go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's just €5 + VAT a month.
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The weekend saw some spectacular action on the pitch - but very little impresses the men of football's Greatest Generation.
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Whatever we expected from the final weekend of the Six Nations, those expectations probably didn't include an amazing win for Italy in Cardiff, sealed by a last minute wonder-try created by a 71kg 22-year-old. On the other hand, a howler from Stuart W. Hogg was far more foreseeable... And after what was a pretty great tournament for Ireland, we chat to Racing 92 coach Mike Prendergast and former Ireland and Lions winger Shane Horgan about the significance of a Triple Crown, why Ireland's attack stuttered against Scotland, how our defence (which only conceded 4 tries all Championship) is now a weapon, how Grand Slammers France still have a lot of improving in them, and how Ange Capuozzo went from looking like a fragile teenager to a lethal attacking weapon on what was, finally, Italy's day in the sun.Plus there's the final Early verdict on Eddie Jones, Italian emotional overload and perhaps the greatest Hoggwatch of them all.
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A gripping Six Nations deciding weekend, a key week in the Premier League title race, and the small matter of another Man United European exit - it's a big week in sport and that means it's a great time to sign up to the World Service. Just go to secondcaptains.com/join and come aboard for only €5 a month + VAT.
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Ronaldo's hat trick, Brady's U-turn, Havertz burns Burn, Eddie Howe's dead bat: it's all here in Monday's short football pod.
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Mere days after their triumphant return to Liberty Hall, we chat to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble today about Ireland's 60 minute reset at Twickenham on Saturday, the magnificence of the back three, controlled aggression, the idea that an English red card should mean a 50 point win and if Les Rosbifs can topple Les Bleus in Le Crunch.Ken saw the finger-prints of Eddie Jones all over the wild celebrations of the England players after every penalty decision in their favour at the weekend, and has some comforting words for those Irish fans worried by Ireland's perceived under-performance - and Murph talks us through the many and varied permutations ahead of the final Saturday of the tournament.
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As a special Saturday treat, here's your perfect build-up broadcast ahead of today's game. This is a very special bonus podcast recorded late last night at Dublin's Liberty Hall Theatre with Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble. In this hilarious 30 minute quick-hit ahead of Ireland v England, you'll hear about singing the wrong anthems, terrible days in Twickenham and why we're going to win today. Also included are beautiful musical introductions from Kieran Quinn and of course, the first ever live Hoggwatch.
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After far, far too long, we're finally back doing live shows at the Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin, so today we thought we'd give you a little taste of what it's been like so far this week. More specifically, a taster of what it's like to work with Eddie Jones, something we spoke to Connacht head coach Andy Friend about on Wednesday evening. To sign up to the World Service and hear more from our live shows, just go to secondcaptains.com/join now.
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Shane Warne, the greatest spin bowler of all time, passed away aged just 52 on Friday.We discuss his tragically premature death on today’s second show, the parallels with Maradona, why scandal never stuck to him, and how he even managed to commentate on his own wicket-taking.
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Manchester United's thunder run to the fourth Champions League qualifying spot now appears hopelessly stalled, as Mikel Arteta's Arsenal machine races away. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has had to field some awkward questions in recent press conferences, but might an extended MBS profile in the Atlantic monthly suggest good times ahead for NUFC?Mark Critchley joins us to talk about the Manchester derby. Was this one of City's best-ever performances - or did United just not want it enough?
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Muhammad Ali, Norman Mailer & The Second Captains Book Club; The Abramovich Auction by Second Captains
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Almost everybody in the Aviva stadium, including the players and coaches, were confused by the ruling that meant Italy only had 13 players on the field despite having had only one red card. We try to explain why this happened, why Ireland reacted so badly and why it shouldn't happen ever again.Murph was really considering taking a week off Hoggwatch duty, but an incident in the 38th minute of the first half forced his hand.Plus there's Michael Lowry's pass to James Lowe, why high tackles are the biggest mistake you can make in a game of rugby, and how players should prepare accordingly.
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Caoimhin Kelleher didn't save any penalties but his penalty-taking made the difference as Liverpool beat Chelsea to win their first League Cup in a decade.Chelsea, though, are preoccupied with bigger questions surrounding their future under Roman Abramovich, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues despite the Chelsea owner's alleged efforts for peace. Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson join us to discuss the League Cup final, Abramovich's situation, and what FIFA should do next.
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Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson are at daggers drawn over Saudi Arabia, in a row that appears to have rather more legs than the latest inane ramblings of Brooks Koepka and/or Bryson DeChambeau.And this weekend seemed like a pretty weird time for ex-Dublin players to be taking to print to tell us about the various failings of Mayo football, but Murph has some thoughts on why sporting losses are not always down purely to moral failure.
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Would Eoin be able to get more than two touches of the ball in a half of Premier League football? Clearly it depends on the extent to which he was prepared to sacrifice himself to the system, not that Thomas Tuchel would accept that as an excuse.We talk about the Conte masterclass at the Etihad, and Neymar's ennui, before Jack Pitt-Brooke and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the weekend's action. If City have won 19 out of 22, why does it suddenly feel like they are under pressure? Is the best yet to come from Harry Kane? And has Jadon Sancho paid off the last instalment of Bundesliga tax?
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The return of the League of Ireland, a look back at the Super Bowl, Champions League last 16 analysis, a Winter Olympics special - the World Service was a sporting broad church this week and we've pulled together the very best of it for you today. To sign up for just €5 a month + VAT, go to secondcaptains.com/join
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Ken is back today and bringing you the first of three football shows this week. In keeping with the immutable laws of nature, a big story broke while he was away in the form of the Kurt Zouma incident - he weighs in today. Plus, Chelsea are undisputed champions of the world, but the club may just have its attention fixed on a certain corner of the globe and the consequences a Russian invasion of Ukraine could bring.
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Ireland got a losing bonus point against France but besides their guts and ability to come back from the dead, were there many positives for Andy Farrell and his players?We chat to Shane Horgan, Andrew Trimble and host of Le French Rugby Podcast, and former Scotland player, Johnnie Beattie about Ireland's plan getting a punch in the face, our breakdown woes, Carbery's good and bad points, the decision to go for a kick at goal when 6 points down with 9 minutes remaining, and Scotland continuing to be... Scotland.Ken and Murph share their late-night Super Bowl hot-takes, and there was late drama on the double on All-Ireland club final day, with crazy last-second goals winning the hurling and the football titles for Ballygunner and Kilcoo.
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This week on the world service we spoke to Paul Flynn about his melee memories, Sonny Bill Williams about why he's in Ireland training with Andy Lee and Andrew Trimble about Ireland's trip to France.Join for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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The FAI, in its prudence, has abandoned its joint bid with the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to host the 2030 World Cup, and instead in its prudence will now make a joint bid to host Euro 2028. Ken reports back from the five-association press conference held earlier today.We also chat about last night's AFCON final, Egypt's questionable penalty shootout approach, and the Salah-Mane dynamic which grows ever-juicier.
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Winning in style with a bonus point in front of a full house in the Aviva and Scotland coming through in a nerve-biter in Murrayfield: this was a grand old way to start the Six Nations. We chat to former Lions and Ireland winger Shane Horgan about Mack Hansen's dream debut, the perfection of the Ringrose try and Andy Farrell 2.0. We ask Alan Dymock of Rugby World magazine how England managed to lose a game they had so much possession in, the Luke Cowan-Dickie penalty try and if Scotland can keep it going against Wales.Elsewhere, the Scots rammed Murph's words down his big, fat mouth... but is there an apology forthcoming for Stuart William Hogg and his beloved, belief-filled boys?Plus we have some big live show news for everyone who listened to Where Is George Gibney?.
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Earlier this week on the World Service, we spoke to Richie Sadlier about Mason Greenwood's initial arrest on suspicion of rape and assault, the massive outcry following Raith Rovers' signing of David Goodwillie, who was found by a civil court to have raped a woman in 2017, and more generally about how football - and society in general - can better deal with issues around physical and sexual violence towards women.We also previewed the Six Nations which gets underway this weekend with two men who know a thing or two about it in Jerry Flannery and Shane Horgan, and Ken welcomed back his old friend Frank Lampard to Premier League management.
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The National Football Leagues of America and Ireland are the main focus today, with Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn on hand to pore over Armagh's thumping victory away to Dublin on Saturday night.Dublin need to change, but does that mean personnel need to change too? Are the men responsible for dominating the last decade the men to dominate this decade? And Kerry were far from impressive too, so everyone's got something to play for all of a sudden.And Ken Early knows a choker when he sees one, and he saw one playing quarter-back for the Kansas City Chiefs last night.
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David begins the final-ever week of The Isolating Podcast (yes, he has said this twice before) with trapped wind from drinking stout in a pub.
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I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, scrawling their own lines on a photograph to prove Cavani was offside...It's taken a couple of years but VAR might finally have broken people's minds. The football over the weekend may have been mediocre but the VAR conspiracy theorising has reached new heights.We also hear some of the more interesting listener responses to last week's Man City debate.Then Patrick Boyland joins us to talk about the latest in the ongoing megacrisis at Everton.
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The murder of the 23-year-old teacher, musician & camogie player Ashling Murphy in Tullamore last week has opened up a national conversation around the harassment and violence suffered by women at the hands of men in our country.Sinead O’Carroll, editor of thejournal.ie, and Louise Crowley, professor at the School of Law in UCC join us on today’s show.Louise has introduced a bystander intervention programme into the college which teaches students how to intervene in situations where there’s inappropriate language or behaviour being used, and her insights from the front lines illustrate both the size of the problem, and the willingness among men and women to do something about it.They talk to us about what men can do, what the country can learn, and whether this is truly a watershed moment in Irish life.*This episode, originally released on the World Service, has now been made available to everyone.*
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David celebrates the 100th Isolating podcast with sinister news of the fake David O’Doherty and a beef for the ages.
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As the Pep team streaks towards a fourth title in five, we talk about the emotions they stir up compared to the dominant sides of the past. Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney join us to talk more City-Chelsea and to react to Rafa Benitez’s Everton exit.
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There was only one story that we wanted to focus on in today’s promo for the Second Captains World Service. We talked to Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Mitchell S. Jackson about a searing piece he wrote about the life and death of Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020 - the senseless killing of a totally innocent jogger in broad daylight, a story which has seen a devastating and tragic echo in Ireland in the last 24 hours.
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David is back for season three of the Isolating podcast. Is this good news or bad news? Probably both. Isolators gather once more for tales of solo cans and postcards from places brackets exotic. Email Doodlers directly at DOD@secondcaptains.com and to listen to all of David’s thrice-weekly shows, become a member now.
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The FA Cup - still magical? Not magical? Who even cares, when there is so much more to life! Serie A for instance, where Roma and Juventus played out one of the most dramatic league games of recent years. Then we are joined by Roberto 'Pico' Lopes from the Cape Verde base at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Cape Verde defeated Ethiopia 1-0 last night to get their tournament off to a winning start.We also react to the news that Novak Djokovic has swept triumphantly into Australia.
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Despite the fact it's dreary January and Omicron is omnipresent, we've had one of the funnest weeks on the World Service we've had in a while. From the sheer hilarity of the Djokovic-Australian Open saga to Ken's new lifestyle change to US Murph reflecting on the life and times of NFL titan, John Madden - it's all waiting for you. Join now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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We begin 2022 by admiring a succession of incredible goals scored in recent Premier League matches. A wonderful, positive start to the year. There were a couple of great games this weekend to mention as well, before we settle into the main business of analysing VAR mistakes.Raphael Honigstein joins us to talk about the falling out between Romelu Lukaku and Thomas Tuchel, and whether City are becoming an English Bayern.Plus there's the Cookstown curler, Kelleher praise, post peak Van Dijk and Ken on darts.
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It's the Monday after Christmas and while most people are resting up, footballers are playing their hearts out and Ken is podcasting football shows.He welcomes Jonathan Wilson to their annual Scrooge Football chat which includes the Leicester Man City thriller, why Grealish's move to City hasn't worked and rational Germans offering practical solutions to English football's problems.Plus there's the unfairness of Covid and Jonathan's new book about Eduard Streltsov, the Soviet football star who was arrested on the eve of the 1958 World Cup.
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Premier League refereeing is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get. Although you can be reasonably sure that whatever the rules are this week, they won't be applied to the England captain. Was Tottenham 2-2 Liverpool a good game, or a sad indictment of how English football has lost its way? Dion Fanning and Jack Pitt Brooke join us to discuss that explosive 2-2, and more.
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It's Christmas week on Second Captains, and that can mean only one thing - it's almost time for us to announce our audio bed of the year live from the SC Log Cabin. What does all of this mean? We've been doing it for years and Richie Sadlier still doesn't have a clue, but we nevertheless give you the run-down today. Rachael Blackmore had a pretty successful weekend - announced as the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year on Friday, the RTE Sports Personality of the Year on Saturday, and the BBC World Sports Star of the Year yesterday, joining Roger Federer, Muhammad Ali and Pele as previous winners of that category. And to continue the festive theme, Eoin brings us right up to speed with the very latest from the World Darts Championships.
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Brand new slots, old slots brought back to life, and audio-beds fresh from the Mark Horgan audio-bed oven - your World Service taster menu has got it all this week. Sign up now for €5 + VAT a month for independent, member-led, festive broadcasting at secondcaptains.com/join
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The unique charms of Formula One have largely been lost on our presenting corps over the last 25 years or so, but it came roaring back into our collective consciousness this weekend. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have been engaged in a thrilling battle for F1 supremacy this season, and it all came to a climax in Abu Dhabi yesterday as thrilling racing, ridiculous TV access to the inner workings of the drivers’ respective teams, and high-level on-the-hoof chicanery from the race directors combined for a hilariously entertaining afternoon. Eoin and Murph speculate wildly about a great many things they know little about, Ken says he’s still a chariot-racing man, and we set up a big weekend’s rugby chat coming up tomorrow on the World Service.
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We chat about some of the weekend’s penalties before buckling up to talk, yes that’s right, COVID vaccines. Then Neil Atkinson and John Brewin join us to further analyse the weekend spot kick action. And finally we react to both UEFA CL draws on the day Europe’s governing body was let down by “external software provider”.
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Please enjoy this week's world service taster which includes Ken speculating on a big career change for Gary Neville, Ken on Kids and former Ireland and Ulster star Willie Anderson on life as a protestant in Co. Tyrone before the Troubles began.It's all in a week's listening on the Second Captains World Service, and it's available to you for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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A little stutter over the past few days and Chelsea have slipped to third, such is the pace of this season's title race.We discuss the early signs of Ralf Rangnick's influence, and the acrimonious aftermath of Dortmund's controversial defeat to Bayern.Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the weekend's football. It's probably not a good sign that only four Premier League clubs have a positive goal difference. But it still looks healthier than leagues like the Bundesliga, where Bayern are cruising to ten in a row. What is to be done?
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This week's World Service appetiser is dedicated to one Richie Sadlier, who not only did an amazing interview with Keith Earls for the Player's Chair, but continued to churn out #content whilst lying in a hospital bed, recovering from spinal fusion surgery. Sign up now and you'll also hear one of the best pods of the year, the Second Captains Sports Book of the Year Show with Sinéad O'Carroll and Malachy Clerkin, plus loads of football, too - secondcaptains.com/join
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It was a massive weekend for Ulster in the URC as they got a rare win over Leinster, while things couldn't have gone worse for Munster who find themselves stranded in South Africa after a player tested positive for Covid. One of the sporting stories of the year came out of Tipperary this weekend after Loughmore-Castleiney sealed a county double in football and hurling, with both finals decided by points scored by Tipp hurler, John McGrath. Throw in that they lost both county finals last year by a point and you've got one hell of a tale... Plus there's a massive week ahead on the World Service, Connacht's torrential try-fest, and Effin' Eddie Moroney.
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Ken is back, having rediscovered over the weekend how much more enjoyable it is to go to football matches than it is to work at them. Big questions are up for discussion. Do Ralf Rangnick's coaching gifts extend to telepathic influence? And how is it possible Eoin and Ciaran have never heard of the cinnamon challenge? Then Kevin Brannigan and David Sneyd join us to talk about the FAI Cup final.
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Ireland weren't quite as good as they were against NZ but it was another impressive display from a team hit by a number of injuries. We discuss the confident happy vibes coming from the camp, MOTM Joey Carbery, Peter O'Mahony's red card diatribe and the depth we now have in certain positions.Plus there's French class, Lavanini at large and Murph rattles Donal Lenihan.
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What would it take for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to lose his job? Not a 0-5 loss at home to Liverpool, not a 0-2 loss a week later to Man City... but the final straw did eventually come on Saturday as Manchester United crashed to a 4-1 defeat away to Watford. Mark Critchley and Jonathan Wilson join us to discuss the inevitable, what United do now, how badly this has been mismanaged by the club and Ronaldo's influence on who will eventually take over. Plus there's Ken Early's exquisite timing, and Kenny Cunningham gets on board with Eoin's succession master-plan.
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Welcome to our weekly world service taster which involves Pat Kenny, Ken, Stan, and a Van. Join for a fiver a month - there's no sign up fee, no minimum stay and no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.
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Another epic game against the All Blacks, another brilliant Irish win, and a full crowd back in the Aviva - this was one of the special days in Irish sport.James Lowe took a moment to send his appreciation to the bollockses who questioned his defence, and to talk about the weirdness of playing against his native country.We're joined by Andrew Trimble, Gerry Thornley and from New Zealand by Spark Sport's Scotty Stevenson to discuss how this win stacks up next to our other two victories over the All Blacks, where it stands in the pantheon of Irish wins overall, the need to back this up next summer down in New Zealand, and we try and fail to avoid mentioning the next RWC.Plus Hugh Cahill gives Murph a shout-out, and Johnny Sexton’s runs his mouth.
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For more than sixty minutes last night, it looked like Ireland could be facing into another pretty embarrassing result against Luxembourg but by the end of the evening, any debate about extending Stephen Kenny's contract had been put to one side (even by Liam Brady).We reflect on a campaign that started out horribly, with Kenny plagued by terrible luck at every turn, and which ended with admittedly less-than-impressive results overall but a massive turnaround in performance levels from a young Irish side. Plus a listener formally requests that Ken apologise to Murph for CERTAIN comments made after the Azerbaijan draw, and Eoin gets explicit.
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We were joined on the World Service today by the crack punditry team of Richie Sadlier and Damien Delaney to talk about Ireland's performance against Portugal, Richie's Stephen Kenny contract debate with Liam Brady, and whether Damian himself would prefer to sign Kenny up again now or wait and see until next year.Earlier in the week we spoke with Shane Horgan about Ireland taking on the All Blacks in another Aviva sell-out tomorrow, and why the result doesn't really matter provided the performance and the positive intent are both there. A big week for Irish sport means a big week on the World Service, so sign up now for just €5 a month + VAT at secondcaptains.com/join
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This was one of the most aesthetically pleasing Ireland performances of all time, and even allowing for the horrendous performance by Japan, Ireland look like a side who are committed to evolving their style of play. We discuss Jamison Gibson Park's new found self belief, Tadhg Furlong the outhalf, ignoring hat trick scoring wingers for Man of The Match awards, Sweet N Lowe, and Samurai Sexton.
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The Premier League signed off for the international break with a bang, or in West Ham’s case a series of shattering hammer blows that smashed Liverpool’s creaky defence into pieces. Dean Smith and Daniel Farke ran out of time at their clubs, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clings on despite a dismal derby defeat and a weekend that saw more soul searching for United over the true nature of their club. Jacob Steinberg and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about West Ham’s victory, Liverpool’s sudden fragility, and just why so many players now feel the need to apologise for defeats on social media.
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Ken sums up Man United's current form with analogies most gruesome, Cathal Dennehy lets Eoin and Murph in on the secret of the sport of kings: the beer mile, and the world's best hockey goalkeeper, Ayeisha McFerran talks about her mission to help children who are growing up in foster care, like she did as a teenager. It's all in a week's listening on the Second Captains World Service, and it's available to you for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Goodbye Nuno Espirito Santo, hello Antonio Conte? That seems to be Daniel Levy's agenda this Monday, but as we have seen, Levy doesn't always get what Levy wants. Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us today to discuss where it went wrong for Nuno and where Tottenham go from here.We discuss Agent Klopp, Ramsdale the amazing, blunt City and will Ole stick with his wingless wonders?David Sneyd is on to give Shamrock Rovers the respect they deserve after securing a second successive title on Friday night.Plus there's Curb's new season, Pat Kenny meets sweet Mary Jane, and another smooth drive with West Ham's Rolls Rice.
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Fergie's puffed cheeks, Dalglish's giant grin, Maguire's hapless defending, Salah's hat trick, Pogba's red card, Sancho on the sidelines, United fans leaving early, Scholes' prophecy, Luke Shaw's self abasement, the record defeat - Man United fans witnessed the complete nightmare in Old Trafford this weekend. Dion Fanning and Mark Critchley join us to discuss Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool, Gary Neville's defence of Solskjaer, the mood for change at the club, Conte's candidacy and why this wasn't all the manager's fault. Plus there's Captain Smith's Titanic, Ronaldo's incredible physical stats, Dennis Bailey, Brazil 1-7 Germany, and Eoin's marathon mediocrity.
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There was Man United past and present on the World Service this week as we spoke to club legend Peter Schmeichel about his new book, 'One', and not-club-legends Richie Sadlier and Jonathan Wilson about the most recent edition of Ole Groundhog Day. Plus US Murph joined us after his beloved San Francisco Giants suffered a very special kind of heartbreak: Game 5 play-off heartbreak against an old, bitter rival.To sign up for independent, member-led broadcasting, just go to secondcaptains.com/join
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We had the time of our lives doing synth week and had so many floor fillers sent in by our ultra talented listeners that we've decided to put the top three into one podcast. The Winning Tracks Are: 1. The Ballad of Jurgen Klopp and Union Berlin by Colin Ratcliffe2. Pet Shop Boos by Dan Mullen3. Balls by Patrick Stefan GroenlandIf you want to join the Football Synth Revolution then please become a member for a fiver a month. There's no minimum sign up, no contracts, and no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join for details.Special thanks too to our judges The Synth Lord, aka Ken Early, and Sir Marks A Lot, aka Mark Horgan.
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The era of Saudi Newcastle began with scenes of rejoicing at St James' Park, as Newcastle fans rapturously greeted their trillionaire saviours. Newcastle's days as many people's second favourite team may not return for some time, but hey - it's better to be feared than loved?We talk about the dramatic match at the King Power, where Coach Brendan Rodgers won the tactics and the mindgames.Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney join us to give their impressions of the events in Newcastle yesterday, and how the Saudi story might play out from here.
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The United Rugby Championship is up and running, and judging by some press releases Eoin has seen, it's off to a flyer. We note the increased profile terrestrial television has given it, but there are also some things that might need to change in Irish rugby if the only domestic league available to us is to succeed, and whether that might end up being a pretty good result for us. We thank our Berlin super-fans one more time for our week over there with thanks to Aer Lingus, and there's also Connacht's grievances over refereeing decisions which might have gone another way in Thomond Park on Saturday evening.
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The gang is officially back together again as Eoin, Ken and Murph gather around a big ol' Berlin kitchen table and record live in person like those pre-Covid days of yore. It's only bloody Synth Week Live from Berlin!!We chat to Dion Fanning and Gavin Cooney about the other cause for celebration today, Ireland's win against Azerbaijan, one which surely eases pressure on Stephen Kenny... for now at least. The win aside, the main headline from the match was the small matter of Callum Robinson's two goals, goals which led to some serious DM traffic for our football correspondent over the past two days. Plus there's Fairview Lady vs Mensch, Courtois going off script, and live show news.
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Last week we spoke with the amazing Khalida Popal, founder & former captain of the Afghan women's football team, and human rights lawyer Kat Craig, about how they got Khalida's teammates out of the country and out of the hands of the Taliban. We had an amazing reaction from world service members to this show with quite a few getting in touch to see if they could help in any way. Today, we are making the conversation free to all. If you have any feedback or think you can help please email us at editor@secondcaptains.com
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Salah's goal was so good even Mane looked impressed. We try to unweave the rainbow of Liverpool 2-2 Man City.Miguel Delaney and Gavin Cooney join us to talk through the weekend's football. Should Salah get his contract? Did Ronaldo join the wrong Manchester club? And are there answers for City's striking problems in the Premier League beyond Harry Kane?
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It's the start of the month so the perfect time to sample the World Service. Join for a fiver a month, with no minimum sign up, no contract, no ads just lots of independent journalism. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.
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Ep 2150: Ryder Cup Tears, Ken's New Favourite Trump Quote, Apologising For F-Bombs - 27/09/21 by Second Captains
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It was a week of forgetfulness and brutal reminders. Bruno forgot to keep it down. Spurs players forgot their game plan. We all collectively forgot that Man City were the best team in the PL. Rory Smith and Dion Fanning join us to talk through the weekend action. Are Arsenal back, reaping the rewards from Giving Him Time? But then, how much time is too much? And are Leeds roadrunners running out of road?
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This week on the world service we discussed Jadon Sancho's lack of impact at Man Utd, Barca's delusions, strikers in their 30's and the race to be Kerry manager and in this taster we have US Murph running scared, Lawrence Donegan's Twat Stat, and. Ken on rugby's demographic being a feature not a bug. Join for a fiver a month, with no minimum sign up, no contract, no ads just lots of independent journalism. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.
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Today kicks off with an explosive allegation: a Manchester United fan believes the media are biased against his club. We delve into this scandal to see if there's anything to it.Jack Pitt-Brooke and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the weekend's football. Did Harry Kane deserve the criticism that came his way after the defeat to Chelsea? What's the latest in Pep Guardiola's feud with the City fans? And where are we with that Solskjaer/Lampard analogy...Plus there's Roy on Kane, Ronaldo's penalty appeal hat trick, Nagelsmann guff, trouble in Paris and Jimmy Greaves memories.
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Ken gets triggered, then gets happy and comedy legend Bob Mortimer tells us the time his mum finally believed he had made the right choice in leaving the legal profession. Join the world service for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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Tyrone are the All-Ireland football champions... so why is everyone still banging on about Mayo? We bang on about Mayo for a little while, before Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn make sure to give Tyrone their due for their skill-level, their finals mentality, and their opportunism. But why does this keep happening? There were tactical, technical and psychological flaws shown up on Saturday, and we delve deep into them all. Elsewhere there was a magnificent Galway surge to win the All-Ireland camogie title, we heard some serious GAA fast talkers, and we salute Britain's first billion-pound athlete.
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Ken pitches a concept for new Premier League branding. The "mercury effect lion wearing a crown" is a non-symbol, it doesn't transmit anything. It's time for a new logo that encapsulates the league's rugged values.We also talk about Ronaldo's return and mass hysteria as the Kathryn Mayorga case hovers above.
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So far on the World Service this week, we've had one hell of an All Ireland final preview with Paul Flynn and Oisin McConville, we've basked in the warm glow of the Bazunu and Omobamidele Show, and, most importantly, we've seen Murph and Ken let bygones be bygones and hug it out. Sign up to the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month for independent, member-led broadcasting with a minimum of inter-presenter beef at secondcaptains.com/join
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It was a classic All-Ireland women's football final in Croke Park yesterday, which saw Meath stun the four-in-a-row champions Dublin in a major shock. It was however no shock to seasoned watchers and admirers of Meathness - Murph gives us a run-down on just what makes the Royallers tick. Leona Maguire is the first Irishwoman to play in the Solheim Cup, but she wasn't content to get there - ever since the competition began on Saturday morning, she's been a revelation. Her singles match this evening could be pivotal, and with Katie Taylor winning on Saturday evening as well, it was a very, very good week to be an Irish sportswoman.
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Ireland were behind to Azerbaijan with 4 minutes to go at home to Azerbaijan. A Shane Duffy equaliser spared Ireland's blushes somewhat, but some people have run out of patience. Richie Sadlier and Damien Delaney join us on the show today to discuss just how quickly we can expect an upturn in results on the pitch, how much responsibility Stephen Kenny bears, and what we can expect from Serbia tomorrow night. Fault-lines within the Second Captains team also reveal themselves, as Murph accuses Ken of attempting to gaslight the nation.
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The main event on the World Service so far this week was Ireland's visit to Faro to play Portugal where a record-chasing Ronaldo lay in wait. Today, we've been grieving the loss of something that was very nearly beautiful, with the help of Richie Sadlier. Sign up to the World Service for independent, member-led, ad-free broadcasting now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Another dramatic weekend of GAA action will be picked apart in full by Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn tomorrow - they did see this Tyrone ambush coming on Saturday afternoon, they just didn't foresee Kerry not foreseeing it.With Sean Cavanagh and Pat Spillane clashing on live telly, the call has come again to move away from having analysts from the counties involved on broadcasts... we are not so sure that's a good idea.Meath are the All-Ireland minor champions for the first time in 29 years, and Nicole Turner won silver at the Paralympics this morning - before charming the nation with a post-match interview for the ages.
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He’s back baby and the global Manchester United family is celebrating harder than ever.But if United signing a 36 year old Ronaldo and making him the best paid player in the league is obviously such a good idea, why did they wait until Man City seemed about to close the deal before making their move?Laurie Whitwell joins us to analyse the makings and implications of the mega deal. Will Greenwood improve under CR7, how does Bruno feel about this, is it a football signing, how did Fergie influence things and can he do a Tom Brady and play into his 40's?We also talk about Messi's PSG pro-am, Rio the matchmaker, Roy's selfies, Chelsea's band of brothers, Thiago Time, Arsenal's bad marriage and patronising Pep.
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Pep Guardiola is heaping over-the-top praise on Gabriel Jesus, which means he’s probably gonna get rid of him at the end of the season. Ken also takes a look at the Marseille brawl, how Rafa Benitez motivates his players and big Shane Duffy's return to form.
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Was this the greatest ever performance in an All Ireland hurling final? Maybe. Did we see the greatest half of hurling ever? Possibly. Are Limerick the biggest strongest hurling team ever assembled? Definitely.We talk to Jamie Wall and Malachy Clerkin about the perfect plan executed to perfection, how they seem to peak in finals, how much joy they take in their style of play, and the lessons rivals need to learn if they're ever going to beat them.Plus there's glassy-eyed stick-wielding fans, angry Brian Murphy, McConville V Flynn and Clash Of The Ash.
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Hola! On this week’s World Service Ken speaks Spanish, speculates about Kane transfer speculation and admires the unique El Chiringuito formula for success - WWE, Love Island and old Spanish men talking nonsense about football. Meanwhile Murph and Eoin watched on as the best GAA punditry team in the biz, Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn, went at it over John Small and a hypothetical "anti Dublin bias", and Jamie Wall came up with a masterplan for Cork to beat Limerick.All these shows are at your fingertips IF you’re willing to part with just 5 euro a month. No minimum contract, no hidden extras, no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.
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We've assembled a crack punditry outfit for our analysis of Dublin/Mayo tomorrow, but there's no doubt this was the sporting event of the weekend. Ken bemoans some refereeing decisions that went against the Dubs, while Eoin eats some humble pie for laughing off the demise of his beloved boys in blue. Murph on the other hand is on top of the world - the Dubs' dominance is over, Offaly and Roscommon were both in an All-Ireland final, and a Meath team came back from the dead in classic Royaller style to qualify for their first ever women's football final yesterday. "We've gone back to the future and it feels sooooo good...."
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The Premier League is back and so are Richie Sadlier and John Brewin to talk through the opening weekend. Do City need Harry Kane more than Spurs do? How is Jack Grealish going to fit into this system? And are Manchester United credible title contenders? Plus there's The Eagle Eye with Eoin McDevitt, polite Ken, and VAR, but not as we know it.
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Ahoy podcasters! This week's World Service was all about Messi, Neymar, PSG, Barca, the return of the premier league, the Dublin Mayo rivalry and The GAA/GPA's handling of Tyrone's covid outbreak – available now IF you’re willing to part with just 5 euro a month. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.
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Kellie Harrington is an Olympic champion, after what must have been one of the most emotionally draining Sunday mornings of all of our lives. We speak to former world champion Andy Lee and Gavan Casey of the42.ie about an extraordinary Irish sporting achievement, by an extraordinary Irish athlete - how she got there, what she did to get over the line, and what she needs to guard against for the next few months as her life gets turned upside down. We salute the joy and spirit of her family, Eoin pens a very special (terrible) poem memorialising the moment in verse, and, of course, there's a Mark Horgan audio-bed for Kellie Harrington - the woman who rocked the machine.
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Today's football minipod takes on the big issues in a short time. Was it OK for Lionel Messi to cry? Should he play for free? And why do managers think Jack Grealish is simply too sexy to risk sending on to the field of play?And Ken tells us how pumped he is for the start of the new Premier League season.
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We were all so full of hope on Saturday night - we could go to bed, and when we awoke, maybe Kurt Walker would have won a bronze medal at least, Aidan Walsh could have progressed to an Olympic final... maybe Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy could do something at the golf, and Rhys McClenaghan could win us gold while we ate our breakfast? As it turned out, none of those things happened - we talk to Sinead O'Carroll and Cathal Dennehy live from the Olympic stadium in Tokyo, about a really disappointing day for Team Ireland, why Rhys McClenaghan deserves more than just platitudes, the lessons he can learn and the armchair psychology he can ignore, for Paris in 3 years time. Plus there's the return of Hoggwatch, why a 7-way playoff is such good telly, the night of nights for Italy, and why mixed team events in the Olympics are so much fun.
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The first weekend of the Olympics has had it's usual mix of brilliant Irish displays, disappointment, ecstasy, beautifully upbeat post-race interviews and heartbreaking (and unnecessary) apologies to a nation. Mona McSharry became only the second Irish swimmer to make an Olympic final in a breathtaking achievement, and her final tomorrow will be a huge highlight for the country regardless of where she finishes. Michael Cheika and Shane Horgan tell us what happened at half time in the Lions South Africa game, how Warren Gatland played the refs like a piano, why the Lions can win it better and if South Africa can continue to trust the gameplan that won them a RWC.Frances Murphy gives us the TV guide to the overnight action, and there's Hoggwatch, as our hero contemplates what it means to even be Stuart Hogg any more.
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We saw 'the greatest half of hurling ever played by any team', with a goal that 'no other player in the history of the game could have scored' yesterday, so it's safe to say that Limerick's second half performance got some tongues wagging.Derek McGrath and Jamie Wall are on form today as they discuss where Limerick's revival came from, the clinical way Kilkenny went about winning the Leinster final on Saturday evening, and the latest twists and turns as Davy Fitzgerald's Wexford are out of the championship at the hands of Clare for the second year in a row.Plus there's US/Italian Murph, side-feuds, excitable local GAA commentaries, and tasty qualifier draws - all the meats of the Irish summer stew.
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Ahoy Monday only listeners! Today's World Service show was all about Messi, Neymar and Argentina - available now IF you’re willing to part with just 5 euro a month. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.We also had Paul Flynn, a new addition to our GAA punditry team, having a pop at Dessie Farrell for his handling of the questions around Stephen Cluxton’s future, Shane Horgan on the Lions, there's loads of Olympics next week and football will keep on footballing.
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Conor McGregor was fighting again at the weekend, breaking his ankle in gruesome circumstances against Dustin Poirier, and accepting defeat in his usual classy style - we ask how much longer he can keep this jamboree going.Clare and Wexford seemed destined to be drawn against each other in the hurling qualifiers. Murph reports, with a heavy heart, that these two.... straight up don't like each other.Plus Ken doubles down on his obituary for Gareth Southgate's time in charge of England.
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Italy are the European champions after beating England on penalties at Wembley. Jonathan Wilson, Jack Pitt Brooke and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about what was an astonishing occasion at Wembley and to try to figure out where it went wrong for Southgate’s dreamers.Plus there's dangling sacks, wing backs, Mystic McDevitt and Ken explains why he thinks Southgate should hand in his badge.
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It's been an amazing week at the Euros, which means it's been a pretty darn good week on the World Service, too. We're a couple of days away from the ever-so-slightly seismic event of England playing in their first major tournament final in 55 years, against the team of the competition... So couldn't you do with some independent, ad-free football journalism in your life? Join now for just €5 + VAT a month with no contracts, and no minimum stay.
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The GAA summer really caught fire this weekend, with four brilliant hurling games - the most dramatic moment of all though was a refereeing decision which cost Clare dearly. Meanwhile, Murph returned to the sidelines of Gaeldom yesterday in Roscommon, with sodden, hilarious and idiotic results.
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England have hammered Ukraine and now storm remorselessly towards the title. Next up they face Denmark - who have a story of their own to tell.Meanwhile, Belgium's golden generation didn't have quite enough gold to go around. But now Italy, who looked so impressive in victory, have lost a big player of their own with that injury to Spinazzola.Jonathan Wilson and James Horncastle join us to review the quarter-finals and look ahead to the semis. Can anybody stop the runaway train of Gareth Southgate's success?
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The comebacks, the late goals, the attacking football, the blunders, the hubris, the pathos, the fans - we are watching maybe the greatest football tournament of all time. To listen to our daily shows become a member for 5 euro a month at www.secondcaptains.com/join - no contract, no minimum sign up, no obligations just ad free independent journalism.
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The All-Ireland championships began this weekend, but there weren't exactly a surfeit of headlines... although 98 shots at goal in one hurling game is certainly newsworthy. We suggest a few rule changes to simplify the game.Stephen Cluxton played for his club on Saturday night, which indicates he might not be involved in Dublin's first game of the Leinster championship next weekend - Ken wonders aloud if this sombre moment might stop the whingeing.Conor Murray has been named the new Lions captain after Alun Wyn Jones' injury on Saturday, but is the tour still in danger of being derailed? Plus there's Lukaku's careless whisper and the staying power of shithousery.
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Half the teams that started the finals of Euro 2020/1 have been knocked out, and now the big teams are starting to fall. We talk about where it went wrong for Holland, and why the real victim in their downfall is Jose Mourinho. Rory Smith and Dion Fanning join us to talk about Belgium v Portugal. Was violence part of Portugal’s gameplan? Rory has been doing some blue sky thinking about the future of the Euros. What if we went… even bigger?
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The group stages have been brilliant and going into the last 16 the tournament is wide open. Ken can't make his mind up on Germany, Rio Ferdinand doubles down on his England predictions, and the Danes are riding a wave of positive energy.Join us for the remainder of the Euros - go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's a fiver a month for ad-free daily podcasts, with no contracts and no minimum sign-up. Lay down your fiver and see where it takes you.
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It takes something pretty special to wrestle some attention away from the Euros these days, but the US Open last night was a hilarious snakes & ladders of the world's best players charging to the top of the leaderboard before falling back in increasingly daft and humiliating ways. The final result was a win for Spain's Jon Rahm, and there was drama elsewhere too as Leona Maguire came agonisingly close to a first win on the LPGA tour... and even Murph had an unforgettable incident on the fairways of West Clare. Our Men's 7s team qualified for the Olympics at the weekend, and captain Billy Dardis gave an emotional interview moments after the final whistle which summed up just how big a moment this was for the sport in Ireland. Plus, the Euro news just keeps on coming as Scotland's young tyro Billy Gilmour tests positive for Covid.
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Murph returns as we talk about an epic weekend of European Championship football. Remember how Germany weren't that good? Well that was last week. Today we talk to Raphael Honigstein about how Germany might in fact be quite good.Plus there's Scotland fan energy, predictable England, beautiful Italy and boring Spain.
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Today's taster includes Rio Ferdinand's bullish prediction for England V Scotland, Gazza 96 and a controversial Gareth Bale pun-a-thon.Sign up at secondcaptains.com/join for a fiver a month - no ads, no contracts, no minimum stay and its member led independent journalism.
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Football tournament pods are undoubtedly the funnest pods on the World Service and our daily Euro 2020 shows are officially full steam ahead. While Stephen A Smith - ESPN's new voice of soccer - thought Patrik Schick's second goal against Scotland a masterpiece, Ken wasn't so convinced. Eoin is incensed that the Scots stole an Irish football anthem, and Kylian Mbappé has been reaching speeds supersonique. Sign up for daily football shows now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Kerry made sweet sweet love with Gaelic football on Saturday night and Oisin McConville was in Killarney to witness it all. What did the locals make of it, is coach Keane talking up his boys and are Kerry now official heirs to the Dublin throne?ESPN's Stephen A Smith is on the soccer beat for the Euros - we analyse his analysis. Novak Djokovic powered past Nadal in the semis and won a 5 set final in Paris to secure his 19th Grand Slam. Eoin says its time for acceptance, Novak will pass Rafa and Roger's Slam records very soon.
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Richard Sadlier and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk about the Euro 2020 opening weekend, which was overshadowed by the collapse of Christian Eriksen at the Denmark-Finland game.We also discuss England's opening win against Croatia, the reasons why broadcasters seem to have become less critical, and the Mbappé-Giroud war of words...
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We've been waiting and waiting, and for a whole 25% longer than we usually are, but Euro 2020 is now but a couple of hours away. There's going to be wall-to-wall coverage every day on the World Service for the next month, so there couldn't be a better time to sign up. On today's taster menu, there's Ken stabbing his brother over a morsel of cheese, the extraordinary pageantry of the Italian squad announcement and some bittersweet memories of Euros past. Join us now for what will be an absolutely brilliant summer on the World Service for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Ireland are on a winning streak and its the poor miserable mediocre Magyars next on the chopping block. Ken shows Murph Hungary's recent record.....England fans once again booed their own players for taking a knee before the Romania game. We discuss Gareth Southgate's handling of this situation, Nigel Farage's response, the worrying make up of the England crowd and just what a fraught build-up its been ahead of what is a de facto home tournament for them.We talk to the brilliant Tim Vickery about the Copa Clusterfuck, why mid pandemic Brazil are now hosting it, if the players will protest, and how Bolsonaro is using the tournament to sell his political philosophy.Plus there's Jordan Henderson's body language and the most read article on The Guardian website today.
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Naomi Osaka won her first round match at the French Open yesterday, but it was a statement she released in the days leading up to her appearance at the tournament that has grabbed the lion's share of media attention this weekend. Osaka announced that she wouldn't be appearing at post-match press conferences during the tournament in order to protect her mental health, leading organisers to fine her $15k and threaten her with expulsion. Should players have to face the press win, lose or draw? Has Osaka approached this in the right way? Murph and Ken mull it over.
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With a concrete defence and clockwork attack, Chelsea are champions of Europe for a second time. For Man City, the wait goes on.Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us to analyse the final. What's the secret of Chelsea's mid-season transformation? Why does Guardiola experiment in the biggest games? And where do City go from here?
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Ep 2048: Mickelson Takes Another Major At The Fine Age of 50, A Betrayal Of Madridismo - 24/05/21 by Second Captains
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Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City spent 92% of the last two seasons in the top 4, yet twice missed out on Champions League football. Is Rodgers officially a nearly man or can he talk his way out of this one? Ken has a look at the cold hard facts.Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk about the end of the Premier League season. Are Liverpool right to let the injury-proof Gini Wijnaldum leave? Could Harry Kane bring City the love they crave? And who do they see as Manager of the Year?Plus there's Pep's tears, limbs in Bale's face and cold Manchester rain.
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Variety, they say, is the spice of life and there's been plenty of it on the World Service this week: from Ken on whether Harry Kane will get the Spurs exit he's wrangling for, to US Murph on the LeBron - Steph Curry showdown we were gifted, to our conversation with World Rugby chief medical officer Dr Éanna Falvey about the complex relationship between rugby and concussion, which we'll be releasing tomorrow. The show that a lot of members felt was one of the best we've ever put out, though, was the latest edition of the Player's Chair, where Meath legend Liam Hayes joined Richie Sadlier and spoke really honestly and movingly about the death of his brother by suicide, his own mortality and his relationship with his playing past. It's all available when you sign up to the World Service for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Gaelic football arrived back into our lives this weekend, and with it came the return of the phenom that is David Clifford. Although his beloved Galway were the team unfortunate enough to find themselves on the end of Clifford's incredible performance, Murph can't help but be in complete awe of the 22-year-old Kerryman. There was plenty of hurling too, hurling which prompted Limerick manager John Kiely to decide that the game as we know it is GONE.
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Ep 2041: Alisson Scores, Fergie Remembers, Brendan Does The Business - 17/05/21 by Second Captains
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It's been a massive week on the World Service so far, and that's before we've even gotten around to this Friday's post-Liverpool-United Football Show. We spoke to Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan about the merits or otherwise of the council's white-water rafting proposals, to the excellent Aidan Regan on the role of international institutional investors in the housing crisis on Ken's Politics Podcast and to an under-the-radar Irish sporting great in three-time World Indoor 1500m champion, Marcus O'Sullivan on The Game That Changed My Life. Sign up now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join.
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Rory McIlroy ended an 18 month dry spell to land the Wells Fargo Championship last night, but not without all the usual Rory tropes - a nervy finish, confusing golf rules, help from his caddy, and of course some brilliant golf.A record indoor crowd for a boxing event in the US (73,126) turned up to watch Canelo Alvarez defeat Billy Joe Saunders in their super middleweight world title unification bout in Texas. We discuss Canelo working the crowd and the commentators' reactions to Saunders not coming out for the 9th round.
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Manchester City still can't quite seal the deal, and now a listener is on claiming that Kevin de Bruyne is actually overrated. We don't usually read out all the stuff that comes in from scum around the country but...We also discuss Leicester's chances of making the top four, before James Horncastle joins us to talk about what has happened at Juventus. A 3-0 defeat to Milan leaves them outside the Champions League spots with three games to go - one of which is against the champions, Inter. We ask: what happened? who's taking the fall for this? and will Juventus ever give up their Super League dream?
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**NOTE: This was initially a Second Captains World Service members-only show broadcast first on 22nd of April 2021. If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a member at secondcaptains.com. Your support allows us to continue to do work like this, broadcast our daily shows and undertake long-term projects like 'Where Is George Gibney?'. We hope you enjoy the show.**For months now, we’ve wanted to talk to Oisin McConville and Andrew Trimble, two of our favourite regular contributors, about a shared future in Northern Ireland, their very different upbringings, and what role sport can play in bridging the gap between two communities.We talk about why at various stages they felt like ‘bottlers’, how close Andrew came to learning the words to Amhrán na bhFiann, and why Oisin feels uncomfortable saying the words ‘Northern Ireland’.
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"We don't want to see fans storming stadiums Gary? Do we?"It depends...Mark Critchley was there at the Lowry Hotel and Old Trafford, and Jonathan Wilson also joins us to talk about what happened on an unprecedented day, and what might happen next.Plus there's sympathy for Dave Jones, throwing soup and being a good Yank.And we ask the question - are you a mudlark, or a quitter? https://twitter.com/SecondCaptains/status/1387805290209361921?s=20
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On this week's dip in the World Service paddle pool we look back at Katie's London Olympics and Ken's life choices and look ahead to the tough challenge awaiting Leinster in the Champions Cup semi final.Join for a fiver a month. There's no contracts and no hidden fees and you can quit at any time. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, like our recent international series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.
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It was a while coming, but when it came Munster's win over Leinster was emphatic. The caveat of a weakened Leinster team might be applied retrospectively, but the alternative was barely worth contemplating from Munster's point of view, and their determination to keep their foot on Leinster's throat was exemplified by a fired-up Peter O'Mahony, who treated this game like it was one long interview with Reggie Corrigan. Ireland's women finished third in this year's Six Nations after their win over Italy on Saturday which, given the two-tier nature of the competition now, seemed like both a minimal requirement reached and the best result that we could have hoped for. We were introduced this week to the joy-filled commentating style of League of Ireland legend Joey N'Do, McDevitt throws down the gauntlet to tennis novice Murph, and there's possibly the most deranged email we've ever received.
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After the crime was uncovered last week, there must be punishment. But what form will this punishment take? Will the prodigal sons be welcomed back into the fold, or is swift, harsh judgement coming their way? Rory Smith of the New York Times, and the Currency's Dion Fanning hold court on today's show. We also discuss why Dublin lost their Euro 2020 games, heart-break for Moyesy, and a United/Leeds game so bad it had Jamie Carragher hooting derisively at the players' efforts.
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Member-led journalism is a hell of a thing. Three days, three bumper football podcasts, one former Super League. We've been joined on the World Service over the last couple of days by Miguel Delaney, Sid Lowe, Gabriele Marcotti and Jonathan Wilson as the league began to disintegrate before our eyes, and there'll undoubtedly be more breaking news as the week unfolds. Today's World Service taster also features some of our brilliant conversation with Oisin McConville and Andrew Trimble on segregation in the North and how progress can be made, which we'll be releasing later in the week. Plus there's Graeme 'Geopolitics' Souness and the hotly-contested battle for our Administrator of the Week award.
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We've already got a full football podcast out in the world, but bloody hell what a morning of news. As opinions continue to pour in from players, pundits, managers (and Ian Holloway), we delve into our bulging mailbag for more reaction to the dirty dozen breakaway. Ireland shipped 50 points to France, just 7 days after putting 45 unanswered points on Wales in this year's 6 Nations - a pretty clear reflection on how wide the gap is now between the professional, semi-professional and amateur teams in the competition. We discuss the job the IRFU have at the international and mini-rugby ends of the game.
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You know it's a big day of football news when Jose Mourinho getting sacked is a mere speck on the windshield of the day's stories.Today's pod is giving some initial reaction to the Super League plans announced by 12 of Europe's richest clubs. They've made their grab for money and power - can anyone call their bluff?Tariq Panja and Miguel Delaney join us to discuss one of the biggest football stories in years.
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This week we had another special show in our 2000th episode celebration series as we chatted to a dear old friend of the podcast, Roddy Collins about the game that changed his life, his double-winning season with Bohs, safe-cracking, and having a few pints on the Six One News. As part of our Rachael Blackmore show we spoke to Katie Walsh and Malachy Clerkin about Rachael's impact, and to Charlotte Budd, the first female jockey to ever ride the Grand National. And on today's Champions League football show we uncovered (saw on Twitter) a pearl of a song dedicated to one Erling Haaland.
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It was a crazy couple of hours on Saturday evening, as Rachael Blackmore won the Grand National, Ireland hammered Wales in the 6 Nations, and Leinster came back from 14-0 down to beat the reigning European champions in their home ground in a classic Heineken Cup match. Galway has a new number 1 sportsperson in the extraordinary Beibhinn Parsons, Stuart Hogg is outplayed by Hugo Keenan, and we consider a rebrand for a couple of Ireland's rugby players as we look ahead to another insane week on the Second Captains World Service.
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It was the weekend when Richard Keys and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer agreed: the Game's gone. We know that - but why? Also today, Ken unveils a controversial new theory: how will Eoin respond? Today is a heavily Ulster-inflected pod, with Cookstown's Stuart Dallas galloping through and Carnlough's Brendan Rodgers letting us in on some of the many - not secrets, exactly... let's say "principles" - of his (and John Terry's) success.Dion Fanning and John Brewin join us to talk through the weekend's football. Moyes triumphant, Ole's critics silenced, and a verdict on whether anyone really wants Harry Kane.
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The Champions League being overrun by lemmings, David O'Doherty meeting Paul Kimmage, and US Murph achieving true sporting zen. It's your World Service sampler menu in a week absolutely packed with sport from the Champions League to the Champions Cup to the US Masters. Sign up the World Service for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join
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Thomas Tuchel has had it all his own way since taking over at Chelsea, but then he had not faced Callum Robinson - until Saturday afternoon.We also discuss the question of whether Erling Haaland can take control of Manchester City's transfer policy.Then we're joined by Dermot Corrigan to talk about the allegation of racism that caused Valencia to walk off in their game against Cadiz, and how Real Madrid are feeling ahead of Liverpool's visit tomorrow.Plus there's Silva the winner, same old Jose and glazed Neville Bros.
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Our month-long 2000th episode celebrations kicked off on the World Service last week with the big day itself and continued this week with the first of our big interviews, with Olympic diving legend and HIV/AIDS activist Greg Louganis.Ken had a barney about Martin O'Neill with Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday evening before unloading everything he wished he'd said on the World Service. And with the Champions Cup knock-out stages starting tomorrow evening, we have some golden advice for Munster.
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Is this rock bottom - or just the new normal? Damien Delaney and Richie Sadlier join us to talk over the game in the most ambitious crossover event in Irish sports broadcasting history of the last three days.
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For this Monday's mini-pod, we focus on yet another Dublin-based team in blue barely showing any emotion while coolly winning yet another title in their home ground against plucky but over-matched country cousins.Why did Munster look a beaten docket from the start, should they be asking more of their best players, and what needs to change for them to beat Toulouse next weekend?There's also one more Hoggwatch for the road, as Scotland out-Scotland themselves in Paris, and there's LaVar Ball's 2000th-episode message to Eoin for the benefit of our Monday listeners.
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It's fair to say nobody really saw last night's 3-2 scoreline in Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Serbia coming... nobody but Eoin, that is. Ken reflected on the pain and pleasure that came with both ending the goal drought while also losing. We also welcomed Irish swimming great Gary O'Toole to the "I'll Tell You Who Wrote It" Book Club and unsurprisingly, it was a brilliant chat.
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Harry Kane continues to captivate. His trial continues on today's football pod after he pulled off what may just have been an entirely unique piece of play last night. And after the opening weekend of the League of Ireland season, we hear from a listener who has a bone to pick with Bohs.
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After two and a half years Ireland finally got the performance and the win that could see them back in the big time. Did we miss the signs or did this come out of nowhere? Would it ever have happened without Henshaw's manic intensity at the start? Was the Earls try proof that Farrell and Mike Catt had the right plan all along but just needed some polish?We chat to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about using Earls more often, Sexton and Murray's return to top form, red card drama, French magnificence and if Wales will still win the championship.Fans make the Six Nations... so how come we've just had possibly the most entertaining tournament in living memory?! Ken reckons everyone's happy, and Stuart Hogg reckons we saw the 'real' Scotland on Saturday, conveniently ignoring that pretty much everything that has happened in the last 5 weeks has been 100% pure distilled Scotland rugby.
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Your World Service taster menu is hereby served. After his initial show of disgust on Monday at Erik Lamela's goal in the North London derby, Ken continued to push his anti-rabona agenda during the week. On St Patrick's Day, Oisin McConville joined us to chat about cultural identity and the need for the GAA to allow people to get back training in Northern Ireland even if the rest of the island has to wait. And ahead of Ireland-England in the Six Nations this Saturday, Paul Grayson and Shane Horgan talked Ireland's attack and why Mike Catt may not be getting as much of a say behind closed doors as he'd like. Sign up now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join/
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France and England put together arguably the most high quality 40 minutes of rugby in 6 Nations history and while England came out on top, the question is how do we make rugby look like that more often?We talk to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about Ireland's ice cold professionalism in the last 5 minutes, their brilliant pack, why the backs look like strangers and if defence is now our biggest problem.Murph gives his latest HoggWatch and Eoin asks Murph if he would prefer to tackle Tadhg Furlong or Mathieu Jalibert.Plus there's Marvellous Marvin Hagler, Murray Walker and wings in space.
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Erik Lamela's goal in the North London derby yesterday was met with differing reactions: for Eoin it was a thing of beauty; for Ken, a thing of great annoyance. A listener has done a deep dive into the podcast archives and come to a chilling conclusion: there is a clear and undeniable anti-Liverpool bias on the Second Captains football desk. Ken responds to the accusations. Plus there's the original Rabona king and Ronaldo declares victory over football.
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It's time for your weekly reminder of what you've missed out on the Second Captains World Service. There was Ken, Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson on the future of football in the social media age - is it a full-throated adrenaline rush, or an alternative to the meditative wellness industry? Shane Horgan looks ahead to Ireland/Scotland and wonders if Ireland are ready to embrace risk. And there was the week-long celebration of synth which came bursting out of our beloved members. To join them, go to secondcaptains.com/join and for a fiver a month plus VAT the (synth) world could quite conceivably be yours.
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Ken's long-held, but newly-voiced, love of synth, and football-related synth in particular, shocked the Second Captains World Service to its core last week. So we have a number of bombshells for you today. Ken plays out the show with his first synth floor-filler choice, but not before a listener's only synth composition gets a debut airing. We also talk about Bryson Dechambeau and his assault on the norms and conventions of staid ol' golf, filet steaks and all, and there's some love for Eoin's obsession for terms and conditions.
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Steven Gerrard defies the doubters to lead Rangers back to the summit of Scottish football just as Jurgen Klopp loses his sixth home match in a row? This is getting a bit witchy. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw was the hero as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led Man United to yet another win in the Manchester derby. Maybe the win has come too late to affect the destination of the league title, but could United have given Guardiola something to worry about for the Champions League? Jordan Campbell of the Athletic joins us to talk about Rangers' title success. Is this more than winning the league by default after the only credible opposition collapsed?
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It's World Service Menu Taster time and this week we had joy and we had fun but our faith in the FAI to deliver a home World Cup is sadly starting to fade. We also discuss Big Boris' plucky Brexit Britain, Jerry Flannery's Tonya Harding moment and we chat to Derval O'Rourke about world records, times and new technology.You can join any time for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join/ - no contract, no ads, no minimum stay.
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You make your own luck in sport, unless you're the Welsh rugby team, who on Saturday had a lot of ref and TMO decisions go their way. So is it just that everything always comes up Wales, or are they a doughty, tough, mentally resilient and increasingly skillful side that deserves the Triple Crown and the now inevitable Grand Slam?We talk to Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan about the series of Covid breaches in French rugby, if Fabien Galthie will get the sack, and what the French Government, the French rugby union and 6N should do about this.We ask if Ireland can continue to offload against the good teams, if Andy Farrell, with Kelleher, Furlong, Kilcoyne, Henderson, Ryan, Beirne, Connors and Stander, has found his best set of forwards for the Scotland and England games.Plus there's Rees Zammit's poker face and rugby analysis via Kevin Costner and Lewis Dunk.
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Man United's matches against the big six have been following a pretty familiar, pretty boring pattern as of late and yesterday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea was no different.And so any dash of colour during an otherwise drab weekend had to come from the Sky Sports punditry team, with things between Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp getting heated. Why was Keane getting more annoyed at what he was saying himself than what Redknapp was saying? And what does Matt Doherty have to do with all of this?
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As expected Novak Djokovic marched to his 9th Australian Open title this weekend, but the really interesting events happened after the match. In the last five days five different Irish athletes have posted the five fastest runs in the history of the 800m Irish indoors. Nadia Power and Siofra Cléirigh Buttner are top of the pile, and Eoin wonders if we have another (Ollie) Campbell (Tony) Ward fight to the death on our hands.And several listeners have informed us that Eoin does not pronounce the word "film" correctly. Yep, its time to call the Grammar Police.
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Which PL player is Erling Haaland most like? Murph is invited to guess - and the results may surprise you. We also talk about no-nonsense Thomas Tuchel, and how the methods of a certain somebody remain beyond reproach.We are joined by Jonathan Wilson and Dion Fanning to look back at the weekend's football. After their first win at Anfield in the 21st century, where is the ceiling for Everton? How are Manchester City close to setting a world record for consecutive wins? And why do people keep suggesting West Ham have been better without West Ham fans?
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It’s time for your weekly whiff of the Second Captains World Service which includes football's future, the GAA's past and the Second Captains mailbag reaches max capacity. Join for five euro a month + VAT at secondcaptains.com/join for independent, member-led broadcasting. There’s no contracts, no minimum stay, and no adverts.
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Everyone seems to be talking about Liverpool Football Club as a pitiable mess, an irredeemable shambles, and after watching them concede 3 goals in the last 15 minutes against Leicester, you might be forgiven for thinking their world was falling in. But there's plenty of shambles to go around, and Man United are far from immune. And while the two most successful teams in English football implode, there's City - embarking on a record-breaking run of wins, and now seemingly sauntering to another league title.
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Ireland were gutsy and got close on the scoreline against France but lacked any real creativity in attack, even when against 14 men. Where does Andy Farrell go from here, and is his position as head coach now under pressure?We talk to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about our philosophy in attack, what changes Farrell should make for the Italy game, if we are any closer to finding out who our best halfbacks are, the impact made by Paul O'Connell and the non-impact from Mike Catt, and if this Scottish generation are already running out of time to seize a golden opportunity.Plus there's Murph on his tartan certainty, more HoggWatch and Grammar Corner.
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'To me, they've been bad champions'. Those were the words of impartial observer Roy Keane on Sky Sports yesterday as any glimmer of hope Liverpool were clinging on to that they were still in the title race was repeatedly stamped on by Alisson Becker's big boot.As for Jurgen Klopp, he's not taking the collapse of his dreams into tiny piles of dust all too well.
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From the 14th minute when Peter O'Mahony was sent off for a dangerous clear-out, Ireland looked in trouble in Cardiff, and despite showing encouraging flashes in attack, and improvements at the set-piece, they eventually went down 21-16 for a dispiriting start to 2021.Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble join us to discuss how damaging that moment was, the outhalf dilemma, where Ireland showed improvement, and small talk with Andy Farrell.The Scots provided all the drama on Saturday evening as they won in Twickenham for the first time since 1983, in the process shoving some words down Murph's throat. Does he retreat,or double down today?
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With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs facing off in the Super Bowl this Sunday, what better time to speak to the last Irishman to play in the NFL, ten-year vet Neil O'Donoghue whose career highlight just so happened to come for the Bucs against the Chiefs. We also got our Six Nations coverage under way with Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble who looked back on their various humiliations against Wales, while Ken thanked himself for his own journalistic contributions. Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join/
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Whenever the directors at Barcelona are faced with a crisis, they fall back on the programming of their Barca DNA: whatever the situation, simply add more smoke, mirrors, cloaks, daggers, secrets, spies and lying eyes, and wait to see what happens. This is how they can pay a guy more than half a billion euros over four years and still have him hate them with the fire of a thousand suns. We also discuss some of the Premier League weekend talking points, such as whether Thiago is the new Juan Sebastian Veron. Jacob Steinberg and Alan Smith join us to discuss whether Jose Mourinho can make it to the end of February, and whether there is any hope for Gareth Bale.
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Chelsea have sacked Frank Lampard, with Tuchel set to take over. What did Frank do wrong, besides the losses, the waste of talent and putting the blame on his players?Liverpool scored two goals against Man United and played better than they have done recently but big games come down to the weakest link, or maybe what you thought was your strongest link turning out to have a few cracks?A number of Ireland players have timed their return to fitness nicely ahead of the 2021 Six Nations, including Tadhg Furlong, Dave Kilcoyne, Iain Henderson and James Lowe but the Munster players will have a ton of regrets after taking a 10-0 lead inside 12 mins, dominating possession, and still losing 13-10 to Leinster. Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble tell us why Munster should still be optimistic and why Leinster should start to heed the warning signs of a slip in form.
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It's time for your weekly waft of the Second Captains World Service which includes Ken the songbird, Eoin pitching his movie idea, Failing Frank and our chat with the brilliant Ciara Mageean about the race that changed her life.Join for five euro a month + VAT at secondcaptains.com/join for independent, member-led broadcasting. There's no contracts, no minimum stay, and no adverts.
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NOTE: This was initially a Second Captains World Service members-only show broadcasted first on 15th of January 2021. Due to the importance of the subject matter and the huge reaction to Fionn's story, we have decided to re-publish for all today, the 19th of January. To help us continue to produce independent, member-led journalism like this and projects like 'Where Is George Gibney?', please join the Second Captains World Service for just €5 a month. Enjoy the show and thanks to all our members as always for their support.**Today we go entirely outside of sport on the Second Captains World Service and the magnitude of the Mother and Baby report this week in Ireland warrants it, particularly when a friend of the podcast has such an important story to tell. Fionn Davenport was born in the St Patrick’s Mother and Baby home on the Navan Rd in Dublin in 1968. His mother Jane was lied to and told she couldn’t keep her son. Fionn was adopted soon afterwards.This week, this dark part of our history has been brought into sharp focus. On Tuesday, the final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was published, detailing the cruelty experienced by thousands of women and children at 14 mother and baby homes and four county homes across Ireland between 1922 and 1998, and the following day the Taoiseach issued a state apology for how these people were treated.Fionn is now a well-known travel writer and editor and he tells us his emotional story; the impact it’s had on him throughout his life, the significance of this week’s report and the roadblocks that still exist for survivors.
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Ken inspects his bulging mailbag and finds listeners and non-listeners alike have lost patience with the constant stream of nonsense he has talked on many subjects, ranging from the source of Liverpool's problems, the quality of Marcus Rashford's performances and Frank Lampard's trust in Mason Mount. Carefully, patiently, he sets these losers and haters straight.We hear quite a lot from Alex Ferguson today, from his negotiations with Andrei Kanchelskis' agent to his opinions about the recently-retired Wayne Rooney.Rory Smith joins us to discuss yesterday's game at Anfield. Why are Liverpool bad now? Is their recruitment department quite the world-beating operation it's cracked up to be? And is Bruno Fernandes the new Luis Suarez?
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Its time for your weekly snifter of the Second Captains World Service. We build up to Liverpool V Man Utd by looking at Solskjaer's skill at cutting away the dead wood at Old Trafford, US Murph talks to us about Trump and the Capitol riots and Ken takes a reading on golf's moral compass. Join for five euro a month at secondcaptains.com/join. We are independent and member led. There's no contracts, no minimum stay, and no adverts.
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Stephen Kenny has had a highly eventful time as Ireland manager with a penalty playoff loss, a pandemic, a Covid close contacts crisis, a video storm, 8 games without a win and now he has lost his assistant coach Damien Duff. Ken journalist is on the case, and he has some strong leads (1.00). Paul O'Connell is maybe Ireland's best-ever forward, one of our best ever captains, a Lions captain, but besides a curtailed spell in Paris and some short stints in Ireland, he hasn't got a very extensive coaching CV. We ask Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley to predict how good he will be, and why (20.30).Plus there's Roy Keane football manager, mighty Leinster, Connacht butchering a 15 on 13 overlap and Eoin McDevitt's shredded sports calendar.
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Tom Parsons joined us alongside his old friend and former teammate Andy Moran to discuss his decision to retire this week, one of four Mayo careers which came to a close over a handful of days. US Murph has been prepping us for the start of the NFL postseason this weekend, while Stephen A Smith prepped Dallas Cowboys fans for the premature end of their season.
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We talk about Frank Lampard's struggle at Chelsea - which might now, if history is any guide, be entering a terminal phase.Meanwhile Ken reveals he has made important changes to his lifestyle - but that doesn't mean he doesn't have time to round on the losers and haters.We're joined by Jonathan Wilson and Dion Fanning to discuss some of the weekend's football in more detail. What went wrong for Chelsea against City, and is it ever a bad time to Give Him Time? Are Manchester United serious title contenders? Why are they getting more penalties than anyone else? And is refereeing in the age of VAR increasingly vulnerable to influence by #narrative?
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Ken and Jonathan Wilson talk over the post-Christmas football, as is the tradition.We all know the image we will remember the weekend by....but did Sam Allardyce's tactics actually cost his team victory at Anfield? Why should Chelsea fans be worried about Frank Lampard's uncompromisingly direct criticism of his players after losing to Arsenal? Why have Tottenham ground to a halt? And why is Jonathan sick of having to defend Marcelo Bielsa?
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2020 threw up a lot of surprises, so we should be thankful at least for some certainty and security in life - and few things in life now are as certain or secure as Dublin finishing the year as All-Ireland football champions. Oisin McConville and Andy Moran are on the line to pick through the bones of it, how much of the gameplan went right for Mayo, why Dublin were still able to pick them off... and how to stop Dublin from scoring goals direct from the throw-in. Ken also tries to get into the mind of Stephen "The Clinker" Cluxton, good people making good Dubs, and a mention too for Scott McTominay's heroics yesterday.
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It was a week that featured more soccer than you could shake a stick at, a review of the All-Ireland hurling final, a preview of the All-Ireland football final, and the start of the European champions cup in rugby... so what the hell are you waiting for? Join us today and hear Ken lauding the return of the dinosaurs to the Premier League, why the war on Chris Wilder is Jurgen Klopp's Vietnam, and why Andy Moran still believes Mayo have what it takes to win the All-Ireland final.
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This morning we heard the sad news of the death of Gerard Houllier, former manager of France, Liverpool and Aston Villa among others. We talk about the mark Houllier made on English football. Then we turn our attention to the weekend, in which Arsenal stole the show from some other underperforming clubs then had the show quickly stolen from them by Patrice Evra.We are joined by Dion Fanning and John Brewin to talk about Houllier, Arsenal, and whether some critics are right to suggest this is the worst season ever.Plus there's Thierry Henry's media fence, reaching maximum outrage and Paul Ince's 5-a-side record.
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With Jose Mourinho's Spurs riding high at the top of the league you might think there should be only one question for Ken this Monday: would he like his humble pie plain, or with salt? But there was much more going on in the world of football over the weekend, not least at The Den, where Millwall fans rejected the kneeling protests. We try to figure out why they reacted this way.Richie Sadlier was at the FAI Cup final in the freezing fog, we talk about the prospects ahead for Jack Byrne, how Irish football is going to respond to the news that it can no longer export teenagers to Britain, and what he made of the events at his old club Millwall on Saturday.And Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to discuss the North London Derby. What are the secrets of Mourinho's mysterious chemistry at Tottenham? And how fast is faith in Mikel Arteta fading?
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For once, The Isolators put down their parsnips of war and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas Tops-Off-Thursday.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month plus VAT at secondcaptains.com/join/
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It’s beefs galore in the Imagination Cave as the Isolators turn on each other.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month plus VAT at secondcaptains.com/join/
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As Raul Jimenez recovers in hospital after fracturing his skull in an awful clash of heads with David Luiz, Troy Deeney has attracted derision by arguing that players should self-diagnose when they have suffered brain damage. But why does he feel that way, and how should we understand his legitimate concerns? Miguel Delaney and Jacob Steinberg join us to talk about last night's stalemate between the London title contenders, and confront the awkward question of how certain people might have been 'wrong' to write off Jose Mourinho.And Kieran Canning explains why angry Celtic fans were protesting outside the stadium last night.
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To celebrate being certified pox-free, David gives us the sexiest ever Tops-Off-Thursday.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month + VAT: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Since episode 8 of 'Where Is George Gibney?' aired last month, we've been inundated with questions, comments and emails about the making of the show, and the impact it's had.So to tide people over until the final two episodes drop on BBC Sounds on December 3rd and 10th, we have a Q&A with the podcast's creators Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy, which was originally released on the World Service.We discuss the final, fateful meeting with Gibney, feeling an obligation to the survivors to do this thing right, and the emotional toll it took just living in this story for 2 years.There's also plenty of questions from our listeners, crazy golf, and what it's like to spend many, many weeks in a car with foul-mouthed podcast host Mark Horgan.
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David's stitches are out and he is in the mood for vengeance.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month + VAT: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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In yesterday's Munster football final, Tipperary wore jerseys which commemorated the team, featuring Michael Hogan, that played in Croke Park 100 years ago on Bloody Sunday. They did more than wear a jersey though, they went out and won their first provincial title since 1935, and they were good value for it too. Two hours later, Cavan created an even bigger shock when they beat Donegal in the Ulster football final. Put that with Dublin's demolition job on Meath on Saturday evening, and you have the sort of weekend that only Andy Moran and Oisin McConville could do justice to (23.00).Plus there's Jurgen Klopp going off on one about the three-sub rule and the role of broadcasters in this season's manic fixture list in an unbroadcast interview on Sky (5.45).
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Ireland's goal drought is beginning to warp the minds of everyone at Second Captains HQ, with Murph and Ken turning to a discussion of which Ireland player they'd eat first in a crisis. In a slightly saner conversation, we unveiled a new hurling pundit in Jamie Wall this week who gave us the definitive account of how to stop Clare's superstar Tony Kelly. And over on Isolating with David O'Doherty, there's stabbings, the musical stylings of Kriss Kross and Anthony Hopkins.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month + VAT at secondcaptains.com/join/
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Unriddled by the Covids, David takes us on his daily cycle to the spot where, as a teen, he mourned the death of Kurt Cobain by making out with a stranger.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month + VAT: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Snitches get stitches. Following his shivving, David receives well-wishes and threats from the Isolators.Join the World Service now for just €5 a month + VAT: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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It was a big weekend of Gaelic football, and we have the best punditry team in the business to pick over the bones of it this Monday, as Andy Moran and Oisin McConvillle are with us. We talk about Mayo's first Connacht title since 2015, why Croke Park might suit them better than Salthill in November, and why Donegal are still a bit short of the Dubs... we reckon. Plus there's Murph's ducks (and why they'd have drowned this weekend), Mickey Harte's decision to step away from Tyrone, and Ireland's goal drought.
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It could have been the morning after the night before of a famous Irish victory in Wembley but alas, it was not to be and the culture wars keep roaring on. In our little taster of the week's World Service shows, we turn to the Scots, David O'Doherty and an amazing new documentary on Jack Charlton to cheer us up. Join the World Service now at secondcaptains.com/join/ for just a fiver a month plus VAT.
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On a huge Tops Off Thursday, David deep-dives into the sad history of his former favourite breakfast cereal, RiCiCLES. Plus there's ballcock success, Doctor Oooops, nerd alerts and stupid things kids are scared of.
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Nice day for a goth wedding. David reveals some of the incredible celebrities who have dined at his local Fish and Chipper. Plus there's bad knees and magic moments.
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Not for the last half hour anyway, as City and Liverpool were too tired to play a full match. David Sneyd joins us to keen over Grealish and look ahead to Thursday.And Kieran Canning explains what’s been going wrong for Shane Duffy at Celtic.
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Tops Off Thursday makes its triumphant, and quite chilly, return, and there have been a series of Doddles sightings around the city.
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Have a whiff of this week's shows on the Second Captains World Service. To access daily shows go to secondcaptains.com/join. Its 5 euro a month for independently produced advert free daily shows including Isolating with David O'Doherty, twice weekly football shows with Ken Early, the Book Club with Murph, The Player's Chair with Richie Sadlier, all anchored by television star and marathon bore Mr. Eoin McDevitt.
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As 2020 continues its relentless bullshit, David gets the band back together.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Why are Manchester United so inconsistent? To Roy Keane the answer is obvious: too many of the players lack too many of the key qualities of real Manchester United players. Aggression. Leadership. Courage. Men. But maybe there are a couple of other reasons besides these. Ken is back today to suggest a few.Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about how Solskjaer and Arteta matched up, whether Pogba is reaching the end of the road, the growing momentum at Spurs, and who else besides Liverpool can be considered contenders.
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After the fireworks of recent weeks, this was an altogether more sedate weekend in the Premier League. In fact the most blood-curdling battle of the entire round of fixtures was in the Sky Sports studio as Patrice Evra and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink went at each other in extremely entertaining style. Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about why that was altogether more fun than the United/Chelsea game which preceded it, and why letting two people talk for 15 mins about football is altogether rarer than it should be.Jonathan Wilson is with us as well, as he remembers his colleague Kevin McCarra, and we also salute Shamrock Rovers, who bestrode this shortened League of Ireland season and are the worthiest of champions.
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Welcome to your weekly sample of the Second Captains World Service which included the surreal but brilliant chat between Ken and Tim Robbins, Champions League, and Oisin and Andy Moran on the GAA getting the green light. Go to secondcaptains.com/join to access daily shows. No contract, no obligations, no minimum sign up.
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Ep 1880: This Is Your Brain On Pickford - 19/10/20 by Second Captains
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Ireland were goalless again against Wales, but with half a team out due to Covid complications, with a bombshell false positive from Slovakia leaving a bitter taste in the mouth, and with a new manager left bearing the brunt of communicating all this drama to the public - a 0-0 draw was a pretty good result, and the performance was encouraging too. Richie Sadlier and Gavin Cooney of the42.ie join Ken, Eoin and Murph as we discuss a pretty stressful week in the life of Stephen Kenny. Mick McCarthy's continued presence as a kind of Greek chorus around Kenny as he starts his international management career is still a disgrace, and we also discuss just what Liverpool and Man United have in common with Marcus Crassus.
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Manchester United losing 1-6 to Spurs is the sort of result you could just about imagine happening in real life, if things ever went as badly off the rails for United as early in the game as they did yesterday. But Liverpool losing 7-2 to Villa in the very next game... does... not... compute... Is this just what football is now? How did it get this way? And should we just enjoy it while it lasts?Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about the 7-2 and the 1-6. Are they really the same thing? And at whom does he point the finger of blame in the target-rich environment of Manchester United?
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This week's look around the Second Captain show house includes Ken's theory on Klopp's Sky savagery, the truth about young Kobe Bryant and ex Connacht coach Pat Lam on the game that changed his life and the unbreakable Irish spirit.Go to secondcaptains.com/join for full access. Its 5 euro a month (plus VAT) with no contract and no minimum sign up or hidden costs. AND its the start of the month, so the perfect time to jump aboard.
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It was a weekend that reminded you of what we treasure about the game of football - the chance for everybody to absolutely lose their minds over something that really does not matter at all. We talk about why almost all the outrage over "the new handball rule" misses the point. There is also Pat Kenny, Paddy Kenny, Neil Warnock's crusty haunches, Lord Bamford and the latest from the Suarez-Messi telenovela, before Jonathan Wilson and Jacob Steinberg join us to talk about hands, Pep and Super Frank.
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On this week's taster we chat to green jersey winner Sam Bennett about imposter syndrome, Ireland's next golf superstar James Sugrue about playing alongside Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood at the US Open and Ken about forgiving Frank Lampard - secondcaptains.com/join is where its at!
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Was that the end of Chelsea's title challenge? Two games in it's too soon to say, but they'll need to play a lot better if they want to cut down last season's 33-point gap to Liverpool, who have added a new dimension with the signing of Thiago.Was yesterday's easy Liverpool win a question of incidents involving Christensen, Kepa and Jorginho not going Chelsea's way - or were there deeper problems too?Jack Pitt-Brooke and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the contrasting fortunes this weekend of Tottenham and Manchester United. Why was nobody else but Spurs in for Gareth Bale? Does Mourinho want to get rid of Dele Alli? And what was it about Paul Pogba's Covid-19 hit pre-season that convinced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he was ready to start against Crystal Palace?
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Champagne Football is out today. It’s the definitive history of John Delaney’s rise, reign and spectacular fall at the FAI, by the journalists who brought him down. Eoin and Ken interviewed authors Mark Tighe and Paul Rowan at the book's virtual launch last night and we're making the chat available to everybody for free.Plus there's episode 4 of 'Where Is George Gibney?', Scorsese goes Irish, and truth is stranger than fiction.
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Better to live one day as a Lion than a thousand years as a Sheep. Such is the Leeds United philosophy under Marcelo Bielsa... the downside of course is that you only get to live one day. Though if Leeds can keep scoring three goals a game they should live a bit longer than that. The Spurs-Everton game was dominated by Jose's headline-grabbing soundbites about lazy pressure and so on, but more interesting was the rivalry of the Ireland right backs. Who would you rather be right now: Seamus Coleman, or Matt Doherty?Miguel Delaney and John Brewin join us to discuss (the bit we have so far seen of) the Premier League's opening weekend. What is Bielsa's secret? Are Chelsea poised to storm to the title under their legendary young coach? And can John Brewin say the word Doherty?
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Sir Bradley Wiggins, Boris Johnson, Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, the return of the English Premier League….. we’ve been covering a wild week for the people of England on the world service and you can access our daily shows for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/joinToday’s taster also includes Triple H, Ken looks into his crystal ball, and there’s the great Spanish Podcast Mystery. When you join theres no contract, no minimum stay, no sneaky tie-ins just daily shows in your app, plus instant access to all our archives. Disfrutar!
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Stephen Kenny is now winless in two as Ireland manager. It is time to admit it just hasn't worked, and retreat to the safety of the old ways? Or after four training days and two matches, might it still be too soon to pronounce definitive judgment?Dion Fanning and David Sneyd join us to analyse the game. If there's a culture war in Irish football, who are the warring sides? And are there any quick solutions to the problems that have revealed themselves?Ken also complains about being taken for a ride by the Nine Figure Man himself, Lionel Messi.
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It's been a big week for Irish football as the FAI's succession plan is finally complete and Stephen Kenny holds the reins, which means it's also been a big week on the World Service. Richie Sadlier and David Sneyd joined us for a bumper chat after Kenny's first match in charge against Bulgaria on Thursday evening which is available on the World Service now. Earlier in the week, Ken cast a critical eye over the new Spurs documentary on Amazon Prime, a series which - surprise, surprise - features some massive bigging up of Jose, by Jose. Come join us and sign up to the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month - the start of the month is the perfect time: www.secondcaptains.com/join
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Stephen Kenny will play his first game as Ireland manager this week, and he's outlined his modest plans for Ireland - just a complete reconstruction of how the world views Irish football AND qualification for major tournaments. Richie Sadlier is with Eoin, Ken and Murph to talk about Matt Doherty's move to Spurs, Doherty or Coleman for Ireland, Obafemi Bolt, Stephen Kenny's ambition, and the questions the FAI need to answer.We also discuss the Frank Lampard effect, which is currently drawing all of Europe's top talent to Chelsea. And while Man United bulk up their options by signing Donny Van de Beek from Ajax, there's still no movement from Liverpool in the transfer market.
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We had a lot of fun talking about Messi and Maguire this week, and if you want to join in go to secondcaptains.com/join. Its a fiver a month, with no contracts and no obligations, so give it a whirl.This week's taster menu includes Ken V Murph + Eoin on Messi the "ashen faced choker", the brilliant Sid Lowe on the reality that Messi could fail big at his next club, Harry The Greek, and one of our favourite contributors, Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine, on player walkouts in the NBA. MLS, WNBA, MLB and tennis.
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Bayern Munich have won their sixth Champions League, becoming the first team to win every game on the way to becoming champions of Europe.Hansi Flick took risks, got lucky, and won the treble. For Thomas Tuchel there can only be regrets. Are there any obvious candidates to succeed him as PSG manager? Richie Sadlier and Jonathan Wilson join us to analyse the game. Have the players adapted to the post-fans reality a little too well? Is the job spec for coaches at the biggest clubs changing? And what's the next move for PSG's stars?There's also some initial reaction to Stephen Kenny's first squad announcement as Ireland manager.It's a big week for us at Second Captains with our new international investigative podcast series coming to BBC Sounds this Thursday, August 27th. We're excited to say you can hear the full trailer for Where Is George Gibney? on today's show.
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Barcelona have been in slow decline since 2017, but the annual Champions League knockout reminders get more traumatic every year. What needs to happen now? Where can they go from here? And can anyone stop the march to the final of Bayern's eminence grise, Thomas Goal-ler? Eh? Thomas Goal-ler? Meanwhile Man City have Pepped it up again. Why does Guardiola do this to himself? Can Sterling ever live the miss down? And what are the prospects of Pep turning this around? We talk to Raphael Honigstein and Miguel Delaney about those incredible Champions League quarter-finals. Why are German coaches leading the way in Europe? Has Guardiola betrayed his own principles? And how would they each solve a problem like Messi?
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Second Captains Snifter Time!We chat to former GAA dual star Jamie Wall about sliding doors moments, a life changing diagnosis and why the constant pursuit of happiness is sure to lead to misery.Brian Murphy was the perfect man to talk to about the USPGA because not only did he predict Colinn Morikawa would win it, it’s also his local course, and he covered it for the New York Times. All of this made for a happy US Murph.Plus Ken has been covering the Champions League, and enjoying the Champions League, which is turning out to be a very tasty tournament.To hear daily Second Captains shows, plus access to years of archive go to secondcaptains.com/join - its a fiver a month with no contracts, no obligations, no minimum sign up... just top top top broadcasting.
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The time horizons of the final stages of the 2020 Champions League have been compressed from six weeks down to 12 days. The competition has to make up for lost time. Meanwhile for a generation of stars, time is running out.For David Silva, who has one last chance to win it with Manchester City. For Robert Lewandowski, whose hopes of winning the Ballon D'Or were dashed by France Football's decision to cancel the 2020 award. Lewandowski's stunning achievement in almost single-handedly defeating Frank Lampard's effervescent Chelsea would surely have been enough on its own to seal the award. And most dramatically of all for Lionel Messi, whose Barcelona look hopelessly outgunned in their quarter-final fixture against Bayern, but nevertheless still have a chance because he plays for them.Time has already run out this year for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Juventus were knocked out in the second round by Lyon. We're joined by The Athletic's James Horncastle to analyse where things went wrong for Maurizio Sarri, what we can expect from the new coach Andrea Pirlo, why Ronaldo hasn't been able to turn Juventus into Champions League winners and whether they should persevere with him for another season.
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Danny Rose has been one of the most outspoken and arresting voices in English football for the last number of years, and he’s our guest today on The Players Chair - as Richie Sadlier and Ken Early present a change to our regular Second Captains World Service Monday schedule. In this exclusive interview with Richie, we hear Danny’s thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement, and we focus on the incidents of racism he still faces as a premier league footballer going about his daily life. We also discuss why he can't wait to see the back of his football career, the reason he wants another season at Tottenham and why he speaks up on social issues in society and football.And as well as all that, we also find time to briefly touch on Mikel Arteta jumping into the brawny, welcoming arms of serial winner David Luiz ahead of tomorrow’s Football show on the world service.
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The Premier League is over, and with Man United and Chelsea securing Champions League football it’s time for some seriously vindicated managers to remind the critics that they don’t get everything right either. We try to understand why a zippy zephyr like David Silva has completed his career in England unadorned with individual awards while individual honours pile up at the hairy feet of Hendo. Jacob Steinberg and Jack Pitt-Brooke join us to talk about the climax to the Premier League. With Chelsea spending big what is the outlook for Lampard’s Littl’uns? Can the likes of Spurs meet this renewed challenge from Chelsea? And can Jack finally show Ken the light, David Silva-wise?Plus there's plucky underdogs Man United, Aaron "lightning" Connolly, Grealish goodness and faith healers.
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David Luiz had a busy weekend with his last ditch tackles, accurate passes, aerial dominance, classy interviews and of course silencing all the losers and the haters out there. The debate is over, surely? Richie Sadlier wades into the deep end.The really big news in football land is that lovely lovely Leeds and their genius coach Marcelo Bielsa, are back in the big time. We chat to Phil Hay of The Athletic about Bielsa's remarkable impact at the club, the end of a 16 year journey, and the ambitions they have for next season.Nigel Pearson is out the door at Watford with two league games to go, but have the club really made the right choice? Plus there's Pearson's passengers, John O'Shea's big surprise and Richie Sadlier on playing your way to the chop.
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Jack Charlton was the most popular Englishman in Irish history, and the news of his death on Saturday morning came as a huge blow to so many people. Today we look back at his career as Irish manager, his upbringing in Ashington, near Newcastle in his beloved north-east of England, his relationship with his brother Bobby, and his enduring love of this country. We speak to his biographer Colin Young about the Jack that he grew to know, his personal warmth, his humility, and his solidarity with the mining communities of his birthplace. And there’s young Eoin interviewing Jack in 2005 - the unabridged version. We discuss the value of a man with a plan coming into a culture of failure, and how Jack made people love a style of football that opponents hated. Amidst it all there was Dunphy, Giles, letters to the editor… and we take a moment to appreciate how lucky we were to have lived through it all.
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Manchester City breathe the sweet air of freedom after UEFA's FFP case against them collapsed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In the short term, the race for the top four suddenly got a lot more exciting. In the medium term, the future for City, for their coach and top players, is looking much more optimistic. In the long term - the repercussions could be huge.We're joined by Tariq Panja of the New York Times and Miguel Delaney of the Independent to discuss the verdict.Where does the credibility of UEFA's enforcement stand after this verdict? What's the future for the FFP system? Is this a decisive moment in revealing where the power really lies in European football?Plus there's Jack's story, Brendan's bombs and a possible final day face off between Leicester and Man Utd.
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Buckle up non members, its time for your weekly World Service test drive.Ken on Vardy's heel, Stephen Kenny's ambition, Man United's (he believes well founded) hope of overtaking Man City next year, and being up at the crack of noon.Plus there's beef and beefs with Bryson DeChambeau, US Murph on NBA in the Covid 19 hot seat and Mahomes' massive money contract, Brosnan does Robin Hood, Connell's GAA twin and Bobby Bonilla day.Its 5 euro a month, no contracts, no obligations - just daily podcast fun. Go to secondcaptains.com/join.
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Today the Second Captains listeners take centre stage, whether in the form of original music, outstanding Rory Best impersonations or the bumper mailbag on last week's racial-bias-in-commentary discussion that prompts a struggle session for Ken. Fortunately for him, the conscientious self-criticism can be softened with the reassuring balm of some fresh Frank Lampard content. Jonathan Wilson and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the weekend's football. Who deserves the credit for Manchester United's recent resurgence? Where could Jack Grealish fit in to this more promising picture? And what are the chances of United being the best team in Manchester next season?
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Welcome to our weekly Second Captains World Service taster menu:Ken covers Frank Lampard's magnificent leadership, Keir Starmer's defund the police stance and on Friday will discuss Man City Liverpool and Bruno Fernandes' impact at Man Utd.All-Ireland winning Clare hurler and Fulbright Scholar at Harvard Shane O'Donnell on Friday Night Lights and the burden of being a sports star at a young age.What is the function of anger and how has it become the most powerful emotional influence on our politics and economics? Ken talks to the author of Angrynomics, Eric Lonergan.And Irish sprinter Leon Reid, who grew up in England, first in a “crack den” with a drug addicted mother, then in foster homes, on how he finally found a stable home life with his adoptive mother Claire Russell.For the full feast of shows go to secondcaptains.com/join - no contracts, no obligations, no minimum sign up, just a fiver a month for access to all our archives, all new shows, Richie Sadlier's Player's Chair (Andy Cole, Luke Chadwick, Sean Dyche and many more), Ken's Politics Pods, The Book Club, all the breaking sports news, the big interviews, and maybe some day.... grunge week.
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In 1956 a young Senator named John F Kennedy wrote a bestselling book, Profiles In Courage, about eight times American political leaders had demonstrated outstanding courage, leadership and integrity in the line of duty. The collection of inspirational stories about inspirational men would win the Pulitzer Prize for Biography.It is a pity Kennedy was shot dead in 1963, for if he were still alive today the 103-year-old ex-President would at this very moment be sitting at his desk composing a ninth Profile in Courage, to be added to an all-new edition of his classic work, as the only fitting way to mark Frank Lampard's triple substitution at Leicester City yesterday afternoon.After paying our own humble respects to the deeds that took place at the King Power yesterday we talk to Richie Sadlier about how much political activism was going on in the Millwall dressing room 20 years ago, and what he has made of the tortured efforts to get Irish football going again.
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Ahoy Liverpool fans and haters, we have so much to discuss and learn together. After all, its not that long ago that Liverpool were a rabble, and now they are the most dominant Premier League winners English football has ever seen. How did they turn it around so quickly, is it sustainable, and is it mostly down to Klopp?This thimbleful of the Second Captains World Service can be turned into a waterfall by joining for 5 euro a month - no contracts, no obligations, no minimum sign-up, just daily gulps of podcast joy. Go to secondcaptains.com/join
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David turns the polytunnel into a musical recording studio for an emotional final Tops Off Thursday.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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The solstice has passed and David begins the slow trudge into Winter’s loveless arms. Contains the inspirational story of Randall the Starling and the truth about David's listener emails.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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We can bet that Roy Keane might not be waiting too long to sign a contract for his TV punditry services next season, the legendary former United captain having worked out that when analysing goalkeeping errors, "I'd be throwing punches at that guy" generates more engagement than "He'll be disappointed with that."Contrasting Keane's words and demeanour with those of a much younger footballer in a different interview over the weekend, we talk about how and why young footballers today sound so different from their counterparts of 20 years ago. Then we're joined by David Sneyd and Mark Critchley to talk about the Premier League weekend. How has behind-closed-doors football been to cover? Was Roy Keane for real? And is it really taxi time for David De Gea?
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Ken makes surely his last ever defence of David Luiz's defending by attacking the people who attack Luiz.Plus the Premier League starts for real this weekend and the voice of the greatest moment in Irish sport, George Hamilton, tells us about that time a nation held its breath.Join now for a fiver - no contracts, no obligations, no ads - just heaps of podcast fun at secondcaptains.com
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It’s Tops Off Thursday and Susan The Satanic Hare has tried to murder David.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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David is heartbroken. He cycled all the way to Grace O’Malley’s pirate castle to tell her that he loved her only to find that she died in 1604.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Ireland should have been playing Poland in the Euros today. Instead it's Project Restart Matchday One Minus 2. Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the return of the Premier League - and also the very patriotic Football Lads performance in London on Saturday afternoon. To what extent are these Lads really Football Lads? And as they argue over whether it should be All Lives Matter or White Lives Matter, how significant is it that the Premier League has openly taken the opposite stance? Is the inevitable destiny of English football to go the way of American sports, sucked into the vortex of a sundowning former power's culture war? And with a promise of rapid redemptions for any team that can win 5 games in a row, do Arsenal really have a chance of making the Champions League? And will there even be a Champions League next year? Plus there's Gatland & Son, Eoin's tiny table, Trump snubbing soccer, and why this football season is as real as any other.
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Premier League football is back next week, and Ken is chomping at the bit. But will it mean less of his conspiracy theories? His latest centred on England's 1966 World Cup win.Tyson Fury. the heavyweight champion of the world. announced what could be the biggest fight of the century by lavishing praise on the leader of the most profitable organised crime group in Irish history - we talk to the one US journo covering this story.We have a brand new episode of the Game That Changed My Life with Derval O’Rourke who revealed herself as an athlete you probably wanted to give a wide berth to on major championship race day.Sign up for five Euro a month for daily shows plus "isolating" with comedian David O'Doherty - no contracts, no ads, just member led independent journalism.
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It’s Tops-Off-Thursday and a frighteningly fit David accuses the listeners of underwear pilfering.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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David and Susan the Satanic Hare are excited as lockdown restrictions start to lift in Ireland.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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England is coming out of lockdown but Liverpool and Klopp are not feeling so bullish about football’s future profitability, and have turned down the chance to sign German sensation Timo Werner. If Chelsea sign him will it be seen as the last ever big money transfer, or a bargain?Slave trader Edward Colston, and as he’s been described in some sections of UK society, “philanthropist”, is under water. Is Winston Churchill getting nervous?We also speak to Derek Bardowell about his William Hill-nominated book, No Win Race. The book is about growing up as the British-born son of Jamaican immigrants, his evolving sense of his own identity and his shifting relationship to sport between about 1980, when the Minter-Hagler fight exposed him for the first time to the meaning of racism, to the present day.Via the West Indies, Michael Jordan, Lloyd Honeyghan and Ian Wright, Bardowell reflects on how sport has shaped the experience and influenced the perception of black Britain and black America.
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Ahoy podcasters! Its the start of the month which means its the best time to sign up to the World Service. Its 5 Euro a month which gives you instant access to all our archives, as well as all our current shows which now include daily doses of everyone's favourite David, David O'Doherty, isolating in Achill Island. This week we spoke to ESPN’s Howard Bryant about racial inequality and police brutality in the US and Ex Man United player Luke Chadwick about the anguish he suffered as a young player when he became the butt of repeated gags on the tv show They Think It’s All Over. And we review the new Lance Armstrong documentary and examine football's war on joy. Go to secondcaptains.com/join
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It’s the coldest ever Tops Off Thursday, but that won’t put David off tripodding with his guns blazing.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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David has avoided being struck by the fuselage of Elon Musk's rocket and is delighted to tell you about the time a Beatle visited Achill Island.
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"You only have three All-Irelands? Jesus, I thought you had more" - this is the sort of thing a footballer of Dara Ó Cinnéide's quality gets met with from time to time. Along with those three All-Ireland medals, he has 8 Munster medals, and is the sixth highest scorer in the history of Kerry football. He joins us today to tell us about "The Game That Changed His Life", being happy with his place in the pantheon, car journeys with Páidí, a stolen glance, the Kerry drought and why abuse beats pity.We also discuss Paul Mescal's hurling career, the sad end to Matt Damon's stay in Dalkey, Eoin and Murph's experience in the Damon household, Eddie Irvine, indoor pools, and Baz Ashmawy.
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It's Thursday so David has taken his top off and is fantasizing about having feet like a lobster. A huge day on Achill Island.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Another pandemic football pod - the Bundesliga continues, American sports media turns its attention to Saipan, for the most part we keep going in search of lost time.As Spain continues its staged lifting of lockdown, we discuss Pepe Reina's approval of the self-styled freedom fighting patriots in Madrid, and Jean Michel Aulas' disbelief at the hasty actions of the French government in cancelling Ligue 1. Jonathan Wilson and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about trips to Barnard Castle, the latest in Project Restart, and for the week that's in it, reminiscences of great Champions League finals gone by.
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David attempts to podcast during an Atlantic storm and reveals he spent some of the weekend kissing a cliff. #CovidHorn
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The tops of the world are being removed around you which can only mean one thing...it's Tops Off Thursday on Achill Island! Today's show is packed full of Jigsaw News, celebrity emails and of course nudity. Lord Doddlesworth reveals how the podcast nearly ended for good yesterday and receives an effigy of himself from Joe the Postman.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Today's free-to-air bonus podcast features your new fitness best friend. But it can also be your gardening/cooking/cleaning/resting best friend and it'll be right here for you whenever you need it.Many of our listeners around the world have started training over the lockdown. So we've compiled some of our favourite Second Captains audio beds from over the years to pump you up, to make you laugh, and most of all, to stop you from thinking about your burning legs. It's a 30 minute playlist that Eoin, Murph and Ken will introduce and countdown to. You'll get a polite and inspirational reminder of how much time has passed after the 10 and 20 minute mark. Your running playlist will start after 7.15 minutes of this podcast and your sprint finish will be the beautiful mix of David Bowie's 'Where Are We Now?' and Robbie Brady's goal against Italy in 2016. Soon you'll be sprinting on the beach à la Rocky Balboa. We're your Apollo Creed so let's finish our runs by celebrating in the sea in tiny shorts together.Good luck and join us on the Second Captains World Service at secondcaptains.com
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It's a miserable day on Achill but David's car steams up with the tale of his near death encounter with a shark.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Football is back - in Germany at least - but might there be an incredibly obvious way in which its return could be improved? Eoin is pleased that running has become the sole sporting outlet of a people in chains, but he is by no means the most enthusiastic proponent of the no-ball game. Meanwhile Ken has been trying to develop correct hip alignment, incorporating advice from some of the greats.We speak to Felix Tamsut of Deutsche Welle about the Bundesliga restart: were there any setbacks on the first weekend of the return? How is the football changed by the absence of fans? Why did polls suggest that most Germans were against it? And if it's so unpopular, why did Sky Deutschland report record audiences for its Bundesliga programming this weekend? Plus there's Eoin's tropes, hostile Haaland and runner's friend.
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We had a series of brilliant guests on Second Captains this week, starting with Shane Lowry on “the game that changed my life”, Andy Cole on his mental health struggles since his kidney transplant, Oscar nominee Lenny Abrahamson on his hit show Normal People and David O’Doherty on the baffling success of Romantica ice cream.You can try it out at secondcaptains.com/join for 5 Euro a month - no contract, no obligations, just top class pods.
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Things have taken a huge turn on Achill Island as Tops Off Thursday takes over the Tripod.And, after a rollercoaster of a week (more of a log flume into a pit of turds), David has found his fizz again. Also he has taken his top off.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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David is shocked by the sexiness of his own legs and welcomes his Dad back on the tripod to play your requests. It's a brilliant bumper Monday edition of Isolating!Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Shane Lowry is the reigning British Open champion and one of Ireland's most popular sportspeople, and he's the latest guest on our slot "The Game That Changed My Life".He's got a few memorable wins to choose from, whether from Portrush last year, from the WGC Invitational in 2015 against the best field in golf, or the break-out win of his career at Baltray at the 2009 Irish Open. He talks us through his choice, how you go about building a career in professional golf, the benefits of having to be thrifty, why time is the greatest gift, and what it means to have golf's return back on the horizon. There's also big news on the Players Chair front, some Lotto results, and Eoin plays "God" - aka The European Ryder Cup captain.
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Have England been denied major tournament glory by the sinister machinations of the rest of the football world? Terry Fenwick thinks yes, based on his experience at the 1986 World Cup.Young Eoin savages Sir Bobby Robson and Carli Lloyd tells us about the time her coach laughed at her for saying she wanted to be the best player in the world.Join the world service for 5 euro a month, no contracts, no obligations, just bundles of podcast fun. secondcaptains.com/join
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All-Killer-No-Filler Thursday is thrown wildly out of sync when a hare appears beside David’s car.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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David has achieved his life goal by having a wool colour named after him. What is left? Settling scores.
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Today we go back 35 years to tell the story of arguably the greatest fight of all-time – Marvin Hagler v Thomas Hearns. We hear about bank robberies, dodgy entourages and watch back the greatest round of them all with the brilliant Andy Lee.It’s one of those glorious occasions when the hype beforehand ended up significantly *under-selling* the action once the bell went. Andy tells us why this loss hurt his and Hearns’ coach Emmanuel Steward more deeply than any other. He tells us about the man in the tuxedo who carried Hearns to his corner, and why Hearns hates that photo so much...about a character called Willie ‘Caveman’ Lee, and why 35 years on, it’s still hard to get people from the Kronk Gym to acknowledge the greatness of this one.Through the wonders of modern podcasting technology, you guys can watch the fight right along with us, just check twitter/insta for details. https://twitter.com/SecondCaptains/status/1257241405300379648?s=20And if you missed our brilliant show with Andy on his fight with Peter Quillin check it out here -https://www.secondcaptains.com/2020/04/07/episode-1740-andy-lee-watches-his-classic-2015-fight-against-peter-quillin-for-the-first-time-just-for-second-captains-world-service-members/
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This week saw the return of the World Service Small Business Solidarity Shout-Out and with it, good old-fashioned donks. Eoin continued to dish out scandalous stories of members' run-ins with Murph and Ken in our new Egomaniacs slot, run-ins which, needless to say, left them with a sour taste in their mouths. And over on Achill Island, David regaled us with a description of a slightly surreal former job of his cleaning up sausage spillages in a German grocery warehouse.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: https://www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Today David lifts the lid on his career as a nine-year-old detective as the pain of our badly named listeners comes back thick and fast in 'Say My Name'.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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On today's Isolating podcast David announces his (at this time still untested) cure for Coco Pox and ignites his Monday mood with a brand new slot.
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The question of whether the Bundesliga should return behind closed doors has proved controversial in Germany. On one side millionaire bosses, on the other, accelerationist ultras. Who really has the best interests of the game at heart? Felix Tamsut brings us up to speed...We also discuss the quality of information in opinion polls, pandemic diabetes management, and why nothing can ever, ever, ever, ever compare to the men - and we use that word advisedly - of ‘03.
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This week we did one of our best ever interviews - it was about the Oisin McConville final, with Oisin McConville, who told us what was going through his head at HT in the 2002 All Ireland Final.Plus there's David O'Doherty daily, Ken V Keane REDUX, Djokovic the anti Elvis, egomaniacs, and a Player's Chair with Megan Campbell. Go to secondcaptains.com to join.
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David watches the sun go down while sitting in the ruins of a Celtic ring fort and listening to Enya. It’s very mystical. Today's show also features his Dad playing your requests.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Today on the podcast David explores Achill Island’s relationship with the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles and reminisces about his karaoke days.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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The miserable Mike Ashley era at Newcastle looks to be drawing to a close. Cue mass rejoicing. But is it possible things could be about to get... even worse? How are Newcastle fans feeling about the prospect of their club being taken over by a Saudi-backed consortium? We talk to Alex Hurst, host of the True Faith podcast and chair of the NUFC Supporters Trust. Is a Saudi takeover the equivalent of winning the football lottery, or is one of the game's least lucky fanbases about to get acquainted with a new form of exploitation?
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Its time for your weekly waft of Second Captains FOMO.Ken talks about the Spain of old, Kenny Cunningham talks about the time he had Raul in his pocket, plus there's the apocalypse lovers, Kevin McStay turning down Brian Clough and World Cup hockey star Nicci Daly on her family business (motor racing), and delaying the Olympic dream for a year. Go to secondcaptains.com to join.
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Let's cut to the chase here: today, David gets in the nude. Plus, get ready for the greatest Jigsaw News™ there's ever been.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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As David struggles with another jigsaw, his pianist father, Jim is back on the podcast to remind us all what an actual talent is.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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It's a very very special day for Eoin McDevitt, not that anybody notices until he reminds them of it, but several of you have noticed young Eoin's voice-a-likes. Today we're joined by Sid Lowe, to talk about how FC Barcelona have managed to career off the rails even though Spain has been in lockdown for weeks. Why have six directors resigned, and what is the nature of the scandalous allegations pursuing the reviled President Josep Bartomeu?Plus there's Roy Hodgson's documentary feast, Jose's jog, Ken's potholes and we give details on our next Second Captains watch-a-long, Ireland v Spain in the 2002 World Cup.
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David is sad when he scares away a bee with a dildo but all is saved when, mid-episode, he receives his dream gift.Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: https://www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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The World Service was, as always, a broadchurch this week. The reincarnated Bill Shankly chose Ken as his host so we could finally get to the bottom of what he would have made of the Liverpool furlough scandal. Andy Lee watched the most gruelling fight of his career back for the first time before joining the lads to relive the whole experience. And to top things off, Paul O'Connell became our very first guest on our new slot, 'The Game That Changed My Life.' Join the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month: https://www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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It's to Achill Island we go again to check in on our Isolating host, David O'Doherty. The Joe Wicks of shouting in a car greets the new week with a breath of fire. Today's show also features his first ever recorded collaboration with his father, Jim on piano.
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There was some major Irish football news over the weekend but before we get into the Mick McCarthy / Stephen Kenny story, we ask the question that has been obsessing much of the UK media: have greedy Premier League footballers done enough to protect society from the coronavirus? Richie Sadlier and David Sneyd join us to talk about the Ireland managerial succession. How will Mick McCarthy's second stint be remembered? And what are their expectations for the Stephen Kenny era? Plus there's bitin' yer hand off, our NHS, and Irish manager rhetoric.
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You've probably heard the news that Stephen Kenny has just been confirmed as Republic of Ireland manager with immediate effect, so we think it's a pretty damn good time to replay our brilliant interview with the man himself from our most recent The Gang's All Here Shows (boy will there be a live show party when we get through this by the way).Murph introduces the show this Saturday night. Stephen spoke to us in front of a packed house at Liberty Hall and this interview is one not to be missed, as his passion for his job shines through in every answer.We discuss his advice to young players, why loan deals can be a poisoned chalice, why you shouldn’t be punished for being an Irishman, his commitment to his attacking philosophy, and how the u-21s performances have been a rare bright spot for Irish football last year.We'll be back for more reaction with Ken, Eoin and Murph on Monday in the meantime this Saturday, you're allowed ONE DRINK, NO MORE, THEN YOU'RE OFF TO BED
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The greatest Premier League game of all time, US Murph's memories of the day Magic Johnson told the world he was HIV positive, and David O'Doherty tries to make peace with the hares - its been an audio stew on the Second Captains world service this week, and you can eat and drink your fill for a fiver a month. No contracts, just love at secondcaptains.com.
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Like President Bill Pullman in Independence Day, David uses his incredible rhetoric to make peace with the hares. It's a four-part Isolation podcast masterpiece (you'll barely notice the windy conditions of part two 😬).To continue listening to David's daily podcasts from Achill, join us now so you never miss an episode: www.secondcaptains.com/isolating/
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Absence, they say, makes the heart grow fonder. We make our way back to the island for the first show of the week where we find our host returning to the lair of the hare, armed only with a carrot. In differently-spelled hair news, David also gave himself a quarantine do and made an absolute balls of it.
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When will football be back? What should happen when it does? Will the old structures still exist? And after the pandemic, will people still care? Rory Smith and Jack Pitt-Brooke join us to talk about what football could look like when it starts back up again. Is there a moral argument to write off the 19-20 season and move on? Plus there’s solidarity donks, McGregror music, a Second Captains watch-a-long, Eoin’s green fingers, Ken’s noble aims and Murph’s nothing.
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Ken reviews the official film of the 2018 FIFA World Cup from his exercise bike, DOD goes XXX, Pat Kenny freestyles and McGregor addresses the nation.Things are weird. LETS GO PODCASTING.....
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Today's trip to the island consists of a mix of essential fashion tips and a tale of blood-curdling horror. David discusses how to look fabulous during a pandemic and learns of the terrifying Monster of Achill.To continue listening to David's daily podcasts from Achill, join us now so you never miss an episode: https://www.secondcaptains.com/isolating/
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David O'Doherty is still tucked away on Achill Island with his parents as we go west again for Episode 4 of Isolating. Like Columbus or Magellan, David sets off on a great adventure to get a Lotto Quick Pick for his mother. He also receives important social distancing advice from Shaggy.To continue listening to David's daily podcasts from Achill, join us now so you never miss an episode: www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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As one sporting event after another fell inevitably to the coronavirus pandemic, the silence from the Tokyo Olympic Committee was deafening. As the calls for it to be postponed grew louder and louder, they maintained an almost baffling optimism that the Games would be able to continue at their appointed time and in their appointed place. Over the last 4 days, reality it appears has come crashing into the IOC's world. Tariq Panja has been covering this story for the New York Times, and he joins us today to tell us why the IOC have given themselves four weeks to make a decision, why cancellation was never an option, and why postponement for a year might yet make the most sense. We also hear why it was Nature 1 - Murph 0 this weekend, Ken opens a window into his current living condition, and Eoin's pronunciation of omelette finally gets the treatment it deserves.
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With David O'Doherty's brand new podcast 'Isolating' going daily on the Second Captains World Service next week, now is a great time to support independent, commercial-free broadcasting. Go to secondcaptains.com for details.
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Back to Achill Island we go for this week's final episode of Isolating with David O'Doherty, where we encounter our host goading local sheep to bleat for the podcast. David compares his victory in the 1990 Achill Island Junior Angler of the Year competition to the life of pirate queen Grace O'Malley. He also dearly misses his bikes.
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It’s time to return to Achill Island and a "Smurf-blue sky" for episode 2 of Isolating with David O'Doherty. In today’s podcast, David is almost mugged by a gang of hares, but escapes back to the house where he intends to grow peaches and avocados.Join us now so you don't miss an episode: https://www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Everything in David O’Doherty‘s life has been cancelled so he decided to make a podcast. Come with us to a car on Achill Island for episode 1 of Isolating with David O’Doherty. Strange new times in the world call for a strange new show on the Second Captains World Service. Short trips to David’s car will be daily during the Dystopian Spring Break.Join us now so you don't miss an episode: https://www.secondcaptains.com/join/
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Jack McCaffrey is one of Ireland's most decorated sportspeople, and one of the best footballers of the last 30 years. But he's also a doctor, and he's experiencing life on the front lines of the HSE's battle to minimise the impact of COVID 19 on the country. He joins us this morning to talk about how he's found the last week, the steps that we can all take to prevent further spread, how to protect your own mental and physical health and what to do if you're symptomatic.Everyone else seems to be scaling back, but now sees like a good time to start *increasing* your intake of podcasts - David O'Doherty (!!!) joins us from a top-secret location to tell us about his new show with us here on the World Service. Plus there's Ken on UEFA's decision to postpone Euro 2020, j'adore Inchicore, and opening the Tutankhamun's tomb that is Mick McCarthy's FAI contract.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss their different ways of coping with the COVID-19 shutdown. Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about the British government's after-you response and where football goes from here now that Wayne Rooney is leading the way for player's rights. Jack Charlton teaches young Eoin a thing or two about preparing a squad for international competition.Plus there's the Gibraltar Open, presenters in pants, and WWE does Beckett. And please keep social distancing.
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It might have been one of the madder weeks in sports history - for the sport that went on, the sport that didn't go on, and the sport that may not now go on. Have a listen to this small audio taster of what we got up to on the Second Captains World Service as we talk about just how Cheltenham went ahead, why the Olympics is the Petri dish to end all Petri dishes, and thus should be cancelled for 2020... and, just for some light relief, we talk about the new Nike miracle sneakers with the sixth-best marathon runner in the world. To join the Second Captains world service, just go to secondcaptains.com/join, and we'd be delighted to have you ❤
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France blew their chance of a Grand Slam yesterday as they capitulated to ill-discipline against Scotland, and this now means that two bonus-point wins for Ireland in our last two games will see us crowned (rather unlikely) Six Nations champions. When these games will be played, and if they get played at all, is another matter entirely, of course. As the coronavirus looks set to wreak havoc on all sports over the coming weeks, we speak to Gerry Thornley and Tom English about red cards, Scotland's revival and the likelihood of finishing this tournament in 2020. Plus - the permutation king makes a come-back... and then makes a bold, anti-Italian suggestion, Alun Wyn Jones gets his balls grabbed in his place of work, Joe Marler's previous banter bona fides, and Scotland earn our respect.
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Is it within the power of one man to resurrect an entire football club? Perhaps science can produce some metaphors for Bruno Fernandes' astonishing impact on the Man United team. Meanwhile Jose is once again throwing chunks of meat to the mob - but is anyone still eating it up? We speak to Tobias Jones in the locked-down city of Parma about how people have reacted to the measures taken by the Italian government to reduce the spread of Covid-19, and the implications for the football season.
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Hurling folk are never shy of offering an opinion when it looks like people want to meddle with their beautiful game, and they were out in force over the last few weeks to ensure that the black card would not be introduced in hurling. That motion was duly blasted out of the water at Congress on Saturday, and there was also a full set of league fixtures this Sunday for Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and former Waterford manager Derek McGrath to pore over. Dublin and Tyrone played a football match in a hurricane, but it was a fight in a tunnel that garnered most of the attention on Saturday evening. Plus there's 34-man teams in hurling, Leinster's 6 foot 6 inch secret, Simon's starting 15 for our game vs France (in October), the Bank of England, and the Master of Wind.
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According to Emmet Malone's survey of Irish football supporter preferences over the weekend in the Irish Times, the situation is much, much worse than Dermot Keely thought. It turns out that more than a million morons in this country support Manchester United or Liverpool. Today we try to figure out what's going on.We also discuss the Sunday Times latest revelations about Mick McCarthy's golden handcuffs, and Stephen Kenny's media handcuffs. Also we talk about the end of Liverpool's run, Man United's lucky escape at Goodison, a mediocre Clasico which saw the return of Argentina Messi, Villa's doomed bravery in the League Cup final, and different methods of handling the media. And we're joined by Felix Tamsut of Deutsche Welle to talk about the farcical scenes at the end of Hoffenheim 0-6 Bayern - when play was twice stopped due to abusive banners directed at Hoffenheim's billionaire owner, and eventually resumed with a truce between the teams. Why have German football fans turned on the Hoffenheim benefactor?
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On the World Service this week, Ken's brain-feed was scrambled by the Champions League, while Pep learned not to repeat the worst mistake he's ever made: listening to his players.Andy Lee dropped into studio after arriving back from Las Vegas following Tyson Fury's rematch victory over Deontay Wilder, and he sincerely hopes Wilder doesn't believe his own excuse for losing.Meanwhile, the now notorious Dub-basher Oisin McConville admits that Dublin's cynicism is something to be admired.
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Optimism wasn't exactly in massive supply ahead of yesterday's 6 Nations game against England, but the scale of the defeat is nowhere near told by the final scoreline of 24-12. The scoreboard flattered us, but the performance spoke volumes. Ireland are way off the pace. Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie give us their view on what was a dispiriting performance after two wins in our first two games in this year's championship. Scrum, lineout, driving maul, attack, at half-back... there are a lot of areas where vast improvement is required. Former England out-half Paul Grayson joins the show to give us the England viewpoint, while Ken Early questions the patriotism of our players, Murph pines for the Twickenham wins of yesteryear, and McDevitt attempts to boil lances and lance boils, all in the same podcast.
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In amongst all the VAR mistakes some football happened over the weekend. We look at how Man City shaped up ahead of what could be their last appearance in the Champions League knockout phase for a while, and empathise with the latest torment pulling at the heartstrings of The Sad One.Dermot Corrigan tells us whether he shares Ken's view that Manchester City should destroy Real Madrid. And John Burn-Murdoch joins us to talk about the Financial Times' recent look at the evolution of the link between wages and points accumulation - which turns out to be more complicated than you might expect.
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It was a pretty crazy weekend of weather in Ireland, and yet somehow some hurling went ahead. Wexford/Kilkenny was the pick of the bunch, and we talk to Michael Duignan about what Davy can take from Wexford winning a battle like this against the former market leaders in that area. And Irish rugby international Eimear Considine is in studio to talk to us about the Tackle Your Feelings app, aimed at teenagers to try and promote mental wellness. She talks to us about facing down the England juggernaut this weekend, losing wunderkind Beibhinn Parsons to her leaving cert commitments, trading the GAA for rugby, and confronting personal tragedy as a teenager. Plus there's hurling goalkeepers and their Tom Crean impersonations, playing with the storm in the first half, and the politics of calling a game off.
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As surely as night follows day, then the onset of Ken Early's holidays will precipitate some truly earth-shattering football news. But fear not, because on hand to discuss Man City's European football ban is the inimitable Richie Sadlier. Richie was also in Dalymount Park for Saturday afternoon's Dublin derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, which was allowed go ahead, but which wasn't shown live on television for safety reasons. Richie tells us which one of him, Pat Fenlon and George Hamilton refused to get up in the gantry. We're also joined by Sam Lee and Miguel Delaney to tell us how defiant Man City will be as they attempt to defend themselves in court, how huge a story this is, and we try and speculate as to how this will affect City's squad. Plus there's swingers clubs, Monkeano, James Joyce, and Jodie Foster.
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It was heated debate week on Second Captains: The truth about Sinn Fein, good and bad. Are themed jerseys, supporting good causes and craft beer the best for LOI clubs to grow their fan base? And is it fair to point out a rugby player's age? LETS GET IT ON!
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Andrew Conway joins us in studio today, fresh off the back of what was probably his best-ever performance for Ireland on Saturday afternoon against Wales. He tells us about the conscious choice he made not to settle for being a provincial player when his career was faltering, how Joe Schmidt helped in turning his aerial game from being a weakness to a strength, and how he has worked on his mental game.Ireland were confident, skilful and ambitious against Wales, but Shane Horgan thinks the team have a lot more to improve on before we can get too excited. Gerry Thornley believes Farrell’s faith in Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony has been vindicated, Shane believes we must also look at the opportunity cost.Plus there's Finn Russell’s nuclear option, Beibhinn Parsons tearing it up for Ireland in the Women's 6 Nations, Eddie Jones playing the straight bat and sub-zero post-match interviews.
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It's been a seismic weekend in Irish politics, and so everyone's first question as they watched the results roll in was surely - how are all the members of our favourite Oireachtas Committee getting on? All in all it was a mixed couple of days for those men and women tasked with investigating John Delaney and the FAI - Ken gives us the low-down. If it was all change in the political sphere, Mick McCarthy wasn't impressed. Speaking in Dublin today, he was more than happy to say that he would remain true to his more experienced warriors. Plus there's teleporters, Troy Parrott staying put, Jordan Pickford bemoaning how heavily criticised England internationals are, and asks the question - at what stage can we start to forgive and forget the origin story of... RB Leipzig?
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This week's Second Captains World Service tasting menu includes- a soupçon of US Murph on teaching his kids life lessons after the Niners blew the Super Bowl- 'filet of Stuart Barnes' on Owen Farrell (side order of Shane Horgan, Matt Williams, Gordon Darcy also available on request) - a 'Clare FM birthday message to Ken Early' sorbet - and our delicious 'Sid Lowe on Messi vs Barcelona' dessert platterIf you want the full menu, then just sign up to the world service on secondcaptains.com/join to enjoy all the meats of our podcast stew.
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It wasn't the prettiest win you've ever seen, and it might not have been a win at all if Stuart Hogg had remembered how to score a try, but the Andy Farrell era is on its way. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley give us their verdict - what has changed since Joe Schmidt left, what changes should we make for Wales, will grit be our defining characteristic, and would 3 wins satisfy all involved? France, meanwhile, blew all the pre-tournament predictions out the window with their stunning win over England yesterday... the pre-tournament predictions of everyone except Simon Nostrodamus Hick. Plus there's Girvan Dempsey's try-scoring technique, French rugby's "handsome outhalf - success" correlation, Andy Farrell at the Web Summit, and what Ken Early stands for.
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We briefly discuss the don't call it a bailout deal agreed between the Government and FAI last week, and the reasons why many people are against it. City are winning the xG league so why are they 22 points down in the real one? We try to analyse some of the reasons why Liverpool have opened up such a gap. Also today Ken casts a critical eye over the various portions of humble pie that have been presented to him by recent football events, and swallows a small morsel.Michael Cox joins us to talk about why he believes football needs to take a harder line on tactical fouling.
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The 6 Nations is back, and we’ll have the best coverage €5 can buy throughout the tournament with Shane Horgan, as we demonstrate on this latest gentle nudge in your direction towards the Second Captains World Service. US Murph reports live from Miami as he looks forward to his beloved 49ers in the Super Bowl this Sunday night, and there’s Ken with a word of warning to Jack Grealish’s team-mates - do NOT touch his hair. Sign up now for all 6 shows every week on the World Service at secondcaptains.com/join, for just €5 a month plus VAT.
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The Allianz national hurling and football leagues are back, and Kerry and the Dubs gave us a pretty much perfect opening night performance. We had sportsmanship, brawls, insane cameos from Brian Fenton, Ciarán Kilkenny and David Clifford, and at the end of it all, another draw. Oisin McConville and Sean O'Sullivan are on hand to talk us through all that, as well as Donegal's Mayo problem, Mayo's talent problem, and talented footballers named after fish. Kobe Bryant's death in a helicopter crash yesterday has sparked a huge global reaction - we speak to Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated about his complicated legacy in the sport. Plus there's planning for the mark, senior hurling politics, Duff beer, and the deeply unsatisfactory way we find out about celebrity deaths now.
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Jurgen Klopp has thrown down the gauntlet to English football. Best of luck with your little competition, hope it goes well but I'm afraid I'm away that week. Nobody has ever disrespected the FA Cup like this before. Will he be allowed to get away with it?We discuss where it all went wrong for the FA Cup, and what is happening with the mooted Saudi takeover at Newcastle.Richard Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss Niall Quinn's new role at the FAI. What does Quinn's record suggest his priorities will be? And how happy should people be about the appointment?
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It was the last round of the European Cup pool stage, and as Munster waited in vain for a miracle that never really looked like happening, Leinster and Ulster are the last two Irish provinces standing. Leinster's reward for finishing as the top seed is a home quarter-final against the reigning champions, but what shape Saracens will be in by that stage is anyone's guess. Shane Horgan is back on the pod with Paul Rees of the Guardian to discuss why we still don't know what exactly Saracens did, what impact relegation will have on their English internationals, and what it means even for this year's European Cup. Malachy Clerkin joins us in studio to talk about wins for Corofin and the Shamrocks of Ballyhale on All-Ireland club final day yesterday, and also why the GAA would do well not to over-sell the broader appeal of the provincial or All-Ireland club championships. Plus there's the salt tears of Stephen Jones, Conor McGregor's winning return to the octagon, and a very bad week for the fíor-gaels.
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Liverpool continue to sweep all before them and yesterday's victory at Anfield made it 21 wins in 22 matches. About such near-perfection, what is there left to say? So naturally much of this podcast is about Manchester United. The heated viral argument between Keane and Carragher illustrated the tension at the heart of a struggling institution. Does Ole deserve more time? Has he been as selfless a custodian of the club's long-term interests as he makes himself out to be? There's also talk about Chelsea's antisemitism initiative and Steve Cook's approach to game theory, before Mark Critchley and Jonathan Wilson join us to give their reaction to the game at Anfield and their analysis of where the two sides are at.
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Last Friday on the Second Captains World Service Ken spoke to historian Brian Hanley about what Fine Gael were thinking with the planned RIC event and what the controversy tells us about Irish memory and the development of Irish nationalism - the show got a phenomenal response from listeners, and many asked us to make it free to all (as we did with the Jackson/Olding rape trial discussion - https://www.secondcaptains.com/2018/03/29/episode-1124-the-belfast-rape-trial-sexual-consent-and-a-toxic-dressingroom-culture/).If you enjoy it, all that we ask when you finish up listening is to take 10 seconds to consider whether you might like to become a part of the World Service. It costs a fiver a month + VAT and you get daily podcasts plus full access to the archive, and can cancel whenever you want.
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It always looked pretty tough, and now Munster's European Cup hopes are hanging by the thinnest of threads after they battled bravely for 70 minutes before coming up short in Paris against Racing 92. Gordon D'Arcy and James Coughlan tell us what Munster's next step should be if qualification proves beyond them, if the talent gap is now too wide to bridge, what Ulster’s expectations should be and who should play 12 for Ireland.Plus - we permutate up a storm, Eoin marvels at Teddy Iribaren and Teddy thomas as his new mic’d slot gains traction, and Ken berates Murph for his terrible, really bad, no-good, borrowed-from-rugby, VAR idea.
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Jose Mourinho came up with a plan to defy Liverpool and it resulted in his team being passed off the pitch and failing to score in another defeat - his 5th in 13 matches at Spurs. Nevertheless most Spurs fans seem happy with what has been redefined as progress. We try to break down this apparent paradox.We also talk about Sergio Aguero's record-breaking feats and the sadness in Declan Rice's eyes.We talk to Carlos Martin Rio of Panenka magazine about what's happening with Barcelona's overtures to Xavi, and why they seem to be convinced Xavi is their man, despite showing little apparent promise in his managerial career so far.
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Its our first reminder of the year to non-members of just what they're missing on the Second Captains World Service, and this week we're debuting a brave new slot curated by Eoin McDevitt. There's also Ken Early's breathless reporting of Charlie Austin's holiday making, and how Charlie and his wife Bianca make major decisions in their marriage. On a rather more serious note, there's also a report from Australia, as friend of the show Rohan Connolly tells us just how devastating the fires have been, and how saddened he's been by the reaction of the country's political class. **To join the Second Captains World Service, simply go to secondcaptains.com/join and get full access to all shows for just €5 + VAT**
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The top scorer in the 2019 All-Ireland championship was not David Clifford, Seanie O'Shea, or any of the Dublin five-in-a-row heroes... it was Cathal McShane of Tyrone. So it's a pretty big deal that he's heading to Australia this month for pre-season training with the Adelaide Crows of the AFL. If, as seems likely, McShane is on his way, what will that mean for Tyrone - and what will it mean for the future of GAA/AFL relations that one of the best players in the country ups sticks mid-career and heads to the other side of the world? Oisin McConville joins us. Gerry Thornley and Darren Cave, meanwhile, are ready to tell us about a pretty one-sided inter-pro series last weekend and the wave of new faces pushing for inclusion in a 6N squad, including big Stu McCloskey and a trio of Leinster backrowers.Can Munster do a Munster and turn it all around in Europe, and can Ulster do what they’ve always struggled to do and beat a good French side away from home?
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Adam Idah's spectacular hat-trick for Norwich was a glimmer of the old magic on a typically bleak FA Cup third round weekend.Inspired by Chelsea's retro kit, we consider possible ways to spice up football's tired relationship with the Cup. Tom Pope gets a mention.Elsewhere we consider Jurgen Klopp's comments on the craziness of the fixture schedule, and compare the physiological load on players today with what we know about the demands of football in the 1970s.David Sneyd is in studio to talk to us about Ireland's Youthquake.And Miguel Delaney joins us on the line to defend his thesis that Liverpool's ascent is just more of the same old hypercapitalism.
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Ken reports from the FAI's reconvened AGM which took place at the Citywest Hotel yesterday. Is there anything to be said for setting up another committee? We talk about Liverpool's 19-game victory lap, the emergence of the shoulder as the key part of the footballing anatomy, and the rest of the Christmas football, including that Friday night classic between Wolves and Manchester City.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about Chelsea's win at Arsenal, what the January transfer window might hold for these clubs, and whether there is a way to fix VAR.
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Last summer Richie travelled to Mayo for a chat with one of the most loved Gaelic footballers of all time, Andy Moran. It was such a fun interview we decided to make it our best of 2019 and its now available to all. During the interview, Andy revealed, unprompted, he had retired from inter-county football – a first ever X5SADS scoop - and how a good sleep conquers all.
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It was a weekend that saw several more episodes in Britain's long national nervous breakdown. A day that began with one national broadcaster misleadingly quoting Stormzy ended with another assuring their audience that they are solidly committed to the fight against racism, despite any accidental impressions to the contrary.Meanwhile Manchester United lost 2-0 to Watford with David de Gea making a mistake that leaves you wondering how close he is to losing the faith of the crowd. At least it was a good week for the new FIFA Club World Champions Liverpool...Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to discuss what happened at Spurs yesterday, where the responsibilities of broadcasters lie in this increasingly fraught time, and whether the honeymoon is already over for Jose.Plus there's AFTV strife, Souness' contribution to the race hate solution, and Cecil Rhodes' guilt.
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Munster are still very much alive in their pool of the European Rugby Champions Cup, but they will rue missing out on a bonus point on Saturday against Saracens in London. Shane Horgan talks to us about on-field decision-making, the magic of Larmour and Cooney, loose lips on the sideline, and Connacht's battling win over Gloucester that still gives them a mathematical chance of making it through to the European Cup quarter-finals. We speak to Michael Conlan, after he went to 13-0 in his professional boxing career, with a win in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night against his last ever opponent in the amateur ranks - the man who beat him in the Rio Olympics and which sparked one of the abiding Irish memories of those games. Plus there's a new brush sweeping cleanest in the ranks of the Olympic boxing judges, great European train journeys with Ken Early, and Simon's passions get impugned and disrespected by Eoin.
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Today it turns out that John Giles and Ken do agree on at least one thing, but there are still some minor areas of difference to be ironed out. Arsenal were made to look weak on the field by Manchester City, and off the field by their own communications department, who were quick to distance the club from Mesut Özil's post criticising Chinese persecution of the Uighurs in Xinjiang / East Turkestan. We discuss how Western sports teams should treat the question of their employees commenting on what in China are considered third-rail issues. We're joined by Patrick Boyland, who covers Everton for the Athletic, to talk about Duncan Ferguson, his treatment of Moise Kean, and whether Everton think Ferguson or some other coach is the best long-term prospect.And Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal explains Arsenal's stance on Özil, and how their thinking changed on Arteta.
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If you’re listening to this mini-podcast you probably know what you need to do to become a member and hear all the good stuff - go to secondcaptains.com/join, and its 5 euro a month.We do this independently, driven by the support of our awesome members. If you’d like to get involved we’d love to have you, and don’t forget you can sign up for just one month, cancel after that if it’s not working out (but it will work out)... (but if it doesn't that's fine).... (but it definitely will).
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On Friday afternoon, the FAI revealed the true disastrous state of its financial affairs.Later that evening, we welcomed Richie Sadlier and 2019 Journalist of the Year Mark Tighe, whose reporting in the Sunday Times helped to bring about John Delaney's downfall as FAI CEO, to help us sift through the wreckage.
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Munster, Leinster and Ulster all won in Europe this week, with only a disappointing second half from Connacht between us and a clean sweep... but the shadow of the Rugby World Cup malfunction still hovers. Munster/Saracens was ruined by the weather in Thomond on Saturday, while Leinster made hay in the sunshine in Northampton. But not even those results could move Rory Best's comments in the IRFU World Cup review from top billing. Did he really throw Joe Schmidt under the bus? And did David Nucifora give him a hand while he was doing it? Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times, and Chris Hewitt cover the on-field action, and Dennis Hickie refuses to completely agree that Schmidt's reputation is getting a battering. Plus there's roofless theatres, host nations, and book reviews.
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Freddie Arsenal DNA Ljungberg's Arsenal were recognisably Arsenal, and that is not necessarily a good sign. Is there a chance that Brendan Rodgers' links with the job could become more than "hypothetical"? Jack Grealish's sensational performance at Old Trafford was a big part of the reason why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team still has only four wins from 14 matches. How long can this form go on before the patience runs out?We also discuss Barcelona's new season documentary, just released on Rakuten TV.Andy Hunter joins us to talk Everton. How can a team that on the face of it has a core of good players be... so bad? And with a list of upcoming fixtures that reads something like Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid 1956-60, Arsenal, Holland 1974, Leicester, Barcelona 2009-11 - what chance is there for Marco Silva to turn this around?
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If Jim Gavin had resigned shortly after the five-in-a-row had been achieved, then it would have been seen as surprising, but not shocking. The fact that he has left the most high-profile job in the GAA as the calendar ticks into December means the news, which broke on Saturday morning, qualifies as a bombshell. Oisin McConville and Michael Foley of the Sunday Times talk to us about why it happened now, what he did while he was in the job, and who's going to take over from him. And in the midst of all that, we celebrate a final record which reads - played 107, won 86, lost 11, drew 10. Six All-Irelands, and one championship defeat in 7 years. Ken wistfully recalls the Jim Gavin that he knew and loved, Murph's news nose was on-point in the hours before the announcement, and we have a little Blindboy taster ahead of a stellar month on the Second Captains World Service.
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Much like last week on the World Service when Maurico Pocchetino was relieved of his duties at Spurs, the Emery news threw all our careful planning out the window - let’s just put out a podcast on the big news of the day and so that’s what we did.That pod is out now - along with a fun look back on Tiger's last 10 years, a Champions League review and all the week's other big sports stories - you can have listen once you’re signed up on secondcaptains.com
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Manchester City kept the chase going with a narrow win over Chelsea that saw Guardiola's team notch up an unwanted first. Are we seeing cracks appear on the glittering City facade?Meanwhile the Ole-outometer was swinging more wildly than a Phil Jones attempted clearance as the Uniteds of Sheffield and Manchester traded the lead and shared the points. United stay ninth in the Premier League - but they're doing a lot better in a certain Other table, where they have some surprising company in the top six.Jonathan Wilson and Rory Smith join us to talk about the weekend's football. Why can't Jonathan bring himself to believe in Ole? What emotions did the return of Jose make Rory feel? And what do they think of the BBC giving such prominence to offbeat South American ding-a-ling, the Copa Libertadores Final?
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Ireland had 4 wins from 4 in Round 1 of the European Rugby Champions Cup last week, but we had to make do with 2 wins and a draw this week - and the only defeat came from what might have been the best performance of the lot, Connacht away to Toulouse. We talk about Munster's thrilling draw at home to Racing with Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times and one of Racing's returning Munster-men Donnacha Ryan, as well as Leinster's gritty 7 point win in Lyon, and Ulster's victory over a sorry Clermont on Friday night. That Clermont performance led some (including Murph) to question the integrity of the competition, and we also discuss nutmegs in rugby, November hurling in the tropics, and marvellous Brendan Maher.
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It has been a dramatic week on the Second Captains World Service, and we thank the football Gods that Ken, Murph, Eoin and Richie were not armed during a particularly heated debrief on Tuesday after Ireland's 1-1 draw with Denmark. With disaster narrowly averted, Ken went to Tallaght to see the Ireland u-21s, and his love of the game was duly restored, before his heart was crushed again by Daniel Levy and Jose Mourinho. Check out what you've been missing on the Second Captains World Service as we roar at each other about James McClean, Matt Doherty, Mick McCarthy and many, many others...
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The Rugby World Cup is barely over but time waits for no man, and it seemed like the Irish players were only too happy to re-focus their attention on a tournament that they actually like playing in, and have even won from time to time. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times guide us through the main talking points of the opening weekend of this season's tournament - with Saracens fielding a second string, Ireland's provinces invincible, and a lot of Irish players generally looking pretty angry. Plus - there's an admonishment for Ken for not 'spoiler-alerting' the ending of a book that was written in 1856, Murph salutes a young GAA player heading 'off foreign', and an emailer tells us of the perils of coaching kids.
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With the Danes in town and maybe ready to teach us another cruel lesson, we take refuge in nostalgia and revisit the week 10 years ago when Ireland went full Alex Jones. We also look to the longer-term future, with Kieran Lucid and Brendan Dillon joining us in studio to bring us up to speed with what's been happening on the question of the all-island league. But we can't hide forever from the present. Tonight it's Ireland v Denmark for a place in the Euros, and hopefully James McClean can prove as uncompromising a presence on the pitch as he was last week in the pressroom.Eoin does his best to talk us into positivity, and there’s Mick bites your hand off, goal communism and cheats a-plenty.
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Ken Early gives his thoughts on the rise of the poppy.
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Name another podcast that in one week gives you a 2 minute Denmark grudge audiobed, Yanis Varoufakis being told the EU humiliated him and Paddy Holohan telling Richie Sadlier what its really like to step into an MMA cage?ITS THE SECOND CAPTAINS WORLD SERVICE.....YO!
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The European Rugby Champions Cup starts this week, with last year's champions Saracens widely tipped to retain their title... or at least they *were* widely tipped, until they were given a 35 point deduction in the English Premiership, and fined £5 million for salary cap infractions. We talk to Shane Horgan and Mike Aylwin of the Guardian about what Saracens' suspension tells us about the sport's business model, why rugby clubs need to rethink their strategy, and why other English clubs have wasted no time sticking the boot into Saracens since the punishment was announced. Mary Cain used to be one of America's most talented young athletes, but in an interview with the New York Times last week she revealed the horrendous pressure she was put under while in the Nike Oregon project to drastically lose weight. Sunday Times journalist Rebecca Myers wrote a fascinating piece yesterday on the back of this Mary Cain story about the culture of the sport and the effect on their bodies and minds of trying to live up to all the demands, and Rebecca is on the show today. We also discover why passionate anthem-singing = wins, David Clifford wows us again, good news for fans of our "I'll Tell You Who Wrote It" book club, and we discover why rugby's demise is (predictably) actually football's fault.
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Ep 1618: Liverpool Simply Stronger, City Get Mugged Off, Title Race Realities, Poppy Heat - 11/11/19 by Second Captains
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The Ireland women's hockey team can't stop creating history - from a World Cup final, to record crowds, to The Olympics. We talk to Nicci Daly, one of the stars of a team that keep getting it done in tight games and on big occasions.South Africa were far from perfect and won the Rugby World Cup with a game-plan that lacked ambition and scope, but had the best basics - scrum, lineout, maul, defence - of any team that's ever played the game. Were England and NZ too idealistic? Are defence coaches the most important men in the game? And we ask Eoin Reddan and Shane Horgan if Ireland were right to be conservative after all, and what the next step should be in the giant fix that's required.Plus there's Katie's emotional night, styles make fights, Ken's tribute to Gay Byrne, and Ireland's peno shootout DNA.
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Saturday saw probably the most heartbreaking come-from-behind win of Pep Guardiola's career, as City returned to their dressing room only to hear that Liverpool had scored a late winner of their own - but were the City manager's supposed comments about Mané's diving misreported? Mané didn't really dive, of course, as VAR should have decided - and no, we can't avoid talking about VAR forever - it's clear now almost everyone has now turned against it, we discuss what's going wrong and why.We also talk a little bit about Richard Keogh and Harry Arter.Then we welcome David Sneyd to studio to talk about Shamrock Rovers' win in the FAI Cup final, his interview with Jack Byrne and the season that was in the League of Ireland.
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From F2 freestylers, to Xhaka haters, to free love, to Irishmen loving England - its been another big week on the Second Captains World Service, and as its the start of the month, its the perfect time to secondcaptains.com/join
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Arsenal v Crystal Palace didn't look a likely game of the weekend beforehand, but at the bloodthirsty cauldron the Emirates has become, anyone can end up being fed to the lions.We also discuss Liverpool's victory over Spurs and what the future might hold for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane.Then we're joined in studio by the F2 Freestylers, Jez Lynch and Billy Wingrove, who talk to us about how young players learn skills these days, and how the culture of football is changing - almost too fast to keep up.
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Why always us? It’s been another horrendous Rugby World Cup campaign for Ireland, and we are left with the same old questions.Eoin Reddan and Shane Horgan are both on the show today to try and make sense of our 46-14 mauling at the hands of New Zealand on Saturday.There’s a fair bit of blame to go around, and we apportion it as judiciously as possible.Eoin tries to rank and rate our World Cup humiliations (where does 2019 come in?), there’s tenured rugby players, and Eddie Jones’ finishers.
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We've been trying not to talk about VAR too much but the Premier League isn't making it easy. With video referees apparently reluctant to intervene, is it time for the referees to be forced to take the opportunity to overrule themselves? We also discuss a new study that suggests that while football may be a game you play with your brain, it appears not to be very good for your brain. John Brewin and Mark Critchley join us to analyse yesterday's draw at Old Trafford. Was this a turning point for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Has Ed Woodward's propaganda blitz over the last week reassured United fans? Did Liverpool show their true colours?
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Its been another wet n wild week on the good ship Second Captains. But amidst all the on- and off-field drama of our national teams competing on two fronts, one constant remains. When we send Ken Early out on assignment, something daft **will** happen. And so it was this week that he walked at a brisk speed into a plate-glass door in a McDonalds in Geneva, and this incident makes up but a fraction of this week's preview of current attractions on the Second Captains World Service. There's also Eoin Reddan and Shane Horgan expertly breaking down Ireland's chances against New Zealand on Saturday morning, and Joe Canning gives us a pretty bleak look into the controversy currently enveloping Galway hurling, as they lurch into winter still without a senior hurling manager, as the county board fights off criticism from its main sponsor, concerned fans and auditors.
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Ireland beat Samoa on Saturday morning, but that never looked likely to be enough to get us top spot in the pool, and so it's New Zealand in a World Cup quarter-final next Saturday morning. Are there ANY grounds for optimism? Eoin outlines a few, and Gerry Thornley feels there's still enough quality in this Irish team to pull off a major surprise. New Zealand television superstar and friend of the show Scotty Stevenson gives us his impressions of an extraordinary night in Yokohama last night. We also talk to David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene", about Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 hour marathon in Vienna on Sunday morning, and Brigid Kosgei smashing the women's world marathon a couple of hours later. Plus there's Stuart Barnes and why the rugby world wants us to lose, sneakers, and a grandchildren to tell time moment.
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Ireland and Georgia played out the dullest of 0-0 draws on Saturday, but we must ask an unpalatable question - was it any worse than any of our other performances this year, with the only difference being this time we didn't score? Any lingering concerns that Aaron Connolly might be 'over-awed' by international football lasted about 2 minutes, as he created more in 12 minutes than his 10 team-mates could muster up in the preceding 78. Former Irish international Damien Delaney is genuinely excited by him, but can't help wondering why we keep giving man of the match awards to centre-halves. Connolly's electrifying performance might have even been a little embarrassing for Mick McCarthy - does he now start him, or would that be bowing down to his critics, the vast majority of whom of course have never played professional football? Plus there's Daniel James' extraordinary acting prowess, England's anchor Declan Rice, and the Schmeichels père et fils.
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A Light Zephyr Of Second Captains World Service by Second Captains
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Last night we helped to launch Richie Sadlier's new book, Recovering, at the Chocolate Factory on King's Inns Street.In this interview, Richie explains how he decided to write the book, discusses some of the personal revelations in the story, and tells us how he feels now it's all out there.
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Ireland have been undone at rugby world cups in many different ways over the years - from Michael Lynagh, to 15-man lineouts, to Juan Imhoff... but we've never been knocked out by a freak weather event before - UNTIL NOW. It turns out there are alternative arrangements in place if indeed a typhoon does roll into town on Saturday and makes our final match against Samoa unplayable... but it's a World Cup, which means we're a little jumpier than usual. Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times joins us from Japan. The World Athletics Championships in Doha have been a bit of a disaster, from the empty stands that we saw at the start of the week to the 4-year ban handed out in the middle of the event to the most recognisable coach in the sport, Alberto Salazar. Salazar's woes began with a BBC Panorama documentary, and we speak today to the maker of that programme, Mark Daly. Plus there's permutations galore, Seb Coe, Ciara Mageean and the Tier 1 golden circle.
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Irish football has been free of John Delaney for just over a week now - and already a great green wave of Gaelic genius threatens to engulf the Premier League.Is it fair that Mauricio Pochettino's position at Tottenham should be questioned simply because his team were blown away by the most talented human being ever to emerge from the city of Galway?After we have surveyed the happiness and unhappiness of various Premier League families, Miguel Delaney and Simon Hughes join us to analyse the weekend's football. How are Liverpool keeping their heads while all around are losing theirs? And what are Manchester United and Tottenham going to do about their embattled managers?
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It's the start of the month, which means it's high time you joined the Second Captains World Service - but if just asking you isn't persuasive enough, here are some highlights from this week so far. The Players Chair was back this week, with a rollicking good chat with Ireland and Wolves defender Matt Doherty. Richie talks to him about Martin O'Neill, Richard Keogh, 'personal' injuries and how likely or otherwise he is to start in Georgia next week. You'll also hear Shane Horgan's rather scathing assessment of Ireland's performance against Japan, and there's Pat Kenny's rallying call to any Irish rugby players feeling the heat with this 5-day turnaround in Japan...
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Ireland are still in the Rugby World Cup but... our 19-12 loss to Japan now means we must talk about the bad old days again.We recorded a live podcast moments after the final whistle in our home-away-from-home, the Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin, with Andrew Trimble and Eoin Reddan, and some uncomfortable home truths were brought to us. We are now an inconsistent team, and we have no real understanding of how well or badly we're going to play from week to week. That still means we could do something at this World Cup, but the smart money wouldn't be on it. We also had the searing rugby insights of David O'Doherty, who gave us a master-class in the dark arts on the David O'Doherty Rugby World Cup Skillz Mat. One emailer reminds us of Ireland's glorious tradition as rugby missionaries, and there's the Sexton conundrum as the team announcement for our next match on Thursday looms.
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It's all over between John Delaney and the FAI. We reminisce about the bad times, and the crazy times.Leicester's 5-0 demolition job on Newcastle posed a couple of questions. Is Jamie Vardy the most underrated player of his generation? And how has Coach Rodgers gone so quickly from being a bright young manager learning his trade, to a grandee of the game?We also talk about Manchester City's victory at Everton, which featured a stellar performance from Riyad Mahrez, and more slightly confused soundbites from Pep.Then Mark Tighe of the Sunday Times joins us to reflect on the last six months in the story of John Delaney and the FAI.
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Ireland outmuscled Scotland, but that aside, what else did we do right, and what else did we learn? Will Jordan Larmour hold onto the 15 jersey? Is Stockdale now a master defender? Have we the forwards to beat South Africa? We chat to Shane Horgan about vintage Ireland, pathetic Scotland, crafty Kiwis and a thrilling opening weekend. Shane says there’s plenty for Ireland to be encouraged by in the Boks opening display, but can we survive a 20 minute physical onslaught the way NZ did?We chat to Gerry Thornley about the positivity flowing through the Ireland camp, managing Sexton’s physical load and why the hosts will improve dramatically from their opener against Russia.Plus there’s Eddie V Heaslip, group flow, ITV’s dojo and Cheika getting caught out by Fiji’s smiling assassins.
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Liverpool made it six wins in a row but finished the match clinging on as Chelsea, inspired by their fans' generosity of spirit, threw everything at them in search of an equaliser. Manchester City won 8-0 and then the hero of the day, Bernardo Silva, soured the moment by blundering into a social media racism controversy.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to discuss why the mood at Stamford Bridge remains buoyant in the face of poor results, the absence of Pulisic from Lampard's teamsheets, and to give his thoughts on Inter's victory in the Milan derby.And Laurie Whitwell was at the London Stadium to see Manchester United's defeat to West Ham. Can he see any positives for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, where Jose Mourinho could not?
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The Champions League is underway, the RWC 2019 is underway and grunge week is over - its the perfect time to join the Second Captains World Service secondcaptains.com/join .Shane Horgan told us this week that he reckons England are going to win the whole thing, and along with Donnacha Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gerry Thornley and Mattie Williams, you'll get all the biggest rugby brains giving you the best insight and analysis.Earlier this week, Jonny Cooper told us about the words of consolation from Jack McCaffrey after his sending-off in the drawn All-Ireland final that inspired him for last Saturday's replay.Plus Ken bullying Eoin, live show discounts and trouble in the camp.
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'No-one likes us, we don't care' would appear to be the attitude of some Dublin fans... but is there a silent majority of the country who, while they'd rather see the cups getting shared around a bit, are nonetheless more than willing to give credit where it's due? Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke give us their thoughts on the greatest team of all time, the players and manager that made them, and the fault-lines that could yet appear on the horizon. Not even 24 hours after the Dubs won the men's final, their women's team were at it as well, and we speak to 2017 footballer of the year Noelle Healy, who kicked the last point of their 2-3 to 0-4 win over Galway. Plus there's crowd trouble on the Hill, Eoin meets Michéal Martin, Oisin's beef with Johnny Magee, and Mike Quirke's new job.
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Eoin returns from Seattle, and he's bearing gifts, which translates to both good news and bad news for Second Captains listeners. There is no doubt what the theme is today as the dazzling young stars of Frank Lampard's talent factory blazed far too hot for Wolves to handle.Sam Lee and Jonathan Wilson join us for a closer look at some of the weekend's football. Is there a solution for City's defensive problems in their youth teams? And why does Jonathan believe a reckoning is coming for Frank Lampard?
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The Second Captains World Service aches for you. Here is a taste of what you've been missing.Oisin and Mike on Brolly's Licence To Ill, Richie Sadlier on Troy Parrott's rise, Ken on Dubs all Ireland ceremony, and RWC 2019 build up.
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Two weeks ago, Ireland conceded almost 60 points to England... so what the hell are we doing at number 1 in the world rankings? No-one seems to be paying it much heed, least of all here in Ireland, but it suggests we must be doing something right. Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times pick out the best bits from a second win over Wales in 7 days in the Aviva on Saturday, and why after the Twickenham humiliation, the only way was up. James Ryan has emerged from Devin Toner's lineout shadow, and maybe there are less places to hide now, while Eoin Reddan is confident that Joe has remained confident throughout the last fortnight. Sinead O'Carroll of thejournal.ie is in studio to talk to us about the best camogie final in years, as Galway win just their third title in thrilling style against Kilkenny. Ken worries that the world is sniggering at our no.1 status, and we say goodbye forever to the Eoin McDevitt Rugby World Cup Panic Button... thank Christ.
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If Ireland are Homer Simpson, then Georgia are Homer's assistant and guardian angel Karl, who helps him get promoted to executive in the Dimoxinil episode. Once again they have sabotaged Ireland's opponents and simplified the task of Euro qualification. Tomorrow Ireland play Bulgaria in a friendly that allows Mick McCarthy to look at some of his bench options. We talk about this morning's press conference, and catch up on what else was happening around Europe on international week.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about whether England are likely 2020 Euro champs, to give his scouting report on Ireland's next opponents Bulgaria, and to share his theory on why the international game in Europe has started to mirror some of the inequalities of the club game.
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There simply is no better time to join the Second Captains world service than the first week of the month, with new editions of both Richie Sadlier's Player's Chair and Ken Early's Politics Podcast, and an Ireland V Switzerland review coming on Friday. Richie was speaking to Paul O'Connell at Electric Picnic last Saturday, and Ken spoke to Richard Seymour, author of a new book called The Twittering Machine. For those of you who haven't succumbed just yet... here's a taster.
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Dublin set off yesterday in pursuit of history, trying to become the first team to win the five-in-a-row. They eventually came within one kick of it yesterday evening, before Dean Rock's sideline free-kick dropped short and wide, and condemned us to a replay of yesterday's thrilling All-Ireland football final. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke were there, loved it as much as we did, and tell us why there's room for improvement everywhere, even amidst all the drama. Mike Quirke's bullish pre-match summation of the power of Kerry's bench was proved correct, Oisin's love affair with David Clifford, flaws and all, continues, and we cast half an eye towards a replay that is far from a foregone conclusion. Shane Horgan gives us his instant reaction to the World Cup squad being announced today as Devin Toner, Jordi Murphy and Will Addison miss out. Ken has some technique questions for Dean Rock, and some security questions for the Irish rugby team dressing room, as well as crying toddlers, unbearable excitement and card-happy Royallers.
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Mane and Salah provided the drama but as far as the title race is concerned, the most significant moment of the Premier League weekend happened elsewhere. Miguel Delaney was at the Emirates to see Arsenal come back to draw with Spurs. Is Unai Emery getting closer to his best first XI, and what bug fixes would Miguel recommend for the latest edition of the MP operating system?Then we’re joined by David Sneyd who saw Seamus Coleman lead Everton to a 3-2 win against Wolves.We also have the latest from the Ireland camp out at FAI HQ in Abbottstown.
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2017 Footballer of the Year Andy Moran has announced his retirement from inter-county football. In a wide-ranging interview for ‘The Players Chair’ with Richie Sadlier on the Second Captains World Service, the man with more appearances for Mayo than any other player has said that having discussed it with James Horan this weekend, he’s made his decision to retire, and has told his team-mates that he will not return for another season. Moran won a National League title earlier this year, Mayo’s first national title in 18 years. In between those two league wins the county had reached 10 national finals, three league and seven All-Irelands, including the 2016 replay. Andy was in the Mayo panel for them all, and only serious injury prevented him playing in all 10 – a cruciate injury that forced him to miss the 2012 All-Ireland, when he was the team captain. Over the course of a 16-year career, he became one of the totemic figures on a Mayo team that was the compelling story of the GAA world in this decade. He also spoke to Richie about becoming a father, losing his own Dad, Mayo’s goldfish bowl, and the second-half collapse against Dublin in this year’s All-Ireland semi-final. The interview will be released on the second Captains World Service tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, at 7am. To subscribe to the World Service for just €5 per month (plus VAT), click here - www.secondcaptains.com/join
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Ireland suffered a record defeat to England on Saturday, and the rather uneasy rumblings of last week have become fully-realised fears in the eyes of many Irish rugby fans - we press the panic button on today's show. Shane Horgan sees our hopes of winning the World Cup disappearing over the horizon, and he's on with Gerry Thornley to pinpoint the many, many areas for improvement from a shockingly poor Ireland display in Twickenham. Ken questions the very reason for the existence of these matches, before we move onto to an Irish sportsman who had a rather better time of it this weekend - Rory McIlroy won the Fedex Cup, and $15 million last night, and Alex Myers from Golf Digest tells us why, yes, 2019 has been a very good year for Rory. Plus there's Ross Kemp on Ben Stokes, Jack Leach saves Superman, why the Connacht u-20s should take on Wales, and the Rory-Brooks Koepka FEUD that refuses to go away.
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The Premier League weekend: David Silva sublime. David Luiz ridiculous. Eoin has some questions - cheap, nasty, and obvious ones.Did Unai Emery play it too conservatively at Anfield? Who was to blame for Crystal Palace's first goal against Manchester United? And are managers seriously going to keep complaining about penalties not given even in the VAR age? We're joined by Mark Douglas to talk about Newcastle's surprise win at Tottenham. Who are the people Steve Bruce claims to have shut up? Plus there's Rash's peno pain, the Giles walk, Klopp's whatever and setting the bar for racist trolls.
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It's been a bit of a roller-coaster year for Tipperary - an All-Ireland win looked pretty unlikely at the end of the league, looked very likely indeed after the Munster championship round-robin, and then after a 12 point hammering from Limerick in the Munster final, it looked a rather remote possibility again. But from the ashes of that chastening day, they came good when it mattered - and in a game that will be remembered for Richie Hogan's red card, they were crowned All-Ireland champions yesterday. Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin tell us why they reckon Tipp would've won it anyway even without the red card, how real life scar tissues helped this Tipp team mature, and even speculate on what next for Brian Cody. Plus there's Eoin's hurler of the year, Murph's end of season celebrations, and Liam Sheedy's glazed eyes.
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It's Monday, so it's time to talk about VAR. Ken defends himself against the "gammon" accusations and explains why his critics are wrong. In between there is some time to discuss the details of how Man City took Spurs apart.We also talk about Frank Lampard's downbeat and strangely detailed assessment of Chelsea's draw at home to Leicester, and generally incorporate a range of up to date movie references.David Sneyd was at Bramall Lane to see the "Brexit" Blades - featuring half an Irish international team - beat Crystal Palace.And Dermot Corrigan talks to us about the sensational Liga debut of Joao Felix, and the somewhat less sensational start to the season by Barcelona.
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Q: What do Derek McGrath, Ric Flair, the Mighty Magyars and Eoin tanking a Peter O'Mahony interview have in common? A: THIS WEEK ON THE SECOND CAPTAINS WORLD SERVICE
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On a balmy September night in September 2011, Eoin stood outside Mulligan’s on Poolbeg Street basking in the celebrations of Dublin’s first All-Ireland title in 16 years. More than that, he was basking in the love being shown by supporters from other counties who seemed genuinely happy for the Dubs to have their day in the sun.Fast-forward to 2019 and with Dublin on the brink of 5-in-a-row, it’s fair to say that the neighbourly spirit on show that night has long since disappeared. Many neutrals don’t like the Dubs, not even when they produce 2 goals and 6 points without reply in one of the most exhilarating periods of play ever seen on a football pitch, perhaps ESPECIALLY not when they produce 2 goals and 6 points without reply in one of the most exhilarating periods of play ever seen on a football pitch.Was it the defining performance of the greatest team of all time or just another step towards the death of Gaelic football? Oisin McConville joins us to work through the jumble of emotions he experienced watching Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final.And Mike Quirke takes a close look at Kerry’s mix of youthfulness/Kerryness/David-Cliffordness and does his best to make a case that the Dubs can still be stopped on September 1st.
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Manchester United destroyed Chelsea at Old Trafford, with Daniel James' emotional celebrations reminding the crowd why they love football in the first place. It meant Frank Lampard started with the worst result of any Chelsea manager in the Premier League era, and there have been quite a few Chelsea managers. Is the selection of young players just a political ploy, as Jose Mourinho seems to think? Or does Lampard really believe Mount and Abraham can be the backbone of his new look Chelsea?We also discuss the essential pointlessness of VAR as we saw it in the first round of matches. Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to talk about how Spurs turned it around against Villa, and what the future holds for Christian Eriksen.
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Whether or not the Community Shield counts as a trophy, it's become plain that there are no friendlies any more when Manchester City play Liverpool. We talk about how the teams seem to be shaping up, the relevance of the old wisdom that you should buy when you're strong, and touch on a few other issues in the soon-to-shut transfer window.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the importance of yesterday's game, and why Manchester United's move for Paulo Dybala fell through.
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It's August 1st, which means this is the PERFECT time to sign up to the Second Captains World Service!! Sign up today, and you get maximum bang for your (5) buck(s), and to pique your interest, have a quick listen to this - as Murph gets humiliated by Oisin McConville, Stephen A Smith outlines how Eoin could get even more militant with those of you hesitating before signing up to us, and a clip from Ken's latest politics podcast, premiering tomorrow.
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Robbie Keane is not in the mood to reminisce. Funny? Funny how? Arsenal have found some spare cash, or at least some sellers willing to discuss terms. We also talk about why Gareth Bale is not going to China, and whether Real Madrid's technical committee has ever seen Paul Pogba play.Also today, Gavin Cooney of the42 joins us to talk about what happened over the weekend at the FAI AGM - where Donal Conway appeared to outmanoeuvre Shane Ross.
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There really isn't enough time between All-Ireland hurling semi-finals to digest the full magnitude of what went on this weekend, but we'll give it a shot today, as we try and sort out just how we're left with a fifth Tipperary/Kilkenny final in the last 10 years. Michael Duignan and former Kilkenny legend Brian Hogan are magnanimous as Eoin admits that - yes, hurling folk DO bang on a bit about it but... bloody hell, what a sport. We talk about the myth of Cody, Liam Sheedy's magnificent job, and why the sweeper system is all Brian Hogan's fault*... (*might not actually be his fault). Plus - 'Brits out' says Donal Óg Cusack (we think), Ann Downey's insights into the Kilkenny mindset, Captain Murph, Cody - Sheedy comparisons, and if things get tough, just quit.
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The Open came to Ireland for the first time in 68 years, and the Claret Jug will stay in Ireland, after Shane Lowry's extraordinary 6-shot win over the field at Royal Portrush yesterday. We salute a man we can all say is as nice as he appears on TV, with Malachy Clerkin and Lawrence Donegan. We also lament the fact that just 24 hours after his success, Shane has already been usurped... by his own granny's scene-stealing cameo on RTE News. Mike Quirke and Oisin McConville outline just why Lowry's win was so lustily celebrated by GAA people (and men of a certain age), before we delve into the modern classic Kerry and Donegal played in Croker on Sunday. Plus there's turf mould, Tiger Woods in the bog, brandies, refreshing honesty and pop psychology snake-oil.
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It's been another turbulent weekend for the FAI - but on the field maybe there are some signs that Irish football's fortunes are looking up.Meanwhile Premier League clubs have been touring some humid and not-so-humid locations, aiming to boost fitness levels and bank balances, with varying degrees of success.Sid Lowe joins us to talk about the increasingly hostile stand-off between Real Madrid and Gareth Bale.
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It was a stunning weekend of sport, which had all the hallmarks of summer - Wimbledon finals in baking heat, GAA in front of massive crowds, with an added soupçon of Cricket World Cup final madness. At the end of it all we have Novak Djokovic as Wimbledon men's champion - but why is he so unpopular? Caitlin Thompson of Racquet magazine answers that question in pretty emphatic style. We have Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke on hand to tell us the main headlines of a huge weekend of Gaelic football, which included a massive win for Kerry over Mayo in Killarney. And there's the return of Diarmuid Connolly to the Dublin panel, announced in typical Jim Gavin style. But is this decision the most un-Jim Gavin thing he's ever done? Plus there's triple-screening, heroic hurling losing efforts, and an Uncle Jim update.
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It was a sunny Sunday when for once football was pushed into the shadows - but nobody keeps this baby in the corner for long. La Liga clubs have been the most active in the summer transfer market so far. Has there been an outbreak of caution in the Premier League or is everyone just waiting until the last minute to lose their minds? We discuss Manchester United's reported interest in Harry Maguire. Is £80 million for England's World Cup hero solid business, or one of the most insane examples of transfer mania yet recorded? We join Oluwashina Okeleji in Cairo to talk about the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. What has happened to Nigeria's 90s flair? How does Kalidou Koulibaly compare to some other highly-valued centre-backs? And why are the Egyptians supporting Algeria?
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A spritz of the Second Captains World Service
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After missing out last year, Mayo are in the Super 8s, and they seem destined to keep us entertained for another month or so... at least. Mike Quirke and Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times give us their thoughts on the weekend's football, with Mayo surging past Galway, and wins for Cork, Meath and Tyrone. There's one team the lads fancy to take a few heavy beatings... and it's not the Division 3 team. And there's the unbelievably tasty prospect of Mayo against Kerry in Killarney next Sunday to look forward to as well. Willie Dunphy was one of the real leaders in the Laois hurling team that shocked Dublin yesterday, and he's on today's show talking to us about the day they conceded 10 goals to Cork, sweet deliverance over the last 8 days, and why they can keep it going too. Plus there's Phil Neville's advice to the Cork footballers, Nesbitt watch, lovely Lahinch for the Irish Open, and Frances Murphy's molten hot take on the young men of Ireland.
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Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss covering the FIFA WWC for RTE, Team America, male and female celebrations, and Phil "the humble one".We talk to Johnette Howard about how the team is perceived in the US, confusing brashness with confidence, Rapinoe's wars with Trump and where the fight for equal pay will go from here.Tim Vickery chats to us about Brazil winning the Copa in Brazil, Jesus' moment of madness, and how Argentinian fans' calls for Leo Messi to become more vocal and communicative may have created a monster.Plus there's Phil Brent, Jonathan Pearce magic, Pogba PR, COYDIG boos and CR7 watching himself on the big screen.
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Jonathan Pearce went full Jonathan Pearce, England went full England and Dr Ken diagnoses glazed eyes.Plus Murph on the GAA's Mr fix it, and Frances Murphy's birthday greeting. Welcome to another taste of the Second Captains World Service.
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A spying scandal has erupted ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and the USA and Phil Neville has another national team set-up to criticise.We look back at the quarter-finals and forward to tomorrow's much-anticipated Anglo-American showdown in Lyon.Also today, we go through Swiss Ramble's snapshot of Arsenal's lost decade.We're joined from Lyon by Caitlin Murray, author of "The National Team", a history of the USWNT, to talk about the Americans' march toward the final and why many perceive them as the villains of the tournament.Plus there's the audacity of Hope Solo, football idealists, selling jerseys and putting out a Lance vibe in France.
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The first part of the hurling summer has ended, and it's ended with Wexford and Limerick on top in Leinster and Munster. If that sounds like it has a real mid-90s vibe to it, then you'd be right. Hurling Uber-mensch and the soul of Wexford, Liam Griffin, tells us why winning on the double, in minor and in senior, was so important for Wexford, and why it's a reward for hard work, planning, an exceptional playing group, and for Davy Fitz's application. Two-time all-star Seamus Hickey wasn't surprised by anything he saw from Limerick yesterday, as they dismantled the form team of the summer so far Tipperary in the Munster final. He tells us what drives this young team forward. Plus there's an attack on Wicklow from Murph, two fingers to Oliver Cromwell, professional fouls, flawless hurling, and feel-good vibes all over the place.
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Ep 1501: Donegal Dominant, Dublin Dismissive, Kerry Unconvincing, The Dublin Q - 24/06/2019 by Second Captains
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Ep 1500: Pip Lets Rip, Ref Quits, LVG On Messi - 24/06/19 by Second Captains
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We didn't think we'd spend at least part of this week discovering factoids about the many and various ways that Scotland have managed not to qualify from World Cup groups, but after the misadventures of their women's team against Argentina last night, that is exactly what we've been doing on the Second Captains World Service. We present the results of those findings here on this SC taster menu, along with Eoin's wife pranking him, Oisin McConville backing Donegal for Sam (in a manner of speaking), and US Murph on the Toronto Raptors' NBA finals win.
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The Munster hurling championship last year had plenty of fire-works, but it didn't have drama to match the last few minutes of the Leinster hurling championship round-robin series on Saturday, as first Galway, then Dublin, then Wexford, then Kilkenny all found themselves staring elimination from the All-Ireland championship in the face. When the music stopped, it was 2017 champions, and All-Ireland finalists in 2018, Galway who were left in fourth place, and staring at a long summer. Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin were in Wexford Park and Parnell Park respectively, and they could hardly have asked for any more entertainment. Galway's horrible weekend was compounded when their footballers lost to Roscommon in the Connacht final on Sunday, and there's a mention to for the rather bloodless affair in Thurles between Tipp and Limerick, which nonetheless attracted almost 40,000 people into the stadium. Plus there's some typically exuberant Roscommon radio commentary, permutation puzzlers, blasé Galway fans, and Murph's festival of pain.
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Nine of the 16 second round teams at the Womens' World Cup have been confirmed, and the Americans still look like the team to stop, after following up their demolition job on Thailand with a 3-0 defeat of Chile.Meanwhile Paul Pogba has announced that he feels like a new challenge, somewhere else. But where? Who can afford him? And what direction do United take after he leaves?Rebecca Myers of the Sunday Times joins us from Nice to talk about the USWNT - a "super-elite" sporting institution that has to deal with more than the usual share of political pressure.
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Welcome to our weekly sprinkling of the Second Captains World Service.
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It's been a dark time for the Gaelic football fans out there, as their game has been ignored in favour of the small ball, on television at least. So there's no better antidote for that than a reunion of the Second Captains punditry dream-team of Mike Quirke and Oisin McConville on today's show. It will be a Cavan/Donegal Ulster final, after their stunning wins at the weekend - just what exactly has happened to make the Ulster championship the greatest show on turf this summer? And with the Dublin dominance continuing unabated, what steps are Meath taking to ensure that one day they'll be able to mount a challenge? Plus there's another very profitable weekend on the golf course for Rory McIlroy, a day of shame for hurling (as one of their refs actually applies the rules), good news at last for Graeme McDowell, and a silver medal for the Irish oche-artistes at the world darts championship.
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The Women's World Cup is underway in France, but the best player in the world is nowhere to be seen. We discuss the case of Ada Hegerberg and the Norwegian Saipan.Meanwhile Ireland are top of the Euro 2020 qualifying group after an encouraging performance in the 1-1 draw in Copenhagen. The Nations League final was a fascinating duel - we talk about Matthijs de Ligt, why he's so highly rated and why he hasn't yet decided on a destination.Damien Delaney gives his view on Ireland's performance - are there real reasons to be hopeful, or is optimism getting the better of us? Lars Johnsen of Josimar magazine joins us to talk about the case of Ada Hegerberg - why isn't she at the World Cup, and how has her stance gone down in Norway?
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WELCOME TO HELL, or as its better known, Copenhagen.
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Ep 1483: Liverpool Win The Champions League - 03/06/2019 by Second Captains
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Champions League Final Fun, chilled Klopp, Ken On Tour and Rice to Man United all feature on our latest snifter of the Second Captains World Service. Disfrutas!
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Leinster were able to bounce back from defeat in the European Champions Cup final to secure a third trophy in the last 2 years with a 18-15 defeat of Glasgow.Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley run the rule over the Pro 14 final - a game where that defeat to Saracens, and the opening game of the Rugby World Cup against Scotland, both cast a shadow. While Leinster were winning in Glasgow, Roscommon were doing what Roscommon do best - wrecking the best laid plans of Mayo with a stunning one-point win in Castlebar. We're joined by Shannonside FM legend Willie Hegarty. Plus there's polished wood swing seats, Sir Bradley Wiggins' culture fix (and John Lennon fixation), the Connacht internecine hatred pie-chart, and another summer of Mayo.
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The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has attacked Manchester City and PSG for inflating the European football market, prompting a spicy response from Khaldoon al Mubarak. The City chairman's smooth delivery has charmed McDevitt - but do his arguments stand up? We also discuss whether Matthijs de Ligt would be throwing his career away by joining Manchester United.Finally Terry Daley joins us on the line to talk about the Chelsea culture war: Maurizio Sarri's first season seems respectable enough from a results point of view - so why are so many Chelsea fans against him?
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Munster have now lost 8 semi-finals, and 2 finals since they last won a trophy. Many people saw last Saturday's Pro14 semi-final against Leinster in the RDS as a must-win game, but what they were left with was more questions, departing coaches and a thoroughly bewildered-looking head coach and captain. Former Munster player James Coughlan and Gerry Thornley try and assess their next move as they look to progress, while Leinster have another final to look forward to, this one against Glasgow in Celtic Park next weekend. Oisin McConville joins us to talk about an extraordinary game in the Ulster championship which saw Armagh beat Down and win their first game in the province since 2014. Plus Ken scouts Glasgow Rugby, while marvelling at all the Scottish players who have first names that are surnames, and there's golden Fairview days, the GAA herrenvolk, and Leo Cullen's cultural insensitivity.
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"What is life, what is the reason why we live? It is to live these kind of emotions..."So Pep Guardiola told the BBC in his pre-FA Cup Final interview. By this standard Saturday was another great day for the City manager, as he got to live almost the full range of emotions - from exultation as his players gave another fantastic performance, to fury as a reporter took the opportunity to ask him about money matters.Why do City feel as though they're not getting the credit they deserve? What more do they have to do? Jonathan Wilson and Rory Smith join us to analyse a week that was the most successful and perhaps the most irritable in the history of Manchester City, and the part the media have themselves played in the apparent decline of trust in their integrity.We also chat about Kompany's next move, Mbappé's bombshell, and a flurry of dubious quotes involving Gareth Bale.
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Who "barely fogs a mirror", and who "is as bould as a pig"? These, and other important issues are discussed on today's mini-promo-pod for non-members of the Second Captains World Service. The two men responsible for those illuminating, evocative phrases are US Murph and Michael Duignan, and you can decide for yourself who said what about whom. This week we cover Bielsa and Lamps, Tiger back to back, hurling's comedy show and Man City's many troubles off the field.There's also Ken on Harvard and it's pompous wrought-iron signs, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, stupid laughs, and the bizarre listening habits of our world service members.
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Afterwards, it seemed inevitable that Saracens' power-game would eventually wear down Leinster in Saturday's European Champions Cup final. But - was it really all that inevitable? Or were key mistakes at key times the reason why Leinster couldn't add a fifth European title? Shane Horgan and Donnacha Ryan, a losing finalist last year with Racing 92, join us to discuss the turning-points, the decisions and the individual performances that turned this game in the London club's favour. Eoin McDevitt was on tour with the Dublin hurlers on Saturday, and was in the ground for one of the great moments of hurling shithousery from Dublin selector Gregory Kennedy - if he had seen it. Plus there's Mattie Williams getting confused with Declan Kidney, baldness is not a reason for despair, match-day car-parking, and genetics.
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When City won the league in 2012, Carlos Tevez caused consternation by waving a banner saying "RIP Fergie" at the title party. This time the top two have expressed nothing but mutual respect, gratitude and admiration. It's all very decent and civilised, and everybody can congratulate themselves on their new found maturity. But with Guardiola promising City will return even stronger, where now for the chasing pack? Can Liverpool possibly sustain their form into next season? Must Jurgen Klopp turn to the dark side if he hopes to ruffle Pep's beautiful plumage? We speak to Sam Lee, Manchester City correspondent with Goal, about how Guardiola has kept City consistent and where they are planning to reinforce the squad for next year.
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A snifter of Spurs lunacy, Richie Sadlier after his trip to Anfield and Ken on Ajax's trench foot
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On this week's message to those of you wavering on the sidelines anxious but still unsure as to whether €5 can be spared for a subscription - we have a soupçon of our coverage of last night's Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona 'ridiculo', a sprig of Murphy misfortune, and a hefty dose of Ken Early. It was a ridiculous night last night, and you won't hear better analysis of the fall-out anywhere else, so why not sign up today at second captains.com/join and be a part of the magic.
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Everything is settled except the destination of the title. For Manchester City to drop points once already to Leicester City this season might have been bad luck. But twice would look like carelessness. Liverpool are already counting the cost of their progressive stance on concussion with the news that Mohamed Salah has been ruled out of Tuesday night's semi-final against Barcelona after the head injury he suffered at Newcastle.It has been another tough weekend of headlines for the FAI, who are now openly soliciting ideas from the football family as to how they might sort out this mess. Kieran Canning and John Brewin join us to talk about the weekend's football. Will Pep be spooked by Liverpool luck? Can anyone explain the collapse of Arsenal? How would they advise Ed Woodward? And what exactly did Steven Gerrard think he was doing by announcing that Scottish football had surprised him - by how poor it is?
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It's been another history-making week on the Second Captains World Service, as we call one of our most beloved guests 'a twat' live on-air. Come have a listen at some of the other non-insulting stuff we've been talking about this week by joining us on www.secondcaptains.com for just €5 a month - stuff like Ryan McHugh, Donegal footballer, on being the scion of a great footballing family, concussion, and winning All-Irelands with Donegal. Plus there's Damien Delaney on Lionel Messi... and why he thinks David Silva is the best player of the last 10 years in the Premier League! #awkward
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Ep 1455: Marathon Mo Farah/Haile Gebrselassie Beef, Conor Murray Injury Update - 29/04/2019 by Second Captains
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Marcelo Bielsa ordered his Leeds team to concede an equaliser against Aston Villa for reasons of sportsmanship, but at least two people aren't impressed by his act of integrity: Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, and our own Eoin McDevitt. The title race inched remorselessly towards what looks an inevitable conclusion with City's victory at Burnley, but Leicester's form means Liverpool still have hope.We discuss the high-stakes comedy of the top-four mini-league, with Arsenal and Spurs suffering bad defeats and Manchester United's good start against Chelsea undone by another baffling De Gea error.And Phil Hay of the Yorkshire Evening Post joins us to talk about how Marcelo Bielsa's self-sacrificing gesture went down with the Leeds fans.
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In this week's sampling of World Service fare, Ken outlines the cure for dissociation from reality as caused by our obsession with technology: League of Ireland football.We looked back at the trauma inflicted upon the nation during last year's u17 European Championship quarter-finals with Ireland manager Colin O'Brien. And there's also Countdown, a la Second Captains.
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After the hysterical overreaction to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's initial success, we're surfing a wave of hysterical counter-reaction to Manchester United's dismal recent form.After six defeats in their last eight, United face City on Wednesday, at risk of recording their worst run of form since 1981. We discuss another weekend in this unprecedented title race, in which Liverpool after 35 matches have already broken their club record for Premier League points in the season, and yet are still rated just a 40-60 shot to win the title.Alan Smith joins us to talk about Man United's humiliation at Everton and whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tough talk in the aftermath was convincing.
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It's time for us to once again give you a little taster of what you could have been listening to this week, had you taken the plunge and become a Second Captains World Service member. Leinster and Ireland legend Shane Horgan was in rare form looking ahead to this weekend's European Champions Cup semi-finals, as well as looking back 10 years, to the day when Leinster were nearly cheated out of their first Heineken Cup by the Harlequins 'bloodgate' controversy. And there's also Ken's politics podcast from last week, after he spoke to David Wallace-Wells, author of "The Uninhabitable Earth", about the looming disaster of climate change.
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Tiger Woods has won a few major titles in his time. 22 years ago he won his first Masters title by 12 shots. He won the US Open in 2000 by 15 shots. He won the British Open the same year by 8 shots. But has there ever been anything like the 1-stroke victory he held over the field yesterday afternoon? Malachy Clerkin and Lawrence Donegan join us to talk about the magnitude of Tiger's comeback, the drama of his victory, and the lamentations of his vanquished foes. Is there now a chance again that he will take on Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins, or will the brilliance of his 15th carry him off into the sunset? Plus - Eoin McDevitt is a tiger, and he wants you to hear him roar; Murph wants a lizard named after him, and Ken has the latest non-seismic news from the FAI.
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With John Delaney's departure from the FAI expected - but at time of recording not yet confirmed - we discuss the latest developments at Abbottstown and how Irish football ended up in this mess.It was another sensational weekend in what already looks like the highest standard of title race ever in the Premier League - with Salah returning to his best, Hendo forcing chunk after chunk of humble pie down Ken's throat, and Kevin de Bruyne compensating for the relative lack of drama in City's win over Palace with a superior Players Tribune interview.We are joined by Rory Smith to talk about Liverpool's win, how they have evolved since last season, and why this rivalry - at least between the managers - has been so damn respectful.
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Ken's mood got darker as the week went on, and it started with his philosophy on dreaming big. John Delaney said nothing, which said everything about how Ireland works.And in the Champions League we ask is Ole careering off course?Its our weekly taster of the Second Captains World Service...
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It has been a banner few weeks for FAI statements, with each one more dramatic than the last. Today's edition featured confirmation that John Delaney would indeed appear at the Oireachtas committee hearing on Wednesday, and a tantalising suggestion that the FAI board were not quite as up to speed on matters relating to the €100,000 bridging loan as had been previously suggested. John Heslin has been a part of Westmeath football for a while now, so he knows better than most of the crazy yo-yoing that Westmeath have done in the football league - of the last 12 years, 10 of them have finished with them either getting promoted or relegated. They won promotion from Division 3 this year, and finished it off with a league final win over Laois on Saturday, and John joins us on the show. Matt Williams tells us how excited he is about the arrival of the Irish 7s team onto the main circuit for the 2020 season after their victory in Hong Kong this weekend plus there's PhDs and football, Rory McIlroy, Becky Lynch and 'real' sports.
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Watford are in the Cup final and Troy Deeney has some learnings he'd like to share. It was another weekend when again City gently outwitted their opponents like a superintelligent AI. The impression of City's challenge is cool blue and serene, like a picture of our planet from space. Liverpool's challenge is summed up in the pictures of the celebrating Jordan Henderson, a man-sized aneurysm about to explode.We're joined by Jack Pitt-Brooke to look ahead to Spurs v City in tomorrow night's Champions League quarter-finals. Does Kevin de Bruyne have the best brain in football?
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A lock of Second Captains World Service hair (probably Ken's)...
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It was an utterly brilliant weekend of rugby, with huge wins for Leinster and Munster, and a host of heroes and villains.If Jacob Stockdale had touched the ball down when already over the try-line, or if Tadhg Beirne hadn't ensured he got the ref's attention to an off-the-ball incident, both Ulster and Edinburgh might have semi-finals to look forward to.We ask Shane Horgan if he's ever hammed it up... and if he's ever dropped the ball over the try-line.Plus there's Ross Byrne's platoon moment, Mayo fans in tears in March, Dan Leavy's injury nightmare, and the morals of diving.
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Liverpool's late win over Spurs at Anfield didn't show either side at their very best - but it sure as hell gave everybody a lot to talk about. Why do we always praise and criticise players and performances based on how they end? When is the right time to pass in front of goal? Who should be the Player of the Year? Jonathan Wilson joins us to explain the difference between bottling and choking and which of Liverpool and Manchester City are more likely to fall victim to either phenomenon in the coming weeks.And Kieran Canning talks to us about yesterday's Old Firm game in which Steven Gerrard's hotheads were played to perfection by Celtic's troll king, Scott Brown.Plus there's Kop sucking another one in, Salah on Salah, Bill Hicks, Philip Larkin, l'il Grizou and FAI to infinity.
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Richie Sadlier on Mick's joyful football and fan free will, Ken on Ole (the only choice, James McClean's scary Irish Identity Test, Irish woman in AFLW Grand Final and Champions Cup QF AHOY!
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Ep 1426: Tennis Protests, Hurling Semis, Mayo's Strange Campaign, Ken In OT - 25/03/2019 by Second Captains
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In the history of totally daft weeks in Irish football, this one would have to rank pretty high - and we still have plenty of drama to come on and off the field. As John Delaney retires from his role as Chief Executive of the FAI, for a newly-created role as Executive Vice-President, we ponder what this all means for the balance of power in the association. Is this tantamount to a demotion for Delaney, or will he continue to be the main power-broker? We speak to Mark Tighe of the Sunday Times, who has done so much brilliant work to reveal this story, on how it went to press, the reaction, and the drama of a high court injunction mere hours before your story is due to go to press. We're also chatting to former Ireland international Damien Delaney on Ireland's short-comings on the field on Saturday night, and why we can't use conditions as an excuse for a pretty terrible first performance of Big Mick's new era. Plus there's Statement No. 7, teleportation devices, John The Baptist, and Sergio Ramos.
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A taste of the Second Captains world service this week
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Ireland have had a miserable spring, and the scale of the 25-7 defeat to Wales on Saturday could hardly be over-stated. Why do the players lack composure? What has happened their skillset? Why are they so poor at comebacks? Is it time for a major overhaul of the game-plan? Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times and Mattie Williams try (12.50 mins) and take stock of where we are after two really depressing defeats at either end of the tournament. Is Joe Schmidt burnt out? Does he need help from outside the group, and have we, in fact, become a bad team overnight - we try and supply some answers. Ken gives his reaction (6.15 mins) to the news over the weekend that John Delaney loaned the FAI €100,000 of his own money to solve a short-term cash-flow problem in the association. Plus there's Owen Farrell's Jedi mind trick, Corofin's All-Ireland final brilliance on St Patrick's Day, and Eoin reheats a McTepid Take first aired while under the influence...
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A taste of whats on the Second Captains world service this week...
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Ireland seemed to learn something about themselves in the games against Italy, Scotland and England - and that regained momentum led them to a comfortable bonus point win over France. Eoin Reddan joins Gerry Thornley to figure out what changed in the intervening weeks, what tactical issues were resolved, and what role high 5's and bro hugs played in the turnaround. Aoife Lane, founder and former chairperson of the WGPA wrote a brilliant column in the Irish Examiner about why ladies football and camogie are run by separate organisations set aside from the GAA, despite the many and obvious ways in which the games co-exist together with Gaelic football and hurling - and she joins us for a chat. Plus there's the man Eoin is pinning all our hopes on to win the 6 Nations, we get an update on the current whereabouts of friend of the show Ken Burley, we talk some more (but still not enough) about Carlow, and McDevitt workshops some of his stand-up material.
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So looking back, Sergio, what have you learned from your experiences with Real Madrid? Well, that's a tricky question, Terry. But as I always say, we skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor...Sergio Ramos' Twitter self-interview provides some light relief after a more-than-averagely violent and chaotic weekend of football. It's a problem football hasn't spent much time thinking about lately: how can fans be dissuaded from invading the pitch and attacking the players? Also today, we speak to Rory Smith about his NYT interview with Raheem Sterling and the media's role in fuelling racism and prejudice.
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When Ciara Mageean sat down to record an episode of The Players Chair with Richie Sadlier last year, she was coping with changing coach, living in England, and trying to put disappointment behind her. We're delighted to catch up with her today to talk about her bronze in the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow last night. Tommy Walsh is experiencing a third coming in the Kerry football team - 11 years after bursting onto the scene as a teenager, and 4 years after failing to make any impact on his return from Australia. It's been one of the stories of the NFL this year, and his club manager Mike Quirke is on the line to tell us what's changed. Plus there's Ken's by-now obligatory near-death experience while abroad, we reveal the exclusive audio of the moment Peter O'Mahony asked Joe Schmidt if he and the boys could have a few beers, and the abomination in Ulster schools Gaelic football that had the country talking.
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Ken is back from Australia and Eoin is back from Premier Sports to talk about the weekend's football.Jurgen Klopp's tetchy responses after Liverpool's draw at Everton suggest that some of those questions about whether they took enough risk in the game were a bit too close to the bone. Meanwhile City shrugged off more Football Leaks revelations to cruise past Bournemouth and retake the lead. How does this weekend affect the balance of the title race psychodrama? And why would neutrals rather see Liverpool choke than City?Also today, Dermot Corrigan joins us from the Real Madrid training ground to discuss how the European champions are taking a week off being dominated by Barcelona at their own stadium.
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Just what is going on with Ireland? It might seem a strange question to ask after a weekend that saw England beaten, Ireland win their second game in a row, and secure their first bonus point of the tournament - but that's where we are. Shane Horgan is starting to get a little worried, and he's on the line to share his concerns. Ireland might just be trying too hard to force the issue. But when the brilliance of the New Zealand performance is still so fresh in the memory, it's hard not to be frustrated at the sheer number of elementary mistakes being made. Wales legend Jonathan Davies is on the line to tell us just how good people in Wales are feeling after their monumental performance in taking down England on Saturday - a game that showcased all the glorious madness of the 6 Nations. And while Congress was for the most part, deathly dull, there was one decision that rankled - Dublin will continue to be allowed play 2 games in Croke Park this year. There's a lot of blame to go around regarding this situation, and Murph doesn't spare any of the guilty parties... Plus there's Peter O'Mahony's pre-France game hangover that we feel needs to happen, tired Italian stereotypes make a social media comeback, and Eoin actually really likes Warren Gatland.
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The moment when Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to come off at the end of yesterday's Carabao Cup final might have been sadly indicative of the insanity of Chelsea's dressing-room, but Eoin McDevitt believes it might have more widespread implications for the game as a whole - was yesterday the day the lunatics took over the asylum? Miguel Delaney found himself in the heart of the action yesterday as he interviewed and interpreted for the young Spanish goalkeeper after the game, and we're also joined by Dion Fanning and Jonathan Wilson. And as you'd expect, Jonathan has an example from the dim and distant football past... and the story is peak Jonathan Wilson. Kepa's run-in with his manager overshadowed Jordan Henderson's own mini-strop on the sideline after Jurgen Klopp took him off, but what's going on with Liverpool? They failed to fire again against a severely-understrength Man United. Plus there's Eoin vs Kinger, at least Chelsea's PR unit are a team, and as football tears itself apart over Kepa, the GAA world says 'so what, this happens every week'.
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New slots including McTepid, Irish Scapegoats Of Days Gone By and Nesbitt's Lonely planet emerged this week but that hasn't helped Eoin's ego after once again he was made to look a fool by one of our rugby pundits.We had loads of Champions league analysis, Damien Delaney on managers losing the dressingroom, previews for Man Utd v Liverpool, 6N talk, and Pep gets the "where did you get it all SO wrong" treatment.
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Limerick ended 2018 as All-Ireland champions for the first time in 45 years, and they've started 2019 in menacing fashion - beating Wexford away before hammering Tipperary and Kilkenny in successive games. Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times, and former Limerick captain Donal O'Grady are on the show trying to figure out if Limerick are going all-out for league glory, or if it's a case of them water-skiing on the good vibes of last August. And we discuss Jackie Tyrrell's assertion that they're not in the top 3 teams in the country - gross blasphemy, or something even worse than that? We had a brilliant chat with Howard Bryant about his book "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism" late last year, and he's back on the show today to talk to us about the news that Colin Kaepernick has settled his collusion lawsuit against the NFL. Plus Murph reveals that some of his best friends are from Clare, we pay homage to Ken's hurling nous, and Stuart Barnes throwing petrol-bombs.
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It's shaping up to be a big week for Jurgen Klopp, as his Liverpool team meet the challenge of Bayern Munich, a team Klopp has had reason to be at logger heads with over the years. Simon Hughes of the Independent joins us to talk about why Klopp so angered Bayern during his time with Dortmund, his relationship with Uli Hoeness, the loss of Virgil, and why a draw might not be such a bad result tomorrow night for Liverpool. We also talk to James Montague, author of the brilliant "The Billionaires Club", about the story of Bahrainian footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who was saved from deportation and possibly death by a global movement led by former Australian Socceroos captains Craig Foster. Plus there's #JadoreInchicore, Ken's Kastaway, Klopp sings, why a German curse can equal Irish good luck, and we launch German indie week.
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Expect the worst says Eoin, after having his Irish heart crushed by England's Declan Rice. Ken explains this whole sorry saga via a Valentine's message.Pat Kenny has some good clean fun for you all.And we have a teaser for Richie Sadlier's latest Player's Chair interview with Ireland's most decorated and most capped player of all time, the legendary Emma Byrne.
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Eoin questioned the wisdom of Maurizio Sarri berating his players in public a couple of weeks back - today he informs us that in their last 3 away games since he said those words, they've conceded 1.2% of their entire premier league goals against. Dion Fanning and Jonathan Wilson are on hand to discuss just how doomed Sarri is, and whether the only thing saving him is Roman Abramovich's new-found disinterest in the Chelsea project. They also discuss whether the clamour for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to get the Manchester United job for keeps is now too loud to ignore, or if the games in the next 3 weeks against Paris Saint Germain and Liverpool will give us all a much better idea of his capabilities. Plus there's Brian Clough, Gary Crosby, and apologetic punch-recipients.
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Ireland picked up their first win of the 2019 Six Nations on Saturday, but it was pretty hard sledding for most of Saturday. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley are on hand to adjudicate on where we stand after two games. England's points bonanza against the woeful French means the title might be beyond us already, but does that give us free rein to experiment with the World Cup in mind? What are we learning from our hesitancy and nervousness in recent weeks? And is there any other option for Johnny Sexton but to stand where he stands and take the punishment he got again at the weekend? We salute the rebirth of Gaelic football, the most entertaining sport on the planet, Jimmy Nesbitt makes a welcome return to our hearts and minds, and we have a new French cliché for the world to adopt.
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Essence of Second Captains World Service - Noah McDevitt is only three weeks old but he needs a win this weekend. Eoin explains.
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Ireland had an extraordinary 2018, but in their first game of the 2019 6 Nations, their back-to-back Grand Slam dream came crashing down around them. They were out-fought out-thought, and out-kicked by a brilliant England team. Is it time to press the panic button? No, says Eoin Reddan - and there's a chance we learn quite a bit from this humbling experience. Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times, Simon and Murph all try and make sense of it. Plus there's proud Preston, unreasonable expectations, widespread navel gazing, and looking ahead to Scotland.
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Manchester City kept the pressure on Liverpool by beating Arsenal while Manchester United continued their resurgence under The Sunshine Man. Rory Smith was at the Etihad to see Manchester City defeat Arsenal. Is Guardiola overthinking it? What happens when managers want to prove points rather than win them? And why do teams seem to find it so difficult to enjoy the process of winning a title?Andy Hunter joins us to talk about where things have gone so horribly wrong for City's next opponents, Everton. How have they managed to spend £300m on players in less than two years and end up with this?
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Have a whiff of the Second Captains musk - from Donnacha Ryan to Mike Tindall to US Murph on the Super Bowl, to Premier League fright nights.... its been a hell of a week. Join the world service for daily shows, Richie Sadlier's Player's Chair, top class interviews and to observe Ken's continuing loyalty to David Luiz - at secondcaptains.com
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It was a rough start to the GAA season on Saturday night, when it briefly looked as if Castlebar's MacHale Park might be blown away for the opening match of the Allianz National Football League. A hurricane of a different sort ripped through Clones on Sunday however, as Monaghan turned a 6-point deficit into a 3-point win against the reigning league and championship winners Dublin. Their captain Colin Walshe joins us on the line to talk must-win moments, super subs and offensive marks. If the men's final at the Australian Open sounded like a pairing that could have happened in 2009, then the women's final would've sounded impossible even this time last year. Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine joins us to talk about Naomi Osaka's back story, apologies and back to back grand slams, Petra Kvitova's return from getting stabbed in the hand, the great Novak Djokovic mystery and why variety beats dominance.Plus there's the Blair Witch Project, motion sickness, Long Hug Therapy, Eoin McDevitt Junior, and Derek McGrath > Jose Mourinho.
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It was another FA Cup weekend, so today's football show is mainly about Luke Kelly. David Sneyd wrote about Kelly's links to Irish football in yesterday's Mail on Sunday and he joins us to discuss it further in studio today. We also talk about the former Ireland coaching dream team reuniting at Nottingham Forest.It was a particularly big weekend for journalism, with Hugh McIlvanney's death reminding us of an old world that is vanishing, and Jesse Lingard's triumphant few days showing us the way ahead. We talk about other pundits including Neil Francis, Ruud Gullit and the email marketing consultant who annoyed Andros Townsend.Plus there's McViolence, village elders, Germans importing English flair, Ole Gunnar Sunshine and Fergie on journalism.
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January is a long, cold month, and sometimes the only thing for it is to wrap up warm, hunker down by the fireside, and download a podcast or two. Ken and Murph talk you through what you missed on this week's Second Captains World Service - as we hear why Kerry are no longer contenders for the All-Ireland football championship, 40 is NOT elderly, and why football is still an integral part of Leave-Voting Britain's identity. And we have US Murph on the Superbowl, Neymar's foot, a sneak and a Player's Chair interview with Steven Reid, as we discover Richie Sadlier was not always the bastion of common-sense he is these days...
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It was a very, very satisfying weekend for Irish sports fans, with one of our most beloved sports-people Shane Lowry back in the winner's enclosure after a dramatic one-shot win at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Saturday morning. Having led by three going into the final round, he found himself 4 shots back on the 12th tee before making three birdies to win by a shot - and he joins us on the show to discuss how he was determined not to relive the mistakes of the US Open in 2016 when he found himself in a similar position. And we look back at the seamless progression of all 4 provinces into the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup, with Gerry Thornley and Tom English. Leinster face Ulster, Munster must travel to Edinburgh, and Connacht have to play Sale yet again in their quarter-final - but it was another impressive weekend of Irish muscle-flexing on the European stage. Plus there's yet more Eddie Jones updates, Ken's latest impressions, and the world's greatest sports co-commentator.
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It seems a little early for the Premier League run-in jitters, but Liverpool were made to sweat for their 4-3 win over Crystal Palace. Mo Salah is the fall-guy, but why has everyone conveniently forgotten about Andy Robertson's handball in the build-up to what turned out to be the winning goal? James Horncastle joins us to discuss Maurizio Sarri, who launched the calmest ever verbal broadside against his own players after their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday evening. Of the 3 rats that downed Mourinho's sinking ship, only 1 remains, but there are still plenty of problems for him to contend with, including the plodding Jorginho, who has failed thus far to impress many, including Rio Ferdinand. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may now be the Man United backstop, but has he done enough to be seen as the favourite for the job full-time now? Thierry Henry might be out of his job soon too at Monaco, while Neymar suffers baby heart-break with PSG.
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Your weekly spritz of Second Captains on the (Leeds) World Service
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It's been a great weekend for Irish Premier League goalscorers and Brian Clough anecdotes, as Declan Rice, Shane Long and Jeff Hendrick ran riot while Martin O'Neill returned to management with Nottingham Forest.Meanwhile, Frank Lampard is convinced that Marcelo Bielsa has flouted English moral norms, but luckily for the Argentine he appears not to have broken any actual rules. It was not such a good weekend for Rio Ferdinand: when any controversy pits you and Richard Keys against the world, it's time to start worrying.We're joined by Jacob Steinberg and John Brewin to discuss Declan Rice's development, Mesut Özil's exile, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's credentials to be named the next permanent Man United manager.
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It was the week that very nearly tore Second Captains apart - but we've made it to this time of the week again, unscathed, which means it's time for us to tell you what you've missed on the Second Captains World Service over the last few days. We debate the achievements of David Silva, and things get heated when Murph is asked to put his money where his mouth is. And we get a taster of what delights lie in wait for us this month as US Murph talks us through the first weekend of the NFL playoffs, which go on for all of January. Plus there's FIFA 19 stats, Eamon Dunphy's greatest ever radio performance, 'fanny merchants', Spurs - Man Utd manager playoff, and reports of a Neymar Coutinho swop deal .
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Munster put in their best performance of the season and showed enough quality at the vital moments to keep Connacht at arm's length, and central to that effort were Joey Carbery and the centre pairing of Dan Goggin and Chris Farrell.But Shane Horgan still has some reservations about the Munster midfield - we discuss what Chris Farrell has to do to get to the next level for province and country, and what their best combination should be, when everyone is fit. The GAA announced a series of rule announcements to try and revitalise Gaelic football in October. The National League hasn't started and already there are signs those changes may not see the light of day. Oisin McConville watched the McKenna Cup this weekend (so you wouldn't have to) and reports back from the front lines. Plus there's Andres Iniesta, gold steaks, salt bae and strange salutes.
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Josh Robinson and Jonathan Clegg's new book "The Club: How the Premier League became the richest, most disruptive business in sport" provides a fascinating account of the business development of the Premier League, from the initial realisations in the 1980s that maybe football was something you could make money out of, to the multibillion-pound global business it is today.We speak to Josh about the story of the Premier League and the people who have shaped it. Where did the founders get the idea? Does the league owe its success to the insights and actions of a few key individuals, or would it have happened anyway? And what is likely to come next?But first up on today's pod, we speak to Newport County hero - and Carlow native - Padraig Amond, whose 85th minute penalty knocked Leicester City out of the FA Cup last night.
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Happy New Year! Now go listen to this, our weekly reminder to you of the manifold benefits of being a Second Captains world service member. We will have all the best coverage of the premier league title race - for a race is what we have, after City's 2-1 win over Liverpool last night - and we remind you of what Brian Kerr is looking forward to in 2019. And we explain why Ken told Eoin to f**k off earlier this week.
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Sometimes, after a long, tiring festive period, you might feel your energy levels flagging. So as you prepare for another big night of socialising, what you might need right about now is a solid dose of positive vibes, and feel-good stories. So we present to you two of the best from the sporting year of 2018 for our New Year's Eve show. Recorded live in front of a packed audience at the Liberty Hall Theatre, we speak to Limerick hurlers Kyle Hayes and Tom Morrissey, and Irish hockey heroes Nikki Evans and Chloe Watkins. Limerick ended 45 years of hurt by winning this year's All-Ireland senior hurling championship, and our two young guests reflect on going through life-changing events at 20, playing with no nerves... and being born the day after the 1998 World Cup final. Ireland's women's hockey team weren't chasing past glories, they were creating some history of their own by qualifying for a first ever World Cup final - and Nikki and Chloe tell us why you're allowed have fun at these things too. Plus there's a reminder of how great this year's hurling summer was, Ken's managerial impressions, pre-match haircuts, and chilled out winners.
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It's Christmas Eve, and maybe you're on your way home for a couple of days of peace and quiet with your family. So to ease you on the road, here's a very special Christmas Eve show containing what might just be our favourite World Service interview of the year. When Paul Kimmage sat down with Richie Sadlier for an episode of the Player's Chair, we were unsure just how it would go. What we got was an emotional roller-coaster as Richie and Paul talked about where the anger and passion that drives Paul's best work comes from, visiting Tom Humphries in jail, and the loss of Paul's father, who he still misses terribly. It's an extraordinary hour of radio, and we're delighted to present it to you now. Plus there's Eoin channelling Kimmage, Roy Keane and dancing fucking leprechauns.
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A Shot Of Mourinho Gets The Sack, our breaking news podcast on today's world service.
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Ep 1346: Munster Take A Beating, Leinster Hum, Ulster Puzzle Taking Shape by Second Captains
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Jurgen Klopp knew that the power of narrative was against his team on Sunday evening, if this had been fiction, the writers could probably not have resisted inserting a "Mourinho Masterclass" plot twist. But this was reality not fiction, and Liverpool were too good.With Mourinho's hold on Manchester United visibly unravelling, how long before the club's decision-makers bite the bullet?We also talk a bit about the new Sunderland documentary which is showing on Netflix, and why the stony soil of Wearside is better ground for good documentaries to take root than the glossy surfaces of the City Football Group.John Brewin and Daniel Harris join us to discuss the weekend's big match. Is the gap between Liverpool and Manchester United as wide as they ever remember it? How can the collapse of United's defence be explained? And how do they feel about the speculation surrounding an imminent possible takeover of the club by investors from Saudi Arabia?
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It's just about that time again, when we remind you what you've been missing on the Second Captains World Service. Our members will be hearing plenty from our live shows over the next couple of weeks, including our interviews with US Murph, Eamon Dunphy and the charismatic world champ Kellie Harrington. We revealed our Second Captains Sports Book Of The Year... and we reveal the barely-believable story behind the Eddie Jones "scummy Irish" clip that we unleashed on the world the week before Ireland's Grand Slam game against England in March. Plus there's a Champions League review, a Man Utd V Liverpool preview and and Dembele's "war on practice".
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Clubs like Mullinalaghta (population: 447) just don't beat clubs like Kilmacud Crokes - it just, shouldn't happen. And yet in Tullamore yesterday, that's exactly what happened. Gary Rogers scored a penalty in the last minute of normal time to put them ahead, and he joins us on the show to talk about what it means for his club, for Longford, and for rural Ireland. Gerry Thornley and Eoin Reddan talk to us about Leinster's ever-rising expectations of themselves, JJ Hanrahan's performance at out-half for Munster and Ulster's joy at their win away to Scarlets.Meanwhile Stuart Lancaster says everything and nothing about his future; We read the tea leaves. Plus there's crannog marsh huts, Judes man to the core Ken Early wraps a consoling arm around the shoulder to his neighbours and friends of a Kilmacud persuasion, and Murph reveals his super-power.
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Saturday was a bad night for all the losers and haters out there as David Luiz showed just what kind of footballer and what kind of man he is against Manchester City.We also talk about the controversy ignited by the apparent racist abuse of Raheem Sterling by some Chelsea fans and his Instagram response linking such incidents with racist media coverage.Meanwhile in Scotland, Steven Gerrard is not happy with what he is seeing and he doesn't care who knows it.We also bring you the first section of last night's show at the Liberty Hall Theatre with Jonathan Wilson, Dion Fanning and Jack Pitt-Brooke. They discuss the title race, how Pep works under pressure, and why Liverpool have emerged as the leading contenders this season.Plus there's Mailbag with Ken Early, Hazard diplomacy, Copa Loco, and Matt Doherty goal machine.
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Deontay Wilder was the champ, and the favourite going into this weekend's World heavyweight title bout, but Tyson Fury emerged with the plaudits and the praise, if not the victory, after their heavily disputed draw in Los Angeles. Legendary boxing commentator 'Colonel' Bob Sheridan joins Eoin and the42.ie's boxing correspondent Gavan Casey to discuss just how 'disputed' this draw was, Fury's outrageous comeback from drugs, PED busts and humongous weight gain, and what fight they want to see next in the Fury-Wilder-Joshua triumvirate. If it's December then it must be Ulster club football final time, and yesterday we were given a doozy, as Gaoth Dobhair became the first club from Donegal to win their provincial title in over 40 years. The most heartwarming thing in all of club GAA is the old county-man proving he can still kick it at club level, and Eamon McGee tells us just how good being that man is. Plus there's the super-mario-kartification of football, lazy west Clare cattle farmers, and unbelievable comebacks.
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City's imperious form puts all the challengers under unbearable pressure. Do Liverpool have the nerves of steel to respond? If they don't have nerves of steel, will luck do? And does there come a point at which repeated doses of luck crystallises into something more durable? Christian Eriksen didn't have his best ever game in the North London derby. Another Dublin date with destiny weighing on his mind or is he simply a little bit scared of mad dogs?Meanwhile as often happens after a disappointing result, the Manchester United bus has hit a few player-shaped speed bumps.Jacob Steinberg was at Southampton to see Mark Hughes' last match in charge of the Saints, as Michael Obafemi contributed with an assist to their 2-2 draw against United.Plus there's Fergie's boneyard, Southgate on Brexit, Victor Hugo, irrelevant Dier, Mick McCarthy filling the space and the "era of the gamesman".
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On this week's taster menu of the Second Captains world service, we invite you to sample some of our choicest, most delicious bon mots from the week just gone. Angry Richie Sadlier has been replaced by Rock of Sense Richie Sadlier in light of Ireland's managerial appointments, while Fintan O'Toole was in studio to talk to Ken on our latest politics podcast about Brexit, and "Heroic Failure", Fintan's brilliant new book. For the uninitiated, there's chess ARMAGEDDON, and there's also Jordan Henderson's running style.
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Ep 1328: Irish Managerial Merry-Go-Round - Schmidt Out, Farrell In, Kenny In (2 Years) - 26/11/2018 by Second Captains
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Ken has this unfamiliar feeling....and he thinks it may be optimism?? Seven days ago, Martin O'Neill was preparing his Ireland team to face Denmark in our final Nations League fixture. Since then, he and Roy Keane have left their posts, and the FAI have hired not one but two managers, and a high profile assistant. Mick McCarthy is back in charge for one qualification campaign, and one qualification campaign only - before he hands over the reins to Stephen Kenny, who leaves Dundalk to take over the Ireland u-21s for 2 years. What if Mick is wildly successful, or flames out? What if Stephen Kenny gets headhunted by a big Premier League club? Maybe it was just Mick's refreshing perspective-filled press conference that has Ken feeling this way, or the look in John Delaney's eye!? We have Joe's Dion Fanning in studio to talk about what the FAI and John Delaney have done right, and wrong, what Robbie Keane brings to the table and what's next for Gun For Hire Roy Keane.
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It's time for our weekly sneak peek at what we've been up to with our brilliant Second Captains world service members, and this week has been pretty bloody dramatic. The reaction to our extraordinary win over the All-Blacks continues with Shane Horgan, and we said goodbye to Irish football team manager Martin O'Neill. We have a debut for our new football pundit - ANGRY Richie Sadlier, a really brilliant interview with Andy Lee about his new book "Fighter", Eoin's Poems made a thoroughly unwanted return, and Ken picks his new man for Irish football... And it's NOT Mick McCarthy.
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It was a game between the teams ranked 1 and 2 in the world, and for a breathless 80 minutes, that's exactly what it looked like - a game of huge quality between two evenly matched teams. That Ireland were able to win such a match augurs well for the future, but there's enough in the here and now to keep us very satisfied indeed as Ken, Eoin and Murph reflect on a classic Irish sporting occasion, before we are joined by Gerry Thornley and Eoin Reddan to give us the Irish angle. And we hear from Jeff Wilson, The Golden Boy, one-time record New Zealand try-scorer to tell us just how awesome we are, and maybe give us a little hope that we'll be able to hold onto Joe Schmidt for another couple of years yet. Plus there's former Tipp hurling legends assaulting hard-working journalists, re-watching the game in a happy daze on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and late 90's Otago Highlanders' highlights.
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Is this... rugby country? The very real chance that life may be imitating advertising is the appalling prospect that greets the Irish football team as they prepare to take on old buddies Denmark in Aarhus tonight.Seamus Coleman and Martin O'Neill insisted that they and the squad greatly enjoyed the win over New Zealand but can they really have enjoyed seeing the difference in the way the crowd at the Aviva reacted to the rugby and football versions of Ireland?Jonathan Northcroft joins us to talk about his World Cup diary, Deadlines and Darts with Dele. He was mainly covering England for the Sunday Times, and 2018 has been a transformative year for the English national team. Is there anything in their turnaround from which Ireland can take heart?
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It's our weekly taster menu of Second Captains fare - and this week things took a turn for the extraterrestrial as Ken wrestled with the news that alien invaders had been spotted along the west coast of Ireland. In light of that devastating bombshell, the build-up to Ireland vs New Zealand seemed almost frivolous, but we had TV3 New Zealand's Ross Karl in studio waxing lyrical about Beauden Barrett, Shane Horgan on the things that have to happen for Ireland to win, and lest we forget - tomorrow we have a football show on all the reaction to Ireland/Northern Ireland tonight.
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Ireland defeated Argentina on Saturday, the team that has ended our World Cup on 2 of the last 3 occasions lest we forget, but rarely has a win over a bona fide top tier nation been so readily digested and then ignored in the rush to look ahead to next Saturday's clash with New Zealand. Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times and Matt Williams join us to take whatever learnings we can from last Saturday, before the hype begins in earnest. Are New Zealand all that brilliant any more? If they can barely squeak past an England team that couldn't win a line out, what have we to be scared about? Is Rory Best's position in the team under threat? We discuss the loss of Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw, and the battle for number 1 in the world. We enlist the spirit of Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell to turn the hype up to 11, Ken and Murph are at daggers drawn already - and it's only Monday, and we salute the return of the trash-talking Eddie Jones... after one moral victory.
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Manchester City's crushing dominance in the Manchester derby means Manchester United are roughly back to where they were before the last international break. It feels now as though their recent string of comeback wins have been papering over cracks that haven't gone away, and the outlook for the season heading towards Christmas is bleak. Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to analyse the Manchester derby. Was there anything United could have done to wrest the match away from City? And will fans ever really care about what many of them see as little more than creative accounting?And Tom Williams talks to us about how France is adjusting to PSG's unprecedented dominance. Tom also explains the reasons behind Thierry Henry's miserable winless start as Monaco coach.
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Welcome to our spritz of world service goodness. This week we talked about happy Jose, the Manchester derby, Liverpool's mojo, and we made the case for Simone Biles as the most influential and most dominant athlete in the world. Plus there's Ireland V Argentina build up with Shane Horgan and Diego "Mr 99" Albanese tomorrow (next week we will be talking All Blacks)and we had a great show on Wednesday - Ken talked to David McWilliams about liberal Ireland's economic miracle.
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As the Centenary edition of Poppy Mania hits full throttle, James McClean and Neil Lennon have both complained that they have become the victims of anti-Irish racism in the UK. Meanwhile Nemanja Matic has unexpectedly entered the drama as a striking new character who could have a big future.In this bumper football show, David Sneyd joins us in studio to talk about the FAI Cup Final, the difference between happiness and joy, and whether the future of Irish football is Irish-based.And we speak to Rory Smith about the latest Football Leaks reports from Der Spiegel and its associated publications. Please join us at secondcaptains.com to listen to our daily shows and support independent, member-led, commercial-free broadcasting.
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Ireland eased their way to an 8 try win over Italy in Chicago on Saturday evening, and the two players many people were looking at to make an impact on their debut starts for their country contributed 5 tries between them - the hard-carrying, turn-over king Tadhg Beirne, and the electric Jordan Larmour. Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley join us to talk about Larmour and why, as Eoin points out, he's not just good at the mercurial stuff, but is also doing all of the things Joe Schmidt is asking of him. Will he make the World Cup starting XV? Eoin says yes, but he's not sure in what position. There's also Tadhg Beirne's all-around brilliance, and the form of the back up half backs. We also find time to discuss Ballyea and Ballygunner's epic shoot-out in the Munster club hurling championship, which led to an all-time great outbreak of mutual respect. Plus there's a new slot for World Service members to get excited about, and we find out hurling snobbery is not just for summer-time, it's for life.
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A little taster of what was on the Second Captains World Service this week: Davy Fitz on whether he set out to settle scores in his new book, Kiwi conspiracy theories, rattled All Blacks.
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It's almost certainly Julen Lopetegui's last day as coach of Real Madrid, after his side were hammered 5-1 at Camp Nou.We talk through the aftermath of the match and conclude that the European champions have problems that a change of coach is not going to solve.Jacob Steinberg was at Leicester this weekend to cover their match against West Ham. He joins us to talk about the helicopter disaster that claimed the lives of five people including the Leicester chairman, Vichai Srivadhannaprabha.
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A taster of what was on Second Captains World Service this week: Man United's cunning plan, Murray on privacy and gossip, Champions League fun, beefs and brawls with US Murph.
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Katie Taylor had a routine defence of her world title in Boston on Saturday night against a fighter who was woefully unable to offer anything on the front foot. Rather more dramatic is a new documentary, "Katie", which gets a cinema release this week and which offers deep insight into Katie the person. Director Ross Whitaker (who has made "When Ali Came To Ireland" and "Axel" among a string of great Irish sports documentaries), is in studio along with Katie to talk to us about her relationship with her father, heartbreak in Rio and living a new life in the middle of nowhere in Connecticut. We also look back at the weekend's rugby with Mattie Williams and Gerry Thornley, as Leinster's mask of invincibility fell in dramatic fashion in Toulouse, Munster defeated Gloucester, Cipriani went high and Simon Zebo annoyed some Ulstermen. Plus there's the fog of GAA war, the art of small talk with promoters (and UFC stars), and showboating.
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The Nations League may be gone for the next few weeks but the aftershocks continue to shake up the Irish punditry scene as Seamus Coleman takes clinical aim at Keith Andrews for criticising the team. Meanwhile the Premier League title race looks exceptionally tight with the top five potentially separated by two points if Arsenal manage to beat Leicester tonight. But does the table belie the real story - which is that Manchester City's form is looking increasingly ominous for everybody else?Dermot Corrigan was at Real Madrid's press conference to see Julen Lopetegui confirm that he would continue as coach at least for another few days. And we speak to Deutsche Welle's Felix Tamsut about an extraordinary press conference at Bayern Munich, where the club main power-brokers called the media in for no other reason than to give them a damn good thrashing.
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European Rugby is back, and it was an excellent week for the Irish provinces, as Leinster and Ulster both won against English opposition, and Munster came out of Exeter with a doughty draw.Gerry Thornley and former Munster back-rower James Coughlan join us to talk about Leinster's thrilling style, Ulster's young fullback, Tadhg Beirne's best game so far for Munster, and Freddie Burns' horror-show. Joe Brolly has called for the UFC to be banned, and Ken can't believe that he's talking about the Ultimate Fighting Championship and not the Ulster Football Championship. Plus there's Gabriel Batistuta, Rui Costa, li'l US Murph's photographic memory, and Django Unchained.
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Ep 1291: Good Ship Ireland, McCarthy Charm Offensive, Natural Goalscorer Worship - 15/10/18 by Second Captains
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So it turns out if you insult Khabib Nurmagomedov's family, religion, and country... he's not going to like it very much. Conor McGregor's pre-fight posturing might have just seemed like good PR, and even a good laugh, but Khabib was deadly serious when it came to seeking retribution in the ring, and against Mcgregor's team, in the immediate aftermath of the UFC lightweight world title fight. Petesy Carroll and Joe Callaghan are on hand to talk us through a fight in which McGregor was comprehensively outclassed, and to discuss who was best served by the crazy, chaotic scenes afterwards - was it Conor, the fans, the sport of MMA or Dana White and the UFC?Leinster and Munster served up a brilliant game on Saturday evening, a game where strangely enough pretty much everyone had something positive to take from it. Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie look at Munster's new attacking formation, King James Lowe, and the Joey Carbery Ross Byrne battle. Plus there's Galway's new rugby party HQ, making your own reality, and Karl Rove.
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It turns out Pep Guardiola can do pragmatism with the best of them, and the much-hyped clash of Liverpool and Manchester City fizzled out in mild disappointment for an uncharacteristically conservative City and mild relief for misfiring Liverpool.Instead we had to satisfy ourselves with an astonishing game at Old Trafford, in which Jose Mourinho defied the implacable forces bent on his destruction with a masterclass in rabble-rousing.John Brewin joins us to discuss that match and how things are likely to play out from here.But with some of Europe's biggest clubs also checking out the managerial market for replacements, is now the right time for United to act?
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**NOTE: This was initially a World Service members-only show broadcasted first on 2nd of October 2018. We have decided to re-publish the podcast today, the 4th of October, with the support of our members. For independent, member-led journalism like this in the future, please join the Second Captains World Service. Enjoy the show and thanks to all our members as always.**On the World Service today we have one of the most impactful interviews we've ever done. It's the story of former professional footballer Brian Lenihan who played with Cork City before getting a move to Hull City and winning a call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad in 2014.In April of this year, aged just 23, Brian was forced to retire from football for his own wellbeing. And in the latest episode of The Player’s Chair, he opens up to Richie about the mental health issues that lay behind that decision to step away from the sport.Brian reveals the difficulties he had in coming to terms with his injury, the suicidal thoughts he experienced, and the multiple sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) he received as part of his treatment.It’s a difficult, sometimes dark but compelling interview for The Player's Chair. Brian hopes his openness will help others who may be going through similar difficulties.
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Europe were deemed to be the underdogs going into the weekend's Ryder Cup, but it was very much an old-school Ryder Cup in the end - the US had all the stars, Europe had all the team spirit, and it ended with a convincing 7 point win for the home side. Malachy Clerkin had barely set foot back in Ireland before he came in to us, and he's joined by Lawrence Donegan to pick apart another European celebration... and another fractious US aftermath. Leinster and Munster will be feeling good ahead of their meeting in the Aviva this saturday, as they both had confident, assured wins against Connacht and Ulster respectively. Mattie Williams and Gerry Thornley give us their views on Munster's new 9 Alby Mathewson, Joey Carbery's instincts and relentless Leinster. Plus there's Tiger Woods' woeful Ryder Cup record, Moliwood, Europe's lovely and lame stars, and the father of Grunge.
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Chelsea and Liverpool used to straight up not like each other. And yet their last two matches, despite being played out in a bizarre atmosphere of mutual respect and admiration, have been remarkably entertaining. Can you get it on even if you also get along?We discuss that match and some of the other weekend highlights, including a searingly honest and yet perplexing analysis of Manchester United's failings from Luke Shaw, and reports of Benjamin Mendy sailing close to the wind.Then we speak to Der Spiegel's sports editor Christoph Winterbach about his magazine's reporting of the Ronaldo story, which has made global headlines over the weekend. Raphael Honigstein joins us to talk about the weekend's Premier League action. If Liverpool's attack is not flowing quite so well as last season, is this because attackers are out of form or because Jurgen Klopp has decided to tweak the style of play? And how much of Chelsea's improved form can be put down to their improved mood?
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Last year, Tiger Woods could barely walk. Last night, in chaotic, brilliant circumstances, he won his first PGA Tour championship in 5 years to reaffirm his return to the top of the sport. Not only has he battled back from technical, physical, psychological and emotional setbacks, he's also won a few new friends along the way. Author, podcast host and friend of the show Lawrence Donegan tries to put it all into historical perspective.Gerry Thornley and Mattie Williams join us to talk about Munster and Joey Carbery's awkward initial fumblings as they strive to make this relationship work, Connacht have their groove back under Andy Friend, and Felipe Contepomi is adding even more pizzazz to the Leinster back-room. Plus there's Souness' stove-piping, Ken awaits Eoin McDevitt's return with unbearable anticipation, and we mention Jamie Dornan, Brian O'Driscoll and Condoleezza Rice in the same sentence so it must be Ryder Cup week.
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Ep 1273: Pogba's Points, The Mendes Derby, Chelsea's Control Freak, Liverpool's Headstart - 24/09/18 by Second Captains
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Dublin have been the best team in ladies football for the last two years, but yesterday they finally got the result they needed to truly frank that form, when they beat their old nemesis Cork in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park. 10-time All-Ireland winning legend Valerie Mulcahy and Malachy Clerkin join us to discuss whether this is a changing of the guard, and if Dublin are about to embark on a period of dominance similar to their men's team - we're not so sure. Sean Cavanagh was in studio with us last Thursday talking about on-field violence, and just two days after that, he suffered horrific facial injuries in a Tyrone senior club championship game. Oisin McConville talks to us about whether Tyrone have a problem, or if its endemic in the GAA nationwide, and if the PSNI is an organisation that GAA players in Northern Ireland are comfortable reporting such incidents to. Plus there's sports mad Shane Ross, Murph finally feels respected, and Ken tells us his bombshell leaving cert results night story which we were cruelly denied last week.
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Stand-in host Ciaran Murphy, like many Manchester United supporters, is angry with the double standards employed by the fake news media. Is it not time to HAMMER TOTTENHAM? Why should they always get off easy? We discuss a Premier League Sunday that was dominated by unhappy shamrock Declan Rice and bench shamrock Matt Doherty, while on Saturday, victorious coaches Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola were angry with their players for different reasons.Then Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson join us to dissect Spurs' performance and Harry Kane's malaise. We also talk about the benefits of the ever-expanding army of ancillary coaches that can be found at many football clubs, and we ponder what Ketchup symbolises.
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Ep 1262: Serena's Outrage, Why She Is A Nuance-Free Zone, Dominic Ryan Retires With Concussion, Solos In Slaughtneil - 10/09/2018
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The Nations League turns out to be not bad, eh. We discuss the opening weekend of UEFA's new tournament, why it seems to be working despite the dull and convoluted format, and the latest reports on the strife in the Ireland camp. Then we talk to Peter Crouch about his new book, How To Be A Footballer, and look at some of the Jon Walters related highlights in the book.
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Harry Arter has become the latest Ireland international to decide that he'd rather not join up with the squad right now. Martin O'Neill has admitted that his decision may have been influenced by an altercation with Roy Keane during a previous Ireland camp.We discuss the reasons why players play international football: do you have to be a super-patriot like James McClean, or does careerism have its place? Meanwhile Denmark have sacked off their entire squad because of a commercial dispute between the DBU and the players. Jacob Staehelin of Danish podcast Mediano Fodbold joins us to explain the chaos. And Kieran Canning was at Celtic Park to see Brendan Rodgers' Celtic beat Steven Gerrard's Rangers in the first Old Firm clash of the season.
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Dublin are now utterly dominant, that dominance franked by a convincing fourth All-Ireland final win in a row against a valiant but outclassed Tyrone team. Oisin McConville thinks Tyrone missed an opportunity, and Mike Quirke tries to put this Dublin era into a historical context. From the moment the season began, it was clear that Dublin were heavy favourites to end the summer as champions. Is that level of superiority good for the game, should the Dubs care, and did Tyrone offer anything yesterday that other teams can replicate in the future? At the moment the Dubs have too many options, too much patience, are too well coached, and have a number of stratospherically good players. So can anyone challenge them next year, or the year after?Ken says ignore the begrudgery and the spreadsheets, lets talks to the children of the nation about this Dublin team. And he tells us some tall tales of his adventures on the Portuguese high seas.
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Oh Declan. The news that Declan Rice is "deliberating" over an offer to play his international football with England has sent Irish football into a tailspin, as many of us had already mentally installed Rice as the bedrock of the team for the next 15 years. We discuss possible solutions for Jose Mourinho as he wanders in an existential vacuum and Eoin describes how he dealt with getting Poped out on Sunday early afternoon.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss the news about Declan Rice. How should we feel about this latest lost sheep?Then we are joined from Cairo by Mustafa Omar to hear more about the continuing dispute between Mo Salah and the Egyptian FA. Plus Rodgers gets rattled, Keyes has a pop, Owen talks about his groin and Ozil has some phlegm.
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The All-Ireland Football Final is next Sunday, a game in which few people, if anyone, give Tyrone much of a chance of discommoding Dublin. So just how do you get under their skin, and bring them to places they don't want to go? The only team capable of doing that in the last couple of years is Mayo, and we talk to their midfielder Seamus O'Shea about how to go toe-to-toe with Dublin, what Mayo bring to the table that Jim Gavin's team don't like, and why Tyrone's build-up couldn't be going much better. We also talk about recovering from injury, Stephen Rochford's proposed new backroom team, and being pinned down in Clonmel general hospital as they tried to pop his shoulder back in place... we salute the bravery of south Tipperary's first responders. Plus there's Tipp's u-21s, Ken's chicken wings, and we solve the future of Gaelic football.
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Even in a bad game, in this extraordinary year hurling found a way to be exceptional, as Limerick dominated the All-Ireland champions Galway for 70 minutes, and still nearly got caught in injury time. Thus ends a 45-year wait for an All-Ireland title for Limerick, and they celebrated in style. We try and celebrate the year in review with two All-Ireland winners of our own, Eoin Kelly and Michael Duignan, and we discuss Limerick's winning blend of aggression and style which won the hardest-earned All-Ireland of them all. Ken smugly reminds us of his confident pre-match prediction of a crushing Limerick victory, Murph convinces himself that in fact Galway wuz robbed, and we hail the stunning co-commentary stylings of Anthony Daly. Plus Shane Dowling is having a party and everyone's invited, Ken ponders a trip to Limerick to hang out with his celebrity pal, and Limerick face down their demons and win anyway.
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This year's All-Ireland football final will be between Dublin and Tyrone, after Tyrone pipped Monaghan by a point, and the Dubs eased past Galway in the semis. The question is starting to be asked though - are even the Dublin fans bored by Dublin's dominance at this stage? Ken launches a stirring defence of his boys with a passionate charm offensive, before Mike Quirke and Oisin McConville join us to discuss if Dublin will be forced to break sweat at all this year. We talk about Brooks Koepka's consistent efforts to look for slights real or imagined, even as a three-time major champion.We also discuss Rhys McClenaghan's brilliance in winning gold for Ireland on the pommel horse, and the incredible Ingebrigtsens. Plus there's misunderstood Murph, natural born Dubs, and what do Mayo have that the rest don't?
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Welcome to a very special edition of the Second Captains Football Podcast, a live broadcast from the wonderful Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin. Warning: contains *beefOur guest star is one of the best TV analysts in any sport, not just football, who spent an entire career racking up trophies at Manchester United…. We welcomed GARY NEVILLE to the stage.We talked to Gary about mistakes he has made and how he has learned from them, how he lost and regained his confidence, and how his time as manager at Valencia impacted him personally and how he deals with managers now throwing his managerial career back at him.The Premier League has returned and Manchester United haven’t set the transfer market ablaze with big money signings. Ken asks Gary why, if they’re so brilliant at making money off the field, why United aren’t the biggest spending club in the world, and if they have their priorities all wrong? *Things get heated between Ken and Gary, Eoin gets dragged into it, the crowd get involved, strong opinions get aired. Plus there’s Pep showing the English how to play football, can Liverpool win the league, the Vieira Keane tunnel bust-up, the Wright Keane ITV bust-up, and we ask Gary “could anybody analyse those teams on telly?”It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you stand up and shout at your podcast device - its the 2018 Second Captains Premier League Night with Cadbury!Cadbury - Official Snack Partner of the Premier League
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The hardest working man in showbiz, Ken Early, has been working right through the Bank Holiday weekend. He soaked up the goodwill towards Alisson Becker in the Aviva stadium, pored over the latest transfer news, and admires Steven Gerrard's Rangers mindset.Monaghan mastermind Malachy O'Rourke has guided the county to their first senior All Ireland football semi final in 30 years, and the locals are starting to believe. Meanwhile things have gone sour very quickly in Kerry, culminating in the resignation of Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice.We talk to Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke about Kerry's fan fracture, measured Monaghan, phase 1 of Galway's All Ireland masterplan and the amazing return of Bernard Brogan from ACL surgery.Plus there's Courtois to Madrid, Bielsa's life lessons, and Eoin's cocktail class.
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Hurling is no longer a sport, more a sneak preview of what the heavenly after-life will be like. Murph is apparently still walking in a daze around Croke Park, so we get Ken's thoughts on the sport of the Gods.Is this a freakish year, or has the sport got better? Can Clare win the replay? Is there anything Limerick can't do? And what's on John Mullane's Spotify playlist?Clare’s All-Ireland winning captain from 2013 Patrick Donnellan and Malachy Clerkin of The Irish Times talk to us about a magical weekend of action.Plus there's weeping journos, Shane Dowling's plea to fans, mystery audio and human VAR.
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The Premier League season starts on Friday week with Manchester United against Leicester, which is an interesting match-up because Jose Mourinho and Claude Puel are currently the first and second favourite managers to leave their jobs. Mourinho has spent much of pre-season complaining about the quality of the squad at his disposal and for once Ken has some sympathy with his position.If Manchester United aren't prepared to pay big money for the experienced players Jose wants, do they have to reconsider whether he is the right man for the job? Miguel Delaney joins us to analyse what is happening behind the scenes at United. Plus there's Neymar's boy inside, Wayne Rooney finds happiness and does positivity have any impact on outcome?
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So it turns out those people writing off the Super 8s as a bad idea after one weekend might have been a little premature. It was a brilliant weekend of football, with pride of place going to David Clifford's injury time heroics to save Kerry from a second consecutive defeat. Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke discuss Clifford's luminous display, Rory Beggan's kick-outs, and Eoin breathlessly reports from his excursion to Omagh for his beloved Dubs' 3-point win over Tyrone. We chat to Lawrence Donegan about Francesco Molinari's first major title for Italy yesterday at the British Open, and just how close we came to seeing Tiger write a story for the ages. Plus there's Dave Alred's pressure principle, so much for Free Derry, Galway's easy side of the draw, Tiger's kids, and Omagh forgetting to bring the Galatasaray.
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Mesut Özil has quit the German national team and issued a four-page statement that concludes "I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect."The fact that arguably Germany's highest-profile sportsman no longer feels comfortable representing the national team makes this one of the biggest stories in Germany's sports history - a super-Saipan that dramatises the conflicts in Germany's increasingly fractious debate on immigration and cultural integration.After analysing Özil's lengthy statement, we are joined by Raphael Honigstein to discuss the resulting fall-out.Plus there's Jose in Cali and Karius' plea to humanity.
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The opening weekend of the All-Ireland Quarter-Final Group Stages, otherwise known as the Super 8s, was supposed to be, well... super. But that's not quite how it panned out. Can we blame Murph?It was overshadowed entirely by a six-goal World Cup final, and by Limerick's thrilling 2 point win over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final. Michael Duignan pays tribute to Limerick's new-look team, and to Kilkenny, who lost nothing in defeat but are now reduced to being a significant staging post in other teams' development. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke join us to talk about wins for Tyrone, Dublin, Monaghan and Galway, and why we should probably withhold judgement until at least week 2 of this grand experiment. Plus there's Ken's latest travel woes, Dublin's two-finger salute, Oisin's travel-guide to the full Ulster GAA experience, and why we need more Lothar Matthaus in our lives.
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Here ends a bizarre, uplifting, brilliant, outrageous World Cup - France are champions after a 4-2 win against Croatia, in a game where bafflingly they managed to play poorly for large stretches, and still win comfortably. Ken was there to witness Pogba, politicians and a penalty decision that shaped the game. For this latest VAR controversy, Ken peaks into the mind of the ref during the World Cup final.We speak to Philippe Auclair about this French team, their cautious, under appreciated, ridiculously-garlanded manager Didier Deschamps, and a beautiful 20 years of success. We talk to Dario Brentin in Zagreb about Croatian pride in defeat, Modric's perjury charges, and how politics has always been a murky force in their football, and will continue to be despite this magnificent month. Plus there's reaction on the streets of Dublin to the World Cup final, Vladimir Klitschko, Putin's poodle Conor McGregor, umbrellas, and Ken's team of the tournament.
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It was a brilliant weekend for the Irish girls at the European u-18 championships with four medals from three athletes, and some championship records and PB's to boot. Sarah Healy was the star of the show, winning a 1500/3000m double, but there was also gold in the 200m for Rhasidat Adeleke, and a silver for Sophie O'Sullivan, daughter of Sonia, in the 800m. Derval O'Rourke is in Finland at the World Under 20's and she tells us why we should both be excited and patient with this extraordinary new crop of potential stars. We ask where all this success has come from and what the path from underage to senior is like in athletics. Oisin McConville and Michael Foley join us to talk about the last round of qualifiers, and the annual post mortem on the Cork footballers - this year's looks particularly gruelling. Plus there's sprinter's choice, the Leinster hurling final replay, Sarah Healy asks Europe to inspect the damage, and Sonia the supportive, stressed-out mum.
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It was, for a change, quite routine on Saturday afternoon (by England tournament knockout game standards) as a 2-0 win over Sweden saw them qualify for only their third ever World Cup semi-final, and their first since 1990. Ken is a journalist, and so is unmoved by those who would suggest that he's not exactly embracing this England team... even if news that he was watching "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" on Saturday night leaked out online. Jonathan Liew of The Independent in London and Rory Smith of the New York Times talk us through England's impressive win, Pickford magic and look ahead to their match against an increasingly leggy-looking Croatia.And we discuss Waddle's lip wobble, self aware Ross Kemp, Harry Maguire's slab-head, Stuart Barnes on Neymar, Richard Clayderman, and Didier Deschamps' "that'll do" management which has gotten them all the way to the World Cup semi-final.
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Another weekend, another barely believable series of storylines. We said goodbye to Messi AND Ronaldo on the same day, clearing the way for the supporting cast to take centre-stage. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are long-established in their own right, but Saturday felt like Kylian Mbappé's coming out party. We talk to Philippe Auclair about the French sensation who appeared in the football world apparently fully grown and self-assured. Ken was in the Luzhniki Stadium yesterday and spoke to Sid Lowe and Barney Ronay after Spain departed limply at the hands of the hosts. And today Ken speaks to us live from the cobblestones outside a boiling hot Samara Airport before heading to Brazil/Mexico, as he bemoans Mexican airplane etiquette, squashed sombreros, Cavani's cheekbone and Kasper Schmeichel's Zaire 1974 impersonation.
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Mayo have illuminated the last decade of football, but they were dumped out of the championship last Saturday night when they lost a classic All-Ireland football qualifier to Kildare in Newbridge. Oisin McConville is in studio to talk about the structure that Mayo's players need in order to get them over the line, why they might not get that with this manager, and why they're still the GAA story of the decade. Michael Duignan is with us as well as we look back on the Munster and Leinster finals from yesterday, and the essential differences between hurling in the two provinces. Plus there's Cork's belief, Boris Becker's diplomatic immunity, and Kildare winning the battle and then winning the war.
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Ulster final day is always pretty special, and Oisin McConville has been there for a few of them over the years. Leader of the DUP Arlene Foster was in Clones yesterday for her first, and we ask Oisin about the special significance of her decision to attend. Oisin and Mike Quirke cast their eye over the action on the field, as Dublin, Kerry and Donegal all completed routine provincial title wins. Shane Horgan joins us to talk about Ireland's dream rugby season - rounded off on Saturday morning with a gutsy series win against one of the Big Three Southern Hemisphere teams. We ask what's been learnt about Ireland's gameplans, and Ireland's players, on this tour?Plus there's Ryan McHugh's fly in a jam-jar impersonation, the potato-eaters' win over Phil "Crocodile" Kearns' men down under, and Felipe is on his way to educate Leinster!
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There may have been a few dissenting voices prior to this weekend, but be in no doubt now - this has been a brilliant World Cup. 27 goals in 6 games meant the tournament went turbo-charged in the last two days. Ken was on hand to see England's hammering of Panama Was he impressed? Raphael Honigstein tells us about the German reaction to Toni Kroos' impossible, magnificent last-minute goal to beat Sweden. And ahead of the last round of matches, we catch up with Oluwashina Okeleji as Nigeria's Super Eagles face Lionel Messi's Argentina. Plus there's Maurice Fitzgerald, sending referees to The Hague, and unflattering Second Captains player ratings.
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The All-Ireland hurling championship was always going to claim a few high-profile early exits, but it's still hard to believe that two of last year's All-Ireland semi-finalists, Tipperary and Waterford, are gone already. Michael Duignan is in studio to help us look back over Clare's seminal win over Tipperary in Thurles, and Kilkenny's ten-point turnaround against Wexford which saw them come back from the brink and land in a Leinster final. Shane Horgan watched Ireland against Australia, and has reasons to be cheerful despite the fact we got schooled in the air, at the breakdown and in contact. It's going to be an interesting week for Joe Schmidt, but Shane has a specific solution in mind for the threats posed by Folau, Beale and Pocock. Plus there's Ken's Presidential Time, the GAA's World Cup survival strategy, MO Salah goes down Grozny way, and bad news for Eddie Jones and his acolytes (Ken, for example).
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Ken goes to Russia tomorrow battling accusations that he has been spreading orientalist brain-rot via the pages of the Irish Times. Has he anything to say for himself? Has Putin got to him? Then Tim Vickery and Jonathan Wilson join us for our big World Cup preview. After finding out their respective earliest World Cup memories we turn to what we can expect on the field. Can Brazil rescue the reputation of South American international football? Can Argentina shake off their fatalism and prove themselves worthy of Messi? Are Germany and Spain getting enough respect? What would Jonathan's Auntie Doris have made of it?And can England find a new way to disappoint? Getting ready for Russia, good luck!
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We were in Kilkenny at the Cat Laughs Festival this weekend, and took two of our favourite comedians, David O'Doherty and Adam Hills, for a walk on the mild side. With the World Cup starting in Russia in a few days and sports fans everywhere about to take a break from real life, we asked them why does sport get so much attention/love/hatred? David also has some breaking news on the Real Madrid job, Adam tells us about his Rugby League career, and we explain the Socceroos World Cup curse.Plus there’s Roseanne’s racism, the problem with gyms, and a very special live edition of Ken’s Champions League voice.
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At half-time in Thurles yesterday, it looked like Tipperary's hurling world was falling in around them. Nine points down, at home to Cork, and with the criticism of the previous week's defeat to Limerick still ringing in their ears they somehow managed to resurrect their season, coming back to draw a thriller.Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin were there, and join us to talk about that, Waterford's horror opener, and Murph reports from Pearse Stadium as Galway's physicality and superior skill finally wore down Kilkenny.The big story in the football championship was Carlow's brilliant win over Kildare, and we speak to their manager and Svengali, Turlough O'Brien about why this is important for Carlow's self-image as a county, beyond sport.Plus there's Ed Sheeran, Linford Christie, the death notices on Shannonside FM, and Sean Óg de Paor.
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We expected a dramatic Champions League final, and it didn't disappoint. Real Madrid are three-in-a-row champions of Europe, and Liverpool are left to rue Loris Karius' extraordinary, unprecedented performance, and Mo Salah's first half injury.Ken was there for us, and saw Karius' horror display, and the greatest goal he's ever seen, in the flesh. There's also his thoughts on Sergio Ramos being the exact opposite of a master of the dark arts, and we get reaction from all quarters, including the European Judo Union.Ken spoke with Miguel Delaney, Jonathan Wilson and Mark Critchley in the stadium after the game, and we also have time to talk about Tana Umaga's tip tackle on Brian O'Driscoll, Gareth Bale's 'come and get me' plea, and how sport is cruel, God doesn't exist and the Champions League respects no moral code. HAPPY MONDAY EVERYBODY!!
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The Leinster Championship was first into the fray last week, and with four games across both provincial round-robins yesterday, Eoin has called it - he's a big fan of the new-look All-Ireland hurling championship.We have Michael Duignan and former Tipperary legend Eoin Kelly in studio to talk about Cork and Limerick's opening day wins, and Dublin's second spirited display in seven days, which ends with them leaving empty-handed again.Will Tipperary's hurling public turn on their team, are Cork the real deal, and are Clare destined to forever lose close games? All issues up for debate on today's show.Plus we remember the day Ken met Haddaway, Jonno Gibbs is put on the spot, and we lament Munster Rugby's inability to pass which is perhaps a more vexed problem than they're willing to admit.
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Chelsea won the FA Cup but the future of the club looks uncertain, with question marks over the future of Antonio Conte, Eden Hazard and even Roman Abramovich, whose investor visa has not yet been renewed by the UK Foreign Office.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about what is likely to happen there over the summer, and whether Chelsea as we know them could weather the departure of their owner.We discuss the claims of Manchester United directors that the club's profitability is not affected by relative lack of success. Does success off the field really lead to success on the field, or is something getting lost in translation?Plus there’s the Portuguese Cup Final heroics, Iniesta’s beautiful battles, Ken’s scrapes, Team Willian, and did Jose Mourinho choose the wrong sport?
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Leinster are European champions for a fourth time after their gruelling 15-12 victory over Racing 92 in Bilbao on Saturday, bringing them level with Toulouse as the most-decorated team in northern hemisphere club rugby.Shane Horgan, Matt Williams and Gerry Thornley are all on hand to discuss how Leinster have managed to turn it around just 2 years after losing 5 from 6 in their pool and Johnny Sexton questioning the culture of the club.With a barely believable strength in depth, a huge fan base, an adaptable playing style, and a few more years left in Johnny Sexton, the future looks uncommonly bright all of a sudden. So the suggestion that Leo and Lancaster could take the reins with Ireland after RWC 2019 is the only foreseeable problem for Leinster.Murph had his first taste of WWE live action on Friday, he breathlessly tells us what "Delete, Delete" means, plus there’s iron Donnacha Ryan, The Swerve to Bath and Ken gives his views on child labour.
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Barcelona threw away the chance to complete an unbeaten season in La Liga by resting Lionel Messi to ensure his availability for a moneymaking midweek friendly in South Africa. Meanwhile, Manchester City reached the 100-point mark in the Premier League. Is it too early to say The Game's Gone?Also under discussion are Mauricio Pochettino's "shtones" challenge to Daniel Levy, and the fact that Mikel Arteta is now the favourite to take over Arsenal.We talk to Tariq Panja of the New York Times about some of the big changes that are being considered in football's future. FIFA have been presented with a radical new idea for the World Club Cup - what has been suggested, and who is behind it? Arsene Wenger says a European super league is "inevitable" - is he right?And what about a new threat to the TV money that financially underpins the game? Richard Keys and Andy Gray have thoughts...
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Steven Gerrard has agreed to become the new manager of Rangers. Ken, who earlier today was exposed by his own sloppy journalism to the unforgiving nature of the Glasgow football rivalry, expresses his sympathies.Arsene Wenger left the Emirates for the last time as manager towing a six-litre keg of wine gifted to him by an appreciative press corps; meanwhile Chelsea are mounting a late charge for the Champions League after beating Klopp's Kop flops at Stamford Bridge. Have Liverpool lost their rhythm at the worst possible time, or are they just running on empty?Dermot Corrigan was in Barcelona to see the ten-man Spanish champions defend their unbeaten domestic record in a low-key end-of-season clasico. Are Real Madrid likely to change things up for the final against Liverpool? Plus there's the return of Nesbittwatch...
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In football nothing lasts forever, neither grudges, nor coaching mind-melds. Over the weekend Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho posed for a friendly picture on the sideline at Old Trafford, while Zeljko Buvac, Jurgen Klopp's "Brain", surprisingly left his role at Anfield - at least for now - on the eve of the Champions League semi-final second-leg.Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri is also clinging to the line that nothing lasts forever because it seems that Juventus' domination of Serie A is an exception. After an astonishing, yet also grimly predictable weekend of results, it sounds as though everyone involved in Italian football could do with a break to cool down.Kieran Canning joins us to discuss the state of the Old Firm rivalry. Is it possible to enjoy winning a one-horse race over and over again? Have Rangers fans learned to laugh at themselves? And can Steven Gerrard turn things around at Ibrox?
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Ulster Rugby couldn't get the bonus point win against Munster that would have given them a sniff at a Pro14 playoff place, and now face a battle to even qualify for next year's Champions Cup. Shane Horgan give us his view on a turbulent, depressing season for them, the arrival of their new head coach Dan McFarland, and John Muldoon's emotional send-off at the Sportsground on Saturday.Katie Taylor unified world titles in the ring in Brooklyn on Saturday night, but judging by the online reaction as it happened, there weren't many watching at home in Ireland. Michael Foley of The Sunday Times tries to figure out why her achievements still aren't capturing our imagination as a country.Plus there's Ken feeling disrespected, showboater's guilt, and the pride of the Arabian world.
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In football nothing lasts forever, neither grudges, nor coaching mind-melds. Over the weekend Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho posed for a friendly picture on the sideline at Old Trafford, while Zeljko Buvac, Jurgen Klopp's "Brain", surprisingly left his role at Anfield - at least for now - on the eve of the Champions League semi-final second-leg.Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri is also clinging to the line that nothing lasts forever because it seems that Juventus' domination of Serie A is an exception. After an astonishing, yet also grimly predictable weekend of results, it sounds as though everyone involved in Italian football could do with a break to cool down.Kieran Canning joins us to discuss the state of the Old Firm rivalry. Is it possible to enjoy winning a one-horse race over and over again? Have Rangers fans learned to laugh at themselves? And can Steven Gerrard turn things around at Ibrox?
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Leinster marched imperiously through to a first European Rugby Cup final since 2012 on Saturday, but Munster failed to complete the Irish double after a massively disappointing semi-final defeat to Racing 92 in Bordeaux yesterday - European Cup winners Shane Horgan and Barry Murphy assess the weekend's action.Are Munster just not good enough, or was Sunday a case of some really poor individual performances? Whatever the reason, it was a desperately disappointing display, and a sixth straight semi-final defeat since their last final appearance in 2008.Leinster on the other hand were exceptional against the Scarlets, and are now firm favourites to win a fourth European Cup. We analyse just how effectively they utilise all the various weapons at their disposal.Plus there's Scott Quinnell, Ken's travelling travails, bums in dressing-rooms, Simon gives James Ryan some gym advice, and fans give themselves a well-deserved pat on the back.
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It was a good weekend for Mo Salah, Ander Herrera, Olivier Giroud and Napoli, and a bad one for Shane Long, Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Mauricio Pochettino.We discuss the weekend of glowing tributes to Arsene Wenger, and what they have tended to leave out. What kind of manager should Arsenal go for after Arsene?John Brewin joins us to discuss Wenger's remarks after yesterday's match expressing disappointment with the failure of Arsenal fans to portray an appropriate image of unity to the club's global fanbase. Might this suggest that Wenger is somewhat... out of touch?And we talk to Jack Pitt-Brooke about whether Spurs can be said to have bottled the Cup semi-final against Manchester United. And what are we to make of Mauricio Pochettino's repeated references to "another coaching staff" possibly being at Spurs in the not-too-distant future?
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It was Eoin McDevitt's birthday last week, and since he's not on Facebook, we all obviously neglected to get him anything. So it is no coincidence that today, our entire pod is dedicated to the life and work of the Eighth Wonder of the World, and li'l Eoin's favourite wrestler. "Andre The Giant" is the subject and the title of a brilliant new HBO documentary, and we speak to the show's producer Matt Maxson about Andre's amazing life, his Olympian drinking, his deep-rooted unhappiness, and the gilded cage that his gigantic frame came to represent. We also discuss the best two weeks of Conor Murray's life, the funniest book of all time, and Eoin's favourite Samuel Beckett story.... Happy Eoin McDevitt Day everyone!
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Manchester City have won the league and sponsors Etisalat have saluted the achievement with one of the great football videos.We comb through the many "How City Did It" stories in today's papers and talk to Howard Hockin of the 93:20 podcast. When Pep asks his players a question, is he always expecting an answer? And if setting a points record would not necessarily be enough to establish City as the best Premier League team of all time, then which team deserves that distinction?Jose Mourinho gave Paul Pogba another rocket after Manchester United lost 1-0 to West Brom. Can the two of them afford to take the chance that everything will work itself out in their third season together? Plus there's Pep's refusal to compromise, I am Gigi Buffon, Rafa madness, Salah days, and where should the Player of the Year award end up?
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Patrick Reed won his first major title last night at the US Masters, seeing off a seriously off-colour Rory McIlroy, and rather more serious challenges from his American compatriots Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. But why does everyone dislike him so much?Golf writer Lawrence Donegan joins us to explain the complicated backstory, from allegations of cheating during college, to arrests, arrogance and family drama.Michael Duignan said in February that Kilkenny wouldn't win another All-Ireland under Brian Cody - Michael is in studio today wondering if he might live to regret that remark. We look back on their crushing league final win over Tipperary yesterday.Plus there's another year of Masters betting woes, Rory's caddy, and a few bars of Ken's favourite song to swim along to...
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As one bald fraud to another, Eoin McDevitt has pity for Pep's pain. Saturday was a good day for the Hairy Man, who heaped indignity upon the Smooth Man. Is there still hope of redemption for City after their nightmare week?As for the matchwinner Paul Pogba, where has this player been until now? And can we expect to see more of him in the future?We analyse the game with Jonathan Wilson: why have Pep's teams developed this unfortunate habit of conceding several goals in several minutes?And Kieran Canning reports on City's mood from their pre-Champions League press conference.
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So it's never happened before, but after this weekend a first Munster-Leinster European Rugby Cup final is looking perhaps more likely than at any previous stage in this competition's history.Matt Williams and Gerry Thornley talk us through Leinster and Munster's thrilling wins over Saracens and Toulon, who between them had shared the last 5 titles. From Andrew Conway's miracle run, to Dan Leavy's almost supernatural performance in the back-row, it was an exceptional weekend of Irish rugby.Oisin McConville is in studio to tell us how Dublin have managed to keep the show running despite blooding another batch of young players, and we all think it's time we started to take Galway seriously as contenders.Plus there's Dele Alli's Renaissance painting, not being able to hit your driver, and Conor Murray in the boardroom.
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**NOTE: Our members have requested that this podcast be made free-to-air and we're happy to do so. This was initially a World Service members-only show broadcasted first on 29th of March 2018. The podcast was re-published for all today, the 30th of March. For independent, member-led journalism like this in the future, please join the Second Captains World Service. Enjoy the show and thanks to all our members as always for their support.**The 'not guilty' verdicts in the Belfast rape trial yesterday sent shockwaves across the country. It was described on national television last night as 'one of the most high profile trials in the history of this island', and today we discuss the fall-out from it, and the lessons sport - and wider society - can learn.Sinead O’Carroll of thejournal.ie and Richie Sadlier are in studio to discuss the privilege of sportsmen, and their attitudes to women. Is the dressing room a breeding ground for toxic masculinity?And we ask what can be done to educate young people, particularly young men, about sex and sexual consent.
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Mayo needed a win or a draw against Donegal in Ballybofey yesterday, and by hook or by crook, a draw is what they got.We talk to Footballer Of The Year Andy Moran about Kevin McLoughlin's wonder point to save their bacon, why their league form has been so patchy, and what we can do to get cynicism in the final moments of a game out of the sport for good.We also speak to Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin about the weekend's hurling, which saw Wexford inflict a first defeat in knockout hurling since 2016 on Galway, and Pat Gilroy's Dublin endure another long day of learning at the hands of Tipperary in Croke Park.Plus there's Ken Loach's views on a united Ireland, human fallibility, and Ken (Early) vows to track down the missing Lord of Ana Livia, Diarmuid Connolly.
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An international football weekend with almost no international football on the actual weekend means that today we are forced to discuss whether rugby really is the heartbeat of the race, as some rugby pundits compulsively insist after every big rugby victory.If the oval ball game has displaced all other sports in the affections of the people, why do Irish viewers prefer Mrs. Brown's Boys?After we speak about some of the international action, Emmet Malone joins us to talk about Declan Rice's impressive international debut and ponder whether he really is locked down for the team.
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What are you waiting for? Go and listen to this interview on the Second Captains World Service. Join us at secondcaptains.com/join.
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For just the third time in our history, Ireland are 6 Nations Grand Slam champions. And this one was in a style that brooked no argument - from the moment Le Drop found it's way over the crossbar in Paris Ireland were the best team in the championship, accomplished front-runners, comfortable wearers of the favourites' tag and worthy champions.Sean Cronin gave us that image of a bruised and beaten Mike Brown sitting on the Twickenham turf with three minutes to go - a fine, last-ditch tackle extinguishing the last faint hope of an English comeback, and Sean joins us on the show to tell us about his worst ever bout of pre-match nerves, post-match joy and meeting Shane Ross.And Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley are on hand again to salute this fine Irish team, smokin’ Joe Schmidt, and talk about why the 2009 Grand Slam was the end of a journey, and this year can be the start of one.Plus there’s Tadhg the magnificent, Jacob and the young un’s, how to Borg the All Blacks, why Le Drop is different to every other moment in Irish sports history, and have Ireland outgrown European rugby…
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Many managers have spoken about the risks of criticising players in public. The players know when they've messed it up, they say. No need to labour the point, they say. Keep the criticism behind closed doors, they say.As his treatment of Luke Shaw demonstrates, Jose Mourinho takes a different view. But why? Is there a higher purpose to this, beyond making it clear that certain squad members will be available this summer at a discount price?Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse Mohamed Salah's sensational form. Why should many wide forwards now be scoring more goals than orthodox strikers? What does the ideal false nine look like? And now that Liverpool's attacking set-up is paying off so brilliantly, will other clubs copy the template?
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Now that's a week on the Second Captains World Service. Join us at secondcaptains.com/join.
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It's our fifth birthday, and it's celebrations all-round as we begin a massive week for the Irish rugby rugby team this Monday afternoon.Ireland are 4 wins from 4 games, scoring 17 tries in the process, and are now just a win in Twickenham away from a third Grand Slam in our history - so why are there still a few lingering questions surrounding our style?We talk to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about the room for improvement still in this Irish team, the difference between peace-time rugby and war-time rugby, and why 3 Championships in 5 years might be more satisfying than a one-off Grand Slam.Whatever about the lingering issues in Irish minds, the English team appear to be unravelling in a cycle of negativity, tiredness on the field, and excuses off it - is the Eddie Jones honeymoon well and truly over?
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It's the fifth birthday of Second Captains and we'll be bringing you some special interviews over the next month to mark the occasion - But first Eoin wants to know whether Ken is going to give Jose Mourinho the credit he deserves after a trademark tactical masterclass saw Manchester United crush Liverpool. Some LFC fans were spitting venom afterwards, others spitting mere saliva.Meanwhile things have got extremely shambolic at West Ham United, where the crowd apparently caught in five minds over whether to cheer, boo, invade the pitch, fight or throw coins at the owners, decided to do all five.Alastair Campbell has published a Troubles-themed thriller set in the world of 1970s football. We're joined in studio by Seamas O'Reilly, the world's foremost authority on the novels of Steve Bruce, to see if Campbell's book is any better than Bruce's. We also discuss what Seamas made of Michael O'Neill's comments on the FAI pursuing Irish internationals born north of the border.
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The Big Snow of 2018 is over, and after a weekend of sport denuded by the weather, we still have plenty to chew on this Monday afternoon.Team Sky, David Brailsford and Bradley Wiggins stand indicted again after the release of a report by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select parliamentary committee which outlines how Team Sky gamed the anti-doping rules to help their riders.Jeremy Whittle of The Times joins us to talk about the reputational damage done to everyone involved in Team Sky on the back of this damning report.Jim Hamilton was on the last Scottish team to win in Dublin, in 2010, and he talks to us about Scotland's woeful away form, Ireland's imposing home form, and why that doesn't necessarily mean this Saturday is a foregone conclusion.Plus there's smoking guns, the team GB tide of public opinion, and Mumford and Sons.
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MY lapel badge is apolitical. YOUR lapel badge is a political statement. The FA chief executive Martin Glenn has already apologised for appearing to bracket the Star of David as an offensive symbol alongside the emblems of ISIS and Nazi Germany, but was some kind of mess inevitable given the FA's confused policy on what is and isn't a political symbol?It feels as though the Premier League is falling out of love with Antonio Conte. The Chelsea manager has been accused of a "crime against football" by Jamie Redknapp for setting up in a 5-5-0 formation at Eastlands. Is there any sense in which Conte deserves this?Once again we turn our attention to the rotting carcass of Arsenal. Is Rio Ferdinand correct that this is the worst Arsenal team of his lifetime, or is it time to give Glenn Murray the credit he deserves?Miguel Delaney joins us to analyse the fallout from City v Chelsea. Is there a pattern to Gary Neville's occasional splenetic outbursts when he disapproves of a team's performance? And what do Pep's employers think of his ribbon stance?
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Ireland are three games in, and are still on course for a Grand Slam. And after another hugely enjoyable weekend of Six Nations rugby, certainly the championship appears well within our grasp.Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley talk us through Ireland's roller-coaster 37-27 win over Wales, with plenty of errors as well as sparkling, physical rugby to consider. And with James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale and Chris Farrell all starring, we consider what might be one of Ireland's biggest ever lineups.We talk to Tom English of BBC Scotland about that wonderful win for the home team in Murrayfield that leaves us within touching distance of securing the championship with a weekend to spare, and we also discuss Eoin Doyle's sending off for Kildare... for not wearing a gum shield.
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Ken's absence last week has led some listeners to wonder whether an automated Ken-3000 replacement could be commissioned to cover future time off, remixing and replaying the vast library of past Jose Mourinho commentary. Ken adds some new clips to the algorithm's memory cache with a dramatic U-turn.Chelsea are now struggling to get back into the race for Champions League qualification. Has Antonio Conte forgotten that motivation is about more than simply telling your players what to do?Does Scott McTominay have the potential to be a fixture in the Manchester United team? Is there anything new to say about Arsenal? And how will the yellow ribbon stand-off between Pep Guardiola and the FA play out? Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin join us to analyse.Meanwhile Diego Torres' reports on the goings-on at PSG have assumed the same place in the culture as Dallas occupied in the 80s. We crank his latest despatch through Google Translate.
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Richie Sadlier joins Eoin and Murph in studio to talk about how football management can be an emotional business. When Ipswich took the lead against local rivals Norwich on Saturday, Mick McCarthy couldn't resist having a go at his own fans.Is there ever a right time to shoot back at the same people who have been criticising you for months? On reflection, probably not... but it doesn't mean it doesn't feel really good while you're doing it. We also praise the job Chris Hughton is doing as he leads Brighton to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and analyse his potential to be the next Ireland manager.Plus Sid Lowe joins us to wax lyrical about Andres Iniesta before he returns to Stamford Bridge, the site of his favourite goal-not-scored-in-the-World-Cup-final goal.
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Without the burden of knowledge or insight, and freed from the pressure of expectation of Irish medals, the 2018 Winter Olympics has been a non-stop fun-a-thon in Second Captains HQ.Sinead O'Carroll, news editor with The Journal, told us on the World Service ten days ago why she spurns sleep in order to follow the Games, and she's in studio today to talk over all the hurt, heartbreak and heroics.If your sole focus is winning the All-Ireland, is it okay to throw your hat at the league? That's the question we ask Michael Duignan, as Waterford lost their third game in a row on Sunday. Clare are a study in contrast, and he picks one county out as a team that could win the league, and use it as a springboard for success in the summer.Plus there's Murph's biased local commentary experience, and the spectacle of watching an athlete go through the entire span of human emotional experience on television.
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Ireland remain on track for the Grand Slam after their fully-expected 56-19 win over Italy, but what happened that we didn't expect? Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley give us their thoughts on week 2 of this year's Six Nations championship.Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw going down injured certainly wasn't in the play-book, and the expected stern Italian resistance for the first 60 minutes didn't materialise either.We also didn't see the impact of the Irish bench that we expected, but is that to be expected when the game is over after 20 minutes? We also salute Owen Farrell's almost perfect performance for England, rate the threat posed by doughty Wales, and discuss why the relationship between the IRFU and the Irish media appears to be at an all-time low.Plus - Eoin explains why he loves Keith Earls, Simon has an idea for livening up Ireland/Italy games, and we salute our skating-to-work Dutch listeners.
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It was an amazing weekend for the King of the Golf but a bad one for Chris Smalling who finds himself serving as the Manchester United 'Pinata of the Week'.Jose Mourinho debuted a new magnanimous personality at St. James' Park but there is one person on whom the sunbeams of his warmth do not fall: his superstar midfielder Paul Pogba. Hooked twice in less than two weeks with United losing: is this war?Meanwhile Antonio Conte has explained that he is a victim of his own success at Chelsea: the club don't cooperate on transfers because he is too good at working with the players he already has.Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss the North London derby, and the increasing hostility between football clubs and the journalists who the clubs have increasingly come to see as competitors.
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This is a special World Service episode that we feel everyone should hear so we've made it available to all.World Service members will be familiar with our recent coverage of the extraordinary events in a Michigan courtroom, where the victims of ex-USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar finally had the opportunity to stand up to their abuser in court.It’s the sort of justice that’s long been denied to the alleged victims of George Gibney, the ex-Ireland swimming coach.It’s almost 25 years since Gibney was charged with 27 counts of indecent assault and carnal knowledge of young swimmers. Those charges were later quashed, Gibney moved to America, and he’s remained there ever since, but new information has emerged that has resulted in a fresh push for justice.It’s a push being led by Maureen O’Sullivan TD who joined us on the show today, along with the Sunday Times journalist Justine McCarthy, author of Deep Deception: Ireland’s Swimming Scandals.
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Yesterday, after Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Newcastle, Roy Hodgson laid down some truth...With Roy's words in mind, we try to spend as little of today's show as possible discussing the penalty decisions at Anfield, as some other things happened besides. ('As little of today's show as possible' still equals a lot of time discussing those decisions).Rory Smith of the New York Times joins us to talk about touchline misconduct, and whether Liverpool currently have much to offer beyond the sensational goalscoring form of their top man Mohamed Salah.
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Eoin and Ken give you a rundown on what you missed on the world service this week with some help from US Murph, Shane Horgan, Matt Williams, Millie and Gareth Edwards.Join now at secondcaptains.com
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The National Leagues are back, and first-day drama came mostly from Killarney, where Kerry pulled out a dramatic last-minute win against Donegal with a team full of fresh-faced young guns. Micheal Quirke and Oisin McConville are back in tandem to talk us through the major issues, including teams that are jaded in January, footballers who have over-dosed on the weights this winter, and the Dubs getting back in the swing. Roger Federer won the Australian Open on Sunday so we talk to the AMAZING Luke Jensen of ESPN about why he still holds the whip hand over tennis' bright young things.Plus there's Michael Lyster, Ken's theory as to why all our best current sportspeople are the best sportspeople there will EVER be, and we debut an exciting and mean-spirited new slot called "Shame The Spongers".
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A growing number of Manchester United fans are peeved that Pep is getting a pass from the lamestream media despite his increasingly histrionic touchline behaviour. Does the City boss deserve condemnation for his latest display at Cardiff over the weekend?A terrific game at Anfield was overshadowed by controversy over VAR. We try to unpick the problems with a system that puts all the responsibility for calling in video replays on the referees themselves.Raphael Honigstein joins us to analyse Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's move to Arsenal. Is Dortmund's buy-young sell-young business model compatible with a successful club culture? And what can we learn from the German experience with VAR?Plus there’s FA Cup tropes, Roy’s ticket, Germany’s appeal and being Neil Warnock.
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Join us now at secondcaptains.com/join. Come on! The Gang's All Here.
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Marco Silva, recently the most in-demand coach in the Premier League, finds himself suddenly out of a job. He showed no loyalty. But given that loyalty is not part of Watford's short-termist managerial model, do they have any right to demand it? Meanwhile, the struggle for control of Newcastle United is being played out in the media. How convincing a case is Amanda Staveley making that now is the time for Mike Ashley to hand over the keys to the club?Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse the Sanchez-Mkhitaryan swap and how this looks like one of those happy deals where everybody comes out of it feeling like a winner.And we talk to Stephane Uersfeld about Arsenal's next potential signing, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. His relationship with Dortmund has broken down and some reports in Germany are suggesting he is dressing-room poison - but his performances on the pitch over the last few years suggest he could be the sort of signing who could transform Arsenal's prospects.
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Ken remains in the midst of a cigarette crisis. To calm him, we asked someone to rob his bike and invited Eamon Dunphy into studio to debate him. Then, we asked him to jump in a fake shower with Murph to record a promo for the Dunphy v Ken extravaganza.
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Munster might be kicking themselves after losing narrowly in Paris to Racing 92, but going into the last weekend of the European Rugby Champions Cup pool stages our 3 provinces all lead their pools. Gordon D'Arcy and Shane Horgan look back over another positive weekend of results, and talk about what we can learn from the Gerbrandt Grobler controversy, as the South African lock previously banned for 2 years for PED use made his Munster 'A' debut.And as Meath emerge victorious in the GAA's first free-kick shoot-out in the O'Byrne Cup semi-final yesterday, we get the reaction of Longford superstar Michael Quinn to the latest in-game innovation, and we all ask the same question - why not penalties? Ken has his own answer to that, plus we evaluate the free-taking ability of Chris Rock, Dean Rock and Kid Rock.
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A seven-goal thriller full of fantastic football and moments of sublime skill executed at blistering speed. And no mind-games, insults or bad feeling - just mutual respect and appreciation. Has Liverpool v Manchester City emerged as the Clasico of the Premier League? Jurgen Klopp's team aren't contenders to win the Premier League but they showed the rest of the league that when it comes to playing City, who dares might just win.Meanwhile Paul Lambert has taken over at Stoke City, meaning that Martin O'Neill is set to carry on with Ireland a while longer.We discuss Der Spiegel's latest eye-watering report on Lionel Messi's financial affairs.Dion Fanning joins us to analyse what's happening with O'Neill and look back on that classic at Anfield.And Sid Lowe explains what is going wrong at Real Madrid.
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Jump in with Eoin, Murph and Roy Keane for some of the week's highlights on the Second Captains World Service.
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Philippe Coutinho has joined Barcelona, as expected, but why did the Spanish club make it happen now instead of waiting until the summer? Meanwhile today is a historic day for English football, which is introducing Video Assistant Refereeing for the first time in tonight's FA Cup match, but the way they are doing it looks all wrong to Ken. Gabriele Marcotti joins us to talk about why Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte seem to loathe each other so much.And Dermot Corrigan tells us how excited, or otherwise, Barcelona are to have signed Philippe Coutinho.
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The Jordan Larmour hype train has officially left the station and is picking up speed, and heading towards the 6 Nations. After his wonder-try against Munster at Thomond Park, Leinster's latest superstar-in-waiting scored twice against Ulster to finish off this round of interpro's in style.Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley try and come up with one good reason why Larmour shouldn't feature for Ireland this spring, what sort of Joe Schmidt game plan he would fit into, and why Munster have their toughest test of the season coming up in Paris this weekend.There's also old man Bob Henshaw, how La Rochelle have changed the game, the doomed Simon Hick-Tom Brady partnership, and our scumbag of the week poses an important philosophical question.
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Happy New Year everybody! And to ring in 2018, it’s time for one last look at one of the highlights of 2017. Recorded live at Langton’s Ballroom in Kilkenny City for the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival, here’s our chat with two of Ireland’s greatest comedians Dara Ó Briain and David O’Doherty. Previously only for fully subscribed members, we present it here to the general public, as an indication of the sort of crazy nonsense that goes on behind that beautiful World Service curtain.
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Manchester City have been making all the other Premier League teams look very ordinary, but how should we feel about the corporate empire that underpins their glorious football? Can we consider the football separately from what lies beneath?We discuss Ferran Soriano’s global vision as detailed to the Guardian’s Giles Tremlett. Is it a vision the rest of us can feel comfortable with?Human rights researcher Nick McGeehan joins us on the line to talk more about the power behind Guardiola’s throne.We also talk about a stunning racial gaffe by Antoine Griezmann, Ederson’s passing ability, and Mark Hughes’ blue.
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For the second time in a week, all 4 Irish provinces were victorious in Europe - Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley give us plenty of reasons to be cheerful heading into the interprovincial games over the Christmas. Munster capitalised on Leicester indiscipline, while Leinster gutted it out to wear down Exeter in a thriller in the Aviva on Saturday evening. Throw in Ulster's try-fest on Friday, and it was a very satisfying couple of days all round. Ronan Sweeney scored the goal that kick-started an unbelievable comeback for Moorefield in the Leinster club football final yesterday, and he joins us too. Plus there's the Dubs getting shafted, disgruntled club players exacting revenge on innocent inter-county selectors, and the BBC's Mo Farah / Chris Froome problem.
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It was billed as a classic battle across the Irish Sea, but when three Irish provinces took on the best from the Premiership, the result was 3-0 Ireland. Leinster took care of Premiership champions Exeter on the south-west coast of England, Ulster beat Harlequins in London, and Munster hammered Leicester in Limerick. Gordon Darcy and Shane Horgan are on hand to pick apart a wildly successful weekend for the Irish teams, including what Matt O'Connor the Leicester coach might have learned from Jose Mourinho, why Ulster blow so hot and cold, and why this doesn't necessarily rank among Leinster's best ever European performances. Plus there's the enduring allure of snow games in the NFL, the importance of the vibes man in dressing room lore, Peter O'Mahony pulling rank, and 'curse o'clock'.
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Manchester City ended Jose Mourinho's hopes of establishing a new unbeaten home record for Manchester United by establishing their own new Premier League record for 14 consecutive league wins in the same season.Was this, as Mourinho suggested, all the fault of referee Michael Oliver, or have City proved beyond doubt that poets do win titles? Are we looking at a second half of the season in which the main interest is derived from waiting to see which one of the Premier League supermanagers trailing in City's wake is first to go into full-on meltdown?Rory Smith of the New York Times joins us to discuss the Manchester derby.And Kieran Canning speaks to us from Madrid to talk about the reaction in Spain to the Champions League draw. Plus there's Klopp's fuse, ace time wasters, the tunnel incident, and Morbo.
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It's European Champions Cup week, and after a barnstorming debut from Leinster's new signing James Lowe and the return from injury of Garry Ringrose, the options ahead of their big match against Exeter ‘Moneyball' Chiefs look impressive. Meanwhile, the dark clouds around Peter O'Mahony's future at Thomond Park are casting a shadow down south - we ask Gerry Thornley how the IRFU factor charisma into their balance sheet. Tiger Woods is back, and he looks happy, he looks relaxed... and he looks like a pretty good golfer. After a solid mid-table finish in a high-class field in the Bahamas on Sunday, Lawrence Donegan tells us where the ceiling is for this latest, re-modelled version of Tiger, and how it might have been the best swing he's seen from him since 2007. There's a welcome, much-sought-after return for David Attenborough analogies, the chipping yips, and playing GAA in the gloom of a December afternoon.
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The World Cup draw went ahead without Ireland and FIFA President Gianni Infantino left nobody in any doubt that he finds Vladimir Putin very, very funny.Meanwhile, a busy Premier League weekend featured managers learning on the job, Big Sam and Marco Silva already going toe to toe, and an extraordinary admission from former giant of the refereeing scene, Mark Clattenburg.We are joined by Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin to assess the games involving the Manchester clubs ahead of next weekend's derby. Is Mesut Özil, who ran the show at the Emirates, potentially the final piece of Jose's jigsaw?Plus there’s Emre Can the Greman man, Klopp’s updated outdated ideas, the battle of Stamford Bridge and Christmas present “inspo”.
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Eoin and Ciaran realise that Ken, who has until now concealed a violent past, is not the man they thought he was. Meanwhile World Service listeners take Ken to task for spreading fake news about Lionel Messi. We discuss the best-paid teams in world sport and how Mohamed Salah is a new species in football: the fox outside the box. Simon Hughes joins us to discuss Everton's increasingly desperate manager hunt. Is Big Sam the big man the good burghers of Goodison are crying out for?
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The November series ended on Saturday with 3 Irish wins from 3 games, as Ireland saw off Argentina 28-19 to complement the wins over South Africa and Fiji. But in the absence of a truly hard-fought win over top-level opposition, we're left to wonder just how much we learnt from the month. Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie run the rule over Jacob Stockdale, another explosive Irish winger with possibly a big career ahead of him, as well as the rest of the players who took a step forward, including Rob Kearney who stormed back into form against the Argentinians. Paul Kerrigan has had a tough couple of years with Cork, but he had a great day yesterday as his club Nemo Rangers won their 16th Munster title, beating All-Ireland champions Dr. Crokes of Killarney. He talks to us about being underdogs, using your history, and support from other Cork clubs. Plus there's Murph swearing like a sailor, headbutts, and being afraid of the Scots.
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The returns from injury of Pogba and Zlatan helped Manchester United to enjoy their best day in a while, as Manchester City had another of those now-quite-normal days where they play some of the most stunning football in the history of the Premier League. Are Guardiola's team not getting the credit they deserve? It was a bad day for British football managers, as Tony Pulis was sacked by West Brom and David Moyes started his time at West Ham with a 2-0 defeat against Watford. We discuss their travails with John Brewin and Jacob Steinberg. Meanwhile, with a jocular post after their win in the North London derby, Arsenal inadvertently sicked a lot of their 12 million Twitter followers onto the journalist Adam Crafton, who had posted a combined Arsenal-Spurs XI consisting entirely of Tottenham players.Crafton noted the following day that he had since been subjected to sustained homophobic and anti-Semitic abuse, including death threats. Do clubs with gigantic followings need to take more care, or do journalists need to toughen up?
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Ireland have won both of their November Internationals so far - but the game widely expected to be tight they won handily, and the one they were expected to win handily, they scraped through. Where does that leave them going into next Saturday's test against Argentina? Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times and Shane Horgan are on hand to discuss the dilemma Schmidt faces with Joey Carbery at outhalf, and why Los Pumas are the ideal opponents at this stage of the World Cup cycle. Na Piarsaigh of Limerick City had never won a county title until 2011, but since then they've won 4 county titles, 4 Munster titles, and an All-Ireland title. After their latest provincial win, 2-goal hero David Breen talks to us about beating All-star goalie Stephen O'Keeffe at close range, commuting from the UK, and impressing his co-workers at Wasps RFC. Plus there's GAA masochism, Harry Arter's war of nutrition, Eoin's hamstring, and another grovelling public apology from Mark Horgan.
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Ken returns from Copenhagen impressed by the city's sophistication and liveability and slightly taken aback by the rumbustious temperament of its people.We reflect on Ireland's performance in the 0-0. Was this anti-football taken to the Nth degree? Or do we need to recognise the often-unseen effort and tenacity that goes into a result like that?Which Laudrup was the best? Brian, Michael, or father Finn?Martin O'Neill was channelling the great Dave Allen in his press conference today. Between the laughs, we'll hear some of the Ireland manager's thoughts on tomorrow's decisive match.We hear from Danish journalist Kian Fonoudi on how the Danes felt after Saturday's draw. Meanwhile Michael O'Neill looked desolate last night after Northern Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup by Switzerland. On the plus side, the NI boss is hot stuff in the international jobs market.
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Carl Frampton had pretty much a dream 2016 - he won his first world title, and with it became Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year. 2017 has been rather gloomier, with a loss in the rematch to Leo Santa Cruz, a farcical return fight in Belfast which was cancelled with 24 hours notice, and a split with his management/training team, the McGuigans. But he's back in the ring on Saturday week, and he's with us on the show to talk about a fresh outlook, moving out of Barry's shadow, and falling in love with boxing again. Eoin attempts to be outraged by Stephen Cluxton's omission from the All-star team this year, which prompts Murph to wonder whether there should be a yearly limit to outrage-tweets, and there's the unwanted return to our collective consciousness of grunge week.
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Antonio Conte banished David Luiz to the stands and took all three points at home to Manchester United. Such a display of managerial decisiveness would impress most chairmen, but this is Chelsea.James McClean wondered why MOTD focused on his foul on Tom Ince but not the hail of projectiles showering down on him from the crowd. Does McClean also need to think about how he managed to lose the high moral ground against the Poppy people?Slaven Bilic has been sacked by West Ham but is David Moyes the solution to what ails West Ham? Have West Ham’s board noticed how Sunderland are doing lately?Daniel Harris and John Brewin join us to analyse Chelsea’s defeat of Manchester United. Are Jose Mourinho’s problems on the road being caused by a lack of adventure, or do the issues have a more fundamental cause?
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Eoin, Ken and Murph look back on a weekend that saw Jose Mourinho definitively answer the critics, in his own head.Following the release of his 2016-17 season diary with Guillem Balague, we discuss Mauricio Pochettino's belief in personal energy fields and the negativity-cleansing powers of lemons.And Joe Hart: when does agonising over a defeat cross the line into pointlessly insulting your team-mates?We hear from Kieran Canning after Real Madrid were toppled by Girona...And what does it mean that England are suddenly dominating world football at all teenage levels?
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The European Rugby Champions Cup weekend saw vital wins for Leinster and Munster, a dispiriting loss in France for Ulster, and Gerry Thornley and Eoin Reddan are on hand to talk us through the highlights. Ian Keatley and Cian Healy have both had their struggles in recent years, but as Eoin says, there is no new Ian, or new Cian - they're the product of their recent struggles as much as their own natural ability. And as Leinster's form graph continues upward, there are grounds to hope - not to expect, but to hope - of an Irish success in this competition, which is reason enough to celebrate. We also discuss the Leinster Intermediate championship game which ended with 10 players getting their marching orders, Ronald Koeman's exit from Everton, and the 'Second Captains Listener Copenhagen Travel Guide' (Copenhagen = clean, will charge money for food, drink, services).
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Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise that one of the world's most in-form strikers so thoroughly destroyed the Premier League's most-mocked defence. But the shocking manner of Liverpool's collapse against Spurs at Wembley has left Jurgen Klopp facing the most awkward set of questions since his arrival at Anfield two years ago.We talk to Jonathan Wilson and Daniel Storey about how Spurs have surged ahead of their wealthier Merseyside rivals in 2017.Did the sure-footed Ander Herrera blunder by repeating his manager's claims about the Manchester United players lacking passion in the first half at Huddersfield?And how did Ronald Koeman think this ruminative pose was going to go down with an Everton fanbase that has grown catatonic with fury?Plus there's shame in the age of Twitter, slow Emre Can, Keano belittling Craig Gordon, Wagner's Terriers, and Zlatan's perfect knee.
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Hurricane Ken and his meteorology mates Eoin and Murph refuse to let Mother Nature stop them podcasting - welcome to our Ophelia Special Second Captains Football Show. Why does Jose think 0-0 against a leaky vulnerable Liverpool side is good enough? Why is Jose discussing his future, and the delights of Paris? And what has Pogba's ability to link with current midfield teammates got to do with anything?Kevin De Bruyne is lighting up the Premier League this season, as he continues to look like the perfect blend of Steve Gerrard and Dennis Bergkamp. Can anyone stop Man City?Plus there's more anti Cork bias, Brolly on capitalism and Troy Deeney calling out Arsenal. Stay safe everyone!
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We brave Hurricane Ophelia (or at least, the calm before the storm) to bring you a recap of the first weekend of the European Rugby Champions Cup, a weekend which saw all 3 Irish teams in the competition stay unbeaten. Gordon D'Arcy and Gerry Thornley are in studio to talk about the ongoing Munster coaching transfer saga, Leinster's academy beating moneybags Montpellier, and is Jacob Stockdale the next Irish wing to win his debut under Schmidt. Plus there's wise old owl Eoin in his bathrobe, and haphazard hurricane preparation.
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Leinster and Munster is always a big occasion in Irish rugby, and for the 10th time in 11 seasons, the home team took the spoils at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times join us to talk about Munster's ongoing search for an out-half, room for improvement defensively with Leinster's young guns, and the European Cup games coming up this weekend. Pat Kenny's squash game gives us valuable insight into Weso's availability for tonight's big game, and we also have a potted history of getting O'Mahonyed - a fate which befell Reggie Corrigan on TG4 this week. Plus there's Eoin's hideous blunder, happy soccer fans - the global edition, and South American permutation wankers.
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Events over the last three days have conspired to create another absolutely massive night in Irish football. Ireland need to beat Wales in Cardiff to secure a playoff place for the World Cup in Russia next summer - no other permutations exist, which only serves to simplify the task and magnify the occasion. Richie Sadlier is in studio to talk about how the loss of Shane Long is a blow, but gives Martin O'Neill a chance to make a statement with his team selection. Ken is in Cardiff to give us the reaction from the two camps, and set the scene for a massive game. Plus we ask who's big and has tattoos, what the hell all duck or no dinner means, and if James McClean, the rampant centre-forward goal wizard, will do the business tonight.
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When you dream of winning your first event as a professional golfer, it probably isn’t a million miles from what Paul Dunne went through yesterday at the British Masters. He held off a late charge from Rory McIlroy, he won hitting a 61, and he chipped in on the last - and we speak to the man himself on today’s show. Also on today’s show - Lee Keegan, the reigning Footballer of the Year. We talk to him about cynicism in the game, the art of man-marking, and coming back for more next year. Plus there’s mists and mellow fruitfulness, surviving the Pro-14, and rampant Mayo goal wizards.
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Ireland go into the international break off the back of a stunning 1-0 win at Goodison Park, after Brady, Ward and Hendrick combined to score our best goal of 2017 to date, heaping more misery on Ronald Koeman. Simon Hughes brings us up to speed on where things have gone wrong.Elsewhere there is more pain for Liverpool, who keep winning on expected goals but not on real ones, while Carlo Ancelotti's reputation is being trashed by the players who weren't challenged enough for him at Bayern.But there is no doubt where the main story was this weekend. Barcelona played Las Palmas behind closed doors after the Spanish League refused to allow them to postpone the match due to the police repression on the city streets. Kieran Canning joins us to reflect on a momentous couple of days in Spain and what looks like a grotesque series of mistakes by the authorities in Madrid.
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Donald Trump has spent the weekend alternating between abusing top American athletes, and baiting the nuclear-armed North Korean dictator. He's called Colin Kaepernick and the other anthem protestors sons-of-bitches, announced that Steph Curry is not welcome at the White House and even dragged up the memory of Pat Tillman, the NFL player-turned-US soldier who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan 13 years ago, to further his vendetta.On today's show we try to pick through this trainwreck with Dave Zirin. How has the NFL responded to Trump's attack on their players? We also hear from former Mayo legend Diane O’Hora and journalist Elaine Buckley about a history making All-Ireland ladies final, which saw Dublin win a second title, after losing the last 3 finals - in front of over 46,000 people.
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Liverpool are conceding a goal every seven corners. So why does Ken continue to insist that Jurgen Klopp knows what he is doing?We discuss the controversy over the Romelu Lukaku chant, and why some Manchester United fans continue to sing it even though the player has asked them to stop. Ken gets hypo on a hill, and realises he has something in common with Ilkay Gundogan.We also talk about a fantastic ripping yarn from Diego Torres - this one about Neymar's struggle to integrate at PSG. Jacob Steinberg and Jonathan Liew were at the King Power Stadium to see Liverpool's nervy win over Leicester. Were they impressed by what they saw? Do Klopp's critics have a point, or are they missing the point?
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Manchester United have another 4-0 win under their belt, and it's not even October yet. With Ken off work today, we see if we can't squeeze in some acknowledgement of Jose's managerial skills - Dion Fanning and Jack Pitt Brooke tell us to hold our horses. And even though the big game of the weekend, Arsenal/Chelsea, was a bit of a damp squib, were there signs of maturation in Arsenal's performance away to the champions? Or is it all just another chapter in the same old frustrating story that won't end until Wenger finally exits the club. We get an email from our smartest ever listener, Eoin continues to volley the deadest dead horse in podcast history, and we talk disallowed goal celebrations cut short by perfidious officialdom.
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Another compelling, absorbing All-Ireland Football Final goes to the wire and once again Dublin emerge victorious by the narrowest of margins. Should Mayo have won it, or are Dublin just the best clutch side we've seen in Gaelic Football?The long west of Ireland winter stretches ahead for Mayo, with plenty of near misses, a sending off, and the usual diet of heartache and regret. Are they fragile mentally, or actually the gutsiest team of all time? Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke look at the key moments, the key men, Donal Vaughan’s return to civilian life and why Dublin's dominance is of the non-toxic variety.Eoin meets an unhappy Dubs fan and has a controversial nomination for MOTM.Plus there's Michael Lyster's stand-up routine, the foreboding symbolism of the Mayo county crest, Dublin's "99" call and Imelda May's explosive balladry
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The Fair View, The Player's Chair with Paul Galvin, one of the greatest ever chats with US Murph, our All-Ireland Show and to a lesser extent Murph's Country Pages.Join the Second Captains World Service and support independent, member-led, commercial-free broadcasting at www.secondcaptains.com.
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Cork are well used to winning All Irelands in camogie and football, but this last second win in a grudge match against Kilkenny will be one that sticks out in the memory, even for Rena Buckley who now has a total of 18 All Ireland winners medals.Cliona Foley joins us in studio to talk about the incredible end to the game, the average 50 minutes before that, and why scores are going down in camogie in recent years and why teams must respond and evolve.Murph has been predicting a Mayo win since the start of the season, and his logic appears to be how close the 2016 final was, and "do you believe in magic"? To make sure his prophecy comes true he invited Kildare manager Cian O'Neill on the show to discuss how he prepared for the Dubs, what worked and didn't work, and to outline a possible template for Mayo success.Plus there's Connolly freebird, Cora Staunton's reboot, Aidan O'Shea at full forward and Ken sez to Mayo "please just give us a game".
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Not for the first time, English football faces an intelligence crisis. There is evidence that unprecedented levels of ambient cash may be toxic to brain tissue. The hiring and immediate sacking of Frank de Boer is a new milestone in Premier League stupidity.Whose fault is the De Boer fiasco? Was he the architect of his own downfall? Is the Dutch football philosophy in need of an update? Or is the Premier League just the wrong environment to try to put it into practice Priya Ramesh and Miguel Delaney join us to discuss.We also hear from Kieran Canning about Barcelona's return to form, post Neymar. Now that superstars are a bit thinner on the ground than they used to be at Camp Nou, do they need to start taking better care of the ones that remain?Plus there's Eoin's Sadio Mane twitter blast, Jose's branded content and Lewandowski lashes out.
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Martin O'Neill's snippy interview with Tony O'Donoghue was the perfect ending to a drab Irish display away to Georgia. Ken watched it with an unfamiliar crowd and offers a report on what the casual fan and the fans of the future made of it. Ireland had no discernible game plan, a fact that makes them stand out in an age of systems based teams. Dion Fanning joins us to analyse the game and why Irish football just can't seem to get it right.Meanwhile the volley debate rages on - Eoin thinks he is winning.Plus there's Wales' new golden boy, bigging up Serbia and how fitness has transformed modern sport.
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It was a day awash with emotion and nerves in Croke Park, but in the end Galway were the ones to hold their nerve in near-operatic drama to win a first All-Ireland title in 29 years. Tipp's Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times are in studio to dissect the match, with Noel Lane, 3-time All-Ireland champion with Galway, on the phone to tell us why this means so much to Galway people. Where do Waterford go from here, and how important is it that Derek McGrath stays on? And now that they have a home province, a story, a medal and a team to support Joe Canning, can Galway go on and dominate the game, as Tipp threatened to do on this day last year? Plus there's Joe's bus, Murph's Waterford-Galway family reunion, Tony Murphy's pain, and some glorious All Ireland Final audio mash ups.
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You know things are bad when rival teams feel so comfortable with the threat you pose that they have a pop at you, through their official twitter accounts. Arsenal’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool has resulted in renewed calls for Wenger’s head, and pundits such as Jamie Carragher describing everyone at the club as “cowards”.Richie Sadlier wants to ask angry Arsenal fans, why are you surprised and explains why Wenger is no longer the problem. We ask Richie if Arsenal need to get a bit worse, in order to make things better?Plus there’s maniacal laughs, doing ‘A Sadlier’ and Ken’s beautiful relationship with Vegas.
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For the second year in a row, it's Dublin against Mayo in the All-Ireland football final and in truth, after this weekend, there's no argument - they're the two best teams in the country, and the two most likely to provide a dream final. We ask Mike Quirke if Jim Gavin is underrated, and he gives us the downbeat reaction from Kerry as they were out-thought, out-fought and out-played by Mayo on Saturday. Meanwhile Oisin McConville is purring at the thought of a brilliant Dublin display, and the imminent demise of the blanket defence. Ken Early is finding his way back from his home-away-from-home at the Howard Johnson Motel on Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas, but not before he spoke to Declan Taylor of the Hayters News Agency about McGregor's next move. We discuss why we all saw pretty much what we wanted to see from Vegas on Saturday night, why McGregor still divides the country, and why we don't have the luxury of indifference towards him. Plus we find out what makes Eoin weep, what Gaelic football could become, and Sean Cavanagh's big chest.
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Neymar has made a pretty decent start at PSG. His career is shaping up like an anime epic with him as the hero. If Barcelona are all about the beauty of efficiency, Neymar's PSG will feature a bit more of the beauty of showing off. Only two games into the English league season and Manchester United have already built up the momentum of a runaway freight train. Will Ken accept he got it all wrong about Mourinho's side?We also discuss how Chelsea's profitable player farm is football's greatest example of the Matthew principle at work.Paul Doyle was there to see Stoke rain on Arsenal's parade. Do English football dinosaurs Steven Gerrard and Martin Keown have a point about Mesut Ozil?
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Mayo manager Stephen Rochford is getting it in the neck from all quarters after disgracefully opting for tactics that took his team of lowly underdogs to the brink of an All Ireland final against the immortals of Kerry. Eoin delves into the history of tactical masterplans, and Ken asks "did Mayo lose"?Oisin McConville and Malachy Clerkin join us to dissect the wet n wild football on display, analyse Andy Moran's brilliance, and tell us, in no uncertain terms, who will win the replay. We also hear from Mike Quirke on the Kieran Donaghy - Aidan O'Shea match-up, and what basketball has to do with any of this.Plus there's the manic men of Mid-West, Ken en Espanol, and why putting out traffic bollards is the worst thing a human being can do.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look back at an incredible weekend of football in the Premier League and around Europe. Is it good that Diego Costa at least appeared to be supporting Chelsea when a journalist called to his house in Brazil over the weekend? Have Barcelona got any ideas cleverer than just trying to throw hundreds of millions at the best young players in the Premier League and Bundesliga?Do Liverpool want to be a big club, or do they want to have a lot of money in the bank?Will Jose Mourinho ever stop not talking about Spurs players' meagre wages?Kieran Canning breaks down Barcelona's desperation after they lost 3-1 at home to Madrid in the Super Cup first leg.Richard Jolly joins us to report on an impressive opening day win for a smaller-than-expected Manchester United side at Old Trafford. Plus we discuss Team Ireland at Burnley and the Stephen Ward Wonder-Strike.
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Our Second Captains Premier League Night with Cadbury in The Sugar Club came chock-full of football legends, incomprehensible Dublin accents and bold predictions for the coming domination of Manchester City... and for those of you unable to wrangle a ticket, we present it here for your listening pleasure. Shay Given, Jason McAteer and Niall Quinn talk about how to engineer a move if you want out of a club, why players can't meet fans socially any more, how Pep Guardiola's sorted it all out, and Mourinho's team of giants (Quinner is a big fan). And then we talk to 'God' himself, Robbie Fowler, about growing up in Toxteth, becoming a legend for your home town team, getting tapped up by Johan Cruyff... and why he loved that nickname. Three Ireland internationals, and one Liverpool legend who might even have been an Irish legend too - it was a brilliant night, thanks to everyone who came along, and we hope you enjoy the chocolatey fruits of our labour.
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The Premier League is once again on the march, with Arsene Wenger initially saying ten teams could win it this season, before scaling that back to six. Ken and Eoin discuss the most popular fantasy football footballers, bonus points for insouciance, ABBA, heaving Aviva, Barcelona’s big buys, and the growth of fan culture and prize-money in women’s football.Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin look at the likely winners of the league this year. Chelsea should be feeling serene but all is not well with Antonio Conte while Arsenal have yet to secure the secure the future of Alexis Sanchez. Will it be down to the two Manchester sides who have brilliant squads, but unproven managers!!Plus there’s the semiotics of tracksuits and waving, Pedro’s horror tackle, Klopp’s central defenders, and the greatest signing in Premier League history, as voted by David Luiz’s number one fan, Ken Early.
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Darron Gibson has made headlines with harsh comments about some of his Sunderland team-mates, which obviously somebody recorded and posted online. Fans: this is why footballers don't want to talk to you. Footballers: this is why you shouldn't go drinking with fans after losing 5-0.Guardiola reckons Premier League favourites Manchester City are at last looking like the team he's had in mind since he joined, while Nemanja Matic has joined Jose's Giants from Chelsea. His new manager has fired a shot across the bows of Antonio Cont'. Dermot Corrigan joins us from Madrid to report on Cristiano Ronaldo's tax case. The World Player of the Year is charged with tax evasion and Dermot tells us there is lot at stake in the courtroom.And in the wake of the news that James Richardson is leaving the Guardian's Football Weekly, Ken confirms that he is happy, for now, at Second Captains.
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It was billed as the day Connacht would storm the citadel, but after yesterday's All-Ireland quarter-final double-bill, all 3 of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon have reason for regrets today. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke are on hand to talk to us about Kerry's facile victory, Galway's no-show, Mayo's constant struggles, and Roscommon's high-energy, high-error-count display. It's not you, it's me - Rory McIlroy has taken the plunge and sacked his long-time caddy JP Fitzgerald. Malachy Clerkin tells us why Rory might not be the easiest man to caddy for. Ken for one doesn't want the job, and the attendant rather large crumbs from Rory's table, but Murph is weighing up his options, particularly after Ken Hurley's explosive GAA analysis debut last week - is there a place for an old dinosaur like Murph in today's media world?
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Joe Brolly told the Sunday Business Post yesterday that capitalism would kill the GAA. Football shows us a sport where the process is already far advanced. July gives you little actual football to distract from the business of money making, which the big clubs are doing on their summer tours. So today it's Neymar buying sneakers, and Jurgen Klopp talking about the price of butter. Sid Lowe joins us to talk about how the Neymar transfer talk is being received in Spain, and explains why the FA President, Angel Maria Villar, was arrested last week as part of a corruption investigation.
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The rules of golf state that if you start a meltdown on the Sunday of a major, you continue that meltdown and lose the tournament. Jordan Spieth arrested an alarming decline yesterday with the gutsiest golf seen since the Tiger era. He has three majors but the question remains - is he Ice-Man or Maverick?Michael 'controversy follows me everywhere' Duignan has become a walking headline these last few weeks. He comes into studio to address criticism thrown at him by Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald. Plus Eoin Kelly joins us to assess Waterford's chances against Cork, and tries to understand the form-line of this confusing 2017 Tipp side.We demand answers from Oisin McConville, who tipped Donegal at the start of the season, and who keeps saying Mayo have to move on from points machine Andy Moran.Plus there's Euro 88 Mexican wave controversy, Ken on the mighty Dubs (if other counties just listened they might learn something), Shefflin's managerial career, and Cillian O'Connor's ideal transfer move.
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Winning comes easy to some people - and this weekend Roger Federer, and the footballers of Dublin and Tyrone, all burnished their credentials with crushing victories. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke reflect on the Dubs' 7th consecutive Leinster championship win, as each new game brings another scoring master-class from a different member of their forward unit. They are somewhat less impressed by Tyrone who they feel still have a bit to go to challenge the reigning All-Ireland champions, but they had plenty in hand to take care of Down in yesterday's Ulster final. Post-prime Roger Federer might end up being one of the best players of all time, even if we leave aside his achievements in his ACTUAL prime - Louisa Thomas of the New Yorker joins us to talk about his 8th Wimbledon title, and Venus falling short at the last hurdle. Plus Murph alienates 75% of the country, Ken reflects on Jimmy Connors' late career, and we play some foul-mouthed Al Pacino.
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Eoin and Ken are talking about fake news. Ken confesses to a missed opportunity.Premier League teams are on pre-season tours, making money and trying to spend it. Liverpool can't get anyone to take their stinking money. Jose Mourinho has been impressed with Marcus Rashford's phenomenal upwards growth. News may be fake, but inches are real. We're joined by Rory Smith of the New York Times to talk about how football transfer stories were the original fake news.What is it about football that makes it the ideal environment for fake news to arise and spread? Does it tell us anything new about how the media really works?
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Wayne Rooney knows how to tug on Evertonian heartstrings. Romelu Lukaku perhaps a little less so. At least one of his new team-mates at Manchester United has a thing or two to teach him about farewell tribute messages.We consider the phenomenon of the viral signing confirmation announcement. Aston Villa have pushed the boat out for John Terry: having raised the bar, what can they do to welcome Glenn Whelan?James Corbett joins us to talk about the impressive business Everton have done so far this season. Are we seeing the emergence of a new Everton, or is their rich owner simply looking like a big spender by releasing the money generated by player sales?Plus there's football pranks and rugby japes, the Chelsea shop, the Everton song, things that make life worse and signing Stomrzy.
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Cork are the Munster champions, and powered by a cohort of brilliant young players, the dip we've all been expecting as they adjusted to their new reality just hasn't arrived. We analyse the influence of Gary Keegan, former Irish boxing supremo, on Cork. We said a few weeks ago that there are 7 teams capable of winning the All-Ireland senior hurling championship this year - and with 6 teams left after this week, who was dumped out? Brian Cody's Kilkenny. Michael Duignan and Eoin Kelly talk us through it all. After 4 years of build-up, 8 weeks of frantic touring, and 3 brilliant tests, the Lions and the All Blacks shared the spoils on Saturday morning. Shane Horgan suggests the success of the Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton axis could be a lesson for how rugby is played. Plus there's the Peter Pan of Rossie pitch invasions, kissing your sister, and the future of brainy rugby.
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Ken returns just as international football ends for summer 2017. Once again, Germany have won most of the trophies and have added the Euro U21-title and Confederations Cup to their haul. The World Champions look well set for the next World Cup, all Joachim Löw needs to do is figure out which of their 40 top-quality internationals to drop.As the Confederations Cup winds up, we talk to Nick Ames in Moscow. How did Russia perform as host? And is football making an almighty mess of video technology?It's a hot sweltering summer and a lot of people seem to have worked themselves into a bad mood, but amid the rancour and recrimination one very special guy has brought a smile to Ken's heart. We talk through a few of the summer transfer stories. So far this transfer window has been an Everton muscle show, which nobody has been able to say since the mid-1980s.This is a free-to-air show. To listen to all Second Captains programming become a member at secondcaptains.com/join.
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The Lions won the second test of the series against New Zealand, and that's all that matters, regardless of the fact that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the tourists simply couldn't pass up. The All-Blacks will be back to 15 players for the third test, and the weather might not be as amenable on Saturday (although it's New Zealand, so rain is never far away), but the Lions have given themselves a chance - Eoin Reddan tells us why we should expect one of the fiercest physical battles in rugby history next Saturday morning. Galway are happy enough in fierce physical battles too, and their win in the Leinster final yesterday against Wexford might just have convinced the last few doubters of their suitability as All-Ireland favourites. Michael Duignan and Eoin Kelly were suitably impressed, and they join us on the line. Eoin questions the communication skills of Galway's hulking hurling hordes, Will "Mr Bombastic" Greenwood has the desired effect on a returning Ken Early, and we take a (short) walk around New Zealand's Hall of Red-Card Shame.
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From the moment Tadhg Furlong told us about the unique charms and appeal of his uncles' home on Whiddy Island last December in the Liberty Hall Theatre, we have been dreaming of one day broadcasting from this jewel of Bantry Bay. And last Saturday morning, as Tadhg made his Test debut for the Lions against New Zealand, that dream became a reality. And as we all tried to digest the thoroughness of the All-Black win (and our beautiful al fresco breakfast), we recorded a very special show with contributions from Barry Murphy - 2008 try-scorer for Munster against the All-Blacks, Richie Sadlier, and local Cork hurling legend Mark Foley. Tadhg's uncle Tim told us about his family's pride in his achievements, his granny came down for a look, and at the end we were left with one of the most special days in Second Captains history. A massive thank you to all of our listeners who came over, to the community on Whiddy Island, to our gracious host Tim, to O'Hara's Brewery and to Tadhg for his help in setting us up. We hope you enjoy the show!
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The biggest story of the football weekend was the bombshell revelation that every member of the Russian squad from the 2014 World Cup is under investigation for possible doping. We speak to Nick Harris who broke the story for the Mail on Sunday, and ask if a story like this is going to be in the media cycle for longer than just a few days, or if attitudes to doping in football will remain as wilfully ignorant as ever. Last autumn all of Ireland was in thrall to Dundalk's Europa League exploits, and wondered aloud at what the influx of money would do for their continued domination of the domestic game. Fast forward to today and there's a team running away with the SSE Airtricity League alright... but it's Cork City. Former City legend Neal Horgan tells us how they've done it - with 18 wins and 1 draw in the league this far, and what they can achieve in Europe. We also hear about Damien Duff's competitive spirit (even against 9 year olds), Stefan Effenberg and a potted history of radio no-shows.
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We give you a taste of the latest Player's Chair with Damien Duff. From the shower.For the full broadcast, join the Second Captains World Service at secondcaptains.com.
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It was supposed to be a war of attrition, but in the end Tyrone blew Donegal away in their Ulster championship semi-final yesterday with a dynamic, all-action display of attacking football. Oisin McConville thought this Donegal team had a bright future, but he and Mike Quirke now ponder the next step for them, and how far Tyrone can expect to go this summer. And we discuss whether Kildare showed enough in their defeat of Meath to trouble the Dubs if they meet in the Leinster final. Shane Horgan has little time for the psychological warfare brewing between Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen - mainly because they're not the most charismatic pair of leaders you've ever come across. Plus there's duelling banjos, 1980s pitch invasions, man V shark, Lions meat, lame forfeits, and a scathing verbal broadside from Shane... aimed squarely at Murph and Ken.
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GET IT TO THE BIG MEN!!!..... came the cry from Martin O'Neill at half time, and that's exactly what the boys in green did, rescuing a point and almost getting a win against Austria.Were we robbed by a sizeist ref, and did Duffy even need to jump for the ball that resulted in a disallowed goal? But Ken also wants to know where have the good performances gone, what happened our midfield, and he has an interesting stat on Glenn Whelan and Ireland's big wins. Dion Fanning joins us in studio to analyse the game and implores Ireland fans to judge Wes Hoolahan the same way they do every other player. Dion also give his thoughts on the group table with four games to go. Plus there's McDevitt's horrendous tweet blunder, the wanker gesture, the law of diminishing returns with McClean's reducers, Austrian delusions of grandeur, Roberto Carlos' chicken legs, England under 20's, Scottish heartbreak and of course, Joe Hart .... Joooeeee Haaaarttt!!!
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We relive our Cat Laughs show with Dara ÓBriain and David O'Doherty.For the full broadcast, join the Second Captains World Service at secondcaptains.com.
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Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid to their third Champions League win in four years - a victory for light-touch management and the model of having the best players in the world.Meanwhile James McClean scored another Ronaldo-like goal, Harry Arter impressed and Martin O'Neill gushed with joy as Ireland's boys of summer swatted aside Uruguay. We take a look at Ireland's midfield options for the Austria game.Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us to reflect on the Champions League final and whether Ronaldo has ended the GOAT argument.Plus there's Fergie's Ronaldo love, bank holiday bonhomie, Ken has a pop at kids (or "trinkets" as he calls them), Zidane the duck, "lads its only Juventus", and the moment of the weekend....Giggy's nutmeg!
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The latest positive drug test in the GAA was the big story in this weekend's Sunday Independent - and over the course of the next 36 hours, statements from the Kerry County Committee and Sport Ireland have sought to add clarity to the case of Kerry footballer Brendan O'Sullivan.We're joined by the man who broke the story, the Sunday Indo's sports editor John Greene, and former Kerry footballer Mike Quirke, to ask questions on how this story was handled, the lack of transparency throughout, and MHA - the banned substance which found its way, via 'a contaminated product' into O'Sullivan's system.Galway, the new favourites for the All-Ireland hurling title, got their championship season underway with a routine victory over Dublin in Tullamore yesterday but the real story continues to be the failure of the Dubs to get their best 15 out on the pitch.Michael Duignan tries to understand why so many of Dublin's best players don't want to play for their county.Plus there's Tony Adams, Arsene Wenger and the swimming capabilities of tigers.Our Monday broadcasts are free to air. However, to listen to all our programming, become a member of the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free, member-led broadcasting with daily shows and lots of added extras. Go to secondcaptains.com now.
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Arsenal lit up Wembley with their best performance of the season, so naturally Eoin takes the opportunity to engage in some cheap shots about David Luiz.The final was a minor classic, the best of the seven Wenger has won. Should the board succumb to the golden glow of victory and award Arsene Wenger a new contract, or has this success made a necessary decision much harder? Eoin imagines himself into the role of Jose Mourinho and lays out the tactics that will beat Pep Guardiola next season. In the middle of midfield, controlling proceedings, is summer signing Graeme Souness. Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal joins us to analyse what sticking points could still be getting in the way of agreement between Wenger and Arsenal's board at this stageAnd Terry Daley joins us from Rome, where he witnessed Totti's emotional farewell.Our Monday broadcasts are free to air. However, to listen to all our programming, become a member of the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free, member-led broadcasting with daily shows and lots of added extras. Go to Secondcaptains.com now.
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It's a beautifully sunny day outside, so whilst our members are waiting for today's Ken Early Political Podcast, here's a short pod featuring Parky, Paulie Malignaggi and Joe 'Mr Doctor' Coffie.Sign up to the Second Captains World Service now at secondcaptains.com.
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This was the weekend when Chelsea were presented with the Premier League trophy by Dennis Wise, but more importantly, John Terry bid farewell - but not goodbye? - to his Chelsea home. There were tears, elaborate rituals of respect and everyone was left with a sick feeling in the pit of their stomach. We discuss the aftermath of Arsenal's failure to make the Champions League. Arsene Wenger's dignified bearing has won praise in many quarters, including from Alex Ferguson, but when you think about it, what choice did he have? Arsenal's prospective new owner Alisher Usmanov has made a video calling out his opponent, Alexei Navalny, who has accused him of corruption. Would Arsene prefer to deal with this guy or Silent Stan?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8c1hR54RyIJonathan Wilson joins us to analyse John Terry's departure and why Chelsea can't seem to find a role for him in their hierarchy.Our Monday broadcasts are free to air. However, to listen to all our programming, become a member of the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free, member-led broadcasting with daily shows and lots of added extras. Don’t miss this week's new Ken Early Political Podcast or the latest Player’s Chair with Richie Sadlier and Anthony Daly – a brilliant, revealing and personal chat available only to World Service members.Join now at www.secondcaptains.com
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As starts to the GAA championship summer go, 56 scores, 5 sparkling debuts, the All-Ireland champions dethroned, and a winning goal scored by a man who was told 3 years ago he'd never play again due to a heart complaint, wasn't bad.Michael Duignan was in Thurles yesterday to witness Cork's stunning 2-27 to 1-26 win over reigning champions Tipperary, and we reflect on one result that blows the whole summer wide open for everyone.The tactical freshness from Cork that bewitched Tipp, the champions' frailties at the back, and what Waterford might have learned - all that and more on the agenda.Munster march on to the Aviva Stadium next Saturday thanks to a brilliant Simon Zebo try that points to a bright future for Rassie Erasmus' side. It was a calamitous weekend for Leinster however, saving their worst performance of the season for a Pro 12 semi-final. We talk to Shane Horgan about Munster's fresh bounce and what the Leinster players will be thinking about all summer.Plus there's a scumbag emailer, some more Stone Temple Pilots chat, Franno's knowledge of the Dublin celeb scene, and journalism's Littlest Hobo embarks on another of his epic quests around Europe...
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The 2017 GAA championship is almost upon us, and we have Kildare manager Cian O'Neill in studio to help us set the scene for summer. O'Neill has been involved in All-Ireland successes in hurling and football in the last 7 years - first in 2010 when he was physical trainer to the Tipperary hurlers, and then with Kerry in 2014, when he was coach under Eamon Fitzmaurice. In between he served with Mayo, having previously worked with the Limerick footballers, so when he finally took the plunge and became manager of his native Kildare in October 2015 he was both massively experienced, and in for a shock. The difference between coaching and managing, the impact on family life, the benefits of dog ownership, working smart, and planning for the Dubs - Cian O'Neill talks about it all. Plus we even get a chance to mention the 2002 penalty shootout against Spain, David Albelda's twisted testicle, and in spite of all the haters out there, Murph keeps his GAA cup half full.
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After a weekend in which most of the outstanding issues of the Premier League were settled, we get the views of our correspondents Miguel Delaney and John Brewin. After Conte's man management miracle this season, rumour has it that Chelsea are planning the kind of spending splurge we haven't seen there since the early years of the Abramovich era. As Europe's richest clubs gear up to break transfer spending records, when will be the best time to do business? Jose Mourinho suggests that teams already in the top four would love to swap places with Manchester United, who get the chance to win a European trophy next week. Does he have a point?Are British managers second class citizens in their own country? And as Martin O'Neill fails to arrive on time for his press conference, Ken treads the thin line between dereliction of duty and self-liberation.
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Eliud Kipchoge's attempt to break the 2-hour marathon barrier was either a commendable attempt to test the outer limits of human endurance... or a deeply cynical marketing ploy to convince you to buy some runners. David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene" is better placed than most to separate corporate speak from genuine athletic curiosity, and as Kipchoge's attempt fell 25 seconds short, there's the question of just how fast a marathon can be run by a human being. The GAA championships got underway for another summer this weekend, and Sligo were put to the pin of their collar to beat New York in the Bronx last night. Charlie Harrison, their veteran all-star full-back joins us to tell us why they felt the world was against them in the run-up. Plus there's Richie Sadlier's attempt at racing immortality, Tyson Fury's answering machine, and another chance to hear Lance Armstrong telling us what he's on.
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Embattled Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is struggling to generate any momentum ahead of the General Election in the UK, but he is very popular in Liverpool. Tony Barrett of sportsjoe explains why it's the last city in Britain that believes in Corbyn the politician.In spite of another miserable league campaign for Jose, the Man United boss continues to patronise Arsene Wenger. We ask Daniel Harris of The Guardian if United fans have finally lost faith.Eoin, Ken and Murph also drill deep on the big issues in football - why are Premier League fans so sleepy, should we stop calling fullbacks 'fullbacks' and why Zlatan's amazing knee is changing the face of medical science.Plus there's talk of Cuban heels, why the Emirates Stadium is such a damp squib and we deconstruct Kante.Join the World Service today for access to all our shows at secondcaptains.com.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran mark the weekend's dives out of 10. Sometimes you need to give the referee a little bit of help. David Moyes has been dubbed "the energy vampire" by an unnamed former Sunderland player. What is an energy vampire? How can you guard your personal energy against one? And how did such an inane metaphor about human relationships ever gain popular currency?John Brewin was at Middlesbrough to see Manchester City stagger towards the Champions League qualification line with a 2-2 draw.And Jack Pitt-Brooke saw Tottenham dominate Arsenal in the most one-sided North London derby in many years.Plus there’s Jesus Navas’ stats, second best Spurs, and Jose’s finger of blame.
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All aboard the Second Captains helicopter as we use the journey time from Dublin to the match tonight in Manchester to convince you to join the Second Captains World Service.Go to secondcaptains.com now. The Gang's All Here.
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There have been a lot of great clasicos over the last 20 years - the Barcelona fans lobbing a pig's head at Figo, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos silencing the Camp Nou in 2003, the 6-2, the 5-0, Real's 2-1 title clincher in 2012... But last night's 2-3 win for Barcelona at the Bernabeu was probably more fun than any of them.This game had everything - five goals, incredible skills, flying elbows, a red card, open goal misses, and a brilliant last-second winner from the best player in the world.It was a terrible weekend for Manchester City and Liverpool, a good one for Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, and a very, very special weekend for Big Sam who was generous enough to give chapter and verse on the very special gameplan that silenced Anfield.We relive the Madrid-Barcelona drama with Dermot Corrigan, who was at the Bernabeu.And we argue over whether Spurs are better than Chelsea with Miguel Delaney.
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Leinster and Munster bowed out of Europe this weekend, with plenty of what-ifs for both sides. Leinster will feel they had plenty of chances to beat Clermont in the south of France yesterday, and Munster similarly would love to have another crack at Saracens after they failed to raise a gallop in the Aviva on Saturday. Shane Horgan and Liam Toland acknowledge all the financial advantages of English and French clubs, but warn against the idea that we should be satisfied with losing semi-final appearances in this country. Are Galway favourites for the Liam McCarthy Cup this summer? Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin discuss their stunning 16-point defeat of Tipperary in the National Hurling League final yesterday. And after marking your card last week, Ilie Nastase confirmed his status as one of sport's biggest assholes this weekend. Plus there's the Rassie Erasmus news, Johnny Glynn's Grand Canyon and Eoin's safety.
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Eoin welcomes the return of title run-in mindgames. Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that Tottenham, unlike some of their rivals, are "not artificial". Antonio Conte has responded in an unexpected way, by claiming that Tottenham are the best team in the league. Judging by his own side's performance at Old Trafford, Conte might be right. Was United's victory a Chelsea collapse, or a Mourinho masterclass? Did it show that the United players are finally understanding the principles of the manager's football?We also talk about Everton's decision to ban The Sun after Kelvin MacKenzie's attack on Ross Barkley. Is banning newspapers ever justified? When you look at the details of this case, how much sympathy does The Sun deserve?Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk through the details of United's win.
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Eoin, Ken and Richie hit the showers to discuss Ken's hair treatment regime, the French elections and the latest from the World Service.Join us now at secondcaptains.com for access to all our shows.
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Ken realises that he knows enough about golf to be a pundit on Sky's Masters coverage. All you do is draw sweeping generalisations from tiny details of body language, and keep that going for four days. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke discuss Kerry’s evolution, poking the bear, Dublin’s slump in form and doing football a favour.Murph isn't here which means we can talk about Joe Brolly. What is the best way to take Brolly on when he is at full steam? Lawrence Donegan joins us to talk about Sergio Garcia's win, golfer beefs, and friendly rivalry nonsense. Plus there’s The Butler Cabin time warp, and McDevitt relives his fraught toilet encounter with Boris Becker.
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Eoin and Ken look back at a weekend in which Dele Alli backed up all the hype of last week's podcast. Ken asks is there anything he can't do, Eoin wonders if its time to start comparing him to the greats.David Moyes says the Sunderland job is incredibly difficult. He said the same thing about the Man United job, which must have been difficult in a different way. Might Sunderland be better advised looking for a manager who is slightly less eager to point out how incredible difficult everything is going to be? Meanwhile Luke Shaw has been let out of captivity for a few minutes on the field but can he really trust Jose Mourinho after everything that has happened? We also talk about the superb new documentary "Les Bleus: Une autre histoire de France"Dermot Corrigan tries to explain why Barcelona keep bottling it in La Liga and we explore Neymar's hunger and Messi's magical nutritionist.Raphael Honigstein examines the science behind Arjen Robben's signature move, and looks ahead to the German clubs' adventures in Europe.
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It was like the good old days on Saturday, as Munster and Leinster ruthlessly took apart Toulouse and Wasps to advance to the European Cup semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley reflect on what a difference a year makes - 12 months ago we didn't even have 1 team in the last 8, and now we have two teams who have shown they're capable of winning the competition outright. Former Kerry player and Irish Examiner columnist Mike Quirke looks ahead to next Sunday's league final between Dublin and Kerry - and predicts that despite trepidation down south at another heavy beating in Croke Park, the future still looks bright for Kerry. Plus we have Danny Cipriani, Murph’s Belgian waffles, Simon’s strip, clutch Dublin and a stonking Wexford win in Kilkenny.
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Things were already bad enough for David Moyes before he got the silly idea of immolating himself in a sexism firestorm. Was his comment to the BBC's Vicky Sparks at the end of his interview with the BBC "unforgivable," as some influential voices are claiming? Ronald Koeman was another one struggling with interviews as Sky encouraged him to take on the many enemies and losers who have criticised him.Only Jose Mourinho seemed to feel at home in the interview environment this week, and that after a disappointing draw with West Brom that meant United currently have their worst home win ratio of the Premier League era. Perhaps the fact that he OWNED the BBC's Conor McNamara will be of some consolation to the United faithful. We are joined by Tony Barrett to talk Merseyside Derby, and David Preece gives his view on whether Moyes can carry on at Sunderland.
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As Martin O'Neill gives a sombre press conference ahead of tomorrow's friendly with Iceland, Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the fallout from the Wales game and Seamus Coleman's terrible injury. It's time for us to decide what kind of game we want to see. Do we want a sport in which skilful players are protected, or one in which you can get away with cheap shots?Also - Brazil are on a roll under new coach Tite. Tim Vickery joins us from Rio de Janeiro to talk about their footballing rebirth.Plus there's honeysuckle and serenity on the Royal Canal, goose and beef tea, and the end of Dutch football.
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Katie Taylor grabbed her fourth win in four professional appearances last weekend, and the impression is that she is blazing a trail for her sport. But are her promoters doing a good job for women's boxing, or a good job just for Katie? Christina McMahon, the Irish pro boxer we spoke to last November, returns to the show to tell us how delighted she is for Katie, but why her promotion is not exactly lifting the sport. Michael Duignan has long been one of the best analysts on hurling, and he joins us in studio at the end of the group stages of the National Hurling League... and promptly calls Murph a football man. Plus there's Offaly's one-match winning streak, Con Houlihan's elbow on Eamon Dunphy, and the Donnacha Ryan madness.
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Hit the showers with Eoin and Murph and hear what's happening on tomorrow's World Service.Join us here and get our shows instantly: www.secondcaptains.com/join
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Pep Guardiola was extremely impressed this weekend by John Stones' stones. We look back on a fantastic game between his side and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester United won again at Middlesbrough, but Ken believes their victory at Middlesbrough betrayed some worrying signs about the direction they are taking relative to their rivals. Much of the internet disagrees. This week sees the return of international football, Ireland play Wales on Friday night and Emmet Malone reports on the latest from Abbottstown. And Philippe Auclair joins us to read Arsene Wenger's mind as reports emerge that the Arsenal manager has decided to sign a new contract.
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So where are we after a tumultuous Six Nations campaign? We ended on an indisputable high, with victory over Grand slam and world record chasing England on Saturday. But there remains a world of regret over those defeats away to Scotland and Wales, and a championship that might have been there to win. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley give us their verdicts on the last 7 weeks. We also catch up with Michael Conlan after his professional debut in Madison Square Garden on Saint Paddy's Day, which included an early stoppage, a capacity crowd... and Conor McGregor. Plus there's Murph's (GB & I) Lions test team, and we fall into the Stephen Jones black-hole of logic.
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It's show day in London, and what better way to start it than breakfast with London's own Frank 'Lamps' Lampard (Sure, he was a few tables down from us, and never made eye contact, but it still made Ken's day).We're still reeling from Manchester City's exit from the Champions League last night - we ask Ken does he have any sympathy for Pep? On tonight's show we'll be chatting to Crystal Palace's Damien Delaney, we look ahead to the last game of the Six Nations with England-killer Shane Horgan and World Cup winner Neil Back, and it's the podcast Yalta as we break bread with Barry Glendenning and Gabriele Marcotti from rival podcasts The Game and Guardian Football Weekly. Recorded live from our base at the beautiful Kensington Hotel, part of the Doyle Collection of hotels in London, Dublin, Cork, Bristol and Washington DC.
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Martin O’Neill has chosen his extended squad for the Wales game, and with a whole island of footballers to choose from, we ask should all 5 million of us get included, before he does the fine tuning for match days?Dion Fanning of SportsJoe joins us in studio to discuss Aidan McGeady’s outrageous return to form, and how we are shaping up for the Wales game.Plus there’s Wayne Rooney getting Phil Jones’d, PSG’s documentary on pain, Emre Can’s Simone Biles move and Jose’s early excuses.
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Dublin were trundling along rather unobtrusively until last Saturday, when they comprehensively demolished Mayo, handing out a 12 point beating to their closest rivals. Oisin McConville is in studio, and he wonders just why Mayo haven't focused more of their energies on getting a run together in this year's league. We also talk about how much farther Cork can descend after their shock loss to Clare in Division 2. David Haye, Tony Bellew, and the sport of boxing emerged from last weekend with little credit. Don McRae, author and journalist non pareil joins us to talk about how much damage they inflicted on the gaiety of the nation over the last couple of weeks. Jamie Carragher was happy enough nevertheless, and there's also Katie Taylor's third straight professional win, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wilt The Stilt, and Andre The Giant.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss reports from Russia, where top politicians are devising a macho new sport. One the Russians might have a chance of winning something in. Today's show is dominated by talk of L'Affaire Sanchez. Does the Chilean embody the passion that Arsenal are missing, or is this the posturing of a prima donna who needs to learn the meaning of respect? Miguel Delaney joins us from London Colney to report on Arsene Wenger's post-Sanchez, pre-Bayern press conference, where it seems once again, the Arsenal manager did not see the incident.We also talk about the chaos at Old Trafford, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic escaped a red card, only to miss the penalty that condemned Jose Mourinho's team to another dismal draw.
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Ireland were able to beat France by ten points with a misfiring attack - Shane Horgan reckons they need more invention closer to the try-line, Eoin Reddan isn't too sure we had any other choice. Both men join us to analyse the Six Nations, including how Italy nearly out-foxed England, and how Eddie Jones sometimes comes across as "a pain in the arse". The GAA Congress was always going to be feisty this weekend - but as all 3 of Paraic Duffy's motions relating to the football championship were passed, an edge came to proceedings. The glee with which Congress ignored the will of both the GPA and the CPA was plain to see - Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times was there, and feels a little uneasy about how this will play out. And - after this show, would anyone ever invite Eoin McDevitt to a wedding again?
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Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about Zlatan's dominant performance at Wembley and whether he's forcing us to reconsider what we thought we knew about the responsibilities of a striker in 2017.Meanwhile the fallout continues from Claudio Ranieri's sacking. Have Leicester committed a crime against football? Do players have too much power, as Martin O'Neill says, or is Jurgen Klopp correct that the real fault lies with directors? Is Ranieri even the person we should be feeling sorry for? Who really deserves the credit for Leicester's success?In Spain, Sergio Ramos has told his international central defensive partner Gerard Pique to take off the tinfoil hat.And a mysterious admirer has sent Ciaran a beautiful gift.
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Andy Lee is returning to the ring in Madison Square Garden in New York, on St Patrick's weekend. We discuss the dynamic of sharing the gym with the man responsible for taking his world title away from him - Billy Joe Saunders. He also tells us how talking up the fight helps him, as well as helping to sell tickets.As of today, Connacht have a new head coach, and it's a former New Zealand school teacher with a history of attacking rugby... which bodes well for Kieran Keane's future in Ireland. Gerry Thornley broke the news last week, and he was at Carton House today for the latest injury updates ahead of Ireland/France this weekend.Rory McIlroy was playing golf with President Trump on Sunday morning, and Ken provides us with some valuable context.Plus there's Pint Baby, Bundee Aki's seal of approval, and some of the highlights of week 1 of our World Service.
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The FA Cup is where the pampered princelings of the Premier League come face to face with the hard men of the Real World. Joey Barton and Leicester FC have already become casualties. Now Arsenal must brave the horrors of Sutton's 1990s-vintage dressing room if they are to survive.Barney Ronay joins us to talk about how Millwall FC saved their ground from a dubious regeneration scheme.And Dermot Corrigan reports from Spain, where an unsmiling Barcelona were almost humiliated by Leganes.
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Ireland got their 6N campaign back on track with a 9-try filleting of a pretty terrible Italy team – Shane Horgan talks to us about the return of Jonny Sexton, and the new France looking a lot like the same old France. Former Welsh legend Martyn Williams was in the Principality Stadium for the game of the weekend between England and Wales. Derek McGrath’s Waterford got some measure of revenge for last summer’s All-Ireland semi-final replay defeat to Kilkenny when they won for the first time in Nowlan Park since 2004 yesterday, and he joins us on the show. Plus there’s the cultural titan in Eoin’s family tree, land grabs, and a possible return for Murph’s Country Pages.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look back on a weekend in which Irish goalwizards were rampant throughout English football's top two divisions,Sean Dyche rose above the shade thrown by Antonio Conte, Antonio Conte ignored the shade thrown by Jose Mourinho, and Jordan Henderson's team talk inspired Liverpool to a return to form. They also talk about the increasingly hostile atmosphere in German football, where fans are upping the ante in terms of offensive banners at matches.Jonathan Wilson tries to explain what happens when a successful team dissolves into ineptitude overnight.And Miguel Delaney was at Arsenal to see them get things back on track ahead of this week's clash with Bayern Munich.
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The Ireland team has been named for our second Six Nations game against Italy this weekend. We wonder when Ireland are gonna park the bus and Shane Jennings asks why our players are being rested, when our entire club system revolves around giving them enough time off to be fresh for international duty.US Murph tells us - through gritted teeth - about the greatness of the New England Patriots after their Superbowl triumph, and there's the OCI elections, trusting your team-mates and nefarious table quiz tactics.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the ongoing Arsenal crack-up, DejanLovren's refugee story and the neurological problems suffered by oldplayers who headed a lot of balls.Raphael Honigstein joins us to talk about why Philipp Lahm has decidedto call it quits at the end of this season, aged just 33.
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A loss on the opening weekend of the Six Nations is never nice - and a shock loss to Scotland doesn't sweeten the pill. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley dissect the 27-22 loss on Saturday. Dublin's winning streak in league and championship is now at 30 games - Seanie Johnston of Cavan got an up-close look at the All-Ireland champions and tells us what makes them so great. And we have exciting news about our new adventure - the Second Captains World Service.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran launch the Second Captains World Service, anddiscuss the Arsenal Fan TV revolution which is ruffling establishmentfeathers at the Emirates.Stuart James joins us to analyse where it has all gone wrong forClaudio Ranieri and Leicester.And Jonathan Wilson reports from Gabon on Cameroon's triumph in the African Cup of Nations.
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February starts with a bang - a large, oval-ball-shaped bang. We have Shane Horgan, Sean Cronin and Scott Hastings to preview the Six Nations, and whether Scotland can keep going for Conor Murray's legs. We're also joined by US Murph to discuss the Atlanta Falcons and their date with destiny against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl this Sunday night.Plus there's a return to Doug and Lisa's for the chilli bowl, the National Prayer Breakfast, and Arnold Schwartzenegger's greatest ever movie (hint - it's Twins).
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the Premier League midweek: the inconsistency of Arsenal, the indomitability of Kante and Luiz, the irritability of Jose Mourinho.Miguel Delaney and John Brewin join us to analyse more closely the games at Anfield and the London Olympic stadium.
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The rest of the tennis season would want to go some to match the Australian Open for drama, as it gave us Serena Williams winning a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title, and Roger Federer rolled back the years to beat Rafa Nadal in 5 sets. Sinead O'Carroll of The Journal, and Elaine Buckley of the Fair Game podcast joined us in studio. Dave Hannigan joins us from New York to discuss Trump's latest omnishambles, and there's Mayweather McGregor money, overly-polite post-match interviews, Skittles, and flying Olympic class.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran pore over the decline of the FA Cup, and hear a former Arsenal right-back's views on what has gone wrong with the world. No, not Lee Dixon. Jack Pitt Brooke joins us to talk about ways to save the competition, and also fills us in on the exciting full debut of Gabriel Jesus.
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It has been a life-affirming few days for sports fans and sports stars in their mid-30s. We speak to Luke Jensen of ESPN about Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Venus Williams rolling back the years at the Australian Open. Sam Weinman of Golf Digest talks to us about his new book "Win At Losing: Harnessing the Power of Setbacks to Succeed in Work and Life". Plus there's the unfolding planetary train-wreck, old codgers and Andy Lee on Carl Frampton's status among the all time greats.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Shane Long's conquest of Anfield, Jurgen Klopp's war on doubt, and how wingers, like Tinkerbell, only flourish when you believe in them.Tony Barrett joins us to try to diagnose what has gone wrong at Liverpool.And Jonathan Wilson reports from Gabon where he is covering the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Eoin McDevitt's triumphant return to the hotseat continues, as we discuss Munster and Leinster's progression to the quarter-finals of the European Cup, Connacht's heartbreak, and the Ireland squad for the 6 Nations, with Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley. Kevin Cullen of the Boston Globe tells us why everyone is rooting against Donald Trump's favourite NFL team, the New England Patriots, and there's a brief digression into the Weimar Republic, Sean Spicer and alternative facts.
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Eoin McDevitt is BACK. On today's agenda - Rooney, China, Pep Guardiola's courage, Arsene Wenger's rage, and some terrible corner kicks.Sid Lowe joins us from Madrid to analyse what we've learned about Zinedine Zidane over the course of a successful year in charge at Real Madrid.
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Richie Sadlier attempts that 'difficult second podcast', as he sits in for Eoin and chats to his old team-mate Stephen Elliot about their time together under Roy Keane at Sunderland, Dwight Yorke's body fat, and why academies are the root of all ills in football. There's also the day Richie's parents met some Man City ultras, helicopter parents, and what breed of dog Ken would be, if he were to transform into a species of mammal that Richie actually admires...
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Ken and Ciaran discuss Mauricio Pochettino's disdain for social media, and why you should never trust a political article that makes a football comparison.Emmet Malone joins us in studio to talk about John Delaney's appearance yesterday before a Dail committee.And Simon Hughes reflects on the career of Xabi Alonso, who announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of the season.
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One year ago, the Irish provinces were going nowhere fast in Europe - now Munster and Leinster are through with a round to spare, and Connacht still have their destiny in their own hands. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley on another good-news weekend for Irish rugby. And we speak to Katie Cooke, an inspirational 19 year old living with epilepsy and not letting it prevent her from finishing the last two Dublin marathons, and her doctor Colin Doherty, an epielpsy specialist in St James Hospital, who runs with her every step of the way.Plus there's Tadhg Furlong's pillow, Quasar and hugging it out.
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Ken and Ciaran talk about Merseyside v Manchester, after a great weekend for long-haired bearded English footballers, and a bad weekend for Iberian galactico super-coaches.Miguel Delaney and John Brewin join us to analyse the weekend's action: did Jose blow his big chance? Will Pep lose patience with City before City lose patience with him?Plus there's Andy Carroll's giant leap for mankind, Everton's young 'uns and La La Liga.
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We invited Richie Sadlier in as guest host and he immediately started bossing us around, demanding in depth interviews on weighty topics..... and that we walk and feed his dog Bobbi.First up is Luke Fitzgerald, who like Richie, had to retire early because of injury. Luke turns the tables and starts asking Richie some searching questions. We also talk to Dion Fanning about the football world's inability to openly discuss Paul Gascoigne's alcoholism. Plus there's Ken's mood swings, Astro scum, rating colleagues, and how to become a football man.
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Ken and Ciaran scour history searching for feats to compare with the miracle that Jose Mourinho has performed at Manchester United.Rob Smyth joins us to look ahead to the weekend's match at Old Trafford.And Philippe Auclair explains what's going on between Dmitri Payet and West Ham United.
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Munster utterly dominated Racing Metro of Paris in every facet on Saturday - Liam Toland and Shane Horgan ask if they (and Leinster) have what it takes to go on and win the Champions Cup outright this year.Davy Fitzgerald got off to a flying start as Wexford hurling manager yesterday - we ask Liam Griffin if it's OK to start getting carried away yet.Plus there's the weekend that didn't matter, BDO darts upheaval and making people look like lunatics.
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Ken and Ciaran comb the desolate wilderness of the FA Cup third round weekend like a couple of stray dogs rooting through a rubbish tip for giblets.After Merse and Thommo kicked off on Soccer Saturday, Jonathan Liew joins us to talk about whether English football is giving English football men a fair deal.And Josh Robinson is in Zurich for FIFA's annual gala, which has been renamed The Best.
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US Murph joins us for the first time in 2017 to tell his hopes and dreams (not Trump related) for the new year. We talk about Ronda Rousey's precipitous fall from grace in the UFC, plus there's a brand new edition of Kens Friendz, US sports franchises most popular with 1990s teens, and John Giles.
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Spurs blew the title race wide open last night, defeating Chelsea 2-0 to end their 13 match winning streak. Have Spurs shown others how to crack Conte's code? Dion Fanning joins us in studio to talk about another calamitous week for Arsenal, and Murph and Ken discuss whether Jefferson Montero has ever heard of Ronald Reagan.Plus there's Fergie's comfort zone, Sanchez's hissy-fit and Arsenal Fan TV.
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Two wins from two meant Munster certainly had the most productive Christmas of the four Irish provinces; Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie join Simon, Ken and Murph to look back over the festive rugby action. Gregor McGuckin tells us why he wants to take part in the sporting world's version of a time machine; the Golden Globe solo round the world yacht race.Plus there's celestial navigation, Pep's country for old men, swimming with sharks, and Devin Toner the giant Irish man.
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Ken and Ciaran talk about a busy New Year's weekend in the Premier League. As the pressure increases, there are signs that managerial heads are beginning to melt.Miguel Delaney was at the Olympic Stadium to see Manchester United extend their winning run to sixAnd Jack Pitt-Brooke looks ahead to Tottenham v Chelsea, a match Spurs need to win to keep people believing the title race is still on...
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Eoin and Ken look back on the Christmas football programme, including Eden Hazard's superb display against Bournemouth, Pep eyeing Liverpool, and a rough 24 hours for Samir Nasri.Jonathan Wilson joins us to reflect on Bob Bradley's brief spell in charge of Swansea City. And there's Harry the Hornet, Mkhitaryan majesty, and World Cup gluttons.
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We've left the Christmas cabin but the magic is still alive as we discuss smoking outside Mass, Jerry Flannery sightings, Michelangelo, and Brian O'Driscoll's snooze button snobbery.We look back at some of our favourite shows from 2016 including the Muhammad Ali special, Emmanuel Petit on French society, and the time Cerys from Catatonia out analysed Ken Early.
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It's a very special festive edition of The Irish Times Second Captains podcast, as we look back at the best moments of 2016 with Richie Sadlier and a collection of our most popular music montages. Expect Robbie Brady, Robbie Henshaw, Pat Kenny, John Giles, Bobbi the dog, and Steve McClaren to feature prominently.Plus we look at the impact of Euro 2016 on Ireland, NZ rugby fallout and there's a war of words between Richie and Murph.
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Ken and Murph discuss China's contribution to civilization, Putin the cuddly cartoon and mighty Zlatan's relentless drive to be Knighted.We ask Raphael Honigstein why German fans now hate Red Bull more than they hate Bayern Munich.And Dermot Corrigan explains why Madrid are about to cut some flab.
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Connacht are now the great entertainers of European rugby, but against Wasps they won without playing their best rugby. We ask former Connacht star Gavin Duffy how significant this win was with Pat Lam having announced his retirement two weeks ago. Liam Toland and Gerry Thornley discuss Munster's late loss to Leicester and Northampton's strange approach to the competition.Plus we analyse the latest episode in the Mayo drama, and Ken the Tv reviewer makes his first ever appearance on the show.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the art of looking like you care when you don't really care, and other pressing issues from the weekend's football.Jonathan Wilson analyses Man City's victory over Arsenal in the big game of the weekend.And Rory Smith joins us to talk about his meeting with Francesco Totti, still going strong at 40.
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Its time for one of our favourite shows of the year - its the Second Captains Sports Book Special!! We welcome the most learned man we know, Malachy Clerkin, to the studio, to discuss the best books of the year. Warning: things get a little heated.We examine weighty themes such as the search for darkness in a sportsman's soul, making lemons from lemonade, and Paul O'Connell's smoking habits.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Ronaldo's four-ball, midweek MOTD, Lallana's fresh polish, and one pundit's irritable reaction to being disresPepted.David Stubbs joins us to talk about his book: 1996 and the End of History.Plus there's Oasis V Blur, Gazza's yard of pace, and hatin' on Chris Evans.
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The Champions Cup was back this week, and the Irish provinces scored a ton of tries and are all still very much in contention - Gerry Thornley is in studio. Andy Lee runs the rule over Anthony Joshua and Andy's old gym buddy Wladimir Klitschko, plus there's Fionnuala McCormack's comments on the 'European' cross-county championships, obese wildlife, and Klopp taking aim at the Neville brothers.
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Eoin and Ken talk about how some top football men have teamed up to beat down on Liverpool's new goalkeeper, dismiss Jose Mourinho's claims that Spurs are the most complete team in the league, and reflect on the liberating quality of absolute submission to charismatic authorityJohn Brewin was at the King Power stadium to see Vardy humble GuardiolaAnd Miguel Delaney analyses how likely Chelsea are to break the Premier League record for wins in a row
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Thomas Barr was one of the stars of Irish sport in 2016, finishing a whisker outside of a medal place in a 400m hurdles Olympic final that seemed a long way away when he was crippled by injury just 12 weeks before Rio - he joins us in studio. Gerry Thornley has literally written the book on Pat Lam's Connacht, he's with us to talk about his shock departure for Bristol, and his own book "Front Up, Rise Up: The Official Story of Connacht Rugby". Plus there's the scourge of 'everyone gets a medal day', Whiddy Island tourism, and drinking bags of popcorn
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Eoin and Ciaran bully Ken after he was slammed by Ireland's greatest football man, John Giles. Broken hearted Ken makes a feeble effort to explain how actually Giles agrees with him on a lot of stuff.Sports lawyer Ian Lynam joins us in studio to talk about how contracts are done in modern football. It's not just clubs who are trying to use data to gain an edge.Plus there's Pep's plan, rating Raheem and Arsenal's brain drain.
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We continue our celebrations of our 750th podcast with Jonathan Wilson and Richie Sadlier in conversation with the lads at the Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin.They discuss how the Premier League went X-rated this weekend with Sergio Aguero, Marcos Rojo, and Zlatan kicking our poor Seamus Coleman in the head.And just to re-affirm there's goodness in the world... there's Richie's new dog Bobbi.
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Welcome to a very special recording of the show from the historic Liberty Hall Theatre, featuring our superstar guests, US Murph, and Richie Sadlier's loveable pooch, Bobbi.Ireland's favourite rugby player Tadhg Furlong joins us on stage to talk NZ roadkill, wrestler nicknames, and his Wexford roots.Plus Oisin McConville, Sinead O'Carroll and Richie discuss 2016, and Ken's Fair View gets a celeb scrub up .
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The return of Tiger Woods to competitive golf looked less and less likely as 2016 went on - but as the year comes to a close, he's back at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Christine Brennan of USA Today joins us. 8% of the revenue of a sport to go to the competitors in that sport? Doesn't seem like a great deal to us, but a number of UFC fighters have set up a union looking for just that. Petesy Carroll is in studio to discuss. Plus there's TEAM USA, Pat Kenny fending off cheap shots, Eoin's Poems, and confirmation that US Murph has indeed arrived on Irish soil.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Jose's new Armenian gem, Klopp's kids and how managers have been using the EFL Cup to mine for talent in the outer regions of their squads. Ewan MacKenna joins us from Brazil to discuss the tragic air crash involving Copa Sudamericana finalists, Chapocoense.
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Ireland's final game of the November series saw them grind out a win against Australia which seemed distinctly unlikely with 20 minutes to go. Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan reflect on a momentous month. Katie Taylor made her professional debut on Saturday night, and it seemed like she embraced all the bells and whistles - Andy Lee joins us in studio. Plus there's Planet Earth II, song choices, and good news for our American-based listeners.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about water bottles, Man United Versus God goalies, and the visible and invisible tightropes managers have to tread, and the need for them to balance stick and carrot when motivating their players.Sid Lowe joins us to talk about Barcelona losing their fizz a week ahead of the showdown with Real Madrid. And John Brewin analyses Chelsea's victory over Spurs as Antonio Conte's team continue their impressive title charge.
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Paul O’Connell joins us in studio to talk about his new book, The Battle. Ken and Paul share old swimming gala stories, and reveal contrasting attitudes to the sweet allure of the humble cigarette.Katie Taylor makes her professional debut this weekend so we invited Monaghan fighter Christina McMahon in to discuss the hard road that is a career in women's pro boxing.Plus there’s podcast polygamy, Paul O’Connell’s guinea pig putting greens, Ireland V Australia chat and the mask that eats into the face.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Steve Gerrard, the Euro 2020 launch in Dublin, and the week's Champions League action. Are our eyes deceiving us or are Barcelona slowing down a bit?Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss the belated emergence of the child abuse scandal in English football.
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New Zealand scored three tries, and we scored none, and that should be the end of the matter. But in a brutal second test against the All-Blacks, did the world’s number 1 side go over the line? Gerry Thornley and Matt Williams on Saturday’s 21-9 defeat. Barney Ronay talks to us about the very un-British rise of Andy Murray to world number 1, plus we discuss Planet Earth II, and contemplate unleashing Bono on the New Zealanders.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran argue about whether Wayne Rooney deserves to be singled out for doing what every other drinker does.We talk to cartoonist David Squires about turning football into comic strips and his brilliant new book "The Illustrated History of Football".And Philip O'Connor reports from Sweden where Helsingborgs fans are in no mood to respect their club legends.
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Ireland face New Zealand for the second time in 14 days, and this time the All Blacks are trying to install themselves as the underdogs. Shane Horgan is on hand to preview the game. Live from Hawaii US Murph tells us about the NBA coaches expressing their disgust at recent events in America, and there's our latest email scumbag, McGregor fallout, and Ireland's bid for the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the open season on Wayne Rooney and Jurgen Klopp's effort to persuade Philippe Coutinho that his future lies at LiverpoolJohn Brewin joins us to discuss Rooney's problemsAnd Marcela Mora Y Araujo tells us why Lionel Messi is leading Argentina's players in a press boycott.
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Ireland did the necessary against Canada last Saturday, and now attentions can turn to the rematch with New Zealand, the build-up to which is now all about whether we can back up the heroics in Chicago. Gerry Thornley joins us in studio. Conor McGregor has achieved immortality, according to the man himself, by becoming the UFC's first ever simultaneous dual-weight champion. Dave Hannigan was there, and he tells us what he made of it all. Plus there's that Lebanese ad that continues to ensorcell us, Eamon Dunphy fires a shot across Ken's bow, and the tiresome Muhammad Ali comparisons that won't go away.
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Ken and Ciaran discuss plans for their Russian vacation in 2018, smart Ireland, the San Marino press officer's dubious retort to Thomas Müller, and the world's highest-paid sports teams. Dion Fanning joins us in studio to look back on James McClean's glory night.Plus there's Andre Rieu atmosphere, the Viennese buffet, and Frau Early.
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We felt bad for US Murph this week... so bad in fact, that before we talked Trump with him, we invited him over to Dublin for a few days in December! Full details and a shocked Brian Murphy on the show. Conor McGregor will become immortal if he wins this Saturday, according to himself at any rate. Jeremy Botter previews the fight. Plus we look ahead to Ireland-Canada, Murph challenges Finlay Bealham to a sprint, and we consider moving to Lebanon.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the upcoming match between Ireland and Austria, edgy Roy Keane, Polster pain, some club v country injury-squabbles, and Manchester United's claim to be at least as big as Jesus, without being disrespectful in any way.And Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about the dispute between England, Scotland and FIFA over the poppy armbands.
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What an extraordinary evening Irish rugby had on Saturday. Our first ever win over New Zealand came in Soldier Field in Chicago, by 40 points to 29, and forever more we can think differently about our position in world rugby.Shane Horgan was there, one of the pantheon of former Irish greats who had fallen at this hurdle in the past, and he joins us on the line. Former All-Black Ali Williams rejoins us to discuss the greater significance of this result for both nations. And Matt Williams analyses Joe Schmidt's role in it all.There's even a PBESO from inside the stadium on Saturday, so come join the celebrations.
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Richie Sadlier is in studio to discuss Jose's latest tirade against his own players, and the FAI Cup final, won in dramatic fashion by Cork City yesterday. Tony Barrett is on hand to tell us about Liverpool's current stunning run of form, and Ken joins us from Lisbon with news from the latest Pep Guardiola hagiography.
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The Chicago Cubs ended their 108 year drought in dramatic fashion last night, but can Ireland end their 111 year drought against New Zealand on Saturday?We talk to Gordon Darcy about the 2013 game, what he learnt over the years, and his reasons for hope this time round. Ali Williams has beaten Ireland five times in all - we ask him if this is the greatest All Blacks side ever.Plus there's US Murph on Cubs mania, the Bill Murray show, and being in an emotional glass cage.
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Martin O'Neill and Ronald Koeman are at daggers drawn over the fitness of James McCarthy - Dion Fanning of SportsJoe joins us in studio to talk about the escalating war of words over our midfielder.Andrew Mangan of Arseblog discusses Mesut Ozil, Dennis Bergkamp and the greatest Arsenal goal he's ever seen.Plus there's our scumbag of the week, Daryl Horgan, Man City and the two cults surrounding Pep Guardiola.
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Cathal McCarron's new autobiography "Out Of Control", written with Christy O'Connor, tells an unflinching story of theft, gambling addiction, and pornography. The 3-time All-star nominee and Tyrone footballer joins us in studio. We discuss the meteoric rise of Joey Carbery as Ireland face New Zealand in Chicago this Saturday.Plus there's PBESO signs, Eoin's binge-eating, and swizzel fizzers.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Sergio Aguero's plump little hamstrings, Jurgen Klopp's precision piston engineering, and John O'Shea's vain efforts to organise Sunderland's defence.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about Spurs, who are harder to score against than anybody, yet often find it a struggle to score themselves.Plus there's Messi's mini rebellions, Jose's reds, and McDevitt's request on behalf of all hairy chested footballers.
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Today signals the end of the most glittering amateur boxing career this country has ever seen, as Katie Taylor joins the professional ranks. Her new manager Brian Peters joins us on the show. Simon talks to Jonny Sexton about injuries, facing NZ, Schmidt, and the next month of Ireland internationals. US Murph tells us about the Curse of the Billygoat, and Hillary Clinton's bandwagon-jumping ways. Plus there's Bill Murray super-fan, Eoin's fear of US Immigration, and the awesome power of Irish away fans.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about homophobic fans, Zlatan in disguise and football's TV ratings problem. Is football on TV too expensive, or does it have bigger problems?Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about Manchester United's victory in the derby.And John Brewin was at the London Stadium to document the further fraying of civilization.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss "The Return". Manchester United find themselves back among the trailing pack already - do they have the cojones to deal with it?Dundalk fitness coach Graham Byrne joins us to talk about the methods that have helped the team win their third consecutive LOI title.And Dermot Corrigan reports on a fractious weekend for Spain's superstars.
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Kieran Donaghy blew up the All-Ireland championship not once, but twice - when he first came on the scene in 2006, and then again in 2014. We talk to one of the country's most engaging sportspeople on fathers, football and fighting dyslexia.Liam Toland and Gerry Thornley talk us through an extraordinary and sometimes uplifting day in Thomond Park on Saturday, and whether Ringrose is ready for Ireland. There's also Padraig Harrington's win in Portugal, Manchester United's globality, and Bahamas high jinks.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Manchester City's humbling in Barcelona and Mesut Özil's feeling for social media.Gabriel Marcotti joins us to analyse what went wrong on a tough night for Pep Guardiola.Plus there's mad li'l goalies and Hillary spin bowling Trump in the final debate.
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Ken McGrath was one of the most flamboyant characters in one of the most colorful hurling teams in recent years - he talks about his hurling career with Waterford, his open-heart surgery at the age of 37, the failure of his business, and his comebacks in life, hurling management and health. John Fallon tells us how buoyant the Connacht rugby scene is in the aftermath of their 23-21 win over Toulouse in the first round of the European Rugby Champions Cup. Plus there's Munster's wake, a Pierce Brosnan Emigrant Shout-Out, and we studiously ignore the Man United / Liverpool bore-fest.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look forward to Red Monday, as Liverpool take on Manchester United amid a frenzy of voodoo and some subtle managerial goading.Simon Hughes joins us to talk about the game and his book "Ring of Fire: Liverpool into the 21st century, the Players' Stories".Plus there's calls for ruthless Mourinho, Scholes' helicopter view, Ched Evans' moral compass and Pep's thought crime.
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The death of Munster and Ireland legend Anthony Foley has shocked the entire country. Today's show is a tribute to one of the greatest figures in Irish sports.Gerry Thornley, Liam Toland, his international rival Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, and former Munster coach Alan Gaffney share their memories.
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Donal Lenihan is one of the smartest voices on rugby in the country, and his new book Donal Lenihan - My Life In Rugby takes us through the Triple Crowns of the early 80s, The Rose of Tralee debacle, and modern Munster's big problem. Marc O Se's retirement yesterday ended a 23-year association with the Kerry senior football team for three of the greatest footballers of all time - we rank the O Se brothers, and talk to Marc himself about what's next. Plus there's The Sash My Father Wore, Garryowen being a disgrace, and chilled out younger brothers.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss book recommendations by football journalists, the limits of locker room talk, and the sad story of the agent involved in the sting that brought down Sam AllardyceEmmet Malone of The irish Times joins us in studio to talk about Daryl Horgan's chances of getting into the Ireland squad sooner rather than later.Plus there's Ken's voice-a-like, McDevitt's giggle and poor Sergio Aguero.
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Two inter-provincial games over the course of the weekend, with Leinster and Connacht emerging victorious - Gerry Thornley and former Munster captain Damien Varley look at Connacht's resurgence, Leinster's new midfield and Munster's power shortage.We discuss Davy Fitzgerald's return to inter-county management after a full two weeks out of the media loop, with Malachy Clerkin.And there's reaction to the great debates of the last 24 hours - Donald Trump v Hillary Clinton, and Martin O'Neill v Tony O'Donoghue.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran are spellbound by the old school charm of Seamus Coleman.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to look back over the Moldova performance and the Irish players' challenge to the Irish media: we keep getting the results, if you don't like it turn off your station.Plus there's Ireland's faithful attack hound (Georgia), threadbare Wales, Rooney's wealth and Pique's stripes.
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Welcome to our special bonus podcast looking back on how Ireland got away with it against Georgia.We look at Seamus Coleman's magic bullet goal, Shane Long's late introduction to the game of football, injuries and suspensions ahead of the Moldova game and why Ireland's best players haven't kicked on since Euro 2016.Plus there's the Harry Arter rumours, Dan Carter's TUE problem, diabetes scum and why foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
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The 2016-2017 rugby season has kept a low profile thus far, but Leinster Munster is a pretty good way to get blast things off. We talk to Mattie Williams about the importance of this fixture, and about some landmark legal cases regarding concussion and player welfare.We talk to Christine Brennan of USA Today about Maria Sharapova’s reduced ban, putting the blame on your agent and why you should always read your emails.Plus there’s Eddie the Eagle’s Superman routine, Eoin’s trip to Galway, and giving credit where its due.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look forward to the Ireland match, and back to Italy v Uruguay and how Mario Balotelli feels about having given the worst footballing performance of all time.Seamas O'Reilly joins us from London to analyse the collected literary works of Steve Bruce.Plus there's Ozil's gaff, Shane Long's goal threat, and Vardy's port in a storm.
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The All-Ireland football final replay ended in familiar, devastating, fashion for Mayo - we celebrate Dublin's two-in-a-row and try and sift through the Mayo wreckage with Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke.Lawrence Donegan tells us about a Ryder Cup victory for the US at long last, and tells us the Europeans need to be more stoic in the face of fan abuse.And there's Bubba's blubbers, Haddaway, the Oireachtas Report, and of course... The All Ireland Final 'Fair View'.
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Ciaran, Ken and Richie talk about Spurs' win against City, the perils of the playmaking goalkeeper, and the persistence of the bung culture in English football.Dundalk's success is the best story to come out of Irish club football in years, so why isn't everyone happy about it? Plus there's how to spend your Europa winnings, Pep glow and Jose's tricky fixture list.
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The All-Ireland football final replay is finally upon us - and we have all of our big guns Karol Mannion, Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke on analysis and ready to pick a winner. US Murph looks ahead to the Ryder Cup in Minnesota this weekend, and is mortally offended by Danny Willett's brother. Plus there's the vanity of orthodontic work, Tamangos, and, in the year of Trump and Brexit, who needs to win the Ryder Cup more.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the Champions League results and the latest revelations from the Telegraph's sting investigation into corruption in English football.Tom English reports from Glasgow on a glorious night at Celtic Park.Plus there's Ken's diabetes snobbery, Bilic's loose curfews, and the video game footballers.
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Big Sam Allardyce's time in charge of England lasted just 67 days, after he left the job 'by mutual consent' yesterday evening. He was undone by a sting operation organised by the Daily Telegraph, but is he a little unlucky? Ken outlines why he feels the punishment hardly fits the crime. And there's the requisite amount of greed permissible for a 'council estate lad', Eddie Howe's dealings with the superstars, and we discuss Trump-Clinton Part 1.
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The Cork ladies football team won their sixth All-Ireland title in a row, but not without controversy. We talk the LGFA's baffling decision not to use Hawkeye with Sinead O'Carroll, Kildare camogie player and news editor of thejournal.ie. Rory McIlroy won 11.5 million US dollars last night, just hours before the sad death of Arnold Palmer. With the Ryder Cup starting this week, there's plenty to talk to Golf Digest's Sam Weinman about. Plus there's Irish Times columnist Dave Hannigan on his new book "Drama In The Bahamas", on Muhammad Ali's final fight, and there's Bradley Wiggins, John Snow and Andrew Marr.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Tony Pulis' nomination as the man he most respects in football, the difficulties of dealing with certain Einsteins, and the rights and wrongs of criticising players in publicJonathan Wilson analyses Arsenal's crushing win over Chelsea.And John Brewin brings us up to speed on the grumbling and griping of West Ham fans who are unhappy with their new stadium.
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Davy Fitzgerald has stepped down as Clare manager - Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin are on hand to tell us why he felt he needed to step down, and why some Clare players wanted him out.US Murph talks to us about the support that has rallied around Colin Kaepernick in recent weeks as his protest over police brutality in America catches fire around the country. Plus there's our amateur boxing exodus, the Mayweather McGregor nonsense, and the return to relevance of the humble streaker.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the Einsteins who are annoying Jose Mourinho, the one-man war being waged by Yaya Toure's agent, and the Chelsea goalkeeper who is pining for the city of his heart.Amy Lawrence joins us to discuss Arsene Wenger's 20th anniversary at Arsenal.And Sid Lowe explains why Diego Simeone is cutting years off his contract at Atletico.
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The All-Ireland final went pretty much exactly the opposite of every prediction made last week - Karol Mannion and Mike Quirke try to decipher just what it was we saw in a thrilling, epic, drawn football final yesterday. Former Mayo player John Casey joins us on the line to give us his considered account of what he saw in the tunnel before the game as the teams emerged simultaneously. Plus there's McDevitt's match-day emasculation, Joe Brolly, and the return, as promised, of The Fair View.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the very different sorts of reviews being attracted by Pep Guardiola and Wayne Rooney, and the indignities visited upon Geoff Shreeves in the new Friday Night Football format.Jonathan Liew joins us to analyse why Stoke have become such a soft touch. And Raphael Honigstein explains why fans in Germany are suspicious of the Red Bull-sponsored interloper in their midst.
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It's an All-Ireland football final special, with Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion in studio to preview Dublin's quest for two-in-a-row, and what Mayo can do to stop them. We talk to Michael Conroy, veteran of 3 All-Ireland finals, about what his erstwhile Mayo team-mates have learned from their recent heartbreaking defeat. Plus there's pre-race etiquette from Irish paralympian Ellen Keane and family, Eoin's handwriting and Dublin's addiction.
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Eoin and Ken talk about a night of one-sided hammerings in the Champions League. The matchweek featured a 7-0, a 6-0, a 5-0, a 4-0 and two 3-0s: TV ratings gold.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to point the finger at the people guilty for allowing this inequality to happen.Plus there's Dundalk's new path, Roy's long memory, Pep's lash at the fans and Jose's beloved Europa.
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In Rio, Pat Hickey has released a statement professing his innocence - we get the latest from Tom Hennigan.Andy Lee tells us why he believes he can take Gennady Golovkin on in the ring, in a way Kell Brook was incapable of in London on Saturday night. Plus there Djokovic's non apology, Ann Downey on the ending of Kilkenny's 22 year famine, and the calming effects of Sweet Caroline on boozed up sports fans.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the merits of Claudio Bravo, the resumption of the Old Firm rivalry and Mario Balotelli's sharp insights into this economic treadmill we've all somehow found ourselves on.Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse the Manchester derby.And Tony Barrett was at the redeveloped Anfield to see Liverpool destroy the champions Leicester City.
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Ken and Ciaran talk about the Manchester derby. Pep has been getting it from all angles this week - can his City boys redress the balance on the pitch? Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to talk about Ireland's draw in Serbia and some of the fallout that's been happening during the week. Are Ireland fans not allowed to express opinions any more? And should we be concerned about the fact that Martin O'Neill still hasn't signed that new contract?Plus there's Zlatan's bants marketing mix, the infinite sadness of Iniesta, and Bobbi the dog.
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Five years ago Richard Dunne gave one of the all-time great performances in an Irish jersey... the same Irish jersey that had to have the number drawn onto it with a felt-tip pen. They say never meet your heroes but Eoin met his today and fell even more in love with one of Ireland's greatest ever defenders. Eoin and Richard discuss Ireland's World Cup campaign, away day blues and playing 5 a side in France. Shane Horgan joins us to discuss Stuart Lancaster's appointment to the Leinster backroom team, and there's Warren Gatland, Ruan Pienaar, ceremonial positions in sport, and the Irish obsession with a draw away from home.
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The All-Ireland final turned into a procession for Tipperary, as they destroyed Kilkenny in every facet. We have Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin in studio to dissect what could be one of the great All-Ireland final team performances.Noel McGrath joins us from the team hotel to tell us about parking his cancer diagnosis, combining to deadly effect with his brother John, and watching his younger brother Brian captain the minor team to glory. Plus there's the stench hanging over north Dublin, basque wine and three cheers for the loser.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look forward to Ireland v Serbia and hear what Paul Pogba had to say about table tennis and becoming the best midfielder in the world. Emmet Malone joins us from Belgrade to preview the World Cup qualifier. And John Brewin reports on Sam Allardyce's first game as England manager.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about some of the big deals of transfer deadline day. Ken is throbbing with vindication as Chelsea re-sign David Luiz. But Luiz's Chelsea TV interview doesn't give much away.Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about Ireland v Oman, the goodbye to Robbie Keane and Keano the future Ireland manager.
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It's All-Ireland hurling final week, and Seamus Hickey joins us to discuss why more people aren't in love with the prospect of another Tipperary-Kilkenny final. US Murph tells us about a huge story in American sports, as San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick refuses to stand for the national anthem, sparking a predictably massive backlash. Plus there's the return of Eoin's Poems, Robbie's big send-off and our burgeoning relationship across the time-zones with Oman.
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Dublin win a classic in Croker Dublin and Kerry gave us one of the great games of gaelic football, but when the All-Ireland champions kicked for home, Kerry had no response. Malachy Clerkin and Mike Quirke join us to pick over the bones of a classic, while Ken gives us the (not particularly fair) view from Fairview.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the Premier League reverting to type as the big clubs race away at the top of the table. And we explore the sad situation of Daniel Sturridge, a delicate flower gazing wistfully from the sidelines at the frenetic machine football of Spurs and Liverpool.Rob Smyth joins us to explain what's so special about Marcus Rashford.And we hear from Robbie Keane as Ireland's record goalscorer gives his final press conference with the national team.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss 18 years of Robbie Keane, including Ken's mid life crisis, and Eoin's flirtation with idolatry in EstoniaEmmet Malone joins us to reflect on his memories of Keane's Ireland careerAnd Jonathan Wilson discusses Jurgen Klopp's extended honeymoon at Liverpool
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Can Kerry really lose a fourth successive championship game to Dublin? This apocalyptic vista is too much for some ex-Kerry greats, who are presuming a big response is in the offing... Oisin McConville doubts if this team has it in them however. US Murph joins us to talk about Ryan Lochte's brush with diplomatic infamy in Rio, and there's the end of Robbie Keane's glorious career in green, long goodbyes, and the freakish achievements of Katie Ledecky.
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The jamboree has finally screeched to a halt - and we take one last lingering look at Rio, with John Delaney's passport now being requested by the Brazilian authorities.Caster Semenya won the 800m as predicted, and just as predictably, the issue of hyper-androgenic athletes also came up - Ross Tucker, South African professor of exercise physiology joins us on the line to discuss why he thinks she shouldn't have been allowed to compete.Karol Mannion and Mike Quirke are on hand to talk about Mayo winning their way through to another All-Ireland final, and there's Conor McGregor's maturation, Eoin spontaneously combusting, inmates of Keegan Island, and our crab-running marathon hero.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss football's Olympic shame, Richard Keys' tactical newsflash, and Neymar's lack of joined-up ethical thinking.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the impact Antonio Conte is having at Chelsea. And John Brewin looks forward to a Premier League season that is already shaping up as a duel between the Manchester clubs.
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Thomas Barr very nearly followed Annalise Murphy onto the Olympic podium today - we have reaction from Derval O'Rourke to Barr's fourth place finish in the men's 400m hurdles final earlier today. And we speak to Annalise about her brilliant performance on Tuesday which secured her the medal she so narrowly missed out on in London in 2012. Plus there's Ryan Lochte, the O'Brien Era gets an auspicious start in the OCI, and Eoin finds out he's got the right stuff to succeed in the sailing world.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran reflect on Dundalk's big Champions League night before a large and quietly respectful crowd, and hear what Jurgen Klopp has been saying to Stern magazine back in Germany.Jack Pitt-Brooke talks to us about Mauricio Pochettino's efforts to get the Tottenham train back on the tracks.And Gabriele Marcotti discusses whether Pep Guardiola is right to be unimpressed by Joe Hart.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about an extraordinary 24 hours in Irish sport. Pat Hickey's arrest, Annalise Murphy's silver, and the daylight robbery of Michael Conlan. Tom Hennigan joins us on the line from the police campus in Rio where OCI President Pat Hickey will be taken following the completion of medical check-ups. Plus there's Thomas Barr's amazing run, Ryan Lochte's 'whatever', and Simon explains how Annalise got it so so right.
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It's the Devastation of the Nation Katie Taylor Podcast, as we try and process Katie's crushing Olympic quarter-final defeat to Mira Potkonen of Finland.Andy Lee joins us in studio to tell us about the warning signs he saw in Katie's training a number of weeks ago, and the struggles she's had to overcome in the last few months.
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Two All-Ireland hurling semi-finals, the 100m men's final, Mo Farah, the start of the Premier League... all taken care of on today's show.Malachy Clerkin and Seamus Hickey break down the dramatic wins for Kilkenny and Tipperary in the hurling, while Ewan McKenna talks to us about the baffling reaction to his question to Mo Farah in the aftermath of his 10,000m men's final win on Saturday night.Plus there's Scotty Too Hotty Evans, Pat Hickey in OlympicsLand, tennis in the Olympics, and skepticism as a starting point.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the ethics of goal celebration, the curious smell hanging over the city of Leicester, and Joe Hart's dilemma.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss that 3-4 at the Emirates. Was it Wenger's fault? Is this Liverpool's year?Plus there's Lineker and the MOTD legacy and Richie Sadlier's costume japes.
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It's our first medal of the 2016 Olympics, and it comes courtesy of the O'Donovan brothers in the mens lightweight double sculls final - Ken, Eoin and Murph give their instant reaction. David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene" talks to us about Simone Biles, the break-out star of the Games so far, and the height factor in gymnastics. There's also O'Donovan Rossa, our new hero Neville Maxwell, Lochte destroys Phelps, and Pat Hickey vs Shane Ross (behind the red button).
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Eoin and Ken discuss the adversity olympics, Simone Biles' majesty, Dj Jazzy Jeff and a great day for the rowers.World Champ and Olympian Andy Lee tells us if this bad week for Irish boxing is all down to the loss of Billy Walsh. Plus there's RTE's Timmy McCarthy on the Dream Team reality, Eoin goes deep on the wolfturn and Simon explains silly sailing.
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Eoin and Ken talk about the start of the new Premier League season. Will Pep's new-look City hit the ground running? Do Jose Mourinho's revamped Manchester United have it in them to do a Leicester?Miguel Delaney joins us to preview the forthcoming World Championship of Managers. Plus there's Ken's predictions, the new Scarface blueprint for the Premier league and Eoin's hype machine.
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In the wake of his shock loss we discuss Paddy Barnes' social media storm and weight issues, and we rejoice at the renewal of cold war hostilities in the Olympic pool.SBP columnist Ewan MacKenna joins us from Rio to analyse what went wrong for Barnes, and if Americans are on safe ground when accusing rivals of using PEDs.Plus there's the Amazing O'Donovan Boys from Cork, Derval O'Rourke on food and fitness and the latest episode in a bad PR week for the Olympic Council of Ireland.
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Eoin and Ken have been watching a lot of Olympic action. Is it morally acceptable to click and watch videos that promise scenes of unmentionable horror? Does it matter either way? Meanwhile there was an epic hurling championship semi between Waterford and Kilkenny. Malachy Clerkin and Eoin Kelly join us to analyse.Keith Duggan joins us from Rio to talk about the Irish boxers' reaction to the drama and dilpomatic incidents in the pool. Plus Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion discuss Mayo's march to the semis and Dublin's win over Donegal.
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Eoin and Ken talk about the Community Shield, the meaning of Juan Mata's punishment substitution, and the merits of standing in versus arriving in the box.Dion Fanning joins us to discuss the eruption of hostilities between the FAI and St Patrick's Athletic. Plus there's Klopp not getting too close to The Sun, Tony Hibbert's loyalty, and Jose's Van Gaal tribute.
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Paddy Barnes has taken his first selfie with a sporting superstar (Rafa Nadal, on this occasion) - so it's time for us all to get excited about the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.Tim Vickery talks to us from Brazil about the societal issues tearing at the heart of Brazilian life and politics, while US Murph tells us about Michael Phelps, Bubba Watson and America's newest gymnastic sensation Simone Biles. Plus there's Hooray For Everything, GAA restructure plans, opening ceremonies, Hope Solo, what it means to be Brazilian, and leopard-print thongs.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Jose Mourinho's pre-season politicking, Wayne Rooney's ever-shifting positional preference, and Everton's slow-motion pre-season. Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about David Moyes' introduction as the new manager of Sunderland
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Four games last week, four games next week in the final stages of the gaelic football championship - Mayo and Donegal advance to a winner-take-all four way extravaganza this saturday, while Kerry and Tipperary move onto the semi-finals in swashbuckling style. Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke break down the action. Brilliant author and journalist Donald McRae takes us inside Carl Frampton's dressingroom before his thrilling majority decision win over previously-unbeaten Leo Santa Cruz in New York on Saturday night. Plus there's Ken trolling Ciaran over Galway's humiliation, the latest Olympic scandal to surface, and the slow death of the Viking Thunder Clap.
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Eoin and Murph discuss sycophantic footballers, awkward chats on the family landline, golf's murder mystery and future Pokemon Go addictions.We ask Lawrence Donegan if Spieth, McIlroy or Day can win the USPGA this weekend and if the idea of the 'big three' was just a marketing scam.According to the bookies the tightest game this weekend is Cork - Donegal, and yet no one is giving Cork much of a chance. We talk to journalist and author Michael Foley and Derek Kavanagh, who was an All Ireland winner with Cork in 2010, about what's gone wrong down south. Plus there's a PBESO from China, Bubba keepin' it real and Murph's LOCK OF THE WEEK!
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The IOC have made their decision on Russia's involvement in the Rio Olympics... which is to say, they've farmed out that decision to the individual federations governing the Olympic sports. It's being criticised as a cop-out, and Owen Gibson of the Guardian is on the line to tell us how it came to this.After a hectic weekend, Podge Collins can claim a 50% success rate - his Clare footballers were victorious on Saturday against Roscommon, before he came unstuck against the Galway hurlers yesterday. Conor Sweeney of the Tipperary footballers is on the line as well, with Malachy Clerkin in studio. Plus there's whistleblowers under the bus, Murph's ticketing scam, dependable Galway and Waterford's maths problem.
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The Monday Football Podcast refuses to take a summer break as Dion Fanning joins Eoin and Murph to discuss medium sized Big Sam, the importance (or not) of international managers, and why England is permanently broken.Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us from the FA's headquarters to discuss Sam Allardyce's first press conference as England manager. Plus there's high farce in China, Liverpool's rider, and Moyes' return to English football.
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Eoin is back in the hot-seat, and we're discussing Russia's possible expulsion from the Rio Olympics and whether the 2018 World Cup is in jeopardy with author David Goldblatt.It's a big weekend for Clare, with their footballers and hurlers in action on consecutive days. How big an influence will dual player Podge Collins have, on both games? Clare's top scorer in championship hurling, Niall Gilligan joins us, along with Clare Champion journalist Peter O'Connell.Plus there's jousting in Tokyo 2020, Fergie and Mino Raiola, Big Sam, and Mountain from Game of Thrones.
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Yesterday was one of the wilder days of this summer of sport - three provincial finals down for decision, and possibly the greatest British Open final round of all time. Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion talk us through provincial final wins for Dublin, Tyrone and Galway, while Golf Digest's Sam Weinman joins us to discuss Henrik Stenson the gambler.Plus there's Galway's unstoppable run of success in 2016, streaker conventions, and the long-awaited kabaddi/GAA linkup.
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Ken and Ciaran discuss Leicester City: Act 2, Eden Hazard's unease as a new Premier League season promises a lot of work ahead, and the gymnastic qualities of Giorgino Wijnaldum. John Brewin joins us to discuss the opening weeks of the Mourinho regime at Manchester United, and brings us up to speed on the progress of Sam Allardyce as he closes in on his lifetime's ambition.Plus there's Eric Cantona the berk, Hazard's unease, Big Sam's chest, and the coming tide of Leicester City literature.
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The Ulster final between Donegal and Tyrone promises to be the most seismic collision of the football championship so far - we talk to Owen Mulligan about the rivalry, and why Tyrone need some silverware. US Murph talks to us about OJ Simpson, currently the subject of a thrilling 5-part documentary series on BT Sport.And there's Rory's regrets, the greatest goal in Croker history (Ken has a few ideas), a PBESO, and the return of #KenzFriendz..
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High summer in the GAA, and we were treated to two monsoons in Limerick and Salthill - at the end of which Tipperary were crowned Munster hurling champions, and Galway and Roscommon played out an uninspiring draw.Karol Mannion, Oisin McConville, Liam Griffin and Malachy Clerkin are all on hand to pick out the highlights, including some stunning qualifier wins for Wexford and Longford. Plus there's Ciara Mageean, Podge Collins, Andy Murray, and Breakfast at Tiffanys.
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Portugal triumphed in the most unexpected of manners; minus their superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss Portuguese joy, French folly, and why he hates the haters.Ken examines Didier Deschamps' ridiculous selection policy and France's mental collapse and he talks to Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson about an underwhelming tournament full of amazing storylines. Plus there's Fergie hugs, moth infestations, Pogba's value, and Richie on John Giles.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the second Euro semi-final with Philippe Auclair, German handballs, the grim future for the Viking Clap and why Ken is backing Portugal in the final. Griezmann is becoming an all-time legend of French football, but can we now rank him with the greats of world football? Plus there's Pogba's best position, home crowds and German gripes.
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Eoin, Ken, Ciaran and Richie discuss Ronaldo's march of destiny and whether any criticism of the world's richest and arguably most famous athlete must necessarily come from a place of bitterness and begrudgery.Chris Wathan, author of Together Stronger, a book about Wales' golden generation, joins us from Lyon to reflect on last night's semi-final. And we ask Raphael Honigstein if poor underdogs Germany have a chance against the hosts.
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Lionel Messi joining Real Madrid sounds like a pretty big deal, right? Well that's pretty much what has happened in the NBA, with Kevin Durant signing up for US Murph's beloved Golden State Warriors.After an epic day at Wimbledon yesterday Jonathan Liew looks forward to the possibility of a Murray-Federer men's final on Sunday.Plus there's the awkward moment when Ken met Cerys Matthews, superstars' obsession with legacy, Ronaldo worshipping false idols, and Haddaway.
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Richie Sadlier, Ken, Eoin and Ciaran focus on the weekend's quarter-finals at Euro 2016. We discuss whether underdogs are even wanted at this elevated stage of the competition and as Iceland's Euro dream pays a visit to Valhalla, we speak to star of last week's podcast Anton Ingi Sveinbjorsson.Plus there's more Danny Baker tweets, Ireland's physical problems, rooting for Ronaldo, and Ken's vote for Big Sam to be the next England manager.
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It was a massive weekend of GAA action, and all denominations are catered for here - Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke on the Ulster semi-final replays and a stroll in the summer sunshine for Kerry. Eoin Kelly tries to put himself in the shoes of a Galway team that lost again in predictable circumstances to Kilkenny in the Leinster hurling final, plus there's phantom goals, admiring Robbie Savage, fist pumps and rotator cuffs.
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Eoin Reddan retired last Saturday, camped in the South African 22, probing for a late Irish series victory and a slice of history. He takes us back to the day he left Munster, how his dad influenced his career, and tells us the one thing he'd do differently second time round. Shane Lowry has followed Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell and pulled out of the Rio Olympics. Lawrence Donegan tells us why the golf experiment at the Games could be doomed to failure. Plus there's Eoin's brain-scoop interview technique, a busy weekend of GAA, and our continuing obsession with Eiffel 65.
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With the Quarter Finals looming we go deep on Belgian over confidence, Ronaldo's veins, football in the groin, French pressure, and England's academy generation. Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur gives his thoughts on player power in the Belgian camp, John Brewin previews Poland V Portugal and Ken explains why he thinks Germany will finally get past Italy.
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It was a quite astonishing night of football in Nice last night - Iceland defeat England 2-1, Roy Hodgson resigns in disgrace, and the Viking thunder-clap is heard around the world. We get the Icelandic reaction from writer and historian Anton Ingi Sveinbjorsson, while Jonathan Wilson and Ken try and sift through the wreckage of another English tournament disaster. Plus there's Joe Hart's chocolate wrists, Danny Baker and Chris Waddle's righteous anger, Steve McClaren's prescient commentary and George Hamilton's finest hour.
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Eoin and Murph are back in studio after a day-trip to Lyon to see Ireland knocked out of the Euros by the hosts - and today we discuss Ireland's inability to finish off a poor South African team, with Shane Horgan.The GAA season at least has seen a major upturn in drama in the last 8 days, and Oisin McConville is in studio to pick apart Donegal and Monaghan's thrilling draw on Saturday night. Plus there's a free-taking clinic at no extra cost, Murph's selfie game and ageing disgracefully.
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Ireland made us proud in this tournament on and off the field - we sum up an amazing few weeks for the fans, players and coaches involved. We ask Richie Sadlier, Ken and Philippe Auclair if there was much more the Irish players could have done and just how good are France.Plus there's existential dread, fun pilots, Pogba's physique and making Thierry squirm.
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After 36 hours of ecstasy, it's time to turn our attention to France in the last 16 of the Euros. Ken advocates zero changes to the mindset and personnel that did for the Italians on Wednesday night, and we patriotically predict French victory, safe in the knowledge our predictions have been woefully incorrect thus far. Simon Kuper and Jonathan Wilson are also on hand to talk Brexit, banks, FTSE and football, and there's the Brady family being adorable, French obsession with the Henry handball, and Ken's Larry David metamorphosis.
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It's a scoreline and a performance that will live long in the memory. We discuss Shane Long's crazy eyes, Wes' redemption, and the moment between Robbie Brady and his family that will be an iconic moment for this generation of football fans.Martin O'Neill's bravery in selection was utterly vindicated. Ken talks to Jeff Hendrick, Wes Hoolahan and James McCarthy in Lille, Richie Sadlier joins us in studio and we get the thoughts of Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney.
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It's the morning of our final group game, and the hopes and dreams of pre-tournament have been replaced by a sense of foreboding. Antonio Conte has promised no favours, our team's confidence is fragile after Belgium, and there's uncertainty over team selection... so JOIN THE PARTY HERE!! Ken, Eoin and Murph search for reasons to be cheerful, and Emmet Malone reports from the team camp ahead of tonight's do-or-die, win-or-bust game against Italy. Plus there's Eoin's Poems, NI fans and Germania.
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Wales march into the next round of the Euros as group winners, and their all-action style, powered by player of the tournament Gareth Bale, has comprehensively won Eoin over. We speak to Welsh legend Dean Saunders. Sid Lowe talks to us about Spain and Pedro throwing his toys out of the pram, plus there's Ken's first negative experience of the French transport infrastructure, humiliation in front of a regular contributor, our first 'Ken's gooools' of the tournament, and why Ireland need to embrace the dark side.
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It was a sporting weekend of unremitting torture for most fans - decisive defeat at the Euros, late anguish in Johannesburg, and final round heartbreak for Shane Lowry at the US Open.And yet Murph can see an upside - Galway hero Paul Conroy joins us to talk about their come-from-nowhere win over Mayo on Saturday night. Malachy Clerkin talks golf lunacy and Dustin Johnson's brain, and Gerry Thornley joins us from Port Elizabeth to look ahead to the third test next Saturday.
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Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to try and rouse some optimism ahead of Wednesday night against the Italians. We hear the 12 year old reason why Italy might have no wish to help out Sweden courtesy of Gabriele Marcotti, and we pray for the sort of Italian disrespect for the tournament's integrity by debating how many of their best players they're going to drop.Plus there's Presidential protocol, Ciaran being insufferable and debating whether a nation should now turn its hungry eyes to Daryl Murphy.
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After a painful 3-0 defeat to Belgium, Eoin Ken and Murph wonder if Ireland were just 'beaten by the best', or can we, as a nation, find some scapegoats, hard luck stories, or a referee to hate. Plus there's false positivity, admitting you're wrong, and why Eoin McDevitt is such a great example to all the overpaid footballers out there.
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It's a huge weekend for Ireland, as we face into our game against Belgium in Bordeaux tomorrow, and the Belgians are apparently in turmoil, at war with themselves and a tactical shambles. Can we take advantage? Richie Sadlier is in studio, and has brought a new four-legged friend... Ken was in Lens for England-Wales, and we talk Rooney, Hart and Bale. Michael Walker tells us about Northern Ireland's brilliant win yesterday and, inevitably, there's Jimmy Nesbitt.
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England and Wales is one of the tastiest games of the group stages, and to Ken, Eoin and Murph's delight Wales know how to press the English panic button. Ahead of Saturday, we take a look at the most infamous game in Ireland and Belgium's shared history - the World Cup qualifier in 1981 that saw Ireland robbed by a Portuguese referee. 20 years later author and sports journalist Paul Howard tracked him down and brought him face to face with his mistakes. Paul joins us in studio to tell us the remarkable tale of what happened that day. Plus there's sledging Wayne Rooney, bodyswap movies and Kyle Lafferty.
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Paul McGrath joins Ken, Eoin and Murph to continue our coverage of Ireland in our daily Euro 2016 podcast, and one of Ireland's greatest ever footballers is bullish about our chances of handling Romelu Lukaku and company on Saturday. We get the Welsh view from Tom Williams of AFP as Gareth Bale channels his inner Warren Gatland and needles the English ahead of their match tomorrow, and there's also feverish Icelandic commentary, Ronaldo's poor grasp of geography and the post-masculine vibe of the Irish fan experience.
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It was a positive start to the Euros for Ireland, with Wes Hoolahan's goal and performance the highlight in our 1-1 draw with Sweden. Ken is in Paris, having sampled a night with the Irish fans, which he assures us was part of a wider study on fan behaviour throughout the tournament...Richie Sadlier joins us in studio and we discuss Jeff Hendrick's coming of age, Jon Walters injury, what exactly it takes for a player to fail a pre-match fitness test, issues with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, and Robbie's eyes. And Richie reveals his anguish at taking on the senior analyst role in RTE.
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It was as if the world of sport realised that it needed to up it's game to get any attention as the Euros kicked off... and both the GAA and rugby action at the weekend was pretty entertaining.14-man Ireland recorded a stunning first ever victory over the Springboks in South Africa, while our u-20s beat New Zealand in similarly emphatic style. Tipperary hammered Cork, Donegal opened up their summer, and Oisin McConville and Gerry Thornley are on hand to talk us through it all.
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Eoin, Ken, Ciaran and Emmet Malone look forward to Ireland's Euro 2016 opener against Sweden, and back to the European festival or tear gas that took place in Marseille over the weekend.
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The Euros are finally here, and we have the first of our daily shows throughout the tournament. Ken Early is in Marseilles, uncomfortably close to the Queen Victoria pub, the unofficial England football supporters' HQ. Dion Fanning tells us why Ireland have taken the day off today, and Michael Walker is with Northern Ireland. Plus there's a scumbag of the week, and the giant dildo UEFA had to distance themselves from.
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Two more All-Ireland contenders make their summer bow this weekend - Mike Quirke and Karol Mannion talk Donegal, and Kerry... and debate whether Roscommon deserve to be in that bracket too.We talk about the Muslim footballers playing in Euro 2016 and competing at the highest level while also observing Ramadan with journalist and activist Shireen Ahmed. Plus there's tedious Euros bus slogans, Ken's all-time Euros XI, and supporting Northern Ireland.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran are in the grip of Euro fever, as Jerome Boateng becomes a political football, the sportswear marketing campaigns become ever more complex, and Zlatan reveals another reason why he didn't fit in at Barcelona.We check in with Philippe Auclair to talk about the Yin and Yang of Frenchitude, on the eve of the tournament. And Oluwashina Okeleji joins us to pay tribute to his friend and interview sparring partner Stephen Keshi, aka the Godfather of Exodus, who died suddenly this week aged 54.
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Ken has arrived in France, and reports live from his old town of Marseilles as preparations for Euro 2016 continue. Ireland have already had a couple of media storms, with Martin O'Neill's "queers" comment from last week revealed, and then apologised for over the weekend. Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the relatively restrained reaction. Plus there's Ken's rapprochement with Basile Boli, laser hair removal with the Ireland football team, Jamie Vardy's next move and Zlatan's thoughts on Leicester.
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Waterford are All-Ireland contenders, and one of us is convinced they're about to win their first Liam McCarthy since 1959. Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin are in studio to talk about their convincing win over Clare on Sunday.We discuss Jim McGuinness' 5-point plan to beat the Dubs, and Eoin relays in exhaustive detail his journey with the Hill on tour. Plus there's Muhammad Ali's magic tricks, emails from scum around the country, and Murph plans a road-trip with his Dad.
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Come and join our celebration of the life of The Greatest. Murph and Ken are ruthlessly axed from this momentous show in favour of World Champion boxer Andy Lee and Second Captains producer/Ali superfan Mark Horgan.Eoin, Mark and Andy are joined by one of America’s foremost civil rights figures, Reverend Jesse Jackson, to discuss Ali’s role in the freedom struggle and to hear Rev. Jackson’s personal recollections of moments shared with The Champ.And Eoin spends some time in the company of the incomparable Jerry Izenberg at his home in Nevada (Jerry’s home, not Eoin’s). Jerry unleashes all of his storytelling ability to get to the heart of what his friend Ali was like in the quiet moments, away from the ring and tv cameras.We also pay some audio tributes to Ali with a little help from Howard Cossell, Mike Tyson, Spike Lee and George Foreman.RIP Muhammad Ali.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Roy Keane's addiction to truth, Roy Hodgson's determination not to be remembered as Boring Roy, and the ongoing racism controversy in French footballEmmet Malone joins us in studio to analyse Keane's remarks and bring us up to speed on what's been happening down in Cork. Plus there’s Martin O'Neill's pop at Dunphy, Paul McGrath, and Matt Spiro talks to us about L'Affaire Benzema.
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Armagh's manager Kieran McGeeney has been fiercely criticised since their heavy championship defeat to Cavan. His old team-mate Oisin McConville is in studio to talk about Brolly, McGeeney and the strained relationship between Armagh and his club Crossmaglen Rangers.With the NBA Finals about to tip off, a husky voiced US Murph tells us about the Golden State Warriors' thrilling comeback from 3-1 down to defeat Oklahoma City, and how his opinion of Steph Curry has changed in recent weeks. Plus there's Darragh O Se, fool's pardons, Eoin's Poems, keesters and basketball nirvana.
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To celebrate Ireland’s first international in Cork since 1985, we went to one of the city’s finest establishments, Crane Lane Theatre, to talk all things Euros. Brian Kerr, Stephen Hunt and Dion Fanning joined us on stage to discuss O’Neill, realistic ambitions, our group opponents, and the secret sauce that drives all Irish football teams to success at major tournaments.Plus there’s Sergio Ramos the charmer, Ronaldo’s dream and tons and tons of Cork love. Thanks everyone, we had a ball.
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Exciting on the field, classy off it, successful, joyful noisy fans, loveable underdogs, beating old foes, saving their best performance for the final - this has been the perfect season for Connacht.Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley reflect on an amazing year for Pat Lam's team, what makes them tick, and look at what the future holds for all involved.Plus there's limp Leinster, comparing Real Madrid with Connacht, and magnificent Muldoon.
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Ken is in Milan for the Champions League final between Atletico and Real Madrid, and is so far unimpressed by the brutalist architecture of that great city's train station. Emmet Malone came straight from the Ireland camp to discuss the latest squad permutations and gives us a possible surprise inclusion when Martin O'Neill eventually names his squad next Tuesday night, after Ireland-Belarus.Plus there's Jose's intellectual property rights, Ken's goooaaals, and news of a live show in Cork next Monday for our listeners, check out http://www.irishtimes.com/competitions/secondcaptainscorkevent for more details.
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It's seldom enough you can say with certainty that you are talking to a man who, however briefly, was the most famous man on the planet. Ben Johnson, the man stripped of the 100m gold medal in the 88 Olympics, joins us in studio. He give us his thoughts on Usain Bolt, his old rival Carl Lewis, mental health, his childhood, and how he has found peace in retirement.We speak to Eddie Bolger, coach to Ireland's latest boxing sensation Kellie Harrington. Plus there's Duffer poems, Scandinavian scum and news on our Cork show on Monday 30th May - check out http://www.irishtimes.com/competitions/secondcaptainscorkevent for more details.
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Rory McIlroy had a pretty good weekend - winning the Irish Open in thrilling style at the K Club. We reflect on how he saved the tournament, breathed new life into it, and at long last finally put together 4 good rounds on the course.Connacht were mainlining fan frenzy in Galway, while Leinster had their best game of the season - we talk to Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan about emotion, back stories, Leinster flow and the final in Murrayfield. Plus there's Cork's slide against Tipp, Pardew's premeditation, Muirfield men's lunch arrangements and Zlatan's possible arrival in England.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the sacking of Louis van Gaal, the appointment of Jose Mourinho, and the path Manchester United are plotting back to the top. (It's a gold-bricked, silver-lampposted, diamante-studded Real Madrid path).Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney join us to analyse the leaks and hatchet jobs of the weekend and give their opinion on whether United have chosen the right man. Plus there's going to an under 21 game in a Rolls Royce, Vardy's wedding, and what does Bobby Charlton even know about Instagram?
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Liverpool led the Europa League final for 10 minutes, then it all fell apart - Ken forms a super group of football journalists in Basel to help explain the second half collapse, and what players should be sold off this summer.As we prepare for the FA Cup final on Saturday, we look back to Manchester United's last win in the tournament in 2004. Millwall provided the opposition that day and up against a young Cristiano Ronaldo was Irish full-back Robbie Ryan. Robbie and his old team-mate (and house-mate) Richie Sadlier give us their memories.Plus there's selfish Sturridge, how 'hand ball' isn't a thing anymore and evenings spent with the criminal underworld.
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Cork v Tipperary in the Munster hurling championship is always a big game - but this year, it feels like Clare and Waterford are hogging the limelight. Author and journalist Michael Foley tell us why Cork are still capable of springing a surprise. Former Irish amateur boxing prodigy Jason Quigley has won all 11 professional fights in a stunning start to his career in the paid ranks - he joins us from LA. Plus there's sports emojis, Eoin's Poems, and Connacht's search for a home.
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We talk to Micheal Quirke and Karol Mannion about the injustice of forcing Dublin fans to travel outside the city, Paul Galvin's disdain for provincial titles, and who the realistic contenders are for an All Ireland title.Post Tiger was supposed to be the Rory McIlroy - Jordan Spieth era, then along came Jason Day. We talk to Sam Weinman of Golf Digest about the Australian golfing machine.Plus there's fencing fleche, golfer's gripes and justice 'Connacht Style'.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss John Terry's emotional farewell speech, Carlo Ancelotti's fresh insight into "managing up" at Chelsea, and Olivier Giroud's brutal hazing of a young Irishman trying to make his way in the game.Oliver Kay was at Old Trafford on a bizarre day that started with uncertainty and tension and ended in farce. And John Brewin witnessed the passionate love of the Geordie masses for Rafael Benitez.
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Natalya Coyle won Mixed Relay Gold at the Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Florida on Sunday and joined us in studio to talk about Olympic qualifying stress, fencing tears and staying cool under pressure.We talk to David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene", about Caster Semenya's return to the public consciousness and the sports world's attempts to make the male/female issue a binary one.Plus there's mes que un county, Murph's forked tongue and General George Patton's Olympic pedigree.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Martin O'Neill's 35-man squad, an awkward phone call between Carlo Ancelotti and Mario Götze, and the final apotheosis of Allardyce.Dion Fanning reflects on what the post-Euros future might be for Ireland's management duo. And Jacob Steinberg joins us to talk about a transformative season for West Ham United.
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Clare are League champions for the first time since 1978, thanks to the last-minute heroics of 2013 Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly. Malachy Clerkin and Eoin Kelly think this could be a good result for both teams ahead of this year's championship.Connacht are following the Glasgow blueprint, but how long can both teams sustain their Moneyball-esque balancing act? The BBC's Tom English joins us. Plus there's Eoin McDevitt's poetry, GAA pundits giving it both barrels, and the importance of banging your own drum.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the Leicester title party, Vardy's nose rubbing, Kompany's misery, the difficulties of being on Pep Guardiola's medical staff, and Jurgen Klopp's Basel-invite u-turn.Jonathan Wilson thinks Sunderland are on the up after the win over Chelsea that promises Premier League redemption. And John Brewin joins us to analyse the Mancunian scramble for fourth place.
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The reverberations of Leicester City's Premier League win have reached the Bay Area - we talk to US Murph about the greatest shocks in US sport, Ted Cruz's downfall, movie moments, and the corn fields of Iowa.We have the Return of the Mack, Ken's boxing nickname, and the Barack Obama comedy show. And Andy Lee comes into studio to help us look ahead to Saul Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about nerd nonsense Versus mindless gut instinct, two Champions League semi-finals of contrasting quality, Sturrdige The Martian, and the golden afterglow of Leicester's title win.Raphael Honigstein joins us to discuss whether Pep has failed at Bayern. And Sid Lowe looks forward to another all-Spanish Champions League knife fight.
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Ken caught up with Kevin Keegan to discuss Leicester's triumph, drugs in football, and the time Kevin mocked a young Eoin McDevitt.We also discuss likeable football men, 50 mile runs, Fergie's self praise and Richard Keys' sixth sense.
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We rate Leicester's PL win alongside the all-time shocks in sport, Ken explains his Black Swan theory and we talk to the real life Jason Bourne....of BBC Radio Leicester.Davy Fitz wasn't his usual phlegmatic self in the league final, even with Donal Og alongside him. Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin analyse the Clare Waterford trilogy.Plus there's Nesbitt watch, and Gerry Thornley on an angry Johnny Sexton, and how bad PR can create good rugby.
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Eoin and Ken reflect on Leicester's title win. Amazing as it now seems, all of this was foretold. Richard III, pizza, dilly-ding dilly-dong. Jonathan Wilson and Gabriele Marcotti try to explain the inexplicable. Plus there's eye gouges, our friendly phone chats with Ranieri, Bayern V Mad Dogs and Ardiles hurtin'.
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Tommy Walsh arrived home from Australia in late 2014 with the prospect of a long and fruitful Gaelic football career ahead of him. But today he’s walked away from the Kerry panel, and we talk to his club-man and former Kerry All-Ireland winner Micheal Quirke. Stephen Ferris and Shane Horgan talk to us about the Ulster-Leinster game, and the current shambles with Munster, and there’s also the Hurling League final, Martin Castrogiovanni and invasive Aussie Rules tv pundits.
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Eoin has got another one of his crackpot theories. He thinks Leicester are the best team in the Premier League. He and Ken talk about that, and the impossibly tight trousers middle-aged football managers are forcing themselves into in an effort to appear young.Jonathan Wilson talks to us about Atletico's defeat of Bayern in the Champions League semis, and barrister James Mehigan, who represented 77 of the Hillsborough families in the recent inquest, joins us to analyse the meaning of the verdict.
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Dublin won their fourth League title in a row, at a canter against Kerry in front of almost 80,000 people in Croke Park yesterday - Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion paint a gloomy picture for the rest of the country as we look ahead to the summer. Who is Rassie Erasmus, the man set to become Munster's first Director of Rugby, and what does his arrival mean for the province's home-grown coaching ticket? Craig Ray joins us from South Africa. Plus - is there a credibility gap developing between Conor McGregor's twitter feed and, eh, reality? And there's on-field head coach Stephen Cluxton, bank manager music and wishing ill on the living.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Leicester's sweep at the PFA awards and Mamadou Sakho's little fat-burner problem.Tony Barrett joins us to talk about Liverpool's likely handling of the Sakho situationAnd John Brewin was at Wembley for both FA Cup semi-finals as Manchester United and Crystal Palace booked their places for the rematch of the classic final of 1990
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Leicester's run-in and Roy Hodgson's runaway sentences. Dion Fanning joins us in studio to talk about the Merseyside Derby. And Terry Daley reports from Rome on a glory night for Francesco Totti.
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Ken has just about managed to get over his shock and dismay, and give us his considered opinion on Conor McGregor's 'retirement'. We talk about the fascinating differences of opinion in recent weeks between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic on the issue of doping in tennis. Plus we have US Murph on Kobe Bryant's retirement, and there's Acadian driftwood, Ivy League colleges and circadian rhythms.
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The hurling world has been waiting for a really big Clare-Kilkenny match-up for three years, and when it finally came, Clare emerged convincing winners. Malachy Clerkin and Eoin Kelly give us their verdicts. Gerry Thornley was in the Sportsground to see Munster being out-gunned in every facet by Connacht on Saturday night. And there's teenage Murph's worst nightmare, Acadian driftwood, and Galway people's aversion to walking.
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The Leicester City bandwagon lurched a little yesterday but a controversial last-minute penalty against West Ham ensured that they stay on track for their miracle league win. We discuss the continuing growth of soccer in the US with Roger Bennett of the Men in Blazers podcast in New York, and there's birch trees, birdsong... and Tom Selleck.
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It's the last show of our week in New York, and we sent our ace reporter (and past-and-future-middleweight champ) Andy Lee to talk to Patrick Hyland, who fights Gary Russell Jnr for the WBC featherweight title tomorrow night in Connecticut. Plus there's our anti-Trump rally bloodlust, an update on ken's sunburn woes and Eoin's earnest attempts to impress Henry Shefflin with his running prowess...
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It's a very special show from the rooftop terrace of Brass Monkey in New York as we talk to Henry Shefflin about the Sunday Game, Kilkenny's chances of a three in a row, and playing Junior B football. Andy Lee and John Duddy talk about the fight that never happened between them, the buzz of working with Robert De Niro and home town decisions. Plus there's sporting failure, points and pints, and Ken's gooooaaallls.
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We made our way to the rooftop of the Brass Monkey bar in Manhattan where we were joined by ace comedian Des Bishop, American soccer supremo Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated and a crowd of mostly legal Irish emigrants.We discuss Des' Italia 90 experience, Ronaldo's majestic hat trick, the disappearance of Barcelona's magic dust and Ken's sunburn.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran are absorbing New York City. They talk about Trump's likely conquest of his home state and what inspired McDevitt the cub reporter.Legendary New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey talks to us about his eight World Cups and why Italian Americans originally chose baseball over soccer. And Kevin Grogan joins us in the Brass Monkey to talk to us about his career, Fergie, and his path to his current role as technical director of a club here in the US.
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It's our first show from New York City, and it's already been eventful. Murph tells us of his calamitous family history in the greater New York area, while Ken relates his failed time as Henry Shefflin's movie reviewer. We hear from Galway hurler Johnny Glynn on why he's staying in New York this summer and forsaking a shot at the Liam McCarthy Cup, and author of "Win At Losing" Sam Weinman of Golf Digest talks chokes in the aftermath of Jordan Spieth at the Masters.
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Eoin Ken and Murph present a body shaming special featuring the physiques of Rory McIlory, Tiger Woods and Anthony Joshua. Do muscles make medals, and is it ok to punch a 75 year old in the stomach?We ask Brian Murphy if the combined marketing power of Rory, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth can fill the Tiger Woods shaped hole in our lives. Plus there's acclaimed author Donald McRae on Anthony Joshua's attempts to save boxing, posing naked, and did Tiger take up the wrong sport.
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Eoin and Ken discuss some allegations regarding Zlatan and the impressive musculature he acquired in a few short months at Juventus. Meanwhile Claudio Ranieri and Thomas Tuchel offer contrasting approaches to management at the top levelMiguel Delaney joins us from La Ville Lumière to hail another wonderful performance by David Luiz. And Sid Lowe analyses Real Madrid's disastrous performance at Wolfsburg.
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After another weekend of doping allegations, we explain to listeners why it makes sense that everyone is taking drugs in sport except footballers. Richie Sadlier joins us in studio.Shane Horgan talks about the indiscipline that plagued both Leinster and Munster's performances in the Aviva on Saturday. Plus Murph is high on life after sampling the final day of the Allianz Football Leagues, and we bring you news of a devastating live TV disaster with Jimmy Nesbitt.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Real Madrid's classic team photo, Messi's Panama problem, and the doping allegations that are not really rocking football just yet.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk more about the magical Leicester fairytale. And Dermot Corrigan reports on Real Madrid's superb win at Camp Nou.
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Conor McGregor is going back to fight Nate Diaz, at the same weight class, at UFC 200 in July - is this ballsy, or bonkers?Leinster and Munster face off at the Aviva on Saturday, and Liam Toland and Shane Horgan are on hand to look at the games that could decide Munster's medium-term future.Plus there's Tony Robbins, Jimmy Nesbitt, the black death, and an equality storm brewing in US women's football.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Gary Neville and Trump, how failure brings empathy, Ken's trip to Windsor Park, murals and metaphors, and what we learned about Ireland over the international friendly week.Ed Malyon joins us to reflect on Gary Neville's brief, bitter career as Valencia coach. And Philippe Auclair is excited by what he sees from Didier Deschamps' developing French team.
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Connacht grappled with wind, rain, injuries and their history to record a dramatic win over Leinster on Saturday. Gerry Thornley examines their commitment to skill and grace under pressure and why they are the best story in European rugby at the moment.It was a dark night for boxing as Nick Blackwell was left in an induced coma following his title fight with Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday. We ask Doctor Eanna Falvey if this was a watershed moment for the sport. Plus there's Oisin McConville on eye gouging in GAA, refereeing big men and what is it about Brain Cody?
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Eoin and Ken discuss Ireland's victory over Switzerland, Roy Hodgson's gloom free England and the schism between Cruyff and van Gaal.Emmet Malone joins us in studio to analyse Martin O'Neill's squad options.Plus there's fake Shay Given's missed opportunity, the Good Friday sports event booze loophole and how to insult a goalie.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Johan Cruyff, the football genius who reinvented the Netherlands' image of itself.Richard Sadlier discusses the Ireland situation ahead of the upcoming friendlies, and looks at comparisons made between Roy Keane and Jack Byrne. And we talk to David Winner about the influence Cruyff has had on football worldwide
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Ken and Murph duke it out over how 1916 should be remembered, there's great news for our New York listeners, Eoin blows up a few myths and we discuss a huge weekend for Connacht sports fans.The GAA's influence on the 1916 Rising is the topic of conversation with Michael Foley, the author of one of our favourite sports books of all time "The Bloodied Field". And we talk about America's relationship with Cuba, and why Barack Obama attending a baseball game in the aftermath of the Brussels attacks could have been an avoidable PR mis-step. 24/3/16
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Alan Pardew's happiness for Claudio Ranieri, Big Sam's football face, Jurgen Klopp's lack of chemistry with Christian Benteke, and another unexpected, timely triumph for Louis van Gaal.Jack Pitt-Brooke compares Spurs' prospects over the next few weeks with those of Leicester. And John Brewin joins us to discuss the huge job confronting Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer.
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Ireland finish mid-table in this year's Six Nations, but what will the report card say? Shane Horgan and Mattie Williams see an Ireland team that hasn't progressed a whole lot, and a fixture list coming down the tracks that leaves little margin for error.Cork hurling has had a dark spring - 5 games in the League, and 5 defeats. Eoin Kelly describes it as a team in crisis. Plus there's rugby's moral high ground, lovely Leicester, and why twitter is now a glorified football website.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Fellaini's elbows, proactive Pep, the dark side of Liverpool - Man United rivalry, PSV's shame and Klopp's confidence flower.Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse Liverpool's win at Old Trafford and tries to figure out why Louis van Gaal keeps picking Fellaini. Plus there's a Nigerian FA update, plucky outsiders Man City and why the Champions League QF's are becoming a bit like the All Ireland Football QF's. 18/3/16
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Liam Neeson's Antrim street cred, grown men with green eyebrows, the education of young Jimmy Nesbitt and Breen Bros big day out in Croker - welcome to our Second Captains Saint Podcast Day Special!Eddie O'Sullivan talks to us about the Joe Marler incident, what a farce the Six Nations disciplinary committee has been this year, and why Ireland shouldn't fear Scotland. Plus Limerick star David Breen tells us what it's like to wake up as an All-Ireland club hurling final winner, and Oisin McConville analyses the football final. 18/3/16
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Second Captains are excited to present a special edition BONUS podcast - French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit was in Dublin today on behalf of Carlsberg and Eoin and Ken caught up with him to talk football, politics and social networking...
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Ireland finally cut loose against a terrible Italy team - what did we learn about the players and the gameplan, and how big a threat do a buoyant Scotland pose to Joe Schmidt's team? Shane Jennings and Gerry Thornley are in studio.As Cheltenham cranks up, we discuss former track cyclist Victoria Pendleton's rapid rise as an amateur jockey. Plus there's the reason why Ken can't dance, a pregnant Eoin McDevitt, and the pig farming fiascos that link Johann Cruyff and Saint Patrick. 14/3/16
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Max Kruse's bad night in Berlin, Fergie's title race predictions, FA Cup goooaals, and Real Madrid's impassioned defence of Rafael Nadal.Andrew Mangan joins us in studio to talk about a miserable run for Arsenal that even Wenger has been forced to describe as a "farce". And Miguel Delaney was at Old Trafford yesterday to see Dmitri Payet score one of the great free-kicks of recent years. 14/3/16
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Three games in and Ireland are still looking for their first win in the 6 Nations - we've heard from Matt Williams and Shane Horgan throughout the competition, both of them have strong opinions on what we've been doing right, and wrong, so far, and they're on together to debate the direction we're taking under Joe Schmidt. US Murph tells us what the hell is going on with Donald Trump, and we talk live for the first time to one of our beloved scumbag emailers. Plus there's Sharapova, Kenz Friendz and Murph's beef with Sean O'Brien. 10/3/16
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Ken and Ciaran talk about the mother of all games, handsy Jurgen Klopp, Pochettino's dilemma and why everyone is blanking Blatter.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about the end of Chelsea's Champions League era.And Rory Smith analyses whether Newcastle really is the right move for Rafael Benitez. 10/3/16
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"Everyone has a plan until they get a punch in the face", said Mike Tyson, and the Conor McGregor plan for world domination was rocked to its core by Nate Diaz on Saturday night - Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report joins the lads.We discuss how Connacht rugby have become the Leicester City of the Pro-12, and what options Joe Schmidt has for the Italy game. Plus we talk finger-bending blood-baths, Eoin's tap-out record, Diaz's smack talk, and there's a Jimmy Nesbitt update. 7/3/16
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Ken and Ciaran are beginning to come around to the idea that Leicester might actually be about to do this. Also up for discussion - LVG's numbers game and why the money don't work. Tony Barrett joins us to talk about the takeover at Everton and Liverpool's form going into the Europa League tie against Man United.And Michael Walker talks to us about Ashley's misrule at Newcastle. 7/3/16
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the mindless chaos of the Premier League title race after a midweek pile-up that left Leicester looking more nailed-on than ever. Richard Sadlier has had a chance to look at Arsenal up close and he's come to some disturbing conclusions about Arsene Wenger's side.Plus there's the rich kid at the arcade, the West Ham have nots, and the end of the PL world.
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US Murph joins us to tell us about the sports event from the last week that is 'the greatest thing that's ever happened', while Conor McGregor piles on the pounds in preparation for his first fight at welterweight.We discuss Donald Trump and his cosy relationship with the power-brokers of golf, and proposals in the UK to ban tackling in schools rugby. There's also General Haig counting his dead, stingy PBESOers, and Ken's dry eye sockets.
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Still no win for Ireland in the 6 Nations championship this year - Gerry Thornley and Shane Jennings are in studio to give us their verdicts on a fourth game in a row where we had chances to win, and failed to take them. The mark is now a part of Gaelic football, and we talk to Karol Mannion about how this will affect how the game is played (if at all).And there's the omnipresent James Nesbitt, the Steph Curry zone, Carl Frampton's profile 'down South', and what Gay Byrne needs to do to boost his numbers 'up North'.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about promise-keeping Manuel Pellegrini, risk-taking Claudio Ranieri, and team-mate-under-the-bus-throwing Cristiano Ronaldo.Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss Manchester United's injury-driven renaissance and whether Rashford is as good as his scoring record suggests. And Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal fills us on on the implications of Gianni Infantino's election as FIFA President. 29/2/16
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Ireland-England is the main event this weekend, and Ireland have given first caps to 2 of our brightest stars... but is Twickenham the place for Josh Van Der Flier and Stuart McCloskey to make a big splash? Ugo Monye and Gerry Thornley aid with the pre-match build-up.We discuss warm beer at The Emirates, boxing coaches that straight up don't like each other, good little un's, and Conor McGregor's Sports Illustrated cover story. Plus former world champ Bernard Dunne looks ahead to Carl Frampton's fight against Scott Quigg on Saturday night.
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It's the Patcast, as we give you our interview with Patrick Kluivert in London before the first leg of the Arsenal-Barcelona Champions League last-16 tie this week. Ken outlines the smoke-and-mirrors with our live audience, before Kluivert tells us about being the youngest player to score in a Champions League final for Ajax in 1995, putting an end to the team that Jack built in Anfield in November 1995 and the future for Van Gaal.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran ponder FIFA's presidential messaging toolkit, and give their views on who should take over the country. Does democracy even work?Gabriel Marcotti reports from Zurich as FIFA prepare to elect a new President. And Terry Daley gives his verdict on whether Antonio Conte is the right man to take over at Chelsea.
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Ireland's dreams of a third Six Nations title may lie in tatters, our players may be ailling or injured, but we have the remedy for your February blues... as Shane Horgan talks us through the try that changed his life.Malachy Clerkin and 2010 All Ireland winner Shane McGrath debate whether Tipperary and Kilkenny can even be called a rivalry anymore. And we have the future of sports entertainment, Jerry Flannery potty-talk and the importance of blind panic. 22/2/16
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran regard the FA Cup fifth round fixtures with despondency, on a weekend when most of the talking points were provided by various teams abusing referees.Jonathan Wilson joins us to fulminate against Manuel Pellegrini's chickening out of the contest against Chelsea. And Miguel Delaney tries to make some sense of the swirl of rumours surrounding Manchester United and Jose.
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It's on. Eoin and Ken preside over 8 Mile Audio Wars part 2. Evan Flynn is back to take another shot at Second Captains. With the stakes higher than ever who is truly strongest? Crush! Tonight.US Murphy joins us to talk about Peyton Manning's dirty little secret emerging into the full glare of the post-Superbowl media spotlight. And Louise Galvin of the Irish Women's Rugby Sevens team joins us to talk about the Rio Olympics, being talented at three different sports and the one party Irish people are late to.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Dunphy's support for Ronaldo, Rooney's knee, and respond to poison pen letters from audience guttersnipes.John Brewin joins us to discuss the stories surrounding a possible move to China for Rooney. And Dermot Corrigan analyses Rafael Benitez's case for why Barcelona are better than Real Madrid.
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Our chances of a third Six Nations championship in a row disappeared under the weight of a French scrum, and we're joined by regular analyst Shane Horgan and former Ireland and Leinster flanker Shane Jennings to discuss whether our players need to show more initiative in big games. 15/2/16Barry Moran inspired his Castlebar Mitchels team to victory over Crossmaglen on Saturday. We ask him about the final, how much fun the club game is to play, and how it could damage his chances with Mayo. Plus there's sleeping through the last 10 minutes of a Six Nations game, musical suggestions from our listenership, and Joleon Lescott's miraculous pocket-dial.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the ethics of Lionel Messi's penalty assist, Joe Hart's faulty mind games, and the likelihood of Leicester City resisting the pressure of the run-in.Jonathan Wilson was there to see Spurs' cyborg terminators storm the Etihad. And Jack Pitt-Brooke analyses Arsenal's win over the league leaders. 15/02/16
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Ireland travel to France on the second weekend of the 6N, and after all the pessimism before the Wales game, we as a nation appear to be far more chipper this week for a fixture that historically has given us precious little to write home about. Eddie O'Sullivan looks at the Irish line-up, and tells us about Paul O'Connell's future in coaching, while Jamie Cudmore joins us to talk about his battles with the big man.We investigate the possibility of the Irish Open becoming the booziest stop on the European Tour with Lawrence Donegan, plus there's Shane Lowry's crowd-pleasing antics, a listener comes at the king, and Zoolander No.2's impressive running time. 11/02/16
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The Premier League big four looks a little different these days, but they meet on Sunday in what could be a defining weekend for all involved. Richie Sadlier is in studio to see if he can continue his white-hot predictions run going.Tony Barrett talks to us about Liverpool's climb-down on ticket prices and whether a precedent has been set for football clubs. There's mention too for Mauricio Pochettino getting the Fergie seal of approval, Sean Dyche's laser-focus in the pub, and the toxic qualities of Ken's seat in the studio. 11/02/2016
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Given all the pre-match pessimism, Ireland's draw with Wales left many people feeling pretty positive about our chances of winning a third championship in a row. Six Nations legend Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley poke through the embers of a scintillating game. We ask Don Van Natta Jnr of ESPN if the Peyton Manning (2016 vintage) is the worst ever quarter-back to win the Super Bowl. There's also Martin O'Neill's barnstorming performance on the BBC's NFL coverage, Sergio Parisse's lust for glory, Jamie Roberts' lust for punishment and details on our live show in Dublin later this month - we want you to meet Ajax, Barcelona and Holland legend Patrick Kluivert!
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Ken refused to jump aboard the Leicester bandwagon before this weekend, but we now declare them Premier League champions for the 2015-16 season.Emmet Malone charts the rise of Ranieri's side and questions Van Gaal's trust in his employers. We talk to Simon Kuper about the team that defied economics, the Ajax side that won the Champions League in 1995. Plus there's details on our live show in Dublin later this month - we want you to meet Ajax, Barcelona and Holland legend Patrick Kluivert!
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the rise of China as a force in the global transfer market, ticket price madness, and the peculiar perils of being a billionaire surrounded by skilled advisers who are keen to help.Richie Sadlier joins us to discuss the likelihood of Leicester holding it together for 14 more games. And Ed Malyon reports from Barcelona, where Gary Neville got caught in the Messi-Suarez crossfire.
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It's a huge weekend of sport, stretching from the start of the Six Nations to the Superbowl, which will finish up in the early hours of Monday morning. US Murph gives us the latest from the lunacy in San Francisco, host city to Super Bowl 50, while Matt Williams gives us his definition of what success looks like for Ireland over the next 7 weeks.Plus there's kabaddi and Samuel Beckett, politicians pretending to be sports fans, and a birthday return for Ken Burley.
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It's an extra-special 6 Nations Preview Podcast, with Ireland on the brink of a third Championship in a row. Its Wales first up for Joe Schmidt's team, a rivalry that brings out the absolute worst in all of us. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley tell us why there are reasons to be cheerful about Ireland's prospects despite the World Cup and European Cup woes of recent months. Two time Grand Slam winner Martyn Williams gives us the Welsh perspective, Ken compares rugby to fur coats, and we look at new old England.
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The first weekend of the Allianz National Football League saw the issue of concussion make an unwanted reappearance - Karol Mannion and Oisin McConville join us in studio.Serena Williams was grace personified after her loss in the Australian Open, which leads us to debate what exactly is a good loser. Plus there's the Pep-Jose ecosystem, Fraggle Rock, Terry Wogan and Tony Robbins.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the confirmation of Pep's move to Man City and what it means for Man United and Jose.Emmet Malone is in studio to talk about the FAI's decision to unveil their new strategic plan out of the glare of the media.And John Brewin explains why Chelsea have decided now is the time to say goodbye to brave John Terry.
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Why contract extensions for Irish rugby players don't always have to go to the brink and why having them played out in the media can have negative side effects. Former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sulllivan thinks there has to be a better way.The Superbowl is coming to San Francisco, and US Murph is ready to welcome sport's biggest party. He talks about Beyonce, Leo Di Caprio, NFL's snuff movie and Cam Newton's plutonium. Plus there's weird dreams, Ken's huge broadcasting IQ, and the start of the Allianz Football League.
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Eoin (86th in the Irish journalist Twitter power rankings), Ken (18th, second overall in sport) and Ciaran (93rd) discuss motivational speeches, Man United's tiny analyst, and Roberto Martinez's ongoing struggle against heartbreaking refereeing incompetence.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to talk about the reasons why Leicester are top of the table. And Jack Pitt-Brooke explains why Pochettino's counterintuitive brand of tough, cold, ruthless love has forged an unbreakable team spirit at Spurs.
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Jonny Sexton's histories of concussion meant there was a collective intake of breath when he went down after a clash of heads against Wasps on Saturday. Shane Horgan talks to us about communication breakdowns, good news, Marty Moore's departure and captain Hartley.The Australian Open has a new match-fixing controversy to contend with and a QF draw that includes sublime post-peak Roger Federer. Plus there's a report on the Easter Island Premier League, old men getting beaten up for our viewing pleasure in the NFL, and Maurice Fitz, Andre Agassi and the importance of longevity when defining greatness.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the two big mistakes that ruined Arsenal's weekend, the conditioning regime that enables Jamie Vardy to flaunt that legendary six-pack, and Jose Mourinho's alleged six-page letter to Manchester United. Jonathan Wilson was at Old Trafford to see the home crowd turn on Louis van Gaal.And James Corbett analyses the chances of Roberto Martinez turning around Everton's disappointing form.
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Eoin, Murph and Ken discuss the art of trash talk, the US Republican debates, Conor McGregor's oppressors, and nice guy Rory Best.Rory McIlroy started his 2016 season this week playing alongside Jordan Spieth, in what is the opening salvo of a huge year for the golf, and for the two new superstars of the sport.US Murph talks about the Harlem Globetrotters, Brady V Manning, the greatest throw in history and the NFL championship games
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the FAI's ticket allocation, Ronaldo's lats and Roberto Mancini's calling out of a Serie A colleague.Sid Lowe joins us to talk about Bale's true value, Jorge Mendes, Casillas V De Gea and the impact of Madrid's transfer ban.And Tim Vickery gives his view on Teixeira for Liverpool, Pato for Chelsea and the likely arrival of former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli in Europe.
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Next up on the corruption merry-go-round... tennis. Match-fixing allegations have erupted on the eve of the Australian Open, hinting at another sport wilfully turning a blind eye to problems at its heart.Munster and Leinster got morale-boosting victories in Europe - Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan talk about the need for skillful forwards, if the academy system can beat French money and why Munster's problem isn't lack of heart. Plus there's the return of the unloved, unmourned Tommy Murphy Cup, Novak Djokovic's big reveal and a rather surprising mention of Brian McClair's 1991 form-line.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran wonder why Stoke fans boo Aaron Ramsey for getting his leg broken, and why Liverpool insist on buying expensive centre-forwards who don't fit into their team.Daniel Harris gives us his view on Manchester United's win at Anfield, LVG's title talk and the recent improvement of Wayne Rooney.And Dion Fanning was there to see Roberto Martinez lash the referee out of it again as Everton lost another winning position at Stamford Bridge.
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The second half of WADA's report into the IAAF has discovered a systemic failure throughout the organisation... but Seb Coe has managed to dodge criticism from the report's author Dick Pound. We discuss the general lack of beheadings of sports administrators.US Murph talks NFL kickers, the L.A Rams and Patriots hopes, and we speak to British boxer Tony Bellew about his role in the new Rocky movie. Plus there's a Jim Carrey boycott, Tom Brady's tomatoes, and Mrs Huxtable.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph talk about Lineker's humour, the best goals of the week, Mick McCarthy's anti-passing possession football, and the implications of Real and Atletico Madrid's transfer bans. On his birthday Richie Sadlier joins us to look back on the midweek football, and examines Van Gaals' latest press conference tiff.Plus there's Messi's evolving torso, defying gravity, Ricky Gervais' monologue and the Sadlier effect.
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Anthony Foley questioned his own future as head coach in the aftermath of a dispiriting loss away to Stade Francais yesterday - Mattie Williams and Gerry Thornley try and apportion blame as their season goes from bad to worse.On the day the Ballon d'Or winner is announced, we speak to our good friend Oluwishina Okeleji about the African Player of the Year award, which was not won by Yaya Toure, to the disgust of... Yaya Toure. And there's the history of the fighting clan McGregor, David Bowie, El Chapo and Sean Penn's flatulence.
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Eoin and Ciaran sit through Ken's interminable round-up of the weekend's FA Cup third round goals, and examine Spain's attitude to doping in sport. Dermot Corrigan joins us to talk about Zinedine Zidane's managerial debut at Real Madrid and Bale's next move.And a tuxedo'd Miguel Delaney reports from Zurich as the Ballon D'Or gala gets underway.
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Andy Farrell is Ireland's new defence coach, in a move that came as a complete bolt from the blue. Shane Horgan was critical of his influence on the English coaching ticket during the World Cup, and he gives us his opinion on the possible reasons for his appointment.US Murph talks to us about Johnny Football and the NFL playoffs. Plus there's incognito superstars, Christy O'Connor Junior, the cowardly heavyweight, and Peyton Manning V Al Jazeera.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the injury epidemic at Liverpool, where Jürgen Klopp finds himself fighting a war on two fronts against an unholy alliance of Big Sam Allardyce and Big Raymond Verheijen.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to analyse how Premier League wealth has bred conservatism. And Sid Lowe gives us his view on the arrival of Zinedine Zidane as coach of Real Madrid.
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After a hectic Christmas period of inter-provincials, Irish rugby now turns it's attention to picking a new captain - Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan think the most suitable man isn't either of the three front-runners of Rory Best, Johnny Sexton and Jamie Heaslip.The GAA season also crept back into life this weekend, and Michael Foley of the Sunday Times has a feel-good story of where the money goes from the Leinster Council's January warm-ups. Plus there's Davy Fitzgerald's New Year's Resolution, darts fever, and Ken's celebrity rugby Christmas mass.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss a weekend of phenomenal goals and whether Andy Carroll can ever overcome the challenges posed by gravity.Tony Barrett joins us to talk about Spurs' title credentials and John Stones' chilled-out penalty-box defending. And Dion Fanning was there to see West Ham complete a first league double over Liverpool in 52 years.
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Ring in the New Year with Eoin, Murph, Ken and Richie - its the Second Captains New Year's Eve Auld Lang Syne Hogmanay Hootenanny Special.We talk to Richie Sadlier about his bizarre experience the night Ireland beat Germany, his hopes for Euro 2016 and whether we can trust James McClean.Plus there's scum email of the year, hugging strangers, the time Paul Kimmage told Ken to stop smoking, Martin V Michael O'Neill, and SHANE LONG....BAH!
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Eoin and Ken talk about Stoke City's super-awesome Christmas, Roberto Martinez's fondness for finger-pointing, and Louis van Gaal's tendency to misspeak himself.Jonathan Wilson tells us whether we're seeing the emergence of a third great Arsene Wenger Arsenal side. Plus there's the huge Cadbury's Roses controversy, U2 in Paris, Obama and Bear Grylls, calm Walters, Jose Man United scarves, Matic's miss, Ken's prediction for the Premier League, and the art of the footballer apology.
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We have once again retired to our winter retreat (a remote log cabin) along with our many horses and wolves, to produce a very special Christmas Eve show - the Second Captains Christmas Sports Pudding.We talk to the most festive and cheerful man we know, Brian Murphy, about an incredible Super Bowl story that involves Ernest Hemingway, Steve Young, a hobo, Key West, and how Brian met his wife.Plus there's an unwelcome guest, the Murph and Mackie awards, the art of shameless plugs, and KEN SINGS OUT THE SHOW!
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Ulster are winning pretty, and they're doing it with brilliant young Irish players. Gerry Thornley speculates on a potential new-look Irish team, analyses Munster's white line fever and Leinster's new Pro 12 vista.Andy Lee lost his WBO middleweight belt with a heart-breaking defeat to Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday night. We ask Bernard Dunne what Andy's options are now. Plus there's Lance Armstrong's love of drugs, light sabre-wielding adults, pancake arses and McGuffins.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Sepp Blatter's sorrow, Louis van Gaal's candour and Jose Mourinho's irresistible attraction to football executives who know nothing about football but a lot about TV ratings.John Brewin analyses the chances of Jose Mourinho becoming the next manager of Manchester United. And Raphael Honigstein gives us the reaction from Germany where Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will leave FC Bayern at the end of the season.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss Jose getting the sack, the mask slipping, the limitations of charisma, his future employability, and the incredible number of mistakes he's made in half a season.Michael Calvin has written the football book of the year, it's called "Living on the Volcano", and it tells the life of an English football manager. He joins us on the line to discuss Rodgers' crown, Garry Monk's sunken eyes and how damaging the job is to your mental health.
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It's been a long, long build-up for Andy Lee but his fight with Billy Joe Saunders is finally here - we talk to the reigning WBO middleweight champion of the world about fight week, the traveller angle and going to war. And it's the long-awaited Second Captains Irish Times Christmas Books Podcast, with Malachy Clerkin, where we reveal the best (non-written-by-Second-Captains) book of the sporting year. Plus - tips for slow readers, Sonia sez relax, and we ruminate on how life's a beach and then you die.
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This is now Conor McGregor's world, the rest of us just live in it. After his truly spectacular 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo on Saturday night, Ken Early joins us from Las Vegas to give his reaction.And after a weekend that started promisingly with wins for Connacht and Ulster, Munster and Leinster slipped to two more devastating, dispiriting defeats in the European Cup - we talk to Shane Horgan about deeper issues at play. Plus there's Ken's biting critique of the cowboy lifestyle, the Babe Ruth of body language experts and the return of the travelator challenge
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We give our reactions to Ireland's Euro 2016 draw, which sees us in with Belgium, Italy and Sweden; none of whom seem to rate us in any way. Emmet Malone was in Paris for the draw and tells of a city adjusting to a new 'normal'.Tony Barrett tells us about the link Jurgen Klopp is trying to forge between his team and their fans. Plus there's boring but bullish Belgians, brilliant goalkeepers, and the Duffer Stephen Hunt dynamic.
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Manchester United stand alone as the only English side not to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League - John Brewin asks, are they now where Liverpool were at the start of the 1990s? And after a great night in Europe for Arsenal, Andrew Mangan of Arseblog joins us in studio to discuss if this could be the catalyst for a title charge. Plus there's our dream Euro 2016 draw, which may or may not include being in a group with England.
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Ken Early reports live from Las Vegas ahead of the Conor McGregor / Jose Aldo UFC bout - and after over a year of build-up, it sounds like everyone (fans, fighters, and Ken) are just anxious for this fight to happen. US Murph tells us about the continuing, bewildering success of his Golden State Warriors, and we talk to Pearce Hanley, the Mayoman who this year played his 100th game of Aussie Rules football with the Brisbane Lions and recently signed a contract to keep him there until 2019.
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Munster are still third in the Pro 12, and have won the only game they have played so far in Europe, but Anthony Foley isn't content. Gerry Thornley investigates what has the munster coach so unhappy. Ballyboden won their first ever Leinster club title yesterday, powered by Dublin hurler, and one-time footballer, Conal Keaney. He talks celebrations, being underestimated, and the big decision he has to make about his inter-county future. Plus there's Ken's chimpanzee advice for Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, and old grampa Rooney and his Werthers Originals.
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Eoin and Ken talk about a bizarre weekend in the League Nobody Wants to Win (except Leicester). Meanwhile Nicklas Bendtner is tired of people thinking he is somehow unserious, but continues to dress as though he's on holiday in the Hamptons in the 1920s.Miguel Delaney was at Stoke to see Europe's flakiest big club, Manchester City, drop another three points.And watching Louis van Gaal's Manchester United has got Jonathan Wilson wondering what "attack" really means.
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This week's topics of discussion with US Murph - sporting perfection is reality, the Messi of the NBA and how to break your sport.What do flesh-eating viruses tell us about Brazilian society and Rio 2016? Ewan McKenna joins us from Belo Horizonte.And there's Conor McGregor's concerns over Brazilian drug-testing, Jonny Wilkinson's double-jobbing, and how Ken's family defeated the Royal Navy.
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Ken and Murph discuss Gary Neville's appointment at Valencia. Will he be the first graduate of the Fergie school not to be quite a disappointing manager? Meanwhile FIFA are planning to bloat the World Cup to even more ungainly proportions. Sid Lowe tells us a bit about the situation Neville is arriving into at Valencia. And Tony Barrett tries to explain how Jurgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool in two short months.
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Is it time for us to hail Tyson Fury, Irish heavyweight champion of the world? His views on homosexuality, abortion and paedophilia were outlined in stark terms long before he defeated Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday night - we speak to renowned author and journalist Donald McRae.Connacht are the form team in Ireland right now, and after a dominating win over Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday night, Gerry Thornley tells us how long they can stay top of the Pro 12. Plus there's extreme cold in Crossmaglen, the chiropractor, and how to separate off-field flaws from on-field achievement.
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Eoin and Ken put themselves in Pep Guardiola's shoes. Which Manchester club would they rather manage? Richie Towell's move to Brighton and Diego Costa's bib also feature.Jonathan Liew joins us to discuss why he feels the celebrated Jamie Vardy has gotten off lightly for his racist abuse of a man in a casino. And Graham Hunter tells us why Guardiola is the essential appointment Manchester United must move heaven and earth to make.
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Eoin and Ken talk about the midweek Champions League, the grumblings at Old Trafford, the worst way to win a match 4-3, and the cultification of Klopp.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to give his views on what's happening to LVGMUFC. Why are the former United players in the media so grumpy?
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran present a special edition of the podcast - a recording of the live show in the Grand Social to launch the Second Captains Sports Annual.They're joined on stage by Oisin McConville, Richie Sadlier and historian Cormac Moore to discuss the idea of an All-Ireland football team. Why do we have two separate Irish teams in football when most sports only have one for the whole island? What are the barriers standing in the way of a football reunification? How do people feel about the idea? Plus there's Grealish's pout, Ken's All Time team, and doodles.
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This has the potential to be a long, fruitless campaign for the Irish provinces in Europe - Denis Hickie and Gerry Thornley discuss another two defeats for Leinster and Ulster.He may have had the worst year of his golfing career, but Graeme McDowell has managed to turn it around in impressive style, with a win last Monday followed up yesterday by a third place finish on the PGA Tour. We talk about one of Ireland's soundest sportspeople with Lawrence Donegan.Plus there's hurling attempting to break America, athletic manslaughter and Coutinho playing a little too well for Liverpool.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph talk about El Clashico, the two hours of incredible football on Saturday night played out in Madrid and Manchester. Dermot Corrigan joins us to pick over the bones of Real Madrid's humbling at the hands of Barcelona. And John Brewin was there to see Manuel Pellegrini rage like Lear on the heath after Liverpool tore his team to pieces.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about football parables, and the sabotage of the Dele Alli transfer. We're joined by the editor-in-chief of Offside magazine, Anders Bengtsson, to talk about Zlatan's role in changing the Swedish international team and even Swedish society.And Sid Lowe gives us his thoughts on the swirl of political intrigue at Real Madrid ahead of this weekend's Clasico.
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The death of Jonah Lomu has been mourned worldwide - we speak to Matt Williams about the triumph of nature over nurture. US Murph is back, talking to us about excessive NFL celebrations, the state of American sports broadcasting, and Elvis on Ed Sullivan... all from the patio of his suite at the Ritz Carlton in Hawaii.Plus there's the danger with helicopters, Anthony Cunningham, a very special Italia 90-themed PBESO, Richie McCaw stats, and an intriguing peek into Ken Early's early life.
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Welcome to our Euro 2016 bonus podcast! Eoin, Ken and Murph talk about the star players, the job Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane have done, Super Victor the 2016 mascot, and how the Aviva Stadium has become a fun place to go watch a football game.We catch up with Richie Sadlier and Dion Fanning to get their thoughts on a memorable campaign and hear from MOTM Robbie Brady and master of ceremonies Robbie Keane. Plus we ponder which amazing French city we would like to visit, levitating fans, Ken's visit to Roma II and why things ended badly between Snap, Crackle and Pop.
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The 33-6 defeat at home to Wasps on Sunday was Leinster's most damaging defeat in European Cup history, and immediately casts their future in this year's competition in doubt. Gerry Thornley talks Leo Cullen, Simon Zebo's future and Munster's emotional trip to Stade Francais next Sunday.The Cork ladies footballers are Ireland's most dominant team, having won 10 All-Irelands in 11 years, and journalist Mary White has played with them, reported on them, and has now authored the first book on an Irish female sports team.Plus there's Leo the Lion getting punked, Ronda Rousey getting knocked out, and empathy-free rugby club chairmen.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the psychology of terrorist attacks on sporting events.Simon Kuper joins us from Paris to reflect on the city's nightmarish weekend and future implications. And Miguel Delaney analyses Ireland's chances of finishing the job against Bosnia.
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Michael Conlan is our first ever male world boxing champion, a fact overshadowed in recent weeks by the Billy Walsh farrago. We went to the National Stadium to talk to our choice as Irish Sports Personality of the Year about turning pro, Rio, and the Conor McGregor template.The English Rugby World Cup farce shows no sign of losing momentum - with Sam Burgess on his way back to rugby league, and players embroiled in a financial controversy, Shane Horgan talks to us from London. Plus Murph quotes Garth from Wayne's World, we have Jim McGuinness' Good Wall choices, swing confidence, and TV3's Six Nations coup.
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The reaction to Ireland getting Bosnia in our Euro 2016 qualification play-off was cautious optimism - but with injuries and suspensions taking a heavy toll, many Irish fans would take any result tomorrow night that gives us a fighting chance on Monday evening at the Aviva. Ken talks to us from Heathrow, and we have Richie Sadlier in studio ahead of another seismic few days for the Ireland football team.Missed flights, bullet-proof self-confidence and phenomenal d******** also feature prominently.
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WADA have recommended that Russia be banned from international athletics in an extraordinary story which leads all the way to the cabinet of the Russian government. David Epstein, author of 'The Sports Gene' gives us his reaction. Gerry Thornley looks ahead to the start of the European Champions Cup, and we talk mighty Russian sturgeons, an inconvenient draw in Kerry, and whether the last two months of 2015 could finally kill off sport altogether.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph talk about Cristiano Ronaldo - who this week finds himself the subject of an authorised film spectacular, and an unauthorised biography. Would he have been better off remaining at Manchester United? And which animal has he come to resemble? Jonathan Wilson tries to explain why Chelsea suddenly seem so reluctant to sack their manager. It's never been a problem for them before.And Kieran Canning joins us from Spain to discuss the departure of David Moyes from Real Sociedad.
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Eoin, Murph and Ken discuss the Web Summit's wanderly wagon, watching sport in pubs, how to become a Viscount and America's Pepe Reina. US Murph tells us about the Kansas City Royals' World Series party and the return of the 'gut' guy.Plus we talk about the scandal enveloping the IAAF, as a former President is investigated for taking money to suppress positive drug tests.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Somali pirates, Viking tattoos and delve into the deathless memory banks of the internet to analyse Jose Mourinho's love-hate relationship with the Chelsea fans. Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss dressing-room treachery and whose criticism to take seriously.And Ken interviewed Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre at the Web Summit.
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Jim McGuinness' new memoir has already attracted its first controversy, with current Donegal manager Rory Gallagher hotly refuting Jim's version of the events that led to Gallagher's leaving the backroom staff under McGuinness in late 2013. Can high-profile number 2's ever work, and should we sit back and open the popcorn ahead of Davy Fitzgerald and Donal Og Cusack's partnership with Clare next year?Shane Horgan gives us his thoughts on another World Cup triumph for New Zealand, and Ireland's RWC 2023 bid.We discuss Steve Williams and his unique view on the role of golf caddy, Big Sam's disciplinarian dad and Jose Mourinho's mental walls.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the weekend's Premier League. Vardy and Mahrez continue to rip it up while the walls close in on Jose.Dion Fanning was there to see Liverpool's 3-1 win at the Bridge.And John Brewin joins us to discuss whether Manchester United's goalscoring problems lie with the players or the philosophy.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Sepp Blatter's Russian interview, Michel Platini's courtly metaphors and Paul Scholes' ongoing onslaught against Louis van Gaal's revolution.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to discuss Blatter's revelations. And Sid Lowe talks to us about the contrasting images of Rafael Benitez and Cristiano Ronaldo
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It's World Cup final weekend, and against all our better judgement we're very excited. Mattie Williams is in studio, and we try to forget that there hasn't yet been a good showpiece game since this tournament began in 1987.John Leonard joins us to talk about his new book "Dub Sub Confidential" - from sexual abuse as a child, to a spell in his life in his early twenties when he went completely off the rails, to a stint behind Stephen Cluxton as Dublin goalkeeper under Pillar Caffrey, it's an amazing story. Plus there's plucky underdog NZ killing rugby as a sport, Big Sam's dress, and Ken's love for David Pocock.
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Proud finisher Eoin McDevitt, fresh from the Dublin Marathon, takes the helm for a discussion with last year's marathon winner Eliud Too, who tells us how he spent his winnings and why he named his two cows Ken Early and Ciaran Murphy.Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan try and fail to avoid talking about Ireland while reviewing the weekend's Rugby World Cup semi-finals. And there's Eoin's Foghorn Leghorn physique, Donal Og Cusack joining Clare, and a 20,000 word thesis on what we've learned from RWC 2015.
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Ken and Ciaran talk about committee dialogue and the difficulty of sticking by the courage of your convictions. There is also some Wayne Rooney pity-talk.Miguel Delaney was at Upton Park to see Jose Mourinho lose his dignity in the director's box. And Michael Walker saw Sunderland continue their astonishing winning streak against Newcastle United.
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We were live in the Sugar Club for a show in association with our sponsors Rabo Direct, and we were joined for a chat by Brian Kerr and Emmet Malone - on the agenda was Ireland's upcoming playoff with Bosnia, Jurgen Klopp and priced-out football fans.Plus there's an excerpt from Ken Early - The Marseilles Years, and a chat with John Brewin on the Manchester derby this week.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Ireland's sad addiction to a certain dreary dirge that has become an infallible portent of doom. Meanwhile Jose Mourinho adds another pile of winger bones to his boneyard.Football man Dion Fanning joins us to try to understand why Ireland's rugby heartbreak pleased many football men. And Jonathan Wilson was at White Hart Lane to see Jürgen Klopp's managerial debut in the Premier League
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Ireland have fallen short again – Shane Horgan and the lads talk through another heartbreaking, deflating defeat at a Rugby World Cup.Billy Walsh has left his position as the head coach of the IABA’s High Performance Unit - Bernard Dunne gives his reaction. If that wasn't enough, we talk to the Scots about their heartbreaking defeat to Australia. Plus there's England poaching Joe, Six Nations revisionism, and the fallacy of four year plans.
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After three years of build-up to our seismic game against France last Sunday, it seems we barely have time to draw breath before our World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.Matt Williams tries to temper the fatalism, while Diego Albanese, try-scoring hero from Lens in 1999, gives us the Argentinian view. Plus there's US Murph on the Chicago Cubs, Boris Johnson is at it again, and we take a trip to Franno-land.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the sensitive soul of Big Sam Allardyce. He bruises easily but he's got a good heart. There is also talk about Brentford and the reasonable-sounding revolutionary who owns them, Matthew Benham.Raphael Honigstein joins us to chat about his book, Das Reboot: How German Football Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Ireland's defeat in Warsaw, the Wes mystery, Robbie Brady's best position, playoff positivity, and how the Euro qualification picture looks now.Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney comb through the wreckage of a nation's dream.
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Super Sunday finished with Ireland safely through to the World Cup quarter-finals in rugby, and our football team consigned to the playoffs... a place we'd have gladly taken 5 months ago, 5 weeks ago, and in truth, even 5 days ago.Shane Horgan gives us his reaction to a brutal, gripping satisfying World Cup win and Gerry Thornley reports from the field hospital that is the Irish camp in Cardiff. Richard Escot of L'Equipe tells us how the French team feel they have betrayed the nation, and Ken is fresh off the plane from Warsaw.
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A joyous, stunned and emotional podcast celebration of Ireland's 1-0 win over Germany with Eoin, Ken and Murph. Also includes hugs with strangers, Ken getting harassed by a 9 month old baby, why we love Shane Long so much, and why Stephen Ward's performance against Port Vale was a clear sign he would shut out Thomas Muller.
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The Ireland France is finally here. Matt Williams and Shane Horgan give us their thoughts on the Sexton, the French media assault, and where it will be won and lost.And as the Ireland football team prepare for a huge couple of days, FIFA has had another turbulent day - the latest man in the firing line is Michel Platini. Plus there's Samuel Beckett and Second Captains, Eoin's hazy, crazy college days in Belfield and Ken's hatred of motivational speakers.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look forward to Ireland v Germany, and discuss the Klopp coup and the implosion of Michel Platini's political career.Richie Sadlier believes Robert Lewandowski's form is Ireland's best hope of qualifying for the playoffs.And Packie Bonner is in studio to talk about his new autobiography.
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Eoin and Ken talk about the Premier League title race, which is a bit like watching all your uncles playing Mario Kart. Who will blunder over the line first? Why did Liverpool decide to sack Rodgers now? And what does Jose Mourinho think he's doing?Simon Hughes and Dion Fanning join us to talk about Brendan Rodgers' leaving of Liverpool. And Miguel Delaney was at the Emirates to see Arsenal blow Manchester United away.
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We discuss one of the more insane weekends of sport this year - Liverpool FC lost their manager, the Rugby World Cup lost their hosts, Ireland nearly lost to Italy, Jose lost his mind, and Galway look like losing their hurling manager.We ask Denis Hickie and Gerry Thornley if Ireland's performance against Italy was something to worry about or just a road bump on the way to the France game. Plus there's Diego Maradona V Prince Harry, managerial heaves, 4 year plans and Rodgers And Me by Ken Early.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the Conroy report on the League of Ireland. Might everything get better if we all stopped being so negative? Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho appears to have a John Terry problem.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to analyse the reasons why English clubs have been so poor in Europe this season.And John Brewin was there on Tuesday to see one of Arsenal's most humiliating ever nights in the Champions League
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Stephen Ferris is in studio to talk to us about his glittering career, gym V game impact, throwing javelin and why Ireland can go all the way in RWC2015. The Mayo players want their management team out, and in the midst of another GAA civil war, there are no easy ways out. Malachy Clerkin and Mike Finnerty of the Mayo News talk us through the latest chapter in the never-dull history of the county. Plus there's the correlation between lifting weights and being a good rugby player, Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Devin Toner's tightly-packed viscera.
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Henry Shefflin is widely acknowledged as the greatest player in the game's history, and now he has written a great autobiography. He joins us in studio to discuss self doubt, Cody, Cork hurlers and the sports psychologist priest. Ireland are moving serenely through the gears in the rugby World Cup, but England lost in devastating fashion to Wales - Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley talk us through back three conundrums and Stuart Lancaster's meltdown. Plus there's reaction to Jack Grealish, Murph's love for Kilkenny that dare not speak its name, and a sparkling Mike Brown post-match interview.
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Eoin and Ken discuss feeding frenzies, Steve G's pus drainage and how September has transformed Premier League expectations.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about the outlook for Brendan Rodgers, who says he needs the right tools to do the job. And Dermot Corrigan tries to tell us: what kind of manager do Real Madrid actually want?
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Lewandowski's stupendous Fünferpack, Pep's office Iago Aspas' lack of physique and Alex Ferguson's latest - and disappointingly boring - book.Richard Sadlier joins us to talk about Diego Costa, Dennis Wise and the rights and wrongs of "playing on the edge".And Michiel Jongsma brings us up to date on a feud between two legendary Dutch football men who straight up don't get along.
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For all of Conor McGregor's global appeal, the biggest star in the UFC right now is Ronda Rousey. She's sold out the 70,000 seater Etihad Stadium in Melbourne for her next fight. We discuss her unique marketing mix.It was a good couple of days there, but the age of the little guy in the Rugby World Cup is over. Mattie Williams gives us his impressions of the first week of the tournament. And there's Barry McGuigan's anti-jogging rant, Murph's tricep-less arms, and England's World Cup panic.
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All-Ireland football final day was a bit of a damp squib this year - Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke reflect on Dublin's victory and one of the worst big-match displays by a Kerry team in living memory.Ken was at Japan-South Africa in the Rugby World Cup, and he, Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley talk us through a thrilling opening weekend. Plus there's Ken's letter from Brighton, dream finals, heartfelt apologies, and hulking superstructures.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Diego Costa. Is Chelsea's centre forward a soul in pain? Is it time for compassion rather than condemnation?Dion Fanning joins us to analyse Costa's struggle.Paul Doyle was at St Mary's to see Anthony Martial demolish a Premier League defence for the second week running.
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The Dubs-Kerry glamour myth, Paul Flynn's uncertainty, Donaghy or Geaney, Kerry curveballs, open football - Oisin McConville and Malachy Clerkin preview the All Ireland final.U.S. Murph talks serial foot-sniffers, sexscapades, Rex Ryan's big mouth, and Brady's return. And there's the French hatin' on Croydon, Ken hatin' on France, Eoin's 80's shopping trips and Henshaw's hammie.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Luke Shaw's recovery schedule, Jose Mourinho's pronoun problem, and how Rafael Benitez has just done Leo Tolstoy up like a kipper.Emmet Malone joins us to look forward to Chelsea v Arsenal this weekend. And John Brewin was there to see Manchester City rehash some old failings at home to Juventus.
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The Rugby World Cup starts this weekend, and we scientifically prove Ireland will beat France. Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie predict our first semi-final appearance, and a win for the All-Blacks, but not without a battle or two, and Doug Howlett joins us in studio too to talk World Cup pressure cookers.Another week, another All-Ireland medal for Cork superstar Briege Corkery - she talks to us from the winner's hotel. Plus there's Roger Federer's predictable failures, head prefects, and Mark Spitz-ing it down Cork main street.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the Henryesque technique of Martial, a difficult episode in the high school basketball career of Barack Obama, and the Gothic stylings of Steven Gerrard's latest autobiography.Tony Barrett was at Goodison to witness an implosion by Chelsea and subsequent explosion by Jose Mourinho. And Jonathan Wilson analyses Manchester United's 3-1 victory over Liverpool.
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Toulon are in the middle of a doping investigation, and their PR campaign could do with a little finessing. We talk to Shane Horgan about rugby's backward approach to drugs. One of our favourite authors Donald McRae joins us to talk about his brilliant new book "A Man's World - The Double Life of Emile Griffith", the 5-time world champion who hid his homosexuality from the world, but killed the boxer who tried to make it public. Plus - it's been a very good week for Lance Armstrong, as Paula Radcliffe and Floyd Mayweather fight for their reputations, Ken turns rugby pundit, and we lambast the slothful Roger Federer.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Martin O'Neill's psychological manipulations, Grealish's fateful choice, and Lionel Messi's tribute to Rooney.Richie Sadlier comes in to discuss the materialistic road our civilisation is headed down. Is there really no other way? Plus there's LOI's TV money deficit, Jonny Wilkinson's self identity and Liverpool's baseline.
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Kilkenny end the season as champions again - and rather than it being the last vestiges of a great side, it could just as easily be the start of another cycle of wins. Eoin Kelly is in studio, and Kilkenny corner-forward Walter Walsh joins us on the line.Mayo's dream dies at the penultimate hurdle, and Dublin take accuracy to a new level - we pick through the bones of Dublin's win with Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke. We talk about the Grim Reaper of RTE's sports department, hot salty splashes of Galway pain, and why Ireland/England at 90% doesn't matter.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran are preoccupied by the Robbie Keane conundrum. Is it begrudgery to point out that Ireland's goal king hasn't scored against anyone good except Sweden in the last four years?Tom English reports from Scotland on the mess they made of their trip to Georgia, on and off the field. And Simon Kuper joins us to point some fingers after two defeats left Holland staring Euro 2016 elimination in the face.
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Eoin and Ken wonder how it would feel to be 19 and cost the same as Zidane. Hopefully Anthony Martial is the unflappable type.Richie Sadlier talks about De Gea and other transfer window stories, and we also hear from Emmet Malone who's with the Ireland camp out in Portugal. And Stephan Uersfeld joins us from Berlin to talk about German football's attitude to the European refugee crisis.
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Eoin Ken and Murph kill time before a gigantic sporting weekend by discussing hypnosis, Mayo's sweepers, RWC scum emails, Marshawn Lynch's skittles commercial, and Ken's piano journey.We talk to two of the greats from Galway's past, Cyril Farrell and Noel Lane, about comparisons between the 1980's sides and the current version, and why thinking too much about Kilkenny is never great preparation for a final. Serena Williams is chasing the calender Grand Slam in NYC this week. We talk to US Murph about the excitement stateside and about one of the true trailblazers, Althea Gibson, a black woman from Harlem who was winning Wimbledon and US Open titles back in the 1950's.
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Dublin Mayo have to do it all again on Saturday. We talk to Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles about Dublin's mid 2000's style mental frailties, Mayo's bouncebackability, and who will win the replay.Ireland V Wales was supposed to help decide what fringe players would make the 31 man RWC squad. Instead we learnt more about who the starting XV should be against France. Gerry Thornley joins us in studio. Plus there's the High Court case that's aiming to stop South Africa going to the RWC, the sport that ate itself, Germany's response to the refugee crisis, and Dafne Schippers - the woman who runs faster than Flo Jo.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk through a weekend of Premier League action that saw Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all beaten. Will any of the wounded giants unleash a transfer market Spectacular in the next 36 hours? Chris Bascombe joins us to discuss Liverpool's unfortunate new habit of conceding three to six goals at a time. And Jonathan Wilson analyses whether Louis van Gaal's possession ethos is cramping Manchester United's style.
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Mayo and Dublin meet again on Sunday in a game that has the potential to be a classic. The margins are wafer thin.... but all five people in studio predict a Mayo win.Newly-crowned European champion Michael Conlan talks about the impact losing Billy Walsh would have on Irish boxing. US Murph tells us about the Australian rugby star now ripping it up for the 49ers, and we look at Schmidt's RWC squad options. Plus there's Bolt V Segway, MDMA GAA snobbery, and more urinal chat.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the glorious new dawn of the second era of Wayne Rooney. There is also a lot of transfer and Ashley Madison dating talk today.James Corbett joins us to talk about why Everton feel they should have a chance of holding on to John Stones.And Raphael Honigstein gives us his view on the record transfer of Kevin de Bruyne to Man City, while bringing us up to date with the latest in football jargon.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the weekend's football. How many more lifetime minutes has Rooney played than Pedro? And how can Tony Pulis reconcile his admiration for Napoleon with his love of tradition, order and respect?Jacob Steinberg joins us to discuss West Ham's calculated risk in appointing Slaven Bilic. And John Brewin was at the Hawthorns to see Mourinho finally get the better of Tony Pulis.
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Kerry are in the All-Ireland final again - the first champions to make it back to the final the following year since they did it themselves in 2008. Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke discuss the incredible 24 month turnaround from talk of a drought to talk of an era of dominance.Usain Bolt V Justin Gatlin pulled in the fans this weekend - David Gillick tells us if the good vs evil narrative helps the sport of athletics. And we talk the Rorschach test for Chris Bart-Williams, Daley Thompson's tracksuit and the 'footbal fan on post-game rant' youtube genre - the gift that keeps on giving.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Pedro. A cut-and-dried case of Chelsea coveting their neighbour's ass? If Manchester United didn’t covet Pedro, what was Ed Woodward doing in Barcelona? And why does Jose Mourinho burn out wingers at such an alarming rate?Richie Sadlier joins us to talk through the ramifications of the Pedro deal, and whether Manchester United can feel confident about their attacking options if that’s the last action of the transfer window.
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Kerry and Tyrone face off in the first of the All Ireland semis on Sunday. Micheal Quirke talks Tiernan McCann ban farce, Kerry converting superiority into a win, and the day Paidi O"Se faced one of his own fans.Johnny Sexton talks to Simon about Leo the coach, recruiting from within and fine tuning for the RWC. Plus there's Ronaldo hair, the crazy cats at the CCCC, and refugees, dictatorships and cycling in Eritrea.
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Eoin and Ken discuss complicated Van Gaal, John Terry's crushed pride and the options now open to Chelsea's wounded Lion.Dr Jonathan Wilson attempts to diagnose what is eating Chelsea FC. And John Brewin assesses Wayne Rooney's prospects of successfully carrying the Manchester United attack this season.
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Finally, Galway and Tipperary gave us a game to remember, and we have Eoin Kelly in studio to talk to us about a thrilling All-Ireland hurling semi-final.We discuss Jason Day's incredible journey to becoming a major champion and creating a Big Three, and we talk to one of Ireland's best sportspeople, boxer Michael Conlan, after his European Championship gold medal and Boxer of the Tournament success. Plus there's Eoin's hurling helmet getting a trip to Croke Park, boozed up golf fans, and celebrations in the Early house.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the medical profession. Is it ethical for a doctor to stand up for themselves if they are publicly criticised by their employer? And what constitutes celebrity status?Dion Fanning joins us to talk about Jose Mourinho's masterclass in how not to run your public relations. And Gabriele Marcotti analyses the impact of the Premier League's latest gigantic TV contract.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran reflect on the opening weekend of the Premier League season and particularly Swansea City, who are suddenly bristling with superstar players. Is Jonjo Shelvey the English Rijkaard? Is Jefferson Montero the Ecuadorean Jimmy Johnstone? Is Andre Ayew the Ghanaian Tim Cahill?Jonathan Wilson joins us to reflect on the growing strength of the Premier League's middle class. And Oluwashina Okeleji joins us from Nigeria to talk about the Super Eagles' pursuit of Jordon Ibe and THAT interview with Stephen Keshi.
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It was a bumper weekend of sport, the highlight of which was Shane Lowry's win in the Bridgestone Invitational. We also talk about Ireland's assured start to their World Cup build-up with Gerry Thornley.Kilkenny move remorselessly on - Murph thinks Kilkenny are fallible, the rather better-qualified Eoin Kelly isn't so sure - and there's Mayo and Tyrone down to the last 4, but not without some controversy. Plus there's Richie Hogan's skinless feet, intense hair-ruffles, and Brian Cody selfies.
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Mayo and Donegal is the first meeting of heavyweights in this year's championship, and Oisin McConville and Malachy Clerkin ask some tough questions of Mayo. They're still backing them for victory mind, and Ken goes 2 steps further, backing them for ultimate glory in September.Shane Horgan talks to us about walking the tightrope between avoiding injury and cementing your place in the squad during these Rugby World Cup warm-up games. Plus there's a bad case of wicket-fever, welsh hallucinations, Kamp Staaldraad and Waterford's reasons for hope.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran ponder how long you realistically need to prove yourself in the eyes of a judge as perceptive as Jose Mourinho. 10 matches? 10 minutes? 10 seconds?Tony Barrett joins us to discuss the potential transfer of John Stones, and how market forces are recasting the city of Liverpool as a feeding ground for the richest clubs. Plus there's evil Messi, Ken's predictions for PL and McDevitt's marathon fable.
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We have world middleweight champion Andy Lee in studio talking about his new career as a boxing promoter, his challenger's distasteful thoughts on women, and visualising the biggest night of his career.David Epstein, author of The Sports Gene, joins us to talk about the explosive Sunday Times / ARD investigation that suggests widespread doping in athletics.And we talk about just why Jim McGuinness was right to be disturbed by the weekend's football action.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the possibility of an island, the impossibility of a handshake, and why Pep Guardiola seems to be eager to let everyone know Bastian Schweinsteiger is a crock.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about whether Arsenal really are the biggest threat to Chelsea's chances of retaining the title.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Diego Costa's dead dog, and Michel Platini's political rivals.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about whether the mere fact of becoming Britain's most expensive player means you need to take any responsibility for your own performance.
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Four games in the gaelic football championship this weekend, and some teams that have impressed in the qualifiers face their acid test - Oisin McConville joins us in studio. Adam Goodes, one of Australian Rules' biggest stars, is in the middle of a massive racism storm - we speak to Rohan Connolly about some uncomfortable home truths for Aussie sports fans to confront. US Murph tells us about the latest developments in the Tom Brady Deflategate omnishambles and we pay tribute to the late Peter O'Sullevan.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Louis van Gaal's skewed priorities, Alex Ferguson's retaliator strategy and Hulk Hogan's floundering PR battle. We also hear from Roy Keane and Ruud Dokter who today launched the new national U17 league in a press conference at FAI HQ
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We are down to the last four in the All-Ireland hurling championship - and Galway and Waterford both stepped up to suggest they can trouble the provincial winners in the semi-finals. Eoin Kelly runs the rule over them. Leo Cullen looks set to be installed as the new Leinster head coach - Bernard Jackman and Gerry Thornley outlines the positives, while Eoin McDevitt mentions 'the Steve Staunton precedent'. Plus there's NSFW post-match interviews, Froome's Tour de France win, and the end of Cork sport.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Eoin's past as an agricultural slave in Australia. Meanwhile Arsene Wenger is lecturing Manchester United and Barcelona on how to do their business.John Brewin joins us to talk about Ed "Zero Gravity" Woodward and his remarkable transformation from market jester to transfer kingpin, and whether Raheem Sterling's agent really deserves the criticism that comes his way.
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The All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals are the main event in the GAA this weekend, and we talk to Limerick hurler Seamus Hickey about how their conquerors Dublin will fare against Waterford, and look ahead to Cork v Galway, as well as a reflection on Limerick's season - turning-points that proved to be round-abouts, team meetings about team meetings and ultimate disappointment. We discuss Chris Froome's utter domination of the Tour de France, and how a team owned by a media company can have such a bad handle on basic PR - and there's the twitter spat that's divided our office (Nicki Minaj vs Taylor Swift vs Katy Perry).
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Zach Johnson wins the tournament that didn’t want to end - Lawrence Donegan on tears, golfing charisma, Spieth and hope for Harrington. Meanwhile the mighty pair of Monaghan and Mayo have been dealing out the pain to the surfing hotspots of Sligo and Donegal. Oisin and Karol Mannion are in studio to talk through the weekend's football. Plus there's Sepp's cash confetti, Ken's apology, the birdie dance and Mick Rock's connacht final speech.
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Eoin and Ken discuss James McClean's exaggerated sense of justice. Is his stance on God Save The Queen really a battle worth fighting and does he know what the word Albion means?Ken was at the FAI's AGM this weekend to watch various chairmen cheering on John Delaney. Also features Benteke's strange fit with Liverpool, The Queen's nazi salute, consequences of the industrial revolution and Santana's Let The Children Play.
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Welcome to the Second Captains 'rock or bust' live tour from The Sugar Club in Dublin. Oisin McConville, Dessie Dolan and Anthony Moyles discuss the Dublin Armagh challenge match saga, the Jim McGuinness All Ireland plan and this weekend's provincial finals.Jockey Brian Toomey talks about his incredible recovery and return to racing this week, having been declared dead after a fall two years ago. And we once again mined your memories for stories with our childhood heroes segment, which features a visit from semi retired guardian angel Victor Costello.
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Ken Early reports on what he's learned of the UFC and the Conor McGregor phenomenon after a week of seeing the man himself, the promoters, and his fans.Eoin Kelly joins us to talk about a Munster final triumph for Tipperary that was celebrated like it was their first.We touch on Dublin - Westmeath and their gift to the Gaels of Ireland, Wimbledon's ad-free zone, Pierce Brosnan-spotting and Andy Lee's superfan.
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Raheem Sterling has finally got the deal he wanted - out of Liverpool, and into the arms of Manchester City. The red half of Manchester have been going about their business a lot more smartly this summer, so we talk to Gabriele Marcotti about the arrival of Bastian Schweinsteiger at Old Trafford. Plus there's the sell-on value myth, midfielder-of-his-generation Lee Bowyer, and weird transfer-day ads.
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Ken Early is in Las Vegas - he's bought the Liberace gear, he's gone to Celine Dion, and now he's reporting on Conor McGregor's bout with Chad Mendes.The hurling championship is down to the best 8 teams in the country, and we'll lose two of those this weekend. Plus there's the Munster hurling final - Nicky English and Malachy Clerkin look ahead to three huge games. We'll talk to US Murph about the women's soccer team, and we'll focus on Ilie Nastase, Andy Murray's likeability, and that whole Wimbledon / Streetfighter 2 connection.
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Mark and Murph discuss Rory McIlroy's 5-a-side skills, Stephen Keshi's sacking saga and the Kilkenny doctor's running style.Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke look at Cork's new found aggression, Kerry's defence, Fionn Fitzgerald's point and Alan O'Connor's extreme toughness. And we chatted to Shane Lowry about contending in the majors, Murph's handsome dog and his shift tweets.
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Ken and Murph discuss Irish invasions, McGregors irrelevant opponent, Higuain's Diana Ross penalty, Van Persie's Man United legacy and Bilic the special one.Tim Vickery joins us from Chile to look at Chile's red arrows Copa win, South American violence, super strikers and Argentina's ongoing issues with Messi.
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The Cork footballers are a much-maligned group but this weekend they have a chance to redeem themselves after last year's Munster final humiliation - we're joined by All-Ireland winner Micheal Quirke and acclaimed author Michael Foley.US Murph talks to us about the history of NASCAR and the death knell finally sounding for the Confederate flag. And we recycle the Nicki Minaj-Murph comparisons everyone's been talking about, Shane Lowry's dog-envy, Katie endorsements, and Barack Obama's podcast nerves.
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Ken and Ciaran talk about England's astonishing last-minute defeat to Japan, Sepp Blatter's high-end religious paraphernalia, and Jose Mourinho's deep human respect for that true and faithful servant, Petr Cech.Jonathan Wilson joins us from Santiago as Chile gets ready for the Copa America final against Lionel Messi and Argentina. And Michiel Jongsma explains where departed Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink got it all wrong.
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It was an astonishing day at Croke Park for Westmeath as they defeated Meath in the championship for the first time in their history. Man of the match John Heslin joins us on the show.Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles have harsh words for Meath, wonder if anyone can stop Dublin and spot a few chinks in the Donegal armour. Plus there's Niall Horan's tweets, bragging rights at work on a Monday morning, Ken tells Boris Becker to shut up, and psychologists and psychiatrists go to war.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Greece's choice between a rock and a hard place, crumbling social codes in Sweden, and a GAA-style outrage in Germany. Miguel Delaney and James Young join us from Chile to talk about the foreseeable disaster of a Brazil team under Dunga playing really bad football. And Sid Lowe talks us through some of the issues surrounding the possible transfer of Sergio Ramos away from Real Madrid
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Eoin and Murph discuss Italia 90 tv legacy, chanelling Dave O'Leary and Roberto Firmino's private website.We talk to Emmet Malone about the FAI problem that won't go away. Liverpool have been very busy in the transfer market. We ask Tony Barrett if there's a cohesive plan. And Dion Fanning joins us to discuss the life and career of 70's maverick Stan Bowles.
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Donegal are moving serenely through what looked like a historically tough route to All-Ireland glory - but is there a touch of arrogance coming into their play? Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles preview the weekend's action.US Murph re-opens the old East Coast / West Coast rap wars. Plus there's pushy parents, Wexford wonder-goals, Jose Aldo's injury and why gambling is baseball's original sin.
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Its been 22 years since Argentina last won a major trophy. We talk to Jonathan Wilson at the Copa America about Messi's international 'obligation'.We talk about how Sport Against Racism Ireland has been working for years to break down barriers in Irish society through sport, and it's annual 7-aside soccer tournament yesterday was the scene of a heartbreaking loss for Second Captains FC. Plus there's June Rodgers, dodgy penalty-taking techniques, and a FIFA presidential candidate we can all get behind.
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Jordan Spieth is 2 for 2 in this year's golf majors. We discuss golfing chokes, selling wholesomeness and the Irish factor with Dave Hannigan.Kilkenny and Tipperary had to wait for their first games in this year's championship, but they both made telling statements of intent at the weekend - Eoin Kelly assesses their form. We talk to Frank Warren about Andy Lee's world title fight in Thomond. Plus there's wristy hurlers, talking to golf balls and which sporting mega-star now resembles Las Vegas-era Elvis.
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Some football tournaments take their time getting into their stride - but this year's Copa America isn't one of them. Tim Vickery tells us about another Brazil meltdown, 6 goal thrillers and host-nation high drama.John Brewin tells us why Jose Mourinho feels Falcao deserves another chance in English football. And there's also Flava Flav, PBESO mountains, FIFA's cinematic excrement and Jonathan Pearce in Montreal.
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Rory McIlroy was channelling LeBron James in the build-up to this week's US Open, describing himself as the world's best.Lawrence Donegan previews the second major of the golf season, while US Murph tells us why his beloved Golden State Warriors made light of James and his ragbag Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. Eoin Kelly joins us in studio ahead of Tipperary against Limerick and we ask himt how managers should deal with errant players. Plus there are some tips for staying up late to watch American sporting events, tying Messi's hands behind his back to make things more interesting, dozing at mass, and crazy golf.
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Eoin and Ken discuss national anthems, Ireland's lack of a scapegoat, Scotland's acceptance of responsibility, and rating the Women's World Cup.Emmet Malone and Dion Fanning join us in studio to talk about whether there is anything to be said for another Mass. Plus there's Jack Grealish's holiday snaps, Ken's dream permutations and fortress Reyjkavik.
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Mayo are being judged to a different standard than every other team in Ireland, says Malachy Clerkin, as he and Anthony Moyles take a look at thrilling Donegal, meek Meath and Mayo under new management. We hear an amazing story of heroism and heartbreak from base camp on Everest during the Nepal Earthquake from earlier this year with Irish mountaineer Paul Devaney. All that plus giant stag parties, Murph getting greased up for his local team, and our shock at Jack Grealish's twin loves of social media and lads' holidays.
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Three of last year's provincial champions are in action this weekend - Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles look at obstacles facing new managers, stale Mayo, seamless Donegal and confident Meath. US Murph joins us to talk Lebron James' one-man mission and walking the egomaniac-teamwork tightrope. Plus there's McDevitt's stag, Lance V FIFA, John Giles in the media, and the Second Captains Leaving Cert exam.
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Ken and Ciaran discuss Leyton Orient's Italian TV reach, Stewart Regan's cold revenge and Michael O'Neill's frustration with international political reality.Richie Sadlier considers the question of whether alcohol is an indispensable elixir of fellow-feeling and team spirit, or a dangerous drug that deceives and deludes its users and ultimately destroys everything good in the world.And Graham Hunter joins us to talk about how Gordon Strachan has brought the spark back into Scotland's play
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Maurice Shanahan fired Waterford past Cork and earned the admiring glances of Ken Early, while Dublin were humiliated by Galway - Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin explain why Waterford are so goddamn loveable this year.The Women's World Cup kicked off in Canada in front of a record crowd of 53,000. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle joins us to talk about the growth of the game and playing surface sexism. Plus there's McDevitt's annoying guessing games, Italia 90 flashbacks and self refereeing.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Ireland-England heartburn, the Barbra Streisand effect, Neymar's private moment, and why anybody could manage Barcelona.Emmet Malone joins us to look back on an incredible fortnight in the career of John Delaney.And Jonathan Wilson reviews the Champions League final, and examines why English teams can't beat cut price Juve.
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For part of his career David Gillick trained in America with Tyson Gay and other athletes who turned out to be dopers. David talks to us about last night's Panorama documentary on Mo Farah's coach, and how easy it is to pass drugs tests.We chat to US Murph about the FBI's historical links to corruption in sports and just how much America is enjoying watching FIFA collapse.Plus there's McDevitt's EPO marathon times, Beckham the moral crusader, salad days for sports journalists, and why Ken likes what he sees when he looks into sports' cheating eyes.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the latest revelations from the worlds of Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner, and look ahead to Saturday night's Champions League final.Martin Lipton joins us to give his view on whether the Ireland-England friendly is a bad idea, as some coverage has suggested. And we preview the big final in Berlin with Dion Fanning.
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Sepp Blatter shocked the world, and Ken, by standing down from his role as head of FIFA. We examine his lengthy career, his motives for this sudden departure, whats coming next for him and for FIFA, who should take over, and if this really changes anything for world football.James Montague, author of When Friday Comes: Football in the War Zone says all of football's ills were not channelled through Sepp, and that Europeans still don't get the bigger picture for the game.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Jerome Valcke's inbox problem, Sepp Blatter's enduring popularity with non-European voters, Milner time, and Lionel Messi's outstanding physical condition.Philippe Auclair joins us to discuss what the future holds for Jerome Valcke. And Gabriele Marcotti gives us his view on Rafael Benitez's time in charge of Napoli.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss vengeful Americans, wayward Englishmen and the art of blaming it on the dead guy.Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles tell us weaker county massacres will become more common and more comprehensive in the future unless the GAA make some changes. Five years ago Glasgow were a non entity in a football mad city, and this year they crushed all before them in the Pro12. The BBC's Tom English says if they can do it, anybody can.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Lebron's urban regeneration, Rory McIlroy's trouble with squinting windows, and Real's Rafa Benitez gamble.We talk to the BBC's Iain Carter about golf's ability to humiliate the greats and Rory's motivation for reviving The Irish Open.Plus there's Brian Murphy on LeBron chasing Jordan's legacy, the saddest city in America, selfish sports stars and Snoop Dogg becoming a pushy parent.
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Eoin and Ken talk about FIFA and the Feds, menacing hotel concierges, and the pivotal role being played in the unfolding global drama by prescient FAI CEO John Delaney.David Goldblatt joins us to talk about why this crisis is different from anything Sepp Blatter has faced before. And we ask Jonathan Wilson why the English clubs have a phobia about Thursday night football.
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The hurlng championship had its first big day yesterday - Tipperary legend Eoin Kelly joins us to talk about Davy's post-match interview, and Limerick's precocious new star.Connacht were the victims of an inexplicable refereeing performance on Sunday. We ask Gerry Thornley about ill luck, Paul O'Connell's future and what characteristics the next Leinster coach should have. Plus there's Henry Shefflin's punditry, comparing San Francisco to Galway, Ken's day at Dublin Castle and MC Hammer Time.
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We were all saddened today to hear of the passing of one of the true legends of Irish broadcasting, Bill O'Herlihy. Italia 90 and all the other major sporting occasions wouldn't have been the same without him. We had the honour of having Bill in to The Irish Times studios last year to talk about his incredible career.
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Ken reveals his dream of conceiving a child together with Eoin. Ciaran joins in to discuss the last day of the Premier League, and together we review Sepp Blatter's audience with his preferred Swiss organ.John Brewin was at the KC Stadium to see Hull go down to the Championship. Chris Bascombe joins us to discuss the possible consequences of Liverpool's evisceration at Stoke.
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Today's show is coming at you live and dangerous from Foley's Bar in San Francisco, featuring more sporting misery, a live PBESO and a USA V Ireland quiz.Brian Murphy details San Francisco's incredible run of sporting success, the joys of little league and serving pints to Hurricane Higgins. We ask Richie Sadlier if Raheem Sterling should go to Man United and author Lawrence Donegan tells us about the time he interviewed Newt Gingrich for a newspaper in rural Donegal.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph talk Mr Pushek's diet, surf in Santa Cruz boredom in Las Vegas, Louis van Gaal's public speaking, and the sleeping habits of successful people.Tony Barrett joins us to talk about Raheem Sterling's experience of awards night. And James Young analyses the recent revelations about the Brazilian national team selling the right to pick who plays for the team in friendly matches.
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We're in San Francisco, the tech capital of the world, and Ken is fretting about the rise of the machines and what it means for humans....and footballers.We ask Sid Lowe how 2015 Barca compare to the club's previous great sides. Jonathan Wilson considers the future for post-Gerrard Liverpool.
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After 10 years of phone chats and emails, we finally met our beloved Brian Murphy in person. We talk about long distance relationships, his years in Ireland and San Francisco's rich sporting pedigree.Seamus McDonagh was an English literature student from Meath who didn't like boxing, and ended up fighting Evander Holyfield. San Francisco is now his home town and Seamus joins us in KNBR's studios to tell us his story.All this plus Jack Nicholson's Irish blarney, Ken beats nature and Murph's escape from Alcatraz.
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The GAA football championship starts this weekend - Anthony Moyles and Oisin McConville join us in studio to look ahead to the whole jamboree.As the countdown to our trip to San Francisco continues, US Murph tells us Deflategate could be Tom Brady's Waterloo.Plus there's WRWC2017, the earliest GAA song ever released, NBA buzzer-beater madness, and emasculated managers.
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The Champions League final will be between Barcelona and Juventus - and quite a few people seem relieved it's not going to be a Clasico final. We get the reaction from Italy and Spain.Emmet Malone joins us in studio to try and help us understand why people have started to turn on Jack Grealish. Plus there's an update on Thai Premier League relegation fodder, Madrid's 'Disaster of the Century' and poor ol' Gareth Bale.
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A Monaghan GAA player has been found guilty of a doping violation - Malachy Clerkin joins us to talk about whether it's unfair to ask amateur players to submit to regular drug-testing, and if stories like this are always good news for a sport, no matter what soul-searching is done.In 'rival-sports-podcasts' news, Bill Simmons has been booted out by the crusty old deans at ESPN; there's Roy Keane's latest thoughts on punditry, Aston Villa and multi-tasking; the secret of Kerry's success; and Ken's Lock of the Week.
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With relegation looming for Hull's Irish contingent, we thank Everton for getting their act together in time to ensure at least a few Irish players have PL football to look forward to. John Brewin watched Liverpool's slim chances of a CL place evaporate after their draw against Chelsea. We ask him if Rodgers will get the boot. Jonathan Wilson looks ahead to Bayern Munich V Barcelona PtII.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Messi's destruction of Bayern Munich. Guardiola has the highest win percentage of any Bayern coach in history yet it seems many of their supporters might be happy to see him go.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to talk about Memphis Depay and whether he's got the right kind of personality for Manchester United. And Tim Vickery tells us why he thinks Barcelona's all South American front line is working so well.
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Ulster and Munster face a defining couple of weeks in the Pro12, and after early European exits for both teams, Alan Quinlan tells us the margin for error is wafer-thin. Kerry Howley, author of "Thrown" tells us about the lure of MMA and the UFC and why trash talking isn't what the purists want. We also discuss the whodunit plot twist behind American anti-hero Bill Belichick, a Roscommon footballer's journey to enlightenment and Toulon's football transfer technique.
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Floyd Mayweather won the 'Fight of the Century' with a proto-typical Mayweather performance - but the plain fact that he will never be loved was never clearer as the boos rang out at the final decision. Don Van Natta Jnr of ESPN joins us to discuss the one fight Mayweather will never win.One of the greatest forwards of the modern era Eoin Kelly from Tipperary joins us to talk about Waterford's league triumph, Toulon win a third European Cup in a row to minimal fan-fare, and there's also Ken's ground-breaking idea for success in bullfighting, sideline cuts and winning with a smile on your face.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss managerial meltdowns, Portuguese proverbs and the Champions League semi-finals.Dion Fanning was there to see John Carver wash his hands of his Newcastle players. And Gabriele Marcotti reflects on how Chelsea's third title under Jose Mourinho was different from the last two.
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Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquaio is 'the fight of the century' - but can we separate the athlete from the abuser? We ask Louisa Thomas of Grantland about Mayweather's serial woman-beating, and whether our pay-per-view money is well spent. We talk sleepovers and sports itineraries for our upcoming San Francisco trip with US Murph. Plus there's Payweather, why its hard to care about the Champions Cup final, and the simple joy of baseball f bombs.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Nigel Pearson's short fuse, and Bayern Munich's penalty shooting.Richard Sadlier joins us to reflect on Nigel Pearson's tirade and whether his occasional outbursts are in any real sense detrimental to his career prospects. And Jonathan Wilson explains why he recently compared Jose Mourinho to Satan.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the chest-beating triumph of John Terry, the signs that Thierry Henry is developing a taste for blood, and the militaristic attitudes of Australian media networks.Tony Barrett was at Goodison to see Everton sweep Man Utd aside, led by their dynamic goalscoring midfielder James McCarthy. And Kristof Terreur reflects on the development under of new PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard.
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The Dubs have won their third League title in a row, but Cork's weak-willed performance was the focus of most of the post-match reaction - Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles re-evaluate Cork's chances of a championship run this year.AP McCoy has stepped away from racing after 20 years at the top - we look back at an extraordinary day at Sandown on Saturday. Plus there's annoyingly bad sports teams, John Terry Day, and the return of Nigerian manager Stephen Keshi.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the mysterious gifts of Thomas Muller and celebrate the fact that Kevin Grealish is finally getting the credit he deserves.Richard Sadlier opens up on his inadvertent war with Thierry Henry, and contemplates some thorny issues of national identity. And Sid Lowe on whether Diego Simeone is falling a little too in love with the dark side for his own good.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss goal celebration etiquette, the GAA Versus The Millenium Bug and the Splash Brothers.The NBA playoffs have kicked off, and US Murph tells us his loser home-town team the Golden State Warriors just might be the best team in basketball. Plus there's the mystery of Trevor Giles' sleeveless jersey is finally laid to rest, Andre Rieu's german soul, The Sunday Game theme tune, and the humbling aftermath of a motion picture's fairy tale success.
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The manner of Leinster's defeat to Toulon may haunt them as much as the result - Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan look back on a missed opportunity.The events of the fire at the Bradford City 30 years ago are the subject of a new book by Martin Fletcher, who lost 4 of his closest relatives that day. He joins us on the show to discuss the startling new facts which have come to light.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Jack Grealish's Wembley triumph, twitter spats, Martin O'Neill's latest task, and Pep Guardiola's major medical team malfunction.Jonathan Wilson has his theory on why Jose Mourinho takes a perverse delight in winning ugly. And Miguel Delaney was at Wembley to see Tim Sherwood lead Aston Villa... back to Wembley.
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What is Leinster's biggest problem before their Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon this Sunday - their opponents' galaxy of stars, or their own form? Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley join us.We talk about the issue of naming rights for Croke Park with the author of the definitive book on Croker history, Michael Foley.Plus a big day for Brand Murph, the added value in Joe Schmidt, sporting hubris and Messi's new super-friend.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Raheem Sterling's moral war, Man City fans' pointless anger, and media shy John Delaney.We ask Richie Sadlier if every other team should give up now that Suarez, Messi and Neymar are all in form.And Raphael Honigstein talks about Bayern's shock loss to Porto and what Jurgen Klopp's game is.
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Jordan Spieth was a universally popular winner of the US Masters and proved himself a threat to Rory's future dominance. We discuss the impact he's made, plus Tiger's return, with author/caddy/musician Lawrence Donegan.Andy Lee just doesn't do drab - another extraordinary mid-fight turnaround saw him save a draw in front of 2.5 million tv viewers in America on Saturday night. Plus there's helicopter parents, only child issues, Bubba Watson hatin' on the Louvre, David Silva hiding behind a corner-flag, and Kid Chocolate's weighing scales
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the trials of Manuel Pellegrini, the triumph of Manchester United's outcasts over adversity, and the venomous tongue of Tony Pulis.Jonathan Wilson was at Old Trafford to see Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young lead the destruction of Manchester City. And Kieran Canning joins us from Madrid to look ahead to the Champions League quarter-final between the city's great rivals.
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Andy Lee's first defence of his world middleweight title is in Brooklyn on Saturday. Lou DiBella tells us why this fight will influence the rest of Andy's life.The US Masters has an unprecedented 5 Irish players in the field. Malachy Clerkin and Lawrence Donegan talk Tiger's next step, Rory's long game and ipod etiquette. Plus there's Rory's paylords, ROCKY IV, the ebb and flow of psychic energy in Wrestlemania III and Ian Poulter's massive headphones.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Liverpool absolutism and Cristiano Ronaldo and Ciaran McDonald's respective scoring records. Richie Sadlier tells us why he thinks it will be insane if Tim Sherwood finishes the season with more credit than Sean Dyche. And John Brewin has a crippling case of Manchester Derby Fever.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Tim Krul's sportsmanship, Mats Hummels' big decision and Raheem Sterling's favourite song.Jonathan Wilson was there to see Arsenal's biggest league win over Liverpool in the Arsene Wenger era. And Dermot Corrigan tells us how the Bernabeu greeted Real Madrid's 9-1 win.
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Leinster are in a European Cup semi-final... so why is everyone so downbeat? We try and accentuate the positives and ask if they should go for broke against Toulon.The Gaels of Ireland were supposed to be attending a wake this weekend - instead there was a festival of football. Doctors McConville and Moyles hail the patient's miracle recovery.Plus we tell you why GAA beefs in January are never a good idea and why Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams are riddled with fear.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss Richard Keys' global reach, the What's App prison and the Seven Deadly Sins of sport. We ask Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Leinster's identity, Bath's style, comparisons with Ireland V England and the reliance on returning 6N stars.Plus there's a Hong Kong PBESO, Leinster's holding pattern, Ken's mind palace and Nike's strange policy on superstar endorsements.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Raheem Sterling's PR onslaught, and Man United reserve team coach Jim Ryan's views on workplace bullying.Richard Sadlier joins us to discuss whether Raheem Sterling is a mercenary young greedhead of startling effrontery, or a self-possessed young talent of independent mind.
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Was Ireland / Poland the moment the Irish sports fan fell back in love with the idea of attending big football internationals? Ken defends the poor put-upon Irish footballer, and Anthony Moyles and Oisin McConville join us in studio for a requiem for Gaelic Football. Plus there's Ken's weekend of hate, and we tell you the difference between the Irish fan at home and abroad.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the must-win game that Ireland didn't win last night. Ken gives his controversial players ratings, Eoin reveals his secret affection for Ireland's most underrated player.Dion Fanning gives his reaction to the performance and Brian Kerr analyses how Ireland's improvement came about and the chances of escaping the group.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran reminisce about past Ireland-Poland matches, their fear of giant Polish strikers and reflect on football's insecurity in the face of Ireland's rugby glory.Richard Sadlier joins us to talk about whether Sunday's match against Poland is a must-win for Martin O'Neill's side, and if James McCarthy's personality is a help or hindrance.
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We're joined by Seamus Hickey, Limerick shop steward for the Union of Hurling Defenders, fresh from their celebrations after Henry Shefflin's retirement. Gerry Thornley tells us why rugby will never be the same again after last Saturday, and we discover the Second Captains Pyramid of Power, the link between Brian Cody and Humphrey Bogart, and the importance of hugging.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the sports photograph of 2015, the Grealish mystery, and what modern football fans could learn from the serene positivity of Juan Mata.Tony Barrett joins us to reflect on what might have caused Steven Gerrard's meltdown. And Emmet Malone reports from the Ireland camp where the players have assembled ahead of Sunday's game against Poland.
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An unprecedented weekend of celebration for Ireland as we are simultaneously crowned men's and women's 6 Nations champions for the first time ever. Ireland's brilliant centre Jenny Murphy is joined by Shane Horgan, Matt Williams and Denis Hickie to recap two days of sporting madness.Plus there's Mike Brown's thinly-veiled barb at his northern cousins, Anthony Hopkins tears, and why Phil Jones would have been handy in Twickenham on Saturday.
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Shane Horgan and Shane Jennings tell us what Luke Fitzgerald 2.0 will bring to the Irish team and why an enthusiastic Cian Healy is suited to starting games.US Murph tells us about the NFL player who has walked away from a mult-million dollar contract over concussions concerns.Plus there's power plays, the link between Ronaldo and Steven Fletcher, the art of cutting people, and always betting on the tall guys.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the greatness of Lionel Messi and how inadequate he must make all the other players on the pitch feel.Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about the peculiar humiliation of the nutmeg and the possible reasons for the Premier League's European failure. And Sid Lowe gives his impressions from last night's spectacular display at Camp Now.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Wayne Rooney's public relations judo, Jose Mourinho's bad mood, and the scene most reminiscent of the climax of Watership Down in recent sporting history.Miguel Delaney has spent the last few days on Mourinho-watch, as the PSG fallout descends.And as Sunderland wave goodbye to their eighth manager in seven years, Jonathan Wilson wonders why they always seem to get it wrong.
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The Grand Slam is gone, but we think Ireland are still in with a great chance of winning the 6N... Gerry Thornley and Mattie Williams are not so sure the sparkle will return in time for Murrayfield.Clare were All-Ireland champions in 2013, but the internal strife in Davy Fitzgerald's camp was laid clear in Saturday's Irish Times - we talk about the "isolation and humiliation" felt by one player who left the panel last week. Plus there's shamrock on the brain, Ken's Neil Francis obsessions and one Celtic captain's night on the tiles.
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Ireland - Wales is the biggest rugby game since our last game in the 6 Nations, but that's just the way it is when a Grand Slam is on offer. Shane Williams, Shane Horgan and our own pocket-rocket Simon Hick are on hand to tell us why Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland aren't about to over think this one. Johnny Ward of the Racing Post joins us to look ahead to the Gold Cup on Friday, plus there's Jeremy Clarkson, the eternal presenter/producer struggle, and AP McCoy's face in a crisp.
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Eoin and Ken hail David Luiz and Thiago Silva, the kings of Stamford Bridge. Who does Jose Mourinho blame for Paris' triumph? And why does he act as though it's impossible to win a game by more than one goal?Jonathan Wilson joins us for a closer look at Chelsea's failure.And Emmet Malone is on hand to analyse Martin O'Neill's latest Ireland squad.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the glitch in Messi's game, some misplaced angst about Ireland v England, and Wenger's vigilante justice. Dermot Corrigan reports from Madrid, where Messi and Ronaldo's fortunes seem linked but divergent. Raphael Honigstein joins us to discuss doping and memory in German football.
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Ireland keep winning, so what's the big problem? But Matt Williams reckons our brand of rugby won't make the sort of impact our team are capable of making at the World Cup.GAA referee David Gough was told not to wear a rainbow wristband in Croke Park during the Dublin-Tyrone league game - we speak to the man himself. And there's middle-aged cheats in Lycra, Mark English's racing intelligence and poor ol' Lance.
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We discuss Jose Mourinho's eternal quest for beauty, the amplifying power of football on Twitter, and tyrant body doubles.Richard Sadlier joins us to analyse the ethics of spitting and the progress of Louis van Gaal. And Emmet Malone is in to look forward to the big kick off of the Airtricity League.
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The stock of Ireland's half-back pairing of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continues to rise and rise, to the point now where they are being routinely described as the best scrum-half and out-half combination in the world. Simon went to meet Murray to chat expectations, and putting the family filter on all the media hoopla.US Murph tells us about Spring Training and the US reaction to Padraig Harrington's brilliant win on Monday at the Honda Classic, and we hear about Murph's bovine alter-ego, spittin' time, and the return of Paul Galvin.
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We discuss the fall of Allen Bula, the end of Jose's trophy famine, and why Liverpool might just have exorcised the ghost of Luis Suarez.Tony Barrett was at Anfield to see what he reckons might be the most important win of Brendan Rodgers' time at Liverpool. And James Montague puts forward the case that Qatar 2022 is a good idea.
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The Ireland machine rumbles relentlessly on; Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie discuss the team's simple complexity, the importance of Sexton and the growing Welsh threat.Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles talk to us about what's eating our gaelic football. Plus we have our first Buddhist monk listener, Ken tells us about the DJ 2000 he's working on to replace Murph and we predict the 2015 Rugby 'international rules' World Cup final.
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We speak to Irish Micky Ward about the Gatti trilogy, family feuds, life in Boston and seeing it all played out on the big screen in the Oscar-winning "The Fighter."Shane Horgan and Stuart Barnes talk Paul O'Connell love ahead of Ireland / England, and one of our cricketing heroes Kevin O'Brien joins us from Canberra. Plus there's Richie Sadlier's cake, and the thorny issue of membership of the Blarney Army.
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We poke through the entrails of Arsenal's Champions League defeat to Monaco, Qatar's winter World Cup and Liverpool's marketing mix.Jonathan Wilson was in Manchester to see Barcelona's superstar strike trio dismantle City. Dion Fanning and Philippe Auclair join us to talk about where Arsenal go from here.
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Its Second Captains live and dangerous from the Sugar Club in Dublin with special guests Brian Kerr, Richie Sadlier, Denis Hickie, Damien Varley, Shane Jennings and Gerry Thornley.We preview Ireland V England, talk about reformed Englishmen and speculate if Schmidt will throw off the shackles on Sunday. We ask Brian and Richie if Messi is now unmanageable, if Balotelli will ever improve and should Steve Gerrard be analysing his own teammates.
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MOTD's little brother, Robbie Savage schtick, Jose TV and the appropriate use of counter-cyclical policies in football management.John Brewin was at St Mary's to see Liverpool close to within two points of the CL places. Kieran Canning analyses Barcelona's surprising defeat to Malaga ahead of their game against Manchester City.
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Chelsea fans on the metro, Arrigo Sacchi in the mixed zone, and why in terms of the FIFA election, nothing is true and everything is possible.Terry Daley joins us from Rome to analyse Arrigo Sacchi's controversial remarks about black players in Italian youth football. We hear from Robbie Keane on Steve Gerrard's move to LA.
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World Champ Andy Lee joins us in studio to discuss defending the title, money, hard work and free Second Captains hoodies.US Murph talks to us about NFL Films, once described as "the most effective propaganda organ in the history of corporate America". Plus we've the Voice of God, A Rod's hate machine, and why Irish sportspeople should be more like Ronnie Delany.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the return of Tim Sherwood, Olivier Giroud's near-post prowess, and David Luiz's selective sense of destiny.Sam Wallace joins us to talk about why Sherwood might be the right man for Villa. And Paul Doyle analyses PSG's prospects ahead of tomorrow's return of the Champions League
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With Ireland sitting pretty with two wins from two, we should probably simply be asking "Are you not entertained?" Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie join us to talk about Sexton, Bastareaud and the looming English challenge.The Dubs started life under Ger Cunningham with a win over Tipperary, and Clare will have to wait another week for a first inter-county win since last April.Plus there's Fifty Shades of Grey reviews, rugby brutality, our brilliant cricketers and a very special World Cup PBESO.
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We mourn the passing of the age of Scottish giants, and try to work out what the Premier League should do with its five billion pounds.John Brewin analyses a strange week for Louis van Gaal, in which his attempts to educate were not received warmly by the Manchester press pack. And Nick Harris of sportingintelligence helps us pick through the detail of the TV rights deals.
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Ireland have named an incredible team to play France, but we can't help but wonder if all those injuries really have cleared up. Gerry Thornley joins us to discuss.Tiger Woods is taking an indefinite break from golf - can he handle the humiliation of a long, slow slide into obscurity?Plus there's Andy Lee's world-title challenger, mid 80's boxing on youtube, and rat experiments on golfers.
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Shane Jennings and Shane Horgan join us to discuss Ireland's kicking game, Henshaw, big beatable France and the George North concussion issue.Eamon Dunphy talks to us about his decades-long admiration for the retiring AP McCoy. Plus there's Butragueno's heartbeat, fairytale endings for men who have far more than their fair share and some news on our upcoming live show.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the treachery of Gareth Bale, and Big Sam's lofty contempt for Long Ball United.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the inexorable rise of Harry Kane. And Jonathan Wilson reports from Equatorial Guinea on the Africa Cup of Nations heroes.
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Sean O'Brien, Ian Keatley selected, Wales V England, RWC year hype - Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan join us for a bumper 6N preview.Brian Murphy talks to us about broadcaster snubs and conspiracy theories. Plus there's celeb gatecrashers, Rory's cash, Welsh hymns and Marky Mark love.
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Manchester City had a chance to puncture Chelsea's title charge this weekend. We ask John Brewin if the club believes its a superpower yet.Emmet Malone joins us to discuss Martin O'Neill's humour defuser and what Roy has to do to get the head coach's attention. And there's Gabriele Marcotti on the potential demise of the San Siro.
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Those of you who stayed up late to watch the Super Bowl were richly rewarded with a classic end game - we get the verdict from Boston on Brady, coach Carroll and the worst call in SB history.Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles join us in studio to discuss the start of the league; Plus we speculate on Joe Schmidt's starting line-up for Ireland against Italy this Saturday, Murray's mind melt and the Snooperbowl.
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We talk about Diego Costa's controlled insanity, and Jose Mourinho's probable misidentification of the spidery genius at the centre of the sinister campaign being waged against him. Philippe Auclair looks at FIFA's presidential election. And Michael Walker discusses the Celtic Rangers game this weekend.
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It's Super Bowl week, which means our US correspondent, Brian Murphy takes centre-stage, telling the NFL newbies who to look out for, who to hate, and bemoaning Super Bowl parties. Eoin met Tommy Walsh to discuss his return from Australia, plus there's Ken's wedding manners, World War Lance, and Joe Brolly finally gets the media recognition he's been sorely lacking over the last month.
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Leinster are at home to Bath in the QFs - we ask Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan how optimistic fans can be and if the Celts can ever match the cash.After Hurricane Fly's 5th Irish Champion Hurdle success, we speak to Ruby Walsh about the big choice he has to make ahead of Cheltenham. Plus there's Winston Churchill, receding hair options, Carlos Santana's size 5s and 21st century attention spans.
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We discuss the romance of the Cup, Jorge Mendes The Dream Weaver and Van Gaal's canary in the mine.We ask Dion Fanning if the FA Cup giants were upset to have been killed. Tim Vickery joins us to look back on the career of Juan Roman Riquelme.
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When Team Sky came onto the world cycling scene they were more than happy to portray themselves as 'cleaner than clean'. On the day former Sky team doctor Geert Leinders is banned for life by the Anti-Doping Agencies of the USA, Denmark and the Netherlands, we ask what damage this will do to their reputation. US Murph talks to us about one of the craziest playoff games in NFL history, and how under-inflated footballs has somehow become a massive story. Plus Jonathan Pearce's break-out commentary moment, and how to be a cheater, courtesy of South Park's Eric Cartman.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran reminisce about Eric Cantona, and wonder where Chelsea will find room in their squad for the latest £25m+ right-sided attacking midfielder.Jonathan Wilson is on the line from Equatorial Guinea where he's covering the Africa Cup of NationsAnd Dermot Corrigan fills us in on the state of play at Atletico Madrid, whose coach Diego Simeone insists they get fitter the more they play
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It's only the second time in 17 seasons that Munster have failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Cup - Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley analyse a sobering weekend for Munster, and a much improved showing from Leinster. The winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award this year was 'Night Games', by Anna Krien, which touches on many of the same issues currently being discussed as part of the Ched Evans farrago - she joins us from Melbourne. And Ken, Eoin and Murph discuss Conor McGregor's latest UFC win
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Arsenal's new "Terminator" mode, Santi Cazorla's paradoxical foot-speed and Jose Mourinho's respect for Steven Gerrard unlike certain others he could name. John Brewin was there to see Manchester City terminated by Arsene Wenger's mechanical attack dogs and Jonathan Liew joins us to analyse the pros and cons of January transfer trading.
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Ciaran and Ken discuss why some people still appear to struggle with the concept that others can read their racist Facebook postings, and how Sir Jack Hayward embodied the kind of class you seldom find in football nowadays. Miguel Delaney on why Man City's signing of Wilfried Bony might be annoying Jose Mourinho and Gabriele Marcotti joins us for some blue-sky thinking on the future of the European game
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Fergus Connolly is the Irishman currently in charge of Elite Performance with the San Francisco 49ers, the latest stopping-off point in a career that has seen him work with the Dublin senior footballers, Liverpool FC, Bolton Wanderers, the Wales national rugby team and the Seattle Seahawks - we hear if there's any difference between our Irish sportspeople and the brash, ultra-confident stars of the NFL. We take a look back at the glory days of Shoot magazine, Ken talks about Winston Churchill's Nobel Prize for Literature, and there's US Murph too.
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We’re staring down the barrel of a province-less quarter-final lineup for the European Rugby Champions Cup after the Six Nations, but Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley reckon Munster have what it takes to beat Saracens away this weekend. Steph Roche continues her quest for Puskas Award glory and Peter Stringer joins us from Bath as he enjoys an Indian Summer in the Aviva Premiership.
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Ciaran and Ken discuss Gus Poyet's contempt, FIFA's Zurich gala and the new bad boy image of Lionel Messi.Jonathan Wilson saw Chelsea return to the top of the Premier League with an ultimately-comfortable win against NewcastleAnd John Brewin is on to discuss Southampton's victory at Old Trafford
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Murph and Ken discuss the latest developments in the Ched Evans situation.Sid Lowe analyses Lionel Messi's recent power plays at Barcelona.And Tony Barrett is on the line to talk about why Roberto Martinez has started to run into problems at Everton.
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Ched Evans' repeated attempts to get back into football have polarised opinion - Malachy Clerkin joins Mark, Ken and Murph to discuss the latest news on his chances of ever playing professionally in the UK again. US Murph tells us about why exactly he tore the San Francisco 49ers owner a new one on live radio last week, and our resident darts fan tells us why it is the sport of kings.
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Connacht now play successful, crowd-pleasing rugby. Head coach Pat Lam joins us to discuss skills, the new fan base and how big the province can get.Gerry Thornley looks at who has been impressing Joe Schmidt over the Christmas period. Plus there's the Oisin McConville suite, the state of Christmas family relations and the Cowboys' biggest fan.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Neymar's holidays, John Terry's respectful nature, and the road less travelled.Dion Fanning joins us to discuss Steven Gerrard's big announcement. Kieran Canning analyses one of the greatest results of David Moyes' career.
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Hey there 2015! Today’s show includes two of our favourite ever interviewees - David Baddiel and Michael Parkinson.We talk to David about supporting Abramovich era Chelsea, the real Mourinho, Ken’s yak hair, and the legacy left by his Fantasy Football show. Michael Parkinson chats about football and the community, why sport still matters, and the Premier League machine.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Jose's threadbare routine, Irish Everton woes and wonder which is the best resort for old ladies in the hills of Tuscany.John Brewin saw both Manchester clubs hit a speed bump over the post-Christmas period. He also reveals who really knocked Liverpool off their perch. Plus there's Mignolet's return, Harry's touch and FIFA's footballing heroine.
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Seasons greetings from the SC Christmas Cabin where we have, as ever, left our families in order to shoot game and play parlour games.Its an especially festive Brian Murphy (the most Christmassy of all our friends) on the US sporting year. Plus we talk to one of the stars of 2014, Eamonn Fitzmaurice, about helming Kerry to an All Ireland title.
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Shane Curran has written one of the books of the sporting year - he joins us to talk about his life in football, the League of Ireland, and how he can lead Roscommon back to All-Ireland glory, as manager. Shane Horgan is on hand to discuss Johnny Sexton's concussion setback, and Ken Early sings out the show as our special Christmas gift to you.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Jose Mourinho's 11-man circle of magic, Falcao's neck power and why coach Rodgers isn't getting enough credit. Jonathan Wilson watched Sunderland's historic fourth win in a row over Newcastle. Tim Vickery explains why South American strikers are simply better.
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It’s our equivalent of the Late Late Toy Show as we take a look back at the sports books of the year, review a few all time classics and talk about the art of sportswriting with Malachy Clerkin and Lawrence Donegan.Eoin Ken and Murph discuss Frozen, the worry eater, over parenting, the BOD Paul O'Connell relationship and Jose's cocktail of cruelty, vanity and lies.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the legacy of Thierry Henry, and managers' bosses signing players they don't want.Dion Fanning analyses the success of committee-based transfer dealings. Philippe Auclair explains the significance of the resignation of FIFA Ethics Committee chair Michael Garcia.
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Andy Lee became the first Irishman since the 1930's to win a world title in America. Himself and his trainer Adam Booth join us to discuss Andy's future and the importance of their friendship.Gerry Thornley and Bernard Jackman look at how serious issues are for Leinster and Munster. Plus there's coach Brian, finishing the job, and Ken's gripe with SPOTY celebs.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Van Gaal's managerial masterpiece, and whether Liverpool will follow Spurs template all the way to the end.John Brewin tries to make sense of events at Old Trafford and we ask Jonathan Wilson if dropping an underperforming keeper can jolt him back into form.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Manchester City stepping up, Liverpool stepping off and the Craicageddon that ultimately engulfed Jack Charlton's Ireland team.Miguel Delaney was in Rome to see City shush the Curva Sud.And Alan McLoughlin joins us to talk about his excellent new memoir, A Different Shade Of Green.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the Paul Kimmage drugs in rugby story, postmen, Rodgers and Suarez energy, and what makes Ken happiest.US Murph joins us to discuss activism among American athletes and 49ers woe. Andy Lee has a shot at superstardom on Saturday night - Darren O'Neill and Richie Woodhall join us.
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Ken has been in Los Angeles all weekend getting to the heart of Robbie's American dream and interviews him after the MLS final. Sid Lowe discusses marginalised Suarez and hat trick mania in Spain. Plus theres Mourinho's ballboy excuses, the importance of family and locker room aromas.
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Padraig Harrington is in upbeat form as he talks to us about learning to not be so hard on himself.Munster and Leinster both lack a Plan B ahead of season-defining return games next weekend - Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan discuss. Plus there's Robbie Keane MVP, and how to call in sick to your boss.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph grab their pom-poms and dance for the King of US soccer, Robbie Keane.John Brewin sees rays of hope for Liverpool. And Hugo Borst discusses his new book on Louis van Gaal - "O, Louis".
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There's nothing in life more annoying than multi talented sportspeople and their obscene abilities - US Murph on some American legends.Andy Lee ahead of his world title fight in Las Vegas. Also Epstein v Gladwell, magic number of greatness, the mudlark and Ireland's 1984 LA tracksuits.
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Eoin and Ken discuss John Delaney's silence, Roy Keane's departure from Villa, and Van Gaal's Christmas break.Jonathan Wilson considers the question of whether the Premier League as a whole needs to be ashamed of itself this season. Raphael Honigstein explains why Borussia Dortmund are bottom of the league.
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Ahead of the Champions Cup Munster have 7 wins in a row, while Leinster lack a spark - Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie discuss.Also renewed Connacht optimism, a new TG4 documentary series on the Galway Races, flop haired Englishmen and Stephen Hunt V GAA.
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Eoin and Ken discuss John Delaney's masterclass in crisis management, and how Anthony Daly's book sheds light on the career of Pep Guardiola.Richie Sadlier joins us to discuss Balladgate. And Miguel Delaney was impressed by what he saw at the Emirates.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss sports administrator bling, THE catch and the FAI's bungled PR strategy.We talk to Michael Foley about his book The Bloodied Field: Croke Park - Sunday 21 November 1920. And there's a Thanksgiving special with US Murph
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Eoin and Ken talk about saying the unsayable and the tragedy of Dave Whelan's 78-year old frame of reference.Dion Fanning analyses Liverpool's latest Premier League surrender. And Philippe Auclair wonders whether Arsenal are ever going to change.
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Jonathan Sexton talks to us about progress, Ireland's kick heavy strategy and hype. Gerry Thornley and Mattie Williams look at next step for Ireland. Katie Taylor was crowned World champion for a fifth time - London 2012 team captain Darren O'Neill reckons she's our greatest ever athlete. Plus there's Ken's appendicitis, Shane Lowry top 50, McDevitt's Monday.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Ireland's mauling of USA, discontent on the stands of the Aviva, and Van Gaal's need for precision. John Brewin fills us in on the adventures of the English travelling fans at Celtic Park. Jonathan Wilson looks ahead to Saturday's match between Arsenal and Man United.
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The Wallabies are in town with Michael Cheika and his wayward stars - we hear the Australian viewpoint. It turns out Tiger Woods does care about what is written about him - we speak to Dave Hannigan in America.Plus there's Darren O'Neill on Katie's grudge match, bad tippers, Tommy Timber, and Henning Berg's autobiography.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Martin O'Neill's exasperated attempts to address issues raised in Roy Keane's press conference.Tom English explains how the Scots have turned things around. Grant Wahl explains why team USA are a bit like team Ireland.
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Ireland are third in the world rankings, so why not scrap the World Cup and we'll take our bronze medals now? Gerry Thornley and Matt Williams on long term consistency and Australia. Emmet Malone on Roy Keane's latest media outburst, Ken stands up for his colleagues in the gutter journalism game and Scottish weekend.
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We talk Roy's scrabble move, Murph's Milltown misery, George Galloway, getting stuck in the rugby mud and the cautionary tale of Ireland's meeting with Georgia in the 2007 World Cup.Ken Early reports live from Glasgow ahead of Ireland V Scotland on Friday night, and we profile the man with the biggest ego in US sports, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones
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We discuss latest Roy Keane adventure-farce, and the Celtic Twilight that will imminently descend on the dreams of either Scotland or Ireland.Ray Houghton reminisces about 40-a-side street football in Glasgow.
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Eoin and Ken talk about the rights and wrongs of booing McGeady and McCarthy, and just what it was that made Field Marshal Kitchener such a big deal. Tony Barrett joins us to talk about Brendan Rodgers' week from hell.
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Ireland may now have the best coach in the world - Gerry Thornley and Mattie Williams tell us how Schmidt outsmarted the Springboks. We speak to Lisa Fallon, Ireland's foremost female coach working in a male environment. Plus there's invasive dressing-room cameras, and another league title for Chelsea.
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'Henshaw or Payne' was the question all week - but when Joe Schmidt doesn't know the answer, he changes the question. Shane Horgan talks to us about our new centre partnership and how daunting a challenge South Africa is for Ireland.The San Francisco Giants are World Series champions for the third time in five years - and US Murph's happiness levels just went to 11. He tells us about the thrilling series win, the parade, and his own home-made commentary of the final inning.We have Tony Hawk, renowned skateboarder and entrepreneur in studio talking to us about skating in the White House, being in The Simpsons, the hoverboard and using the corporate dollar for good. The Commodore 64, sports specialisation, and 'the best computer game never made' also feature.
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Fresh from the Web Summit, Eoin, Ken and Ciaran peer into the future and they aren't sure they like what they see. Augmented reality, accelerated obsolescence, consumable chunks of content, and lots of filling in of forms.Jonathan Wilson tries to explain Manchester City's European malaise.And Damien Comolli talks to us about his life in football.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Oscar's masterpiece, Mourinho's misdirection and Marco Reus' melancholia.Emmet Malone joins us in studio to talk about St Pats' FAI Cup win, and if the concept of 'lifetime fans' still exists in Ireland.And John Brewin analyses the Manchester derby and the apparent moratorium on criticism of Louis van Gaal.
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We are the Six Nations champions, and it's probably no harm to remind ourselves of that fact, because we're in a spot of bother ahead of this November series. First up are South Africa this weekend, Gerry Thornley and Grenoble Top 14 head coach Bernard Jackman assess our chances against a side that have changed the blueprint .Sport is littered with managerial number 2's faltering when they make the step up to the hot seat. Rory Gallagher is better set than most though as he takes over from Jim McGuinness as Donegal senior football manager, as Keith Duggan explains.Plus there's Ken's obsession with scrum-halves, Eoin's lateral thinking, rugby stereotypes and footballers needing to work on their poker face.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about John Delaney's criticism of the Scottish FA, Daniel Sturridge's injury fatalism and Roy Keane's review of Gone Girl. Featuring King Of The Golf, and I Sing For Nobody.Kevin McDaid of You Boys In Green joins us to discuss the Scotland match ticketing issues.And Don Givens is on the show to reminisce about his hat-trick against the Soviet Union - today is the 40th anniversary of Ireland's 3-0 win.
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The Dublin marathon was won last Monday by Kenyan athlete Eliud Too, and he joins us in studio to talk about his upbringing, the Irishman aiding his athletic career, and the difference a win like this can make to his family.Ben Te'o will take the number 13 jersey for Leinster on Friday evening, and he has quite a bit on his mind - filling Brian O'Driscoll's shoes, and adjusting quickly to a new sport. Brian Carney talks to us about rugby league converts and the challenges they face.Plus there's Aidan Walsh choosing hurling, Damien Duff's ankles, The Hick from French Lick, Martin Chariots Offiah and the Mudlark.
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Eoin and Ken discuss reptilian Chelsea, Van Gaal - Mourinho love, Fergie's obsession with Fergie, Scotland Ireland ticket issues and watching TV with Roy Keane.Jonathan Wilson is very confident Chelsea will run away with the league. Ken suggests they have a few fatal flaws, and asks if Man United have turned a corner.Miguel Delaney analyses Pardew, poorly Spurs, Big Sam and the Roy n Fergie merry go round.
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Three games, two wins and only two tries tells some of the story for the Irish provinces in the European Cup this weekend - Denis Hickie and Gerry Thornley are on hand to tell us how much Munster and Leinster have learned from their opening two wins, and what it will take for someone to beat Toulon.The Airtricity League finished in fairytale style for Dundalk at the weekend. Goalscorer, MOTM and returning hero Stephen O'Donnell tells us of his own story of redemption...and how his long weekend has been.Plus there's half time on-pitch interviews, Anthony Daly's swimming trunks, and Ken tells us about the time Paul Gascoigne met high Italian fashion.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the scandal of The Shirt, and wonder who's inside the Mickey Mouse outfit at Man United.Tony Barrett joins us to analyse Liverpool's battering at the hands of Real Madrid.And Sid Lowe previews the likely return of Luis Suarez in this weekend's El Clasico.
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Munster lock Dave Foley is 26 years old, and in the last week he has won a Champions Cup match courtesy of a last-second drop goal, got called up to the Irish squad, and will play in front of a sold-out Thomond tomorrow night. During the most exciting week of his career he reflects on how a lunch with Paul O'Connell helped turn his career around.US Murph tells us about his beloved San Francisco Giants getting back to the baseball World Series, the sports psychologist at the heart of the Superbowl champions the Seattle Seahawks comes in for a chat, and Eoin and Ken give us their thoughts on the BOD / Keano autobiographies.All this plus BOD lessons, inside the mind of Richard Sherman and the Second Captains virtual mail satchel.
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Eoin and Ken wonder about the element of surprise in football, we hear from some angry managers, and discuss Jose Mourinho's new idea for Chelsea's skull n bones club crest.John Brewin joins us to talk about what has Arsene Wenger so irritated.And Raphael Honigstein analyses the early-season struggles of Borussia Dortmund and if Germans have recovered from their 1-1 draw with Ireland.
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The first week of the new European cup featured some hardy perennials - including a last-minute Munster drop goal, a patchy early-season Leinster win, and yet another game between Ulster and Leicester. Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan examine the three Irish recoveries and deeper issues at play.The best game of the weekend was between Australia and New Zealand, with the Wallabies losing first the game, and then their coach, who resigned immediately afterwards. Former Leinster and Scotland coach Matt Williams joins us from Sydney to discuss how the wallabies are set ahead of their trip to Europe.Cillian O'Connor won his third Mayo county final this weekend - he talks to us about getting a box off your brother, the All-stars, and playing football in October.
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Todays' show features one of the heroes of Ireland's draw with Germany - David Forde talks to us about being too knackered to sprint the length of the field to celebrate with John O'Shea, the return of Shay Given and looking ahead to a momentous night in Glasgow next month.With the start of the European Rugby Champions Cup this weekend, Stephen Ferris joins us to discuss retirement, his Ulster pals and where they're at this season, and Simon Hick uncorked a bottle of red and talked rugby with Sky Sports' Stuart Barnes.And there are pointless mentions of Gabriela Szabo, the emasculation of Will Genia, and our favourite Nigerian pitchside reporter.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph talk about John O'Shea's moment of glory, why it is that coaches often seem to prefer less talented players for more difficult games, and the new book on Pep Guardiola. Emmet Malone and Dion Fanning were in Gelsenkirchen for Ireland's 1-1 draw and they join us with their reaction and what O'Neill should do now that its raining Irish midfielders.And we hear from Jonathan Wilson on the drone-scuppered Serbia-Albania game.
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Ken and Eoin discuss the Robbie Keane/Wes Hoolahan/Shane Long dilemma, the shrinking home advantage, Roy Keane's expectations of telepath, and Roy Hodgson stepping on another rake.Emmet Malone takes the pulse of the Irish squad before they take on the world champs.German analyst Stephan Uersfeld tells us they remain super confident in spite of shaky recent form.
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Ken, Eoin and Murph discuss monkey attacks, the pebble of Cashel, short kick outs, memorable goalies and if life would be better with a name like Jordan Perez.We welcome Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie into studio to discuss the start of the European season, which Irish team will go furthest and if 'Toulon the unstoppable money machine' are bad for the game. On Saturday Poland secured their first win ever against hated rivals Germany, who hadn't lost a qualifier since 2007. We talk to Maciej Iwanski, football commentator with TVP Poland about the historical and sporting significance of this win.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Roy Keane's new book and wonder do we know the man any better after reading this latest autobiography.Emmet Malone was at today's launch of Roy's book and we hear his reaction to what has been a bizarre week overall.And Sid Lowe joins us to talk about FC Barcelona's part in the Catalan independence debate.
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Ken has been speed reading the Roy Keane book and finds within those pages a man deeply unsure of himself, a comic genius and one who still enjoys confrontation as much as ever.We talk to Gabriele Marcotti about Keane, the Kevin Pietersen farce, bullying in elite sport and what its like to write Paolo Di Canio's autobiography.We also have Christy O'Connor on Cork legend Ger Cunningham replacing Anthony Daly, a Mt Kiliminjaro PBESO special, Mr Football Wally Downes, and lots of insight into the mind of Roy.
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Eoin and Ken discuss various managers' views on the proper response for injured or semi-injured footballers: do you grit your teeth and play through the pain, or burst into tears and let everyone down?John Brewin was at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea rolling over the top of Arsenal.And Manuel Veth talks to us about the cost of Russia 2018.
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Eoin Ken and Murph implore Leinster and Munster to start fighting again, dismiss Carlow football, have a cunning plan for Joe Schmidt and explain how to out sprint Jim McGuinness.Denis Hickie and Gerry Thornley worry for Leinster, Munster and also Ireland after a sub standard derby on saturday night.Oisin McConville explains why Donegal's All Ireland win in 2012 was the greatest coaching achievement in the history of the GAA and why there's good news for, Meath, Galway and Longford.
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Eoin and Ken discuss whether the best way to stop conceding goals at set pieces is to practise not conceding goals from set pieces, and wonder whether Arsene Wenger has finally found his Caleb Folan.Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about Liverpool's abject showing in Basel.And Tim Vickery on the huge impact FIFA's ban on third-party ownership will have on Brazilian football's chaotic economy.
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Eoin and Ken ponder the future for sports journalism, the challenges of replacing greatness (Suarez and BOD specifically), the walk of shame and how criticism is the grit that turns Kilkenny oysters into pearls.David Wallace and Shane Horgan preview Leinster V Munster and discuss the Leinster/Ireland 13 jersey subplot.We ask Jackie Tyrell about channeling personal criticism, defending in packs and NFL nicknames. All this plus US Murph on Yankees legend Derek Jeter and whether his clean cut corporate image is too good to be true.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the sweetest taste in sport, which is the taste you get in your mouth as you watch your critics eating their words. Miguel Delaney analyses Chelsea's effortless rise to the top of the Premier LeagueAnd Kieran Canning fills us on on whether Luis Suarez has turned to comfort eating as the long biting ban rolls on.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss Lefty's Fletcher Christian moment, the timing of Brian Cody's gripes, UFC's big sell, Cork's outrageous comeback and Monty's final word on being cool.Paul Kimmage was in Scotland to witness Mickelson throw Watson under the bus, while Malachy Clerkin assesses the magnitude of McGinley's achievements this week.Maurice O'Brien and Benny Dunne join us to discuss Kilkenny's dominance, Tipp's drop off and whether Clare 2013 was just a bump in the road for old style hurling. All this plus Pat Murray's Second Captains midas touch, Murph's dad's jeans and 'aloof' Dubuisson.
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Eoin and Ken discuss how to remain positive in a negative world and the weight of footballing expectation. And for the first time, Eoin opens up on his own experience in football management, including a furious dressing room clash with maverick winger Noel King.Jonathan Wilson joins us to talk about the growth of tactics-focused journalism.And Tony Barrett talks to us ahead of this weekend's Merseyside Derby.
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Can there be such a thing as TOO much sport in one weekend? We say of course not, and that's why we're looking ahead to the All-Ireland hurling final replay, the Ryder Cup, and talking to our first ever current NFL-playing guest. Michael Kavanagh and Maurice O'Brien don their baseball caps and do their best Brian Cody impersonation to pick their likely All-Ireland final selections, while US Murph tells us why Rickie Fowler has the cajones to win the Ryder Cup back for his beloved Yanks. Pat Murray is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker, and tells us why his heroes are Ronan O'Gara, and Monaghan's Paul Finlay - all that, and Ken reverses the tactics truck back into our consciousness, right here.
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We tried to like the All-Ireland football final for as long as we could, but there was no escaping it in the end - it was a pretty poor game. Tell a Kerry person who cares though, because they're champions for a 37th time. Our double-hard analysis dream team of Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles tell us where it was won and lost.We also look back on a crazy week of Premier League football, and there's a new documentary that helps explain why the Irish are so good at golf (its the gulf stream, rugged cliffs, and Scottish bankers).There's also golfers on Tinder, two mighty tractors in a battle to the death, Tommy Walsh's muscles, Ken's dubs, and footballers in jeans.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Frank Lampard's exemplary professionalism, Frank Lampard's deep sincerity, Frank Lampard's property empire, and Frank Lampard's kind, soulful eyes. Dion Fanning joins us to talk through Big Sam's tactical triumph at Upton Park and the trouble with Steve G.And Stuart James was there to see what Gary Lineker described as the greatest performance in the history of Leicester City FC.
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Eoin and Ken talk about Dortmund's destruction of Arsenal, and whether football fans have a duty to take into account the moral acceptability or otherwise of a club's owners.Gabriele Marcotti gives his view on the Abramovich question.And Jonathan Wilson on the same question as it applies to Manchester City, Bayern and Argentina 1978.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph give their thoughts on childhood holidays in Kerry, biased local commentators, footballer love, Carlow, and dolmens."It's going to be the pinnacle in the evolution of Gaelic Football", says Anthony Moyles in our All-Ireland football final preview, and who are we to argue. Oisin McConville, Eoin and Murph all have their say ahead of Kerry and Donegal on Sunday afternoon.US Murph gives his prediction for Kerry V Donegal, tells us how not to chat up Donegal women and also explains why, in American sport, a good big 'un isn't necessarily always better than a good little 'un.
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Eoin and Ken talk about various forms of chips, Jack Wilshere's game of two halves and Alan Pardew's brilliant litany of excuses.John Brewin joins us to talk about how Louis van Gaal is starting to strut - and Rio Ferdinand is settling some scoresAnd we check in with Raphael Honigstein ahead of this week's big Anglo-German Champions League matches
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss cycling accidents, public booze shame, the power of the vox pop, Man United's football village and how Scottish independence could impact MONKEANO.Alex Massie explains how the sporting debate over independent Scotland's future has followed along political and financial lines - threats, fear mongering, lies, celebrity campaigns and complete uncertainty.Dan Martin crashed out on the first stage of the Giro D'Italia in Belfast. We ask him how he managed to finish 7th overall in the Vuelta Espana... after falling down a ravine. We also catch up with Tony Kelly after what's been a crazily successful underage career with Clare.
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From coal mining to world transfer records to Welbeck's potential, today's football show runs the whole gamut.Michael Walker joins us to talk about his new book "Up There" about football in the north-east of England.And the Angel of the North, Jonathan Wilson, talks through some recent policy changes at Manchester United.
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US Murph talks to us about Ray Rice, the NFL player who's been banned indefinitely by the NFL after a shocking video of him punching his fiancee was made public this weekend. We ask Brian if this is one episode the NFL won't survive.Former Roscommon star Karol Mannion is in studio to tell us about his history of concussion and where perceptions currently lie in Ireland. And we ask what's going on in Clare, as Podge Collins decides to play football a couple of days before they go for an under-21 three in a row.All this plus Shane O'Donnell's dancing injury, Davy Fitz, Murph's unpalatable pen pic, Back To The Future and small county fever.
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oin, Ken and Murph discuss McGeady's magic, edgy O'Neill, the voice screaming in the wilderness that is the new John The Baptist movie, and consider Ireland's mixed performance in Georgia.Dion Fanning and Miguel Delaney join us to talk through last night's performance and how confident we can be about our chances of progression.Plus we have fearsome Scots, Sepp's movie, the Delaney question and Wayne's wane
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A fourth Tipp-Kilkenny All-Ireland hurling final in 6 years... but no-one's complaining after yesterday's extraordinary draw in Croker. Malachy Clerkin and Maurice O'Brien are in studio to discuss the drama, the accuracy, Hawkeye, penalty loophole, Cody's game face and replay strategy.Eoin Ken and Murph discuss what was a sensational weekend for FAI CEO John Delaney who saw Aidan McGeady rescue Ireland and got to star in a movie about his own life, John The Baptist, in which he explains how he has cleansed Irish football of its ills.All this plus Eoin McDevitt's hurling predictor, the aesthetics of sport and Andy Lee on Carl Frampton becoming world champion.
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All Ireland hurling preview, eternal sunshine of the baseball mind, Mayo a hurtin'The All-Ireland hurling final pits Tipp against Kilkenny for the fourth time in six years! We talk to Benny Dunne about the highs and lows of All-Ireland final day, from a sending-off in 2009 to the elation of victory in 2010, while David Breen joins us to talk about how he and his Limerick team-mates beat Tipperary and lost narrowly to Kilkenny in this championship year.US Murph tells us money doesn't talk in baseball, and Alan Dillon tells us where Mayo go from here, after their semi-final defeat to Kerry last weekend.Plus there's Eoin McDevitt's rigid hamstrings, stones in Bonner Maher's golf bag and Johnny Sexton's baby-sitters.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran hear the latest from Roy Keane and Seamus Coleman in Malahide. There is also some archive from Roy Hodgson's Lenny Bruce period and excessive beard talk.Richie Sadlier and Eoin talk through some identity issues.And Niall Quinn talks to Ken about where things stand in the Ireland camp as we prepare to play our first competitive game in almost a year.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph hear the latest from Martin O'Neill and Shay Given in Malahide where the Irish team has gathered in advance of this week's games against Oman and Georgia. Also - Manchester United's surprise signing of Radamel Falcao, Seamus Coleman's war with Diego Costa, and Brendan Rodgers' attempt to heal the wounds of the world with love.John Brewin analyses the implications of Falcao's arrival and United's galactic policy.And Emmet Malone gives his view on the return of Shay Given and the dilemma facing Mark Noble.
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It was a great week to be a gaelic football fan... and not such a great week if you were a pundit predicting a Mayo-Dublin final. Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles are back to explain themselves, and rather more importantly explain just how we're left with Kerry and Donegal after the greatest weekend in football's history.Eamon McGee is on hand to tell us just how Jim McGuinness has done it again, and how it's always good to have a brother to handle all those All-Ireland final ticket requests.Plus there's Munster's email SNAFU, sending a txt to the person you were talking about rather than your intended recipient, a decent nickname for the McGee brothers, and the secret to Crossmaglen's decades-long success (hint: it MIGHT be bowling).
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Novelist, stand-up comedian and long-standing football fan David Baddiel joins us for the last of our shows celebrating our 250th podcast with the Irish Times this week.The creator of Fantasy Football League talks to us about supporting Chelsea when they were terrible, making one of the most impactful tv shows of the last 20 years, and why money hasn't tarnished sport in the same way it's tarnished the music industry. Enjoy.
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As part of our week long '250th show' celebrations we're looking back at some memorable moments, giving away SC survival bags, launching our new website and today we even dragged our Richie Sadlier soundboard into studio.Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles reckon Donegal will employ the most defensive, most aggressive most severe defensive system in the history of football. Other topics include James Horan's room to improve, the Lee Keegan and Limerick venue distractions and McGeeney's managerial career.We talk to US Murph about sports stars' non reaction to the events that have unfolded in the town of Ferguson in recent weeks, the link to corporate America, and how 'the man' has won.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the possible return of Shay Given to the Irish squad, and the rise and rise of Captain Wayne Rooney. Sid Lowe explains why managerial ambitions could explain why Xabi Alonso is joining Bayern Munich.And Tim Vickery is more excited about what Angel Di Maria will bring to Manchester United, than what Dunga will bring to Brazil in his second stint as manager.
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As part of our week long '250th show' celebrations we're looking back at some memorable moments, giving away SC survival bags, and catching up with some special guests. Today we welcome Bill O'Herlihy into studio.We talk to Bill about Ireland's relationship with football, Italia 90, the Giles, Dunphy, Brady gang, the irrelevance of sport, RTE, the art of television, PR Versus journalism and how to fill 10 minutes of dead air.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Angel Di Maria, the MOTD50 documentary and managerial brainwashing techniques.We ask Jonathan Wilson whether English football is culturally resistant to 3-5-2.And Ed Malyon joins us to explain Crystal Palace's next step.
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To celebrate our 250th show with The Irish Times we're broadcasting 6 shows this week, including two specials which will include Second Captains memories, special guests, Second Captains survival kits and other sports related fun.Today we talk joyous football, Mayo's recovery, Kerry's tenacity, Limerick vs Croker, GAA planning skills, taking a stand and replay repercussions with Shane Curran, Aindriu Mac Lochlainn and Murph.And with the start of the US Open, we look at Serena Williams – last seen in the popular consciousness a physical wreck at Wimbledon, and yet the unbackable favourite for her 18th Grand Slam event this week.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss Balotelli's move to Liverpool, the Malky Mackay scandal, the new Ireland squad and Paul Scholes' prescription for what ails Manchester United.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to talk about the mystery of strikers' confidence. Murph provides insight into his own predatory mindset.And Gabriele Marcotti is convinced Liverpool are in a no-lose situation with the signing of Mario Balotelli.
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Are Mayo past their peak or coming to the boil at just the right time? Oisin McConville believes his tip for the All-Ireland this year are timing their run beautifully – Karol Mannion joins Eoin and Murph in studio. We talk to US Murph about the Little League World Series, a baseball tournament for kids that’s watched by millions, is shown live on ESPN, and makes heroes and villains out of pre-teens. Plus we talk about Mario Balotelli, we reveal US Murph’s calamitous coaching career, and Eoin reveals his inner Maude Flanders.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the new, angry Jamie Redknapp, and the new, relentlessly self-critical Wayne Rooney. John Brewin dissects Manchester United's opening-day defeat and fact that Van Gaal is 33/1 to be next sacked manager in PL.And Jacob Steinberg analyses Big Sad Sam Allardyce's troubled relationship with his bosses at West Ham.
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Tipperary stormed into the All-Ireland semi-final, but the question on everyone’s lips now is – have they done enough to impress Eoin McDevitt? The man who could put out a patent on the “back Kilkenny regardless of form or circumstance” mindset talks to Malachy Clerkin and Maurice O’Brien. The European athletics championships were a successful few days for a new-look Irish team – we’re joined by our 800m medallist Mark English, and David Gilllick is in studio to talk to us about English, oxygen deprivation, and the most violent 1500m final any of us can remember. Plus there’s the never-ending battle between athletes and cuddly computer-based mascots, when GAA surgeons go wild, and the return of the premier league – the football fan’s tripe and onions.
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Eoin and Ken talk about the start of the Premier League season, potential top 4 and whether Louis van Gaal is feeling the same love for his club officials that Jose Mourinho professes to feel for the Chelsea hierarchy.Miguel Delaney joins us to explain why Chelsea are so many people's favourites for the title.And Rob Smyth talks to us about Danish Dynamite, the book he recently co-authored with Lars Eriksen and Mike Gibbons about the brilliant Danish team of the 1980s.
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Eoin is feeling sore after England's women's rugby team trampled on his dreams and Ken thinks Tiger's mum may have sent him some mixed messages.In the wake of a heavy semi final defeat to England we discuss success, failure, the end of a generation and future prospects for women's rugby in Ireland with team captain Fiona Coghlan.US Murph talks to us about the post Tiger era in America, Rory's tv charm and the Nascar disaster involving Tony Stewart and the young driver Kevin Ward. And Benny Dunne and Christy O'Connor explain why they are both going for Tipp this weekend
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Eoin and Ken talk about Arsene Wenger's optimism, Aaron Ramsey's dynamism, and Liam Brady's pessimism about the future of Irish football. Jonathan Wilson tells us whether this really is going to be Arsenal's year. And Henk Ten Cate joins us to talk about what he's learned in a football life that's taken him to Ajax, Barcelona and Chelsea among many other clubs.
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Rory McIlroy showed that he could tough it out in the majors when he took the USPGA title again last night. We discuss the remarkable performance, where Rory goes from here & the slow play of Mickleson and Fowler with Dave Hannigan and Malachy Clerkin.Nicky English will dissect yesterday's dramatic match at Croke Park between Kilkenny and Limerick and Anthony Moyles and recently retired Meath footballer Seamus Kenny join us in studio to painfully discuss the seemingly unbeatable Dubs.We'll also talk uncomfortable Sheikhs, awkward cameramen, Fun Robbie Keane and a new edition of Ken Early's Women's Rugby World Cup Crystal Ball.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the new MOTD panel, the attractiveness of the Celtic job and the pre-season sourness of Pep Guardiola. Alex Massie joins us to talk about the Hearts team of 1914 who volunteered en masse to fight in the First World War.And with Liverpool having already spent about £88m on new players this summer, Tony Barrett assesses whether even more investment is needed.
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The Irish women's rugby team's defeat of New Zealand on Tuesday evening was a monument to hard work, belief, and skill - we speak to Ireland's most capped player and friend of the show Lynne Cantwell about where she thinks this team can go in the tournament. Do Limerick have it within them to beat Kilkenny this weekend - at least one member of the Second Captains is willing to stake whatever's left of his reputation (admittedly not a lot) on the men in green. And Kildare's Emmet Bolton joins us to talk about what the week after you're knocked out of the championship is like for an inter-county footballer, and whether Monaghan have what it takes to beat the Dubs. World War 1 documentaries, the world's leakiest media ban, and the return of Ken Early's World Cup Crystal Ball all in the mix too.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the perils of commentating off tube and the difference between upward and downward communications. Andrew Mangan of Arseblog joins us in studio to talk about the growth of football in the US and Arsenal's smooth, suave pre-season. And John Brewin analyses the state of Manchester United after they shook up the world by beating Liverpool 3-1 in The Game America Wanted To See.
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Ken Early makes his triumphant return to studio after a week of foam parties in Playa Des Ingles, and there's plenty to discuss. Aindriu Mac Lochlainn and Karol Mannion tell us why we need more pre-match WWE-style grandstanding by GAA managers, and we add further fuel to the vile anti-Colm Cooper propaganda currently sweeping the nation. Rory McIlroy is back at number 1 in the world rankings, and is on a molten hot streak ahead of start of the US PGA championship this Thursday. And with Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods absent for different reasons, he looks well set to put 3 wins back to back. And we have Ponies, donkeys, deer-antlers, and other hooved quadripeds all featuring prominently.
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Everyone said they'd like to be the man AFTER the man chosen to replace Alex Ferguson at Manchester United - Louis van Gaal is the man in that enviable position now, and he appears not to have put a foot wrong. He's winning friendlies, glorying in the comparisons between him and Moyes... the only dark cloud on the horizon for him is that at some stage the Premier League season is going to have to start. And Irish football legend Kevin Sheedy joins us to talk about a stellar couple of days for Everton, with Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley both committing themselves to the club.
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The action in the gaelic football and hurling championships is now focused solely on Croke Park, and with four games this weekend, Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles tell us about how the stadium itself elevates this to another level of competition altogether. Conor McGregor's win in the UFC in the o2 was one of the most talked-about sporting events of the year so far. We talk to his coach and the Godfather of MMA in Ireland, John Kavanagh, about how the hype helps McGregor, and what McGregor has to do for his achievements to catch up to his acclaim. And we talk about the bloodiest challenge matches ever played, fulfilling the siege mentality quota for one summer, and a tradition as old as the GAA itself - pinning up hostile articles on a dressing-room wall.
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On the basis of yesterday's double-header in Thurles, hurling is in crisis. Can we stand idly by and watch the demise of our national sport, or was it maybe just a case of hurling finally having a disappointing day after 2 years of consistent soaring excellence? Malachy Clerkin and Maurice O'Brien separate the hurling from the hyperbole, discuss Daly's future with Dubs and why Tipp are over rated.Galway won an extraordinary game of football against Tipperary on Saturday evening - when the goals stopped going in and the mental arithmetic finished, it was 4-17 to 4-12, we talk to man of the match performer, Galway's corner-forward Michael Martin.And why do we get our backs up about the Commonwealth Games? Tom English, an Irishman working for the BBC explains why this is the biggest love-in in Glagow's history. Plus there's Murph's Ferris Bueller moment, Wexford's entourage, north Galway's Youtube sensation and lulled somnambulants wandering around mid-Tipperary.
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Before he became the greatest interviewer of all time, Michael Parkinson wrote about football for his local newspaper in Barnsley. He went on to become a well respected sports columnist for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times, and was named sports writer of the year in 1998.In his early days on the beat in Yorkshire he came across Arthur Hopcraft, who wrote one of the greatest sports books of all time, The Football Man, which Parkinson wrote the foreword on. The two were friends for life, sharing a similar philosophy on the game.We talk to Michael about Hopcraft, football's relevance to English society in the 50's and 60's, why it still matters, writing about the game at a time of huge upheaval, how George Best changed everything and why the modern game holds little joy for him now.
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At 17, Stephen McPhail was dubbed 'the new Liam Brady' by his then-club manager George Graham. He went on to play for Leeds United in the Premier League, UEFA Cup and in a Champions League semi final. He represented his country 10 times, became the seventh Irishman to captain an FA Cup final team, fought cancer and other health issues, and is now back playing for his boyhood team Shamrock Rovers. He joins us in studio to talk to about reacting to setbacks, longing for home, facing Totti at 18 years of age, FA Cup final ticket frenzy, Ireland's treatment of creative midfielders, and using football as part of his cancer rehabilitation.
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A documentary following Paul Kimmage through two of the most turbulent years of his life, incorporating the Lance Armstrong downfall, professional frustrations, a UCI law-suit, Team Sky and last year's Tour de France are captured in a new documentary, airing on RTE next Monday night at 9.35pm. It's called "Rough Rider" and we speak to Kimmage, and his director Adrian McCarthy.US Murph talks to us about the latest developments as the first openly-gay NFL player Michael Sam starts training camps, and we look ahead to the weekend's hurling quarter-finals with Benny Dunne and Denis Walsh, author of one of the great GAA books "Hurling: The Revolution Years".Plus there's what amount one should put into a wedding envelope, a cead mile failte to our American cousins, and whether someone could survive four weeks in a camper-van with Ken Early.
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The entire nation of Brazil was thrown in gut-wrenching, heart-breaking retrospection after their 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup semi-final. After a couple of weeks of navel-gazing, it looks like they're going to appoint Dunga, arch-pragmatist, as the successor to Big Phil Scolari. The much-heralded root and branch revolution has been postponed indefinitely it seems - we speak to James Young of ESPN in Brazil. It's a big week for League of Ireland teams in European competition - Emmet Malone joins us in studio for a look at their prospects, as well as a chat about the new 5-year contract John Delaney has signed ahead of the FAI AGM this weekend.
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Rory McIlroy has won his third golf major by the age of 25 - good news if you're looking to draw comparison between him and Jack Nicklaus and Tiger, and also good news if you happened to back him at 400/1 to win a British Open before he turns 26. We speak to Niall Quinn, Lawrence Donegan and Philip Reid on the significance of his victory at Hoylake. And as the Dubs machine rumbles relentlessly on, are Donegal the only team left that could outwit their 'blanket offense'? Oisin McConville and Shane Curran discuss in studio. We also talk about the beauty of murph's computer game golf swing, the brogan brothers feud that could derail Dublin's season, and predict how many majors Rory will end up with.
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Wexford have been the story of the hurling summer so far – having taken out the All-Ireland champions last weekend, they face Waterford this Saturday. The modern-day godfather of Wexford hurling Liam Griffin talks to us about their summer so far, the youth of today, talent spotting and his involvement with the current squad. WADA has reported that Rugby Union has a higher percentage of positive drugs tests than cycling or athletics in 2013 – how accurate are our perceptions of level of PED use in each sport? And we have US Murph on Lebron’s home town return. Plus there’s Stephen Roche misjudging the public mood, Ken’s views on materialism and the Tiger Woods channel.
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We discuss Ken's hair in humid climates, the American tv conspiracy and why Van Persie's goal was overrated.Richie Sadlier joins us to talk about the arbitrary nature of footballing fate and the place of violence in the game.And Raphael Honigstein is on the line to talk about Super Deutschland and why 2014 is so much better than 1990.
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The reigning All-Ireland champions Clare are out of this year's hurling championship - we talk about what the challenges are now facing Davy Fitzgerald and his team, as well as a look back over Cork's first Munster title since 2006.Armagh had one of their sweetest victories of the last 20 years yesterday - Oisin McConville was walking even more cockily than usual into studio today, and we go to Buenos Aires after a night of near misses and lasting regrets for Argentina in the World Cup final.Plus there's the moral conundrum of when to ignore your mother, JBM's eternal youth, Messi's corner of hell and Ken Early's hang up.
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Ken was in the Maracana to witness an epic World Cup final. He reports from his hotel, which is right in the middle of the German party zone. Tim Vickery spoke to Ken after the game about the Germans doing it the hard way, long term planning, Brazil's revenge and Russia 2018.Spain were knocked out many weeks ago. We ask Sid Lowe how they feel about German dominance, whether there is something physically wrong with Messi and if Barca have learnt from Mascherano's midfield performances.All this plus boring German chants, Mother Europa, why there's more head injuries in modern game and Messi Pele peak comparisons.
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It's World Cup final weekend, so we welcome Richie Sadlier into studio to discuss Brazil's meltdown, penalty strategy, goalkeeper homework and FIFA's lax attitude to head injuries.Brazil had a collective breakdown, but the final will see the meeting of the two mentally toughest sides in the competition. We talk to Jonathan Wilson about the secret behind German and Argentinian success at this tournament. Plus we'll discuss stag night protocols, 3rd place playoffs, and how to take credit for correct predictions... even when your original reasoning was totally flawed.
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Whatever your taste in sport, Sunday should be to your liking. The World Cup final, the Connacht football final and the Munster hurling final - all in one glorious day. We go to Buenos Aires to see how Argentinian fans are preparing for the chance to win the World Cup in the Maracana, home of their hated rivals. Eamon Cregan was playing in the first ever Munster final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 1976, scoring 4 goals but ending up on the losing side. He tells us his memories of that day, and looks ahead to this Sunday's match between the same two teams. And US Murph tells us about Lebron James and his possible return to his home town team.
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The craziest game in the history of the World Cup gets pored over in detail in today's podcast - Ken was there, and he is still a little in shock at the sight of Brazil having to come face to face with it's own flaws. Gabriele Marcotti joins us to talk about the damage this could do to the Brazilian psyche, and Tom Hennigan on how the Brazilian people can recover from this. Plus we'll have Holland and whether this team would get relegated from the Premier League, we find the scapegoats the Brazilian people demand, and Eoin McDevitt's girlfriend being awoken by Ned Flanders-style shrieks.
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World Cup Semi-Final Day dawns for Ken Early in Belo Horizonte, and not even a potentially fatal chest infection can dampen his enthusiasm. Ken was at Big Phil Scolari's press conference yesterday, where he did a passable impersonation of the world's most relaxed man. Jogi Low takes a leaf from the Steve Staunton mind-games playbook, and we talk about Pele crying for an hour, Alfredo di Stefano, and the doom-laden prospect of a Brazil/Argentina final.
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Neymar will take no further part in WC2014, but could his injury be their way to escape the pressure against Germany? Ken joins us from Rio to discuss the fallout.Argentina have stuttered their way through the tournament but Ken thinks they're favourites and explains why Louis Van Gaal's genius tactics may not be quite as brilliant as everyone suspects.All this plus Argentina the daddy, Eoin's letter to Sepp, Brazil's ugly truth, Scolari's defiant nonsense, the penalty shoot out curse and James Young on Neymar's cultural significance.
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Eoin and Murph discuss likeable Kerry, fulfilling your sporting talent, Roger Federer the hustler, Nicky English the hurling soothsayer and McDeviit's scorn for talented fullbacks. The road back to the All-Ireland hurling final for Clare looks increasingly difficult after their draw with Wexford - the struggles of the defending champions, helmet pulls, wexford youth and Tipp style are all on the agenda for Malachy Clerkin and former Dublin and Limerick hurler Maurice O'Brien. Roger Federer shed a single tear yesterday - we ask Jonny Watterson if that was the last chance at an 18th Grand Slam, and whether the Swiss genius will carry on for much longer. And Oisin McConville explains why Cork football annoys him so much.
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4 quarter-finals will be played in the World Cup this weekend, each one of them a tantalising prospect. After his long walk home from Sao Paulo, Ken Early is heading to the Maracana for France / Germany on Friday night. Before that he got a chance to check out Angel Di Maria's eggs, and Tim Vickery talks to us about Brazil and how they've shrunk into the tournament with every passing week. Ken gets called a flame-haired flame-thrower of truth, we salute the return of passive-aggressive Roy Keane, and we talk about the club who aren't allowed to buy anyone buying the player who isn't allowed to play (Suarez to Barca).
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Derval O'Rourke is one of Cork and Ireland's greatest ever athletes - she gives us an exclusive interview after her decision to retire. Cork and Kerry do battle for the final time in Pairc Ui Chaoimh - Micheal Quirke tells us which Kerry team-mate of his nearly came acropper before he'd even reached the field in the old place. And we have US Murph on his boys in white and their traumatic World Cup exit. Plus we have 9 year old Murph being carried shoulder-high into a Munster final, Andy Murray's ill-timed argument, Barack Obama's phone manner and who is Kerry's Scottie Pippen this weekend.
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All 8 group winners have won their round of 16 game in the World Cup, which would suggest that the cream is rising to the top. But given the struggles of so many of the top teams, are we any closer to finding out who's actually going to win the thing?Emmet Malone joins us from Rio de Janeiro to discuss the European challenge, specifically France and Germany who meet in the Maracana on Friday, and Dion Fanning tells us if Messi and ten others can do the business for Argentina.Plus there's this week's unlikely American folk hero, cocky Marc Wilmots, and Germany's fly-keeper.
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Ken floated on a dream into Sao Paulo to watch Messi at work and finds that the Argentinian is not the dynamic go getter he once was.South and Central Americans are thriving at this tournament. Ken talks to Tem Hennigan about the fusion of nationalism, politics and football in the region.All this plus Roy Keane to Villa, Suarez the precious, qualified apologies, fossilised Germans, Chris Kamara's big catch and the return of the angry post match interviewer
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One of Ireland's greatest ever athletes, David Gillick, has retired - he gives his first interview to Second Captains. A 2-time European champion, Gillick looks back on his career on the track, nerves for life, his regrets... and his new sporting pastime. Dublin and Meath have qualified for the Leinster football final - Anthony Moyles and Malachy Clerkin talk to us about what Meath can do to stop the Dublin juggernaut, this morning's qualifier draw, new body types, and why Armagh is one place where no grudge will go un-nursed. Plus we discuss keeping up your tea intake during a World Cup, Costa Rican players re-enacting 'The Crawl', innate athleticism and Ronnie Delaney - Irish sprint king.
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There were four extraordinary games over the weekend, but still the world's appetitite is not sated. We talk Holland's high hopes, Van Gaal's self proclaimed genius, the Neymar pressure cooker and Colombiaaaa.Journalist and author Simon Kuper joins us from Brazil to talk about the path to the final for the Netherlands, and how the limited gameplan is a good way of limiting over confidence.
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Ken is in the jungle, and unfortunately he is the hunted not the hunter. Yes, he had his bag stolen and is grateful to mother nature for teaching him the laws of the jungle.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss RTE pundit passion, Luis Suarez's options and what the long term reality is for the Uruguayan.
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Eoin and Murph discuss runaway labradoodles, American cheer, drinking cans on the Great Wall of China and silver backs.Brian Murphy is driving the US soccer bandwagon, it has its own mini bar and he wants us all to hop aboard. Yes, the Luis Suarez bite has gone 'caost to coast'. Andy Murray has gone from being coached by ice man Ivan Lendl to the famously nervy Amelie Mauresmo. We talk to Jonny Watterson at Wimbledon about women coaching men, good listeners and relaxed Andy.
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Ken was at the Italy Uruguay game to observe one of the strangest moments in World Cup history, and one of the most complex characters in sport, Luis Suarez.We get reaction from the Uruguayan media and analyse what the consequences might be for Suarez, for the team, and for FIFA.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about Andrea Pirlo and the Two World Cups, Luis Suarez strangeness, and Louis van Gaal's fatal flaw.Dion Fanning joins us from Rio to analyse Brazil's improvement against Cameroon.All this plus Murph's elbow in the face, Maradona's kitchen, honest Italy and rest day depression.
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With Henry Shefflin starting on the bench yesterday, Joe Canning could have been forgiven for thinking he'd be free of the comparisons for one afternoon. Maurice O'Brien and Nicky English give us their thoughts on what will happen in Shefflin-Canning part 2.Derval O'Rourke is one of our favourite sportspeople, and after her retirement today we're joined by Jerry Kiernan and David Gillick to talk about one of our greatest ever clutch athletes. We have Shane Curran on the weekend's Gaelic football and the future of the minnows in the All-Ireland football championship.
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It was a World Cup weekend for the ages, and our man in Brazil Ken Early was there for perhaps the most dramatic 45 minutes so far, as Germany and Ghana played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the Messi Argentina dynamic and if Belgium's many talents can be unified.And there's the late night habits of the Argentinian sub-goalie in 1986, the mis-firing German charm offensive, and the Jurgen Klinsmann/Jogi Loew love-affair.
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So, one week in and we've already lost our World Champions. After a week of extraordinary football, Richie Sadlier is in studio to discuss what we should have seen coming, and what we could never have guessed would happen.Ken is overcome with emotion when asked to sum up the first seven days, but recovers his composure to ask Jonathan Wilson about the crush at Maracana and whether its the Spanish system or the players that have come to an end.And we reveal the hitherto unknown link between George Bush at Yale, former Irish physio Mick Byrne and Pepe Reina
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The GAA championship would want to be pretty bloody good to distract from this World Cup... so it's just as well hurling has picked up where it left off last summer. The Irish Times' Malachy Clerkin and Kilkenny legend Michael Kavanagh (they have 8 All-Ireland medals between them) they Shefflin, Canning, Cody, consistency.The USA's World Cup win over Ghana took the nation by storm - US Murph tells us how a country that's usually so relaxed about that whole patriotism business got all swept up in patriotic fervour.Plus we have Bobby Kerr's pants, an extended World Cup #pbeso edition, DiCaprio's party, and a half-hearted message from Barack Obama.
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Today's Irish Times Second Captains World Cup Podcast has Ken Early calling out John Hayes and Neymar for their attention-grabbing anthem antics. Brazil stuttered against Mexico last night, and Big Phil Scolari has decisions to make. Does he jettison the men he pledged undying faith to 12 months ago? We speak to the BBC's Tim Vickery about whether there's a major crisis coming for the Scolari family. The Dunphy F-bomb, Kenny Cunningham, Ken scientist, the future of Spanish football and Tiger Woods also feature.
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This World Cup is basically a ruse to allow Ken Early to indulge in his favourite waste of time - star-gazing - so just what were Pepe and Ronaldo doing at the airport in Salvador after their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Germany yesterday? Gabriele Marcotti joins us to talk about the USA's brilliant last-gasp win over Ghana, and we look ahead to the arrival on the scene today of the brightest dark horses to ever play in a World Cup (Belgium.All this plus USA's 37%, games on a plane, macho protests, Ken's cankles, Germany automatic.
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Eoin and Murph discuss 'real' sport, dual players, Maradona on loop, goal line technology and meek Phil Neville.Benny Dunne and John Gardiner assess what happened to All-Ireland hurling champions Clare, and Anthony Moyles talks about whether bogey teams really exist after Monaghan finally beat Tyrone in the Ulster championship.Shane Horgan is in Argentina and talks to us about Schmidt's problems at centre and watching the World Cup in 'football loco'.And we talk about Martin Kaymer’s gift to World Cup TV viewers, Eoin ‘Nostradamus’ McDevitt and Murph's Sinatra phobia.
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The first weekend of the World Cup exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations with bucketloads of goals, dodgy refs, meek commentators, fallen idols, Brazil getting a few home-town decisions, Holland shocking the world, and England finding their scapegoat - a sweaty sunburnt Ken Early reports from Brazil.Plus we talk to John Brewin and Dion Fanning about the problem Wayne Rooney is presenting Roy Hodgson, we reflect on the eerie prescience of Ken's World Cup Crystal Ball, and how Robin Van Persie's self imposed 10 month break is good for Holland.
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Ken has arrived in Brazil, he has a ticket and his heart is full of football joy. He talks to Eoin about the local buzz, Messi rule, Neymar photos, the Roy Keane saga, Scholes' attack plan and Rooney relationship.Ken meets with Fernando Duarte and Jonathan Wilson in Sao Paulo to discuss paternal Scolari, Hulk respect and Brazil's overall prospects.Richie Sadlier talks to us about Spanish dominance being bad or good for the game and why Holland don't have to be loyal to their football culture.
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Eoin and Murph discuss happy campers, the world's most aloof sportsman, celeb spotting and World Cup journalism.Rory McIlroy is the bookies favourite for the US Open. We talk to the author of Four Iron in The Soul Lawrence Donegan about why Rory is a good bet, the delicate nature of on course rivalries, and the big American Phil Mickelson love in.Andy Lee and his big punch were trending in America last weekend. He joins us in studio to discuss a career changing moment.We also talk to author of Last Man Standing Christy O'Connor about reaction speeds of hurling goalkeepers, Nash, copycats and Clare's seven gameplans.
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This weekend's hurling was supposed to be about Sky Sports but Kilkenny's excellence did a pretty good job of stealing the limelight. Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and former Tipp captain Benny Dunne cast their eye over the broadcast newcomers, JBM and Brian Cody's re-energised team. Oisin McConville talks about violent parades and Mayo's sleepy start to 2014. And we are joined by Shane Horgan in Tucuman Province and Trevor Hogan in studio to talk about Joe Schmidt's honest appraisals.Plus we have Ken's maritime marathon, hurling goalkeepers bruising like a peach, and an Irishman throwing the knock-out of the year.
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On the day Ken departs for Brazil, we present the snappily titled 'Irish Times Second Captains Ken Early World Cup Farewell Show'.Richie Sadlier talks about his World Cup memories and if World Cup performances define a players career. He also reveals the unusual way Irish teams used to relax during big tournaments.Tim Vickery also joins us from Rio to tell us what Ken can expect on arrival and if the Brazilian public are embracing the tournament. Plus, embarrassing interviews with Roy Hodgson, Ken Early's World Cup Crystal Ball and some very good news about our WC coverage.
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Eoin and Ken discuss how much Eoin would be willing to pay to see Ireland win the World Cup. Also discussed are Roy Hodgson's tournament anxiety and Joachim Low's mixed messages.John Brewin talks through England's clumsy yet entertaining performance against Ecuador.Miguel Delaney explains why he thinks Spain are going to win the World Cup, again.
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Both of last year’s All-Ireland finalists are in action this weekend, with the country still wondering if Mayo are the team best set to dethrone Dublin – Dublin legend Jason Sherlock and Shane Curran are in studio to discuss if James Horan has what it takes tactically to get his team over the line. The World Cup goes back to South America for the first time since 1978, when the tournament was hosted by an Argentina in the grip of a military dictatorship. Argentinian journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo joins us from Buenos Aires to tell us how that first World Cup victory is seen now. Plus there’s the return of Pierce Brosnan’s Emigrant Shout Outs, Ken refuses to tell us who he’s tipping for the World Cup (until Second Captains Football), and Eoin tells us the three things he needs to survive an Irish summer… the sun, the Dubs, and three football games a day.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the Sunday Times FIFA exposé and the signs over the weekend that a new Ireland team is finally taking shape under Martin O'Neill.James Corbett joins us to analyse the implications of the Sunday Times report on corruption surrounding the Qatar World Cup bid.And Dion Fanning ponders the roots of our national Roy Keane addiction.
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Munster champions Limerick felt disrespected in the run-up to their Munster semi-final against Tipperary - their wing-forward David Breen tells us why that particular mentality seems to play into their hands, and how they engineered that thrilling last-minute victory. Leinster are Rabo Pro 12 champions again, but are they slipping further down the European pecking order? Denis Hickie tells us what they have to do to push on from here. Plus we have the enduring fascination with Roy Keane's Ireland future, Froch-Groves II, Randy Macho-Man Savage commentating for Limerick Live 95 and the weird sporting dreams of Eoin McDevitt.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the Roy Keane to Celtic rumours, the latest English footballer to writhe under the lash of Paul Scholes' criticism, and Wright Thompson's terrific profile of Luis Suarez.Fernando Duarte joins us to talk about his new book "Shocking Brazil: The Six Games That Shook the World Cup"And Gabriele Marcotti gives us the latest on events in the Italy camp ahead of the game at Craven Cottage on Saturday night
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George Groves and Carl Froch made one of the most spell-binding fights in British boxing history last year, so this weekend they go at it again, in Wembley Stadium. Richie Woodhall and Irish middleweight Andy Lee preview the fight for us. Like Groves, Tipperary will have revenge on their minds against Limerick this weekend, and US Murph looks at the controversial exclusion of Landon Donovan from the US World Cup squad. Plus we have Ken’s vengeful Viking heart, David Beckham’s alligator arms, and idiot teenage sons.
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Eoin and Ken kneel in homage before Sergio Ramos, and wonder whether Martin O'Neill will turn up the heat on Ireland's players after yesterday's defeat to Turkey. Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss Real Madrid's conquest of Europe and why Iker Casillas would think the Champions League is bigger than the World CupAnd Emmet Malone is in studio to talk over what MONkeano will have learned from the Turkey match.
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It's not often you have two Irishmen at the top of the leaderboard of a showpiece golfing event, so even without Rory McIlroy's eventful off-course week, last weekend's PGA Championship at Wentworth would have been noteworthy. We ended up with a heartwarming return to form for Irish Times columnist Shane Lowry, and McIlroy's first win on European soil - we discuss it all. And in the GAA, 2012 champions Donegal signalled their intent by defeating Derry, in Derry in the quarter-finals of the Ulster championship. Is this a renaissance we can believe in, or did the losers contribute to their own downfall? Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles join us in studio. Plus we have Ken reporting from the Champions League final, Ronaldo and Cork's over-the-top celebrations, Waterford's young guns, and Shay Given's GAA punditry credentials.
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The Second Captains news horn has been sounded....yes we have a Neil Lennon Special for you today with Ken, Eoin, Murph and BBC's Scotland commentator Roddy Forsyth in Glasgow.We also discuss Scholes on Rooney, Suarez's mystery knee operation, the biggest fool in Manchester and more bad news for David Moyes.
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Eoin and Murph discuss Suarez's importance to the World Cup, hurling madness, no hype Cork and American coming of age dramas.The hurling championship really gets going this weekend and we have two men who know what the modern game is all about - former Tipp captain Benny Dunne and Maurice O'Brien of Limerick and Dublin, who won Leinster Championship last year, join us in studio.No state is more tied to a sport than Indiana is to basketball. US Murph on Larry Bird, Bob Knight, Gene Hackman, Hoosiers, Reggie Miller V Spike Lee and kindly mid-westerners.
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It's Champions League final week, and before Ken heads for Lisbon we talk about where Atletico Madrid's head space is. Winning the league in Barcelona last week was a miracle, can they do it again a week later against Real Madrid, the other giant of Spanish football? And with the World Cup looming, one English journalist has taken it upon himself to investigate how the hell they keep losing penalty shoot-outs. He's written a how-to manual, called "Twelve Yards: the Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty". Ben Lyttleton joins us. And Ken weighs in on the Yaya Toure controversy, which may mark a low-point in footballing discourse.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the season finales in England, Spain and Germany. Andrew Mangan joins us in studio to talk about the end of Arsenal's trophy drought. And Jonathan Wilson gives his verdict on the confirmation that Louis van Gaal is the new Manchester United manager.
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The GAA championship has begun, and the first weekend lived up to all reasonable expectations, at least in the area of improbable comebacks, controversial refereeing decisions and post-match managerial outbursts. Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles are in studio to take us through their highlights. Ian Madigan won the RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final for Leinster, and then found out this morning he’s been left off the Ireland squad for the tour to Argentina. Gerry Thornley discusses this and BOD situation. Ken and Eoin discuss their favourite sculptures, Miguel Angel Jimenez has a new fan, when is annual leave just a holiday, and Anthony Kim’s belt-buckle
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Eddie O'Sullivan is back in coaching with Biarritz, Munster are going for the full Irish with their management team, and former Ireland and Connacht full-back Gavin Duffy has rejoined the Mayo gaelic football squad - no prizes for guessing which of these stories has most exercised Murph. Former inter-county minor footballers Liam Toland and Shane Horgan give us their thoughts. US Murph talks to us about Johnny Football, and the NFL's first openly gay player sealing his selection in the NFL draft with a kiss. And we stand toe-to-toe with our colleague Malachy Clerkin in his war of words with Donald Trump, we talk sporting curses, and note the most annoying fashion trend among Irish males....
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Murph and Ken discuss whether getting stretchered off too much is a sign of softness, who Louis van Gaal will sign to beef up Manchester United's defence, and why buying Premier League based players is going to be more expensive than ever.Sid Lowe joins us to look ahead to the final game of the La Liga choke-a-thon.And Raphael Honigstein discusses possible tensions in the German World Cup camp.
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Ciaran and Ken talk about the power of Pulis, the satire of Sherwood, and the lessons we can learn from the story of the Shunammite (Old Testament). Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin analyse the contenders for Manager of the Year. And Philippe Auclair explains why France think they can do without a player as talented as Samir Nasri in the World Cup.
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Murph and Ken discuss why the Premier League is like The Wire, how Manuel Pellegrini has immediately become the eminence grise of the entire division so recently vacated by Alex Ferguson. We preview the start of the Gaelic Football championship by asking Oisin McConville, Anthony Moyles and Malachy Clerkin who will win the All Ireland, Dublin…..or one of the other 31 counties. Plus we talk about old man bumps, Steven Gerrard’s world cup candle, Jonny Sexton’s French Renaissance, Toulouse concussion fiasco, our 17th century German visitor and how Murph isn’t a total idiot.
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Murph, Ken and Mark discuss big Andy Carroll's Liverpool motivations, Gerrard hatin', McDevitt's holiday plans and Brian Murphy's record collection. Portugal's Helena Costa is the first female to be appointed as head coach in a major men's European league, and we talk to Sergio Krithinas in Lisbon about how she got this role, and whether she is a one off talent or the product of an equitable system.All this plus Brian Murphy on nice guys finishing first, old man Giggsy, PBESO rules and Kenneth Egan politician.
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Murph and Ken talk about Manchester City's Premier League title win (according to their manager, this one's in the bag), Phil Nevilles emptiest day, Van Gaal's fluent Man Unitedese and Neymar's gift for marketing.Jonathan Wilson pays tribute to the understated Chilean slickster who has masterminded City's campaign.And Tim Vickery analyses the underwhelming 23 man squad that will represent Brazil in the World Cup.
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At the start of the season Jonathan Sexton was deemed to have made a mistake moving to Paris. Now he's a 6N champ and is in Top14 playoffs with Racing Metro. We talk to him about getting his message across in French, Joe Schmidt's special powers, watching Leinster, and summer tour to Argentina.European champ and World silver medalist Jason Quigley has departed the amateur ranks to join up with Golden Boy Promotions in USA. We talk to him about his decision to go pro, his father's role, meeting De La Hoya, and choosing a bombastic nickname.All this plus Liverpool haters, Aldo's scream, Suarez sobs, phoney Murph and Donegal pop.
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Murph and Ken discuss Liverpool's agony, and UEFA's not-especially-hardline approach to Manchester City's breaches of the Financial Fair Play rules. Miguel Delaney and Dion Fanning join us to discuss the incredible game at Selhurst Park. And Kieran Canning explains how the big three in Spain each threw away the league in turn last weekend.
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Eoin, Ken and Ciaran ask what we have learned from the Champions League semi-finals. Is tiki-taka dead? Is anti-football dead? Is running around a lot the key to success in football? Miguel Delaney reflects on Atletico's glory night at Stamford Bridge.Gabriele Marcotti talks to us about the quiet brilliance of Carlo Ancelotti.
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Donald Sterling was up until this week the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team - before a taped conversation showed him to be the racist many had long suspected him to be. Barack Obama, Magic Johnson and Lebron James have all had their say - and US Murph tells us why he reckons it belongs on the Mount Rushmore of US sports scandals. The National Hurling League Final is the sixth national final since 2009 to pit Kilkenny against Tipperary - we speak to former Tipperary captain Benny Dunne about what it's like to be a Tipperary hurler when your fans start turning against you, and the impact of Kieran McGeeney since he joined their backroom team. Plus we speak about Pep Guardiola on the batter, why you can't do bad stuff in private anymore, Jose quitting on his stool and hurling clones.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the essence of human nature. Are human beings the beauty of the world? The paragon of animals? Or a quintessence of dust, who, when they play football, had better make sure there are men behind the ball in the incredibly likely event of one of them making a mistake?Tony Barrett and Dion Fanning dissect Chelsea's cunning win at Anfield. And Jonathan Wilson tries to explain the miracle of Sunderland's resurrection.
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Sporting emotions ran high this weekend - and we're on to dress the wounds of the Munster and Liverpool fans out there. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley were watching Toulon put another Irish province to the sword in the Heineken Cup yesterday, and we give credit where it is due to Jose Mourinho, whose Chelsea team did exactly what everyone expected them to do. And Dublin picked up the first honours of the GAA season with a thumping win over Derry in the National Football League final - Anthony Moyles and Oisin McConville join us in studio. Roy Keane regrets, Ryan Giggs' and friends, Shawsy hug, and the new breed of Dublin supporter all feature prominently.
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Eoin and Ken discuss the primacy of counter-attacking football in this season's Champions League.Sid Lowe joins us from Madrid to talk about the two very different European semi-finals the city has just hosted. And Raphael Honigstein assesses Louis van Gaal's suitability for the vacancy at Manchester United.
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Munster face one of their biggest ever challenges this weekend, so we welcome Leinster and Ireland's Shane Jennings into studio to explain what exactly its like to tackle Mathieu Bastareaud, and what Munster can learn from Leinster's mistakes.European and World medalist Jason Quigley is the latest Irish amateur superstar to join the pro ranks. We ask Johnny Watterson about the advantages of joining Golden Boy, Quigley's potential in pro game and why he was so sought after.All this plus Ryan Giggs' pub landlord options, Keano's Man Utd links, McDevitt's 6 day week, Murph's soul poison and the madness in Limerick hurling.
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Eoin and Ken reflect on the end of the David Moyes era at Manchester United, scheming Giggs, the systems failure plaguing Jose Mourinho, and the distinctively Mephistophelian arc of Raheem Sterling's second goal last weekend.Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to reflect on the fateful moments of Moyes' tortured reign and just why Giggs isn't suited to the job. And John Brewin tries to anticipate the Glazer family's next move.
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Moyes gone, Giggs in for remainder of the season and the media are having a ball. Could Man United classiness, Old Trafford leak, political manoeuvrings behind the scenes, Fergie's Catch 22 and Giggs as a long term option. Ken, Eoin and Gabriele Marcotti discuss. Munster know what style Toulon will play on Sunday, but does that make the task any easier. Gerry Thornley and Liam Toland on the mood in Munster, and what options they have against the biggest team ever assembled,All this plus twitter mania, Ken's lost article, Moyes jokes, time compression, Japanese soldiers, Ken Doherty love, Sunday sports binge.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Gareth Bale's magnificence and wonder whether Tony Pulis does friendlies.Diego Torres talks to us about his compelling character study of Jose Mourinho.And Scott Murray reflects on whether football really was better in the old days.
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Andy Lee was back in the ring last weekend, and Ireland's most charismatic boxer joins us in studio to talk about changing weight divisions, staying busy and Floyd Mayweather.After two years of internal wrangling, the European Champions Cup is coming, but Connacht look set to be on the outside looking in. Former Connacht hooker, now Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman looks at the new European landscape.And we talk about Murph's middle-age spread, Man City's balls and the battle of Bayonne.
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Ken and Eoin imagine the Premier League as an elaborate dinner party where Brendan Rodgers has gone from being an unwanted guest to the belle of the ball. We ask Jonathon Wilson if Steve Gerrard deserves to win the league, and Miguel Delaney explains Jose's silence.Also on the menu are drug metaphors, radio phone in frenzies, Jose in no country for old men and tee-totallers Man United.
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Eoin Ken and Murph discuss digest an incredible weekend of sport that included Steve Gerrard's wild eyed call for calm, Raheem Sterling's bird like foot speed and Bubba golf. Dublin face Derry in the league final, and we welcome Oisin McConville and Malachy Clerkin into studio to discuss second half comebacks, MDMA, shabby Mayo and Cork's need for a mean streak.Jordan Spieth's sulk, Noel O'Leary up a tree, Premier League Lord of the Rings comparisons and McDevitt's All Ireland theory also feature.
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Eoin and Ken discuss some of the tearful episodes described in an exciting new book about Jose Mourinho.John Brewin and Daniel Harris reflect on fading Fergie, short term Moyes and the effective end of Manchester United's season.And Sid Lowe joins us to talk about Atletico's victory last night and the uncertain times ahead for Barcelona.
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Cork have been the story of the National Football League so far - with a new manager, and a stable full of brilliant young footballers we weren't sure would ever fulfil their potential. Karol Mannion and Malachy Clerkin are in studio to look at their match-up with Dublin, Diarmuid Connolly, and the other league semi-final between Mayo and Derry.Munster's Damien Varley joins us for a chat about Rob Penney's departure, new Munster, fear, positivity and facing Toulon.All this plus Ken's poor song choice, 7 degrees of Murph, the secret to rapid weight gain, Diarmuid Connolly grace and Ultimate Warrior memories.
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Eoin and Ken discuss Colemania, Irish Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez's big dream, Torres 360, Chris Hughton's sacking, and the problem of always wanting more. Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss how Roberto Martinez has built on the legacy of David Moyes. And Miguel Delaney thinks Fulham are going to pull off an unlikely escape from relegation, but at whose expense?
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Munster once again prove they're the best clutch team in Europe, while Leinster continue to struggle against more powerful opponents. We ask Bernard Jackman and Gerry Thornley if Munster have the squad depth to go all the way, if Ulster have been mortally wounded and whether Leinster need to re appraise their strategy.The Eisenhower tree is gone from Augusta, but all the other traditions remain, for better or worse. We ask Brian Murphy to wrestle with his capitalist side, and explain what its like to see a once in a generation genius do his stuff six feet away from you.All this plus Leinster's side entrance to the colosseum, joyless celebrations, Honky Tonk Ken, The Armstrong Lie, Coleman's volleys and David Feherty's joke kryptonite.
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Eoin and Ken discuss further developments in Mourinho's management-by-sarcasm, and why Bayern Munich were like a thumbless man trying to solve a Rubik's cube.Simon Kuper describes the reaction in Paris to the home team's glorious win over Chelsea.And Raphael Honigstein on the Bavarian disappointment with Manchester United's handball-style defensive tactics.
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The deal which will see Sky broadcast 14 GAA championship games exclusively live this season has prompted a huge reaction - and the less people know about it, the more outraged they appear to be. We pick through the more reasonable arguments with Karol Mannion and Anthony Moyles. With a big Heineken Cup weekend coming up, we speak to bona fide Munster legend David Wallace on Rob Penney's recent comments on Northern Hemisphere refereeing, and their major show-down with Toulouse. Joe Duffy, the grassroots, socialism, Toulon egalite, and bullish rugby predictions all in the mix too.
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There was an interesting build up to Leinster Munster, but did Rob Penney's statements affect his own team more than the opposition? Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan look at the performances and how the game will impact on both teams' preparations for the Heineken Cup.Tiger Woods' body is letting him down once again - we ask Brian Murphy if his swing coach Sean Foley is to blame, and will Tiger ever win another major.All this plus Lawro's Harry Hill shirt, the eternal duality of Maverick and Ice Man, Ronaldinho and Kevin McManamon and why rugby is like a tense PE class.
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Eoin McDevitt has a dilemma – his beloved boys in blue are playing on Saturday evening, against their premier rivals. That’s right, Leinster… and Dublin. Should he travel to the Aviva, or Croke Park? Karol Mannion and Oisin McConville are on hand to try and convince him of the merits of the burgeoning Dublin Mayo rivalry. Steve James is one of the truly great sports movie directors. Hoop Dreams is a classic of the genre, and his new film “Head Games – the global concussion crisis” is a compelling look at how head trauma is a creeping disaster waiting to happen, and not just in the NFL. Some timely good news for An Garda Siochana, Mayo fans engraving crude messages on legal tender, and the Suarez variable also feature.
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On the face of it Leinster V Munster doesn't have a lot riding on it but its a sellout, its a top of the table clash and there a few Munster players stewing over missing out on a 6N winners medal. We ask Alan Quinlan and Gerry Thornley about Rob Penney's statements, and if there is any takent gap between the two.The final weekend of the hurling league was made all the more dramatic by Niall McMorrow, who didn't know what score his Dublin side needed against Tipp in order to avoid a relegation playoff. We welcome Malachy Clerkin to studio to discuss the form guide ahead of the Championship.All this plus Pellegrini and ROG, Ronaldo's moan, McDevitt's Joe Namath prediction and why Munster V Leinster deserves the hype.
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Ireland are the Six Nations champions, and although it was tight, the statistics released in the last few days brook no argument - we were first in scrum, lineout, ruck, and tackle success. But are we becoming slaves to stats? And is this good or bad news for the modern-day sportsperson? And a cursory glance at this year's Allianz Football League tables reveals that Ulster football could be back on a charge - we talk to the top scorer in the history of the Ulster championship Oisin McConville about what could be a vintage summer of northern football. All that plus the rise of the machines, new Irish Times columnist Shane Lowry, Murph's ol' fella, and why club gaelic footballers hate each other.
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Its a special St Patrick's day episode of Second Captains, as we celebrate all thats good about being Irish, including sporting prowess, luck and the smell of fried concession stand burger meat at 9am.We talk to Denis Hickie and Eddie O'Sullivan about the difference between luck and being lucky, coming close and winning and if this is just the end of the beginning for the Joe Schmidt era.Brian O'Driscoll's retirement was like a fairytale, but we talk to US Murph about 40 year old NBA star Steve Nash, who is getting it terribly wrong as he reaches the end of the road.Proud ulstermen, a Ken apology and sporting mercenaries also feature.
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Eoin is very anxious to tell people that Ireland are going to win handsomely in France this weekend… but he’s having trouble finding anyone with an alternative view to try and convince. All this confidence is good, right? Former Ireland players Reggie Corrigan and Victor Costello are in studio to tell us if we’ve anything to worry about. And in a week where ‘sure things’ are always at a premium, we talk about the greatest racehorse of them all, Arkle, who won his first Gold Cup 50 years ago this week. Cockerels are dinosaurs, Ken’s love affair with Sprinter Sacre, and people going to jail for tax evasion – no, really, ACTUAL jail – all on the menu as well.
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Eoin McDevitt has had a few sleepless nights since O'Driscoll Day, and the only cure is a Six Nations Championship. He talks to Gerry Thornley and Matt Williams about the emotional recovery, creative development under Schmidt, and why France's performances up to now can be ignored.Keith Duggan met and interviewed one of the most interesting men in football, Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice. We talk to Keith about the man, the county and the generation gap thats developed in the game. Using medics as human shields, Paris pain, Donegal 2011, and groovy rugby also feature.
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Joe Schmidt has only made one change to his starting XV. We ask Shane Horgan and Bernard Jackman about conservatism, Sexton's form, and what is an acceptable result for Ireland.Managers not having any say over what players their club signs is a growing issue in English football. We talk to Brian Murphy about what has long been an accepted practice in American sport.Office politics, cheap pants, Leinster bias and boastful predictions also feature.
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It’s a points party and everyone’s invited in the National Football League so far this year, with scoring totals up and open football the order of the day. Is this all the black card’s doing? We ask Anthony Moyles for the defender’s take. Rory McIlroy is back competing for tournaments, but the manner of his meltdown at the Honda Classic last night raises questions about his winning temperament. And Andy Lee has called out Matthew Macklin for a fight all of Ireland would love to see – we speak to Lee about whether we can expect them to get it on. Ken also has some thoughts on his driving test, and the partitioning of Dublin GAA in the interests of fairness to their country cousins, which he’d like to share.
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The NFL Combine is a little like the old TV show ‘Superstars’, where young college American football players perform a series of rigorous calisthenics for the benefit of professional teams seeking to draft them – US Murph tells us about one of the dafter parts of American sporting life. Formula One is an almost exclusively male environment, and author and former ITV pitlane reporter Beverly Turner says the possible introduction of one female driver for next year isn’t going to change a whole lot. Plus we hear about the French in rugby free-fall, from Grenoble coach and former Irish international Bernard Jackman. A good week for punditry, Roy Keane vs Mrs Carrick, why Hitler gave bunkers a bad name and Raymond Domenech all in the mix too.
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Ireland are still alive, and we’re still fightin’ for this title, as Kevin Keegan would say. We accentuate the positives from our heart-breaking 3 point loss to England with Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley. Malachy Clerkin was at the Sochi Winter Olympics, and his walk to the Irish Times this morning was the coldest he’s been since he left Dublin. We ask him if it should ever have been given to Sochi, and if any of the sport took his mind off the hilariously temperate climate. We ask the broader question of who can actually afford to host these global sporting events any more, do we need to stop using Jonny Sexton’s Paris adventure as an excuse, analyse Ireland’s Euro 2016 group, and the silencing of Peter O’Mahony.
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Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss sycophantic rugby players, the misery of being a sub in bad weather, the death of the granny rule and yokelish Irish fans.We ask Bernard Jackman and Trevor Hogan if England's plan for a long march to Twickenham could backfire, and ask them exactly what Joe Schmidt is scheming up for what the Irish coach describes as his greatest challenge yet.We also have Martin O'Neill's underwhelming squad announcement, tension between Murph and Pierse Brosnan, the Hick from French lick, and the importance of walking slowly.
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The world of hurling celebrated Kilkenny’s demise last summer as the end of an era – so why are they favourites for this year’s All-Ireland title? Their 1 point defeat to Clare in the opening round of the league gave us some indication of where they are for 2014. England tight-head prop Dan Cole has been ruled out through injury – former England out-half Paul Grayson surveys the damage that could cause. And Shane Horgan tells us about the newly humble English rugby player. All this plus a possible new tactical role for Mike Ross, Irish Dallaglio, Neil Francis, Sexton book, and Murph’s history as a specialist in failure.
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Ireland are the reigning Women's Six Nations Grand Slam champions, and they realise the time is now if they want to grow the popularity of their sport. Their most capped player, Lynne Cantwell talks to us about success on and off the field of play. US Murph on the first gay player to declare himself for the NFL draft, and Malachy Clerkin is in Sochi, for the warmest Winter Olympics in history. Ken asks if it's ever a good idea to beat up your dad (it's not), grits, Arsenal fans and packing out Donnybrook.
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On Second Captains this week – Gerry Thornley, Malcolm O’Kelly and Liam Toland on Ireland’s 26-3 win over Wales and managing expectations before Twickenham in 2 weeks time. Colin Jackson held a world record for 13 years but never won Olympic gold – he tells us about the pressure of delivering at an Olympics, winter or summer. And we have the solid work of Peter O’Mahony’s PR entourage, the second-row’s understanding of beauty on a rugby field, and Rene Meulensteen’s towering intellect.
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The Welsh players have been told by Gatland this week to strut around Europe like the champions they are. We ask Welsh legend Jonathan Davies if this suits the Welsh psyche, and we talk to former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan about the D'arcy O'Driscoll axis, and the departure of Rob Penney.The Irish Times' Malachy Clerkin is in Sochi for the Winter Olympics so we talk to our journalistic comrade about the long list of political and social issues associated with Putin's Games.We also have US Murph on American sports stars choosing success over wealth, George Plimpton, stray dogs, an Austrian-Mexican prince, whiney journalists and airplane toilets.
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After assessing whether we're tougher than Paul O'Connell we launch straight into Six Nations chat with Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie, asking them if the Scottish game was any sort of a barometer for the Wales game.Paul Galvin has retired from inter-county football, and with him goes another link to the great Kerry team of the last decade. Darragh O Se tells us about his former team-mate, and passenger on countless trips to training. And we closely evaluate the singing talents of Peter O’Mahony, the Denver Broncos Superbowl disintegration, sleep deprivation and why it suits the Welsh to be cocky.
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On the eve of the Six Nations, we speak to Ronan O'Gara, the top points-scorer in the tournament's history about documentaries, life in Paris, and a first Spring without international rugby. The Superbowl is a ridiculous affair, but we love it. US Murph is covering it from the madness of 'Radio Row' in NYC, while Jerry Izenberg, 14-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and a giant in American sportswriting, is yet to miss a Superbowl, one of only 2 writers with that unblemished record. B-Hop gets the musical tribute an alien of his stature deserves plus there's celebrity frauds, Snoop Dogg impressions, pastor Darryl Strawberry and Christy Ring.
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The week before the 6 Nations might be the most enjoyable week of the entire tournament – before your team starts losing, and before you remember that for all the pageantry, and all the brilliant occasions, the rugby can sometimes be pretty soporific. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley are optimistic about Ireland’s chances of sustaining our interest right to the end, and injured lock Donnacha Ryan talks to us about getting back in time to take part in the drama this year.Bernard Hopkins is 49 years old, a world champion, and still one of the most entertaining boxers in the game. We speak to him about defying medical logic, unifying the belts in time for his 50th birthday next year, and being an alien. The interminable Gatland-O’Driscoll ‘feud’, Copernicus, and national anthems all in the mixer too...
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Manchester United fans have had to experience some pretty low moments this season – we discuss where Phil Jones' purposeful stride towards the penalty spot ranks in the pantheon. After two biting incidents in a year, have Dublin now got an image problem, and with their big sponsorship deals, is there now more pressure on them to keep high standards.Another fan-base discovering that sport can be a cruel and unforgiving mistress this week were US Murph and his fellow San Francisco 49ers fans – we try and apply balm to his poor, wounded heart. And with the Australian Open being re-energised by coaches who are figures from our childhoods, why are we talking about Andre Agassi’s toupee obsession?
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Cheating in real life really pays off – so why are we so hard on golfers who step on the wrong side of a totally pointless white line? Rory McIlroy saw red last weekend, fouling foul of one of the sport’s more technical rules – Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times joins us. It could be argued that the relative strengths of Munster, Ulster and Leinster have never been more closely matched – and the impact of their director of rugby David Humphreys is a major factor in Ulster’s recent renaissance. We speak to Humphreys about the challenges for them on and off the field. We'll also speak about the brilliantly-named Jerome Champagne, who could be the next FIFA president. All that plus the first PBESO of 2014, what Richard Krajicek is up to these days, and the next link in the Gorgeous George-Muhammad Ali-Zlatan Ibrahimovic chain.
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A very cosmopolitan edition of Second Captains today – as we traverse the globe from San Francisco, to Sydney and back to New York in search of sporting drama. Is the Australian Open, at the height of the Antipodean summer, now almost an unplayable event? Tennis players have been suffering in the Melbourne heat, our man in Oz Matt Williams tells us how extreme temperatures are a part of Aussie life. There is trouble in the house of US Murph – he is the West Coast’s most avowed San Francisco 49ers fan, who has married into a family of Seattle Seahawks fans. We look ahead to the match this Sunday that could be the cause of some domestic strife. And we tell the story of Jesse Owens, the most famous man in the history of the Olympics. He once said – "Hitler didn't snub me – it was FDR who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram." We talk about the struggles in his life on his return to the US after the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Dictators in sport, Murph’s in-laws and other undesirables, all available to download now.
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Leinster, Munster and Ulster are all shaping up well in the Heineken Cup, but have they progressed, and which one of the three is best equipped to go the whole way from here? The Irish Times’ Gerry Thornley and 2-time Heineken Cup winner Shane Horgan cast an optimistic look ahead to Round 6 of the pool stages… and the quarter-finals. Vitali Klitschko was one of the most dominant world heavyweight champions of the last 20 years… and now he’s running for the Presidency of Ukraine, which stands at a hugely important political cross-roads. We hear from Kiev if he’s a creditable candidate, or a puppet for forces behind the scenes. Plus we discuss the debilitating effects of the Platinum Package, Murph's shame, rough and smooth, and pint-sized Vladimir Putin.
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Should your out-half be the first name on your team-sheet, or does healthy competition in the most important position on the field actually help your team? Shane Horgan and Neil Francis tell us who they think will be first choice in the long term, and why so many outhalves are obsessives. US Murph joins us to talk about the NFL playoffs, the lonely life of a kicker, and we outline how you can watch 26 hours of sport this weekend, if that’s your thing. And we find time to talk about Ric Flair, Victor Hugo, Napoleon, lucky generals, and all the myriad ways you can look forward to a Winter Olympics.
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We refuse to be affected by the January blues, so it’s the Love Edition of Second Captains @ The Irish Times as we speak to two young men embarking on their dream coaching jobs.Oisin McConville is now joint-manager of the Crossmaglen team he starred in for 20 years, and Bernard Jackman’s meteoric rise through the ranks of French Top 14 rugby continues, with his appointment from the start of next season as Grenoble head coach. In the interests of journalistic balance, we also discuss David Moyes and how getting his dream job is working out for him. All that plus quitting your job, husky McDevitt, black cards, insulting the ghost of our GAA fore-fathers, and Michael J Fox.
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In the first Second Captains of 2014, Eoin and Ken react to the news that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been confirmed as Cardiff City manager. Will he and Vincent Tan form an unlikely dream team and was he the Smithers to Alex Ferguson's Monty Burns?Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan believe we need to prepare ourselves for more transfers out of Ireland and that the IRFU should have a plan B in place with the future of Celtic League currently on unsteady ground.Plus tributes to Uncle Phil, Murph's Second Captains suspension, Shredder, and Spurs festive rampage.Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at secondcaptains@irishtimes.com
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Eoin and Murph perform a small fireworks show in studio and share an emotional embrace before wading in to their favourite moments of the year with Derval O'Rourke and Malachy Clerkin.Derval experienced the European indoors as an enthused athlete and a member of a fickle media pack, and explains the difference between male and female attitudes to mental preparation. Malachy Clerkin talks about small county celebrations, and the joy of watching Colm Cooper take on the Dublin football team. All this plus Murph explains why, for the ninth year in a row, he chose the All-Ireland hurling final as his sporting highlight, why Nicky English is hurling's soothsayer, savouring BOD, McDevitt's Murray amnesia, Lance drama, and learning to love Ireland New Zealand.
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We've headed off together on our clydesdales to our Second Captains rural retreat, as we do every year. Normally its just the five of us, but this year Mariah Carey joins the gang around an open fire to discuss Vincent Browne, Pierse Brosnan, Kevin Pietersen and our favourite Lansdowne Road moments. We also have one of our best interviews of the year, Eamon Dunphy on the history of Ireland-England games, and we end the sports pudding with a very special Second Captains audio gift - Ken Early sings out the show...
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To tie in with today's Irish Times Sports Woman of the Year awards we're releasing a special edition of the show, which includes an interview with the legendary Rosemary Smith, winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, and Melissa Ludtke, an American journalist who changed things for all that followed in her path.Rosemary joins Eoin and Murph in studio to discuss how she went from being a dress designer in Ireland to competing with and beating the world's best male rally drivers, what attitudes pervaded at the time, and the incredible story of how she survived land slides, bandits and cactus flies in a race from London to Mexico.Melissa Ludtke was one of the first female sports journalists in America. She explains how tough it was to make it in the industry, and why she had to take a law suit against the commissioner of Major league Baseball to ensure she could do her job.
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Ireland in the November Series, Ireland in RWC 2011, Leinster and Northampton and Toulouse in recent weeks - how can teams' performances fluctuate so much from week to week - we try and figure out if rugby is more susceptible than most sports to ridiculous turnarounds with Eddie O'Sullivan and Emmett Byrne... and whether Munster showed us something new this weekend. Last week a pair of Michael Jordan's basekball shoes sold for over 100,000 dollars. We ask Brian Murphy about the US phenomenon of sports memorabilia and why the Flu Game in the 1997 NBA finals further burnished the Jordan legend. Ken hates SPOTY, autographs are pointless, grown men shouldn't fight 10 year olds, Millennium 50p coins and other nonsense all included.
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Two clean sweeps in a row for the Irish provinces in the Heineken Cup - can we take all the credit or have the English clubs sub-consciously filed out of this year’s competition already… Shane Horgan, Trevor Hogan and an England Grand Slam winner tell us what we can expect this weekend. Thermo-nuclear war appears to be the only thing that will stop an NFL match – as a couple of snow-addled games on the East Coast showed last week. We go back to the NFL championship game played in wind chill conditions of -40 degrees with US Murph. Plus we have Ken’s thoughts on Connemara vs Kerry in the ‘rugged, unspoilt beauty stakes, some unbelievably bullish rugby predictions, God narrator, and the really famous Christmas movie we’ve never heard of.
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The festive season is a time for giving… and most of the time, the giving usually includes some pretty lacklustre sports books. So we have taken it upon ourselves to draw up a list of the very best books of this year, and of all time, to guide you through the season.We have enlisted some high quality help – Keith Duggan (author of the Lifelong Season and House of Pain) and Donald McRae, two time William Hill Sports Book of the Year award winner - tell us about what they look for in a great sports book, and what it takes to write one. And the learned Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times is on hand to help us pick our top 5 books of the year… and the one to avoid like the plague.All this plus why bombast and arrogance makes for a great autobiography, the slow emergence of the inner Dunphy, how Gorgeous George begat Ali who begat Zlatan and why its therefore important to 'always be outrageous'.
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We ask Shane Horgan and Liam Toland should a proposed extension to Rob Penney's contract be judged on the two Perpignan games. Meanwhile Matt Connor faces his biggest challenge to date away to Northampton, and we debate what changes he has made since the Schmidt era. An entire sport turning a blind eye to cheating is something we’ve sadly grown used to over the last decade or so, but has the multi-million dollar horse-racing industry got the will or the want to change its ways after recent scandals. Plus there’s watching Match of the Day without knowing the scores, Chekov's gun, a very special mile high mascot-based PBESO, apologetic managers and Tony the chimp.
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Photographer Billy Stickland is responsible for capturing many of the greatest moments in Irish sport, and he joins us in studio to discuss his career, the story behind the shots and how he gets so many men to take their shirts off.Last weekend Carlow hurling manager John Meyler watched his son David score for Hull, rejoiced in Mount Leinster Rangers' hurling success, and celebrated his wedding anniversary. We ask him to rank the events from 1 to 3.Ireland are the only country in the world's top 20 nations without a men's team competing on the rugby sevens circuit, and we're almost certainly not sending a side to the Rio Olympics. We speak to Alan Quinlan and former sevens international Cian Aherne about why this is the case.All this plus Carlow griping, Rooney McIlroy twitter shame, shin pad celebrations and father son sporting love.
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Sochi is the one place in Russia where it doesn't snow, so Vladimir Putin thought it would be perfect for the Winter Games. Andrew Roth of the New York Times joins us from Moscow to talk about what will be the most expensive Olympics in history.Friend of the show and Ireland's greatest ever goalkeeper Shane Curran joins us in studio to discuss the Connacht club final, injury, Rene Higuita, and playing into your 40's.You can tell a lot about an American sports fan by whether he/she prefers Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Brian Murphy explains the difference between stats and trophies. All this plus healing Ireland's pain, a GMAC PBESO, La Cosa Nostra, and the Kanye Rossies remix.
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Its a special heartbreak edition of Second Captains this week, as we wade through our nations' tears in search of the most painful moments in history.Gordon Darcy still hasn't recovered from Sunday's game but believes the team can play at that level every week, and believes if New Zealand can be consistently brilliant, then so can Ireland.Eddie O'Sullivan feels its the best performance in our history, Shane Horgan thinks the game will benefit the team, and both men re-live the pain of the Vincent Clerc try in 2007.Paul Kimmage joins us in studio to explain why he thinks Laurent Fignon's loss to Greg Lemond in the 1989 Tour de France is the most cruel defeat he has ever witnessed.All this plus stress dreams, Kearney eyes, weepy little Eoin McDevitt and Murph's top 5 moments of misery.
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New Zealand and Ireland have a long and storied rivalry… a rivalry that unfortunately consists of us losing, and most of the time, losing by quite a bit. Denis Hickie and Neil Francis chart the near misses, the humiliations, and the reasons why black is the colour we just can’t seem to handle. Len Bias was the rival Michael Jordan never had – drafted by the Boston Celtics just two years after Jordan, in 1986, he was dead two days later from a cocaine overdose, having never taken a dribble in the NBA. US Murph tells us how it was a generation-defining moment for him. All that plus Willie Anderson, Gary Halpin and the long-overdue return of the local radio GAA commentator.
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The learning curve doesn’t get any less steep for Joe Schmidt – after being humbled by Australia, we have the world champions New Zealand coming up this weekend. Shane Horgan, Jerry Flannery and Emmett Byrne tell us where Ireland can make the most improvements, quickest, between last Saturday and this Sunday. We have the latest from Poznan with Ken Early, and we also look at the life and times of Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, the most beloved Indian person since Mahatma Gandhi. Plus – the Aviva playlist, Lance Armstrong’s meeting with his former masseuse Emma O’Reilly, and what we can learn from the Australian approach to pre-match preparation. Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and email the show secondcaptains@irishtimes.com.
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The Ireland team has been named for this Saturday’s test against Australia – and Joe Schmidt has rolled the dice again. Eddie O’Sullivan and Shane Horgan give us their thoughts, and talk to us about the World Cup game between the sides in 2003 that Ireland so very nearly won. Candlestick Park in San Francisco has held more top-class sport than any other stadium in America, and US Murph has been going there since he was 6 years old. About to be demolished at the end of this year, he gives us his thoughts on a horrible, cold old dump that he’s happy to call home. We have the return of Pierce Brosnan’s Emigrant Shout-Outs, the latest from the Ireland football camp and the English media’s predictable response to Keano’s first press conference.Follow us on twitter @SecondCaptains, facebook.com/SecondCaptains and email us SecondCaptains@irishtimes.com.
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Eoin and Ken and Ciaran wonder why images of Roy Keane standing in a field with his hands behind his back are exciting enough to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. And we've got the news from Martin O'Neill's first press conference (in ordinary time) as Ireland manager.We'll also hear from Stephen Ward after his first MONKEANO-operated training session.Sid Lowe joins us from Madrid to talk about Lionel Messi - uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.And Nick Harris of sportingintelligence.com analyses the implications of BT Sport beating Sky to exclusive Champions League rights.
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Joe Schmidt has come into the Ireland job with an unimpeachable club coaching record – but does that insulate him from criticism, or make him more vulnerable than ever? Matt Williams, Trevor Hogan and the Irish Times’ Gerry Thornley talk about what would be a successful November series for Ireland’s new man as the test with Australia approaches.Tommy Walsh was a Gaelic football ‘outlier’ in 2009 – a boy giant with talent, athleticism and scoring ability. After he left for Australia, Kerry football was left wondering ‘what if?’ But he appears to be on the verge of a comeback. Laois’s Colm Begley has made that journey, in both directions, and tells us about the Irish experience in Aussie Rules.And we have the story of when Martin O’Neill came to speak to Ireland’s best Gaelic footballers, Dirty Dancing with Ryan Lochte, and Lance Armstrong’s crusading charge for justice.
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In his first press conference as Ireland manager Martin O'Neill outlined his thought process in taking the job, what role Keane will have, what he thinks of Keane's temperament, and why volatility isn't always a bad thing.Ken and Eoin discuss whether the pair can bring some panache to Ireland's play, if the fans can be convinced to return, and if Delaney would ever let Keane get the main job.
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With the Joe Schmidt era starting on Saturday, we talk to Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan about his team selection, how the players are adapting to the new methods, the sense of expectation among fans, and what changes we can expect to see on the pitch in the next few weeks.US Murph gives us some detail on a very strange tale of workplace harassment in the locker-room of the Miami Dolphins, which many in America have been trying to pass off as part of the culture of the NFL, or some gentle hazing... racial taunting and threats against a man's life included. All this plus Connacht coach Pat Lam on Samoan power, the importance of frat parties, Second Captains' Mikey Graham, and Trevor Hogan's 'Frank the tank' merchandise run.
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John Delaney today brought us confirmation that there will be a confirmation, heralding the dawn of the O'Neill Keane era. Eoin asks Emmet Malone if he foresees trouble, and we talk to former Ipswich player under Keane, Shane Supple, about Roy's management style.Eddie O'Sullivan has met and discussed tactics with Roy Keane, and believes the Cork man's straight talking will be a key ingredient for success. We also talk to Shane Jennings about Joe Schmidt's evolution as a coach, from assistant at Auckland, to becoming the top man in Irish rugby.All this plus the frog and the scorpion, the glorious history of Irish assistant managers, a Red Sox PBESO, and Keane's Dallaglio put-down.
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Eoin and Ken are joined in studio by Seán Óg Ó'hAilpín, who opens up on his brilliant career in hurling, his recovery from the trauma of a serious car accident, and his lifelong struggle to come up to the standards demanded by his highly competitive father.Brian Murphy was watching as the Boston Red Sox won a World Series in front of their own fans at Fenway Park.And Simon Usborne joins us to talk about Garry Kasparov's chances of winning the election for president of the chess world governing body FIDE against a man who claims to have been abducted by aliens and taken to a distant star.
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In his first year as a senior international Jason Quigley has won the National Champs, the European Champs and became the first Irish man to win a world silver medal - we talk to him about why he's still not satisfied.Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Conor Murray and Donnacha Ryan have all recently been linked with moves abroad. Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan explain how the IRFU need to act quickly and must revamp their approach to keeping the talent here.We ask former Olympian Jerry Kiernan if the incredible times run by Kenyan marathon runners can be believed. We also have narky captains, the worst position in sport and the evolution of 'running man'.
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With Joe Ward and Jason Quigley fighting for World Championship glory this weekend we speak to Billy Walsh about how he manages to coach and motivate such a diverse range of characters.US Murph will let us know how 2 late goals for the US men's soccer team might be enough to wipe away 250 years of hatred across the Rio Grande, and we speak to one of the greatest Aussie Rules footballers of all time - Adam Goodes, about racism, the stolen generation and representing Indigenous Australians. All that plus Daniel Day Lewis as John Delaney, Daily Express nutrition, Nation Lampoon's vacation and a miracle cure for baldness...
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Four wins from four in the Heineken Cup for the Irish provinces last weekend, and Ulster might just be the form team in Europe at the moment. Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan on what Ulster learnt from last year, Munster and Leinster flaws, and who is best placed to take over from O'Driscoll at the end of the season.The subject of concussions in rugby has been getting plenty of coverage recently, and we speak to a player who's had more than his fair share of difficulties in that area - Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall.And 6 months after the Boston marathon bombing, we hear how the city's most potent sporting symbol, the Red Sox, have played a part in the recovery process. All that plus baseball's Macho Man Randy Savage, the frequency illusion, Rock of Gibraltar and retiring the 13 jersey.
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Eoin and Ken talk Alex Ferguson's book, which includes even less than might be expected about Rock of Gibraltar....except all the times Roy Keane irritatingly brought it up.
Dion Fanning was at today's book launch in London and talks to us about the Fergie-Keane feud.
Graham Hunter joins us to discuss how David Moyes might be feeling about the looming presence of his predecessor.
And Philippe Auclair fills us in on the war between Patrice Evra and most of France's top football pundits
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Rob Penney and Conor O’Shea savaged their teams last weekend – can coaches motivate players by criticising them in public? Shane Horgan had experience of this in his playing days and joins us to discuss the rights and wrongs. We also speak to Leinster’s Sean Cronin, who was the player of the weekend in the first round of the Heineken Cup, with the numbers to prove it. And we speak to US Murph about beard tugging Bostonians and the difference between Mr April, and Mr October. Plus we have Mickey Goldmill wisdom, the prize bullock, why Eoin is like Aldous Huxley, and where’s the beef.
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After last weekend's surrender to Edinburgh, we ask Trevor Hogan and Gerry Thornley if complacency is an acceptable excuse for Munster. We also look at Sean O'Brien's evolving game, and how the provinces are shaping up for next weekend.Australia's International Rules side will be represented by an indigenous selection, one of the few exciting elements to this series. We chart the history of the Aboriginal player in the AFL and the role the sport has played in their fight against racism. We speak to Carl Frampton, the Belfast boxer who is managed by Barry McGuigan. Frampton defends his EBU European title in his home town on Saturday night, and the hype surrounding him is being likened to the McGuigan era. Plus we have the baby calf, Ken manager, boxing dinosaurs and balls of steel.
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A doctor in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital believes that he has found the first case of early onset dementia caused by head injuries while playing rugby - in the week that Peter O'Mahony was taken off the pitch by Munster's medical staff, Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman and Jonny Watterson of The Irish Times talk us through why rugby has to do more to protect its players. Jason Ryan loved the idea of being a selector and coach with Kildare this summer, while manager Kieran McGeeney took all the heat. But now he's been named as McGeeney's successor, he talks to us about getting back into the hot seat. We also have US Murph on the real-life epilogue to Moneyball, the return of Pierce Brosnan's Emigrant Shout Outs, and Ken's nuanced view of the medical profession.
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In the build-up to this season's Heineken Cup Munster have answered a few questions, while Leinster struggle with injuries and new fitting in the new faces. Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan look at what shape the Irish teams are in ahead of the opening weekend.Roddy Collins is back in the Airtricity Premier Division with Athlone Town, and has 40 years of friendship with Ireland interim manager Noel King to tell us about. After a summer of brilliant hurling, are the GAA about to leave themselves open to charges of elitism by saving Cork from relegation with one swipe of a committee’s pen? All this plus rugby nicknames, McDevitt's Sexton obsession, Gulliver memories and Cologne's drinking subculture.
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The rugby season has been dominated by endless statements from administrators and club owners, but on Saturday in Thomond the fun starts. We talk to former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan and former Leinster, Munster and Ireland player Trevor Hogan about how the stars will perform with these issues hovering in the background.American sports franchises struggle to maintain consistency over a long period of time, but in the last decade the New England Patriots have managed it better than any other side. Brian Murphy explains why.We also have Oisin McConville on marking the legendary Tomas O'Se, the 1972 Miami Dolphins, panenka V roulada, and Brian O'Driscoll's game face.
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The nation was blown away by Clare's confidence and skill on saturday, but they have designs on building an empire. We ask Nicky English, Malachy Clerkin and Christy O'Connor whether a county without a history of success can go on to dominate.Johnny Sexton has been one of the most influential and interesting men in Irish rugby for the last five years, and we talk to him about Paris, O'Gara, principles and the role Brian O'Driscoll has played in his career.There's also hurling exhortations, mature Clare youths, anger as a gift and rugby friendships.
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Clare hurlers said they enjoyed the drawn final, while the Cork team have spent the last three weeks repeatedly being told they're an inferior side. Author, journalist and former Clare player Christy O'Connor and Tipp legend Nicky English join us to discuss what has been a strange build-up for the two sides involved.Irish amateur boxing is springing a few leaks at the moment with John Joe Nevin on the verge of turning pro, Olympic bronze medallist Michael Conlan threatening to turn pro and Katie Taylor disillusioned with her career since the London Games. We talk to Kenneth Egan about what is a difficult time for the sport ahead of next month's World Championships.We also have Ciaran 'lights out' Murphy, why its bad to be the underdog in a replay, enjoyable failure and Katie's Irish pub experience.
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This week we walk through the post All-Ireland wasteland to see if there are any Mayo bodies alive under the rubble. Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles wonder if Dublin winning is good for football, and we ask Mike Finnerty of the Mayo News if this is the defeat that will finally break the county's will. Brian Murphy looks at the issue of preferential treatment for star players, and why the NFL continues to produce so many athletes who struggle with life, and the law, off the field of play.We also have Aidan O'Shea's favourite poem, filthy stadiums, youth V's experience and why Mayo can't become 'just another county'.
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A year after Jim McGuinness seemed to have changed the way football would be played forever, Dublin have this summer successfully pursued a very different tactic. Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion look at the philosophy of the quiet man of this championship, Jim Gavin.The future of the Heineken Cup has long been in jeopardy, but flip flopping this week by the world governing body, the IRB, calls into question just who controls the world game. Former Leinster captain and Irish Times writer Liam Toland and Chris Hewitt of the London Independent look at the bigger picture for the sport.We also have the latest on the Donegal situation, David Cameron's ancestral fear of jocks, Dubs fan WB Yeats and McDevitt's dreams.
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Mayo and Dublin thought their way out of trouble in their semi finals, but will James Horan and Jim Gavin make any changes to gameplan based on those scares. Mike Finnerty of the Mayo News and Malachy Clerkin of The Irish Times have met the managers and the players this week and give us the inside scoop.Two time winner of the William Hill sports book of the year Duncan Hamilton attempts to explain how football was the cause of George Best's problems in his latest book Immortal, which was written with the help of Best's family.We also have triathlete Aileen Reid on her world class performances this season, Mayo News' 64 page All-Ireland supplement, dealing with fame in the 60's, and schoolboy tactics in top class sport.
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Trap is gone and Martin O'Neill is hot favourite to be his successor, but Ken and Eoin wonder would an older Roy Keane, in small (international window) doses, be the perfect man to lead the country once again.We talk about the demise of the NFL enforcer, the softening of America, and why European crowd noise is better than American crowd noise, with Brian Murphy.All this plus why success could change Mayo people, the catholic curse, why money is not the main issue in international management, an RTE TV PBESO, and how lighthouses were the cause of the downfall of the west of Ireland. Follow the show on twitter @secondcaptains, on Facebook.com/secondcaptains and send your emails to secondcaptains@irishtimes.com.
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The Ireland Sweden game brought us all to our knees, but Sunday's final was the ultimate energiser. Dublin hurler Peter Kelly and author, journalist and Clare man Christy O'Connor try to put some sense on a frenetic game of hurling, and wonder what changes the managers will make ahead of the replay. It's a fresh start for Irish rugby this season with Joe Schmidt now in charge of the national side, and two new provincial coaches in place. We ask Eddie O'Sullivan and Trevor Hogan if this is Irish rugby's big chance to think big. All this plus tepid Murph, why Davy fitz needs Robbie Keane, wrestlemania, and Trap's dignified nonsense.Follow us on twitter @secondcaptains, on facebook.com/secondcaptains and email the show second captains@irishtimes.com.
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Cork may be one of Hurling's 'Big 3' but when it comes to winning Munster and All-Ireland titles at underage recently, it's Clare that have all the pedigree. We talk to a man who has won it as a player and coach, Nicky English, along with six time winner Derek Lyng, and author, journalist and former Clare goalkeeper Christy O'Connor.Kieran McGeeney has been voted out of the Kildare job, to the disenchantment of his players - we ask his former selector Niall Carew if McGeeney needed to play the political game in order to achieve his aims with the county. The NFL season starts tonight - we ask US Murph if the concussion story has been tidily squared away or will fans now look at the sport, and the collisions, in a new light. All this plus kung-fu Zlatan, Murph's All-Ireland final livestock update, the rhythm of an international football week, and Ken reveals the truth behind Flipper's evil smile.Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at secondcaptains@irishtimes.com
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When you’ve got a killer right hook, and no chin, you don’t really have much of an option but to come out swinging – so was that why we were treated to a game for the ages on Sunday in Croke Park? Anthony Moyles and Oisin McConville sift through the gold and look ahead to Mayo-Dublin and another potential classic in the final. Ireland’s top two cyclists have had contrasting experiences in the Vuelta Espana – Nicolas Roche won a stage, had the leader’s jersey and lies in third, whereas Daniel Martin suffered a race-ending crash in controversial circumstances. We talk to both of them.All this plus Leinster’s new coach Matt O’Connor on the challenges of taking over from Joe Schmidt, a gigantic Australian PBESO, deadline day horse-play and the fastest All Ireland pairing of all time.Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at secondcaptains@irishtimes.com
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Dublin and Kerry meet in the second All-Ireland semi-final this weekend, and the marquee rivalry in the GAA has managed to survive 70 years of almost uninterrupted Kerry dominance. We discuss with Kerry legend Darragh O Se and the Irish Times’ Malachy Clerkin. US Murph tells us about the NFL’s control over the media, and why America's most popular sport isn't too big to fail, while acclaimed author and journalist David Epstein explains why Darragh O Se was always going to be a good footballer, and Daithi O Se was never going to cut it. His book “The Sports Gene” investigates why sports stars are as good as they are. All this plus Cluxton's kick-outs, cankles, an Andy Townsend Tactics Truck Pierce Brosnan Emigrant Shout Out (ATTT PBESO) and will Ireland ever win the Olympic marathon.Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at secondcaptains@irishtimes.com
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Andy Moran was a sub in 2004 and 2006, and was on crutches watching on for last year's final against Donegal - this week he starts preparation for his fourth All-Ireland football final, this time hoping to play a full part as Mayo captain. He speaks to us today, while the best GAA analysts in the business, Anthony Moyles and Oisin McConville discuss how last Sunday could have been the perfect way to win a semi-final, and who Mayo can expect to play on September 22nd. And we talk about one of the greatest swindles of all time, involving the most-watched tennis game in history - the Battle of the Sexes, between business-man and gambler Bobby Riggs, and former great Billie Jean King.We've also got Kerry DNA, the Dublin virus, Arnie and Hercules, Jose's sacrifice and the 40 year secret. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at secondcaptains@irishtimes.com
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In 2012 it looked like Jim McGuinness was a once in a generation genius, but this year James Horan is on track to achieve something just as outrageous. Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles tell Mayo fans that this time round history doesn't matter.According to Brian Murphy the only things Americans hate more than a cheat, is a cheating rat - step up Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. We've also got Maria Sharapova's sugar rush, bench clearing brawls, Bale lunacy, a special corporate America PBESO and Eoin McDevitt's secret formula for All Ireland success.Follow us on twitter @SecondCaptains, on facebook.com/secondcaptains and email the show SecondCaptains@irishtimes.com.
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Sean Kelly was the world’s number 1 cyclist for five years, and was one of the most beloved Irish sportspeople worldwide throughout the Eighties. He also failed two drugs tests, and was at times overshadowed by his compatriot Stephen Roche. He discusses his new book ‘Hunger’ with Eoin today.Tyrone have had a bizarre lead-in to their All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo this weekend, with conspiracy theories, fact sheets and tackle counts looming large. Three time All-Ireland winner Enda McGinley and Malachy Clerkin of The Irish Times discuss whether their paranoia is justified, and how this might impact on Mayo. We also look at Clare / Limerick and hurling hype with Derek Lyng and Nicky English, Pat McQuaid the journalist, Brolly the barrister, good drugs, and the Davy Fitz death stare.Contact us on twitter @SecondCaptains, email the show SecondCaptains@Irishtimes.com and follow us on facebook.com/secondcaptains.
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We only have 3 athletics world champions in our history, so the company is pretty rarefied for Rob Heffernan – we introduce him to one of the other members of the golden circle, Sonia O’Sullivan, on today’s show, to talk about a lifetime's work and what's needed from the next generation.US Murph tells us about the rise, the fall, and the possible return of the 'honey badger', one of the players to watch in next years NFL season and we go to Clare and Limerick to discuss media wars and the Limerick curse ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland hurling final. All this plus McDevitt's shame, Ireland Wales numbness and the citizenship test.Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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On today's show Nicky English and Christy O'Connor talk about the influence history has on a team's fortunes, and Peter Kelly tells us if his fellow Dublin hurlers feel 2013 was their last big chance to win an All Ireland.Russian sports administrators have a busy few years ahead hosting the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, and so the world has turned its attention to Putin's attitude to gay rights - David Herszenhorn of the New York Times reports from Moscow.We also have the captain of the Irish boxing team at the London Olympics, Darren O'Neill, on whats been a tough year in and out of the ring. Plus there's death-road PBESO, voodoo hurling, Westy's meltdown and fan culture in Irish football.Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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Donovan Bailey is the last 100m world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, besides Usain Bolt, to have no association with performance enhancing drugs. He joins the lads to discuss cheats, insecure athletes, and if we can believe in Bolt.Tiger Woods is back winning tournaments, and thanks to little Charlie Woods, might be winning the PR battle too. Brian Murphy explains why America is learning to forgive the world's best golfer. We've also got Mark McHugh on concussion and Donegal's demolition, cocky sprinters, Johnny Football's latest stunt, and how Ger Loughnane could help Anthony Daly win the All Ireland. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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Now that the Sean Cavanagh tackle has become an incident of national importance, we talk to Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles about the consequences for the underage players, as well as Tyrone hatin', Mayo lovin', and why James Horan might be a genius. In the week that Sonia O'Sullivan questioned the ambition shown by our young athletes at major events, we talk to 800 metre runner Mark English about what goes on in the mind of a 20 year old man who's on his way to the World Championships.We've also got fake apologies, the fight and the fighter that shocked America, hero worship and Joe Brolly's tears.Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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The All Ireland Football Championship goes from a steady jog to a full gallop this weekend - Oisin McConville and David Brady talk about Jim McGuinness, referee manipulation, Mayo's flight of discovery and how one man can dominate a 15 man game.Joe Schmidt has recruited the final member of his management team, so we talk to Ireland's new forwards coach John Plumtree about his plans for the team.We've also got PBESO, sporting revenge, frat parties and Johnny Football, the most talked about athlete in America.Follow us on twitter @secondcaptains, facebook.com/secondcaptains, secondcaptains.tumblr.com and email the show editor@secondcaptains.com.
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In the first of our four shows this week, we talk to Ireland’s first UFC superstar, Conor McGregor, about wealth, fame and the joys of proving your parents wrong.Brian Cody is gone for this summer, and the man to take him down was Jimmy Barry Murphy - we talk to Nicky English and Derek Lyng about his magical presence and why himself and Davy Fitzgerald are the same, but different.There’s also Michael Meehan on scoring the goal of the season, the fall and rise of Cavan football, Eamon Dunphy’s taxi driver and Pat McQuaid’s latest political move. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com. Second Captains Football will be available from 6pm.
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Second Captains went live and dangerous this week to celebrate the launch of our four shows a week schedule with The Irish Times, which starts next Tuesday 30th July. It was a stellar cast at the Grand Social club in Dublin with Eamon Dunphy and Richie Sadlier speaking from the heart about the pitfalls and joys of football punditry, while Oisin McConville, Jason Sherlock and Anthony Moyles talked penalty taking, arm linking, and Croke Park heroics, and there was even a very special edition of the fastest growing slot in Irish radio, Pierce Brosnan's Emigrant Shout Outs #PBESO.Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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Chris Froome has won the Tour de France, but the questions about what we saw on the Alps aren't going away. David Walsh believes that Froome is clean. We'll hear Paul Kimmage's verdict on the new champion.Meanwhile, BT and Sky are trading insults ahead of the new Premier League season - Gabriele Marcotti and Jonathan Wilson explain why the stakes are so high, and how English football will be affected by the new billion-pound-a-year TV deal. All this plus hurling's shot at greatness, Dick Clerkin, the Clones Cyclone and the Farney Army, anti-doping vigilantes, Brendan Rodgers' smile, and don't forget to listen in for a special edition of the show this friday at www.irishtimes.com/secondcaptains Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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In this week's edition of Second Captains we ask what Rory McIlroy can learn from his new life coach Nick Faldo, Anthony Moyles and Oisin McConville explain why Dublin's win wasn't all good news for Jim Gavin, while we pour love on the pure of spirit - the hurling men of limerick. All this plus Jerry Kiernan tells us if there's any point watching 100metre sprints anymore, Howard Clark's retirement plan, violence as a force for good, #PBESO and a very special announcement - our first Second Captains live show, for tickets email live@secondcaptains.com...Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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It’s a special heat-wave edition of Second Captains this week – Dan Martin talks friends and foes on the Tour de France after he became the first Irishman in nearly 20 years to win a stage, while we discuss how the Lions series will change Brian O’Driscoll with former Lion Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan. Former Meath captain Anthony Moyles talks confidently about this weekend’s Leinster football final, while Nicky English charts how Dublin went from being a hurling wasteland to the home of the Leinster champions. There’s also #PBESO, extreme Scottishness, Andy Murray, and the cyclist who’s afraid of speed – so kick back, relax and get yourself a whippie, it’s the Second Captains @ The Irish TimesFollow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com
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Featuring Eddie O'Sullivan, former England international Jeff Probyn and Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley along with the latest reaction from Warren Gatland. By popular demand it's a once off show we'll call (against our will) the 'Bodcast'. Make sure you also download the latest full edition of Second Captains @ The Irish Times below (July 2nd).Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains, Facebook.com/secondcaptains and editor@secondcaptains.com.
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The GAA this summer has been rocked by a series of upsets and landslide victories - we talk to an inter-county Londoner, Rossie and Meathman about whats been a roller coaster championship. We also discuss the real taboo subject in Irish sport - the changing face of half-time GAA cuisine.Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan discuss Lions player power and James Horwill’s tears, Murph's garden is back, Brazil goes ape, and we look at the amazing life of a Tour de France winning war hero who used his bike as a force for good. All in this week's incredible Second Captains @ The Irish Times.Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com.
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All the meats of the sporting stew included in this week’s show with Richie Sadlier and Michael Owen on retired players becoming pundits, Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan on embarrassing pre-match huddles and Nicky English on the trials of being a celebrity hurling manager. All this plus wimpy tennis players, tough as nails boxer Matthew Macklin, Pierce Brosnan emigrant shout outs (#PBESO) and the footballer who hates football. All in this weeks incredible edition of Second Captains @ The Irish Times. Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/SecondCaptains.
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Ever wondered why the Lions cuddly toy mascot gets so much facetime during a Lions Tour? This, and other rather more weighty Lions-related issues will be discussed with Alan Quinlan, Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan. US Murph returns with his thoughts on Phil Mickelson and chokin' at the Open, while Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles assess whether Mayo are finally ready to win Sam. There's also Joe Kinnear's unrivalled CV and a look at the connection between public transport, the Confederations Cup and riots on the streets of Brazil. All this (and the usual from Pierce Brosnan and Exhalation Laughs with Eoin McDevitt) in this weeks Second Captains. Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/SecondCaptains.
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