The Second Captains Podcast

Cork won a Munster final that "began at tea-time and didn't finish until bed-time", as Denis Walsh put it on Saturday night - a win on penalties over Limerick after a raucous, controversial, enthralling match that was perfect in its imperfection, as Jamie Wall explains to us.  Kilkenny won a sixth Leinster title in a row, but the real headlines from Croke Park yesterday came from Kildare, who won the Joe McDonagh Cup with a bravura performance on their biggest day.  We also discuss Murph's insatiable desire for TV appearances, Ken's hatred for "Freed From Desire", and a new documentary "Hell For Leather", coming up on RTE1 tonight.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Nations League final four turned out to be pretty good but it's clear that what international football needs right now is to reverse the FIFA diktat to make every emotional stadium moment sound the exact same.We talk about Ireland's draw with Senegal and look ahead to tomorrow's season-closing friendly in Luxembourg, before the PEN/Faulkner Award-winning author Joseph O'Neill joins us in studio to speak about his 2024 novel, Godwin, a New York Times Best Book of the Year. The novel, partly set in the world of football scouting and agency, explores both the exploitation of young African footballers and a particular brand of ineffective 21st century American liberalism, something Joseph has also written about in his essays for the New York Review of Books. And that is what you call a veritable smorgasbord of a football show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu!For access to all our shows go to secondcaptains.com/join – its 5 euro a month with no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no sneaky contract, and no ads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PSG are the champions of Europe after crushing Inter 5-0 in the most one-sided final in European Cup history. The night was a complicated mix of emotions; awe at the sheer brilliance of PSG's performance, respect and affection for their charismatic coach Luis Enrique, sympathy for the hopelessly outclassed Inter, unease and foreboding at a second Champions League win in three seasons for a state-owned club, and, if you are into that kind of thing, maybe a little schadenfreude at the expense of Kylian Mbappe.After the game, Ken caught up (in rapid succession) with Miguel Delaney, Jonathan Liew and Diego Torres to hear their thoughts on the slaughter.Plus there's Ken scooting under the influence, Doue's abs and Dembele the destroyer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bernie Sanders has been one of the most electrifying figures in American life for half a century, and is one of the most high-profile global political figures of the current moment. He joined us in our studio in Dublin this week for an exclusive interview, and we have a taster of the chat on today's best of show.In what was a massive week for Second Captains, we also had former Ireland and Sheffield Utd captain John Egan at our live show in the Everyman Theatre in Cork, Plus there's Ken's preview of the Champions League final, Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn on the GAA and Jonathan Wilson's football wedding plans.For access to all our shows go to secondcaptains.com/join – its 5 euro a month with no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no sneaky contract, and no ads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're into the time of celebrations, drifting clouds of flare smoke, players grabbing mics and managers maybe dropping them. Palace, Liverpool and Tottenham all celebrated their big trophy wins in the last few days while Katie McCabe has been leading Arsenal's celebrations after winning the Women's Champions League. Spurs fans: we see you, we believe you. We address the concerns of some Tottenham fans who felt Thursday's pod was too focused on the wretchedness of the Europa League final losers, and talk about Daniel Levy's big call. Jonathan Wilson joins us to pour out his heart about newly promoted playoff champions Sunderland AFC, and reveal new information on the table plan for his upcoming wedding. And we hear from Ken and Branno on their big Bernie experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have our provincial hurling final pairings, but Cork didn't exactly roar into the Munster final, enduring a nervy second half before finally putting Waterford away in Páirc Úi Chaoimh.  They'll face Limerick in two weeks' time, and Jamie Wall and Liam Rushe say farewell to All-Ireland champions Clare, while looking ahead to Galway/Kilkenny in the Leinster final.  Murph was in Parnell Park to see Dublin struggle under the new-found weight of expectation, and we also explore his new-found love for the New York Knicks... which we then pithily expose as lies and hypocrisy.   We also reveal how Ken spent his Saturday - talking to Senator Bernie Sanders in our office!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu which this week includes an in-depth look at a Europa League final result that's produced so many talking points for both Spurs and Man Utd, US Murph on the New York sports fan and Pope University, Paul Flynn on Dublin's (surprise?) win over Galway, and Timothee Chalamet being a good sport.We also had an exclusive interview with former Celtic, Sunderland and Cork City player and more recently, Ireland assistant coach, Colin Healy. Last year, Colin’s wife, Kelly, sadly passed away after a long battle with leukaemia. After taking a few weeks off work, he returned to his job as assistant coach to Ireland manager, Eileen Gleeson. In December, the FAI announced they wouldn’t be renewing Colin’s contract. Just over a month later, Colin released a highly critical statement in which he said he’d been assured by then FAI Director of Football, Marc Canham, that he would be kept on, something which Canham has consistently denied. Colin sat down with us this week to speak about what’s been an extremely difficult year in his personal and professional life.For access to all our shows go to secondcaptains.com/join – its 5 euro a month with no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no sneaky contract, and no ads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FA Cup: good when the underdogs actually win. We look at some key moments of Palace's epic and emotional victory. Why didn't the VAR send Dean Henderson off? Why did Erling Haaland let Marmoush take the penalty? And did Oliver Glasner get in Pep Guardiola's head when he warned him, you play that system against us again and we will solve it? And in Europa League final week, we wonder: how did Oliver Glasner manage to come in mid-season, switch to 3-4-3, and win most of his remaining PL games, while certain other managers who have tried to do something similar have failed? Damien Delaney was over to watch his old club win their first ever major trophy - he joins us to talk about an incredible day at Wembley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Limerick and Cork has been the marquee hurling rivalry of the recent past - but yesterday in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick sent out a fairly thundering message that they are the team to beat in this year's All-Ireland championship.  Liam Rushe and Jamie Wall are in studio again to talk to us about Kyle Hayes' dominance, Cork's naive puck-out defence, why Waterford may worry Cork next weekend with a place in the Munster final at stake, and Dublin's 'moral victory' in Nowlan Park.  There's also the arresting image of a former RTE GAA analyst climbing Everest in the nude, Aidan O'Shea, and more Cian Lynch magic.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu which this week includes the mighty Kate O'Connor live in Belfast on her incredible year of success, Ken on his US civil war ancestor, a brilliant GAA show with Paul Flynn and Oisin McConville, and fan favourite Tim Vickery on why Brazil and Argentina have such different football philosophies.For access to all our shows go to secondcaptains.com/join - its 5 euro a month with no sign-up fee, no minimum stay, no sneaky contract, no ads, just lots and lots of podcast fun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All-Ireland champions Clare are on the precipice after their defeat at home to Tipperary in a packed Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday - but our analysts Liam Rushe and Jamie Wall reckon there's still a chance they survive. We also discuss the skorts issue that continues to rumble on inexplicably, John McGrath's late-career renaissance, Shane O'Donnell's return, and there's Limerick/Cork to look forward to this weekend too. We also reflect briefly on Louth's thrilling Leinster football final win, Sam Mulroy's heroics, and Murph getting abused by a celebrating Louth-man.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The spectrum of football emotion runs wide. At one end, Trent Alexander-Arnold, once beloved and now accursed by his own people. At the other the Moose, surfing to his first LOI goal on a tidal wave of inexplicable love. Football can be a confusing place for footballers.We talk about another epic Clasico as Real Madrid fall apart in a comical first half in Montjuic. Have they grown desperate enough to submit to the kind of coach who will tell them how to play football?Dion Fanning and Rory Smith join us to talk about the weekend's football. Does the treatment of Trent reflect badly on Liverpool? And as Ruben Amorim aims another devastating broadside at his own club, how long do we think this project has left to run?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us live from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Dublin City, with Gary Breen and Damien Delaney for a very special Second Captains football podcast, as we reflect on the Premier League season that was.Have Salah’s legs gone, what next for our boy Caoimhín and just why is Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca the anti-McIlroy? Plus Ken puts some working relationships on the line as Gary and Damien wait to see if either of them make it into his All-time Premier League XI (spoiler: they don't).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the moment we saw the team-sheets, right through to the final moments when they chose not to kick at goal, this was a baffling display by the coaching staff and players, and it all ended with a defeat that will have repercussions far beyond the province of Leinster.We chat to Shane Horgan and Ruaidhrí O'Connor about the mental state of the players for this Northampton game, the starting team chosen, the Nienaber defensive system, the funding model in Irish rugby, and where this latest defeat leaves Leo Cullen.And we try to define what it means to "choke", and if it was arrogance, overthinking or panic that caused the team to not kick that penalty on 75 mins to level the scores.Plus there's Pollock power, Prendergast pawing, and trying to place this defeat in the pantheon of Irish sporting failures.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu which this week includes Ken on Arteta's psycho babble and Lamine Yamal's greatness, Diego Torres on Arsenal's decay, Meath beating the Dubs, and Abubaker Abed came to our studio for a sit-down with Ken. Abubaker arrived in Dublin late last month having left the Gaza Strip for the first time in his life. He had hoped to study and become a sports journalist but conflict came to him first, pushing him into becoming an accidental war reporter. Join in the fun 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool are the 24-25 Premier League champions. We talk about their victorious campaign, why this should be regarded as one of the great coaching achievements in English football history, and why other Liverpool managers who came close in the past might feel a little envious of the circumstances in which Arne Slot won the Premier League at his first attempt. We also discuss an incredible Copa Del Rey final and the latest theories about why Florentino Perez has allowed Madrid to become a sore-loser "anti-organisation". Neil Atkinson of TAW joins us to talk about why this title means so much to Liverpool, how Arne Slot transformed last season's third-placed side into champions, and what remains to be done for the rest of the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 years of hurt are over - the Royals have stormed the capital and are back in power, and back in a Leinster final.Some saw this coming, most didn't.We talk to the soothsayer Paul Flynn about where this shock lies on the GAA Richter Scale, how Meath did it, and where this leaves Dublin now.We also chat to Conor McManus about the Leinster final match up, Louth's evolution, and Armagh's win over Tyrone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu which this week included Ken on Canham, making football great again. Bohs beating Rovers, Paul Flynn on fabulous football, Liam Rushe and Jamie Wall on hurling's hectic draws, and we have "fun and games" coming on Friday too.Get daily shows 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ope Francis, who died today aged 88, once told the players of Celtic FC that the essence of sport lay in 'gratuitousness', to give of yourself without expecting something in return. The idealism of his message doesn't resound widely in top-level football, where the contrasting experiences of two current stars expose the calculating self-interest that fuels the professional game.Beñat Gutierrez joins us from Bilbao, European capital of football for the next few weeks to talk about their defeat last night at the Bernabéu and what they expect from the forthcoming Europa semi-final against Manchester United.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, that was something. Rory McIlroy's Masters win rightly managed to make it into most of our conversations this week, and we're not even done yet - Lawrence Donegan is slated to do his victory lap tomorrow on the World Service after finally seeing his pre-tournament prediction line up with reality. Ken also sat down with Sol Campbell yesterday, just a couple of hours before Arsenal dumped Real Madrid out of the Champions League once and for all. And a debate raged between our listeners and Ken over whether Bob Dylan is really up to much after all. To sign up for daily, independent, member-led broadcasting, go to secondcaptains.com/join where you'll pay just €5 a month plus VAT, with no minimum contract.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Rory McIlroy’s open heart captivated the world last night, we identify the anti-McIlroy who has become the symbol of the Premier League 24-25.We survey the gallant efforts of the sports media to spin gold out of the straw of the past weekend and inspect some of the suggestions that have been put forward to revive football as a spectacle. Jonathan Wilson and Nick Ames join us to talk about the weekend’s PL action. What was the buzz at Anfield as Arne Slot’s team closes in on the title? Would Kevin de Bruyne be a good short-term signing for another of the big Premier League clubs? And… you know… what did they make of the golf?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After what must surely have been one of the most amazing days of sport any of us has ever seen, Rory McIlroy did what it often seemed he never would: won at Augusta and joined the very, very short list of golfers who've won a career Grand Slam. And he did it in the most 'Rory McIlroy at The Masters' way imaginable. We're joined in studio by Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and Gavin Cooney of the 42.ie to breathe it all in, to bask in it, and to relive it less than twelve hours later. Plus there's Jim Nantz's Crying Game, Lawrence Donegan the occasional oracle, and where Rory goes from here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu which this week includes Ken on his all-time Prem XI, Prince William's tactics masterclass before the Villa PSG game, Cork's march to an inevitable All Ireland hurling title and we ask Lawrence Donegan to take responsibility for Rory not yet winning The Masters. We also covered Munster's magic day in La Rochelle, Rice's free kick glory, Madrid in crisis and we have a pol pod coming on Friday too.Join in the fun 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you felt some almost imperceptible shift in the world this weekend, the minutest tilting of the Earth on its axis, perhaps, there can only be one coherent explanation: it was the county of Cork and the province of Munster reclaiming their positions at the centre of the sporting universe. The first righting of the celestial wrong came in the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday evening, as Jack Crowley did what Cork-born Munster outhalves do: stepped into the pocket and slotted a drop goal to put Munster two scores ahead of ROG's La Rochelle. Twelve minutes and a whole lot of drama later, the full-time whistle blew with Munster victorious. Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley join us in studio to chat through an incredible game full of heroics, emotion, atmosphere, momentum swings, 50/50 ref calls and nostalgia.On Sunday the Cork hurlers thumped Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to seal their first league title since 1998, with a good old-fashioned pitch invasion thrown in for good measure. Plus there's Mick O'Dwyer myths busted, Coombes' block, Mick Galwey on a JCB, and Leinster's 62-0 win in Croker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken, Branno and Mark went to Dalymount Park in search of vitriol - and they found it - but also nearly all of the other emotions on an evening that veered wildly between blind rage and helpless laughter. If everyone can agree the LOI is in a good place the same is not universally said of the Premier League where most of the teams are giving the impression that they would quite like to be on holidays already.Mark Critchley and Jack Pitt-Brooke join us to talk about the weekend's PL football. Did we just witness the worst Manchester derby of all time? If so, who is to blame? Where does Kevin de Bruyne stand in the pantheon of football greatness? And what chance remains of Ange fulfilling his cursed second-season prophecy?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster menu.Join in the fun 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most cinematic moment in world football this weekend happened at Dalymount Park as Moses Dyer hammered in a killer second goal for Galway United to plunge Branno, among many others, into a world of pain. Today he takes us behind the veil of darkness as we try to reckon with Bohemians' 5 defeats in their last 6 games. We also discuss Newcastle's JFK moment, the latest developments in Robbie Keane's chase for the Hungarian championship, and the reaction to a controversial tweet in which somebody claimed to have quite enjoyed their six-week stay in Dublin. Is this a shark-jumping point for Ken's favourite app? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a positive weekend for Irish rugby with the women's team getting a near flawless 8 try victory in Italy, Leinster's B / C team taking down Siya Kolisi's star studded Sharks in Durban, Ulster showing further signs of life against the Stormers, and Munster's halfbacks steering them to a win over Connacht. And even Connacht, as bad as they were at times, can feel they got something out of the game with two losing bonus points, a sellout crowd and a small footprint made in GAA territory.We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about the occasion in Castelbar, Connacht's great attack and terrible defence, Jack Crowley's contract situation, Leinster's defiance in Durban ahead of Quins in Croker, and the total transformation in the Irish women's team over the last 12 months.Plus there's "Lunnachts", Murph's Leaving Cert drinks and Munster's trip to ROG country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have a special edition of the show for you today; we’re putting yesterday’s conversation with David and Chantal Sneyd about their son Dylan, out free to all. There was a phenomenal reaction from our members and we felt this one should be shared as widely as possible.When Dylan was two David and Chantal grew concerned that he hadn't yet started to speak. They spoke to their GP who referred Dylan for further assessment, and so began the Sneyds' long and still ongoing struggle to navigate the Irish healthcare system.Dylan has since been diagnosed with autism, a diagnosis which brought David and Chantal some relief, but it was hard-won: interminable HSE waiting lists meant they eventually had to opt for a private assessment, years after that initial GP visit. David and Chantal joined us in studio to describe what life over the last four years has been like for them, the huge frustration that they and thousands of other families around the country feel in trying to access basic services for their children, and what they think the future holds for Dylan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mayo and Kerry both spent time yesterday in the relegation zone, but they’ll spend this week looking ahead to a Division 1 final in Croke Park after a daft last day of the National Football League.Paul Flynn and Conor McManus look at this strange, fun, league campaign in full, with some flowers for newly-promoted Monaghan, and we go down through the divisions in search of possible championship bolters to put up a challenge to a faltering Dublin in Leinster.We also discover the truth behind Paul Flynn’s history with the shin-pad, courtesy of a listener, and Eoin tells us about the time he met the late, great George Foreman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two comeback wins in four days, new options announcing themselves all over the pitch - just a couple of months on from getting wiped out 5-0 by England, it feels as though things are going... well?Damien Delaney and Richie Sadlier join us to talk about the playoff victory against Bulgaria and where the Irish team is at, eight matches into Heimir Hallgrimsson's tenure. For Damien in particular, this is a big moment. He is ready to love again.Plus there's Evan Ferguson's parking, Good Will Hunting and have we got Ronaldo rattled? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let us take you by the hand and guide you through another week of independent, member-led broadcasting on the Second Captains World Service.This week we had Ken on victory in Plovdiv, Murph and Branno on The Moose's caboose, we discussed the ultimate "conesman" Anthony Barry and his 5,000 throw-ins, and with Ireland's recent slide in standards we asked Gerry Thornley and Chris Jones of the BBC what impact Andy Farrell's absence and Nienaber's coaching style at Leinster may be having on the national side.For all this and more, visit secondcaptains.com/join where you can sign up now for just €5 a month, with no minimum stay, no sign up fee and no ads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Burn, Eddie Howe, Yasir Al-Rumayyan: they dream the same dream, they want the same thing. At least they all did at Wembley Stadium yesterday evening. As for tomorrow, who can say... Rory Smith of the Athletic joins us to talk about the game. How did Newcastle so comprehensively get the better of the league leaders? And how does the result affect the perception of Liverpool's season, which still looks likely to end with a Premier League title? James Montague, who has a new book coming out next week on Saudi Arabia's takeover of world sport, was also at Wembley to witness Newcastle's day of destiny. We talk about what the victory meant for the Newcastle fans, the commitment of the PIF to further successes with Newcastle, and the rhetoric of human rights in the age of autocracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let us take you by the hand and guide you through another week of independent, member-led broadcasting on the Second Captains World Service. Our first stop, the port of Stockholm via Darwin Nunez's - if not unforgivable then certainly unforgettable - penalty shootout miss against PSG on Tuesday evening. After a light lunch, we'll take in a conversation with one of the great sportswriters Donald McRae about his new boxing book, The Last Bell, and finish with last night's Madrid derby, as Ken goes microscopic on another penalty: Julian Alvarez's. Oh, and there's a bonus stop off at Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new Manchester circus tent. For all this and more, visit secondcaptains.com/join where you can sign up now for just €5 a month plus VAT.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland only had to make four tackles in the opening 18 minutes of this game, and they were ahead against a Dupont-less France early in the second half. But it was a worrying capitulation after that as Galthie's men scored 42 points in a game that will linger long in the memory.We talk to Shane Horgan, Chris Jones of the BBC and Ruaidhrí O'Connor of the Irish Independent about what went wrong after 18 minutes, what they could have done better in those opening 18 minutes, who was at fault for the avalanche of points conceded in the second half, the impact the yellow cards had on the result, King Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Sam Prendergast's mixed performance, the long term implications of the result, and our desperate need for speed. Plus there's permutations man, Ireland's European medal rush, and why France are good for rugby.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anger stalks the land, as discontented fans rebel against owners, against prices, against the way the game is going - but is anybody listening?To answer this question we consider the case of the lesser-spotted Chelsea Football Club, with contributions from co-owner Todd Boehly and coach Enzo Maresca.If this is how things are in ‘real football’ then maybe the Sidemen vs YouTube Allstars, rather than being a portent of Antichrist, is the way of the future?Lars Sivertsen and Rich Jolly join us to talk about the games at Old Trafford and Anfield. What is people’s problem with Bruno Fernandes? On the same theme, why does Martin Odegaard also get it whenever Arsenal have a bad result? And are PSG right to be so confident ahead of tomorrow night’s second leg against Liverpool? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland approach a grandchildren to tell time moment in the 6 Nations, Alisson Becker puts in a lifetimer of a performance against PSG in the Champions League last 16, Old Man Murphy likes life under Jim Gavin's rule enhancements: a small but hearty taste of our week on the World Service. If your appetite is sufficiently whetted, go to secondcaptains.com/join for member-led, ad-free broadcasting now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maybe he picked the wrong week to be away. Last week brought probably the decisive matches of the Premier League and a fight pitting Ian Harte against all the League of Ireland managers. This weekend was the FA Cup, arguments about the quality of balls, a story about a player disrespectfully bringing his dog to training. With the Champions League promising bigger things later in the week, Ken reviews his time in Miami and his trip to the really-quite-far-away Chase Stadium: did the jewel of South Florida live up to Will Smith's billing? We also talk about Manchester United's latest defeat, as is tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin McDevitt has been covering every corner of the island in the last couple of weeks, including a trip to Belfast on Saturday night for what turned out to be an explosive and highly controversial fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan.Last week Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony announced they would all retire from Irish rugby at the end of the season. We talk to Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan about how the three have evolved over the years, their relevance to this game against France, the challenge posed by Dupont and his teammates and why Ringrose is a big loss against this rapid looking French backline.New Zealander Clayton McMillan will be Munster's head coach next season, which is seen as bit of a coup by the IRFU. We look at his background, his achievements with the Chiefs in Super Rugby, his approach to management and why Munster need this one to work.Plus there's Felix Jones' return to South Africa, creating hostages to 6n fortune, and the sound of rowing silence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly world service best of show which this week includes Rory Smith and Wilson on Liverpool's seemingly unstoppable title march, Andy Lee on how he and his fighter Jospeh Parker coped with Daniel Dubois withdrawing from their title fight at such short notice, our chat down in Cork with the much decorated Olympic champion rower Fintan McCarthy and Murph and Eoin get stuck into the GAA goalie debate as Murph Lovejoy pleads "won't someone please think of the shot stoppers".Join in the fun 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 18-10 down and a man down, against a transformed Welsh team, Ireland were heading for one of the great 6N shock losses; but thanks to some pragmatism, some brilliant kicking by Gibson Park and James "air" Lowe, Easterby's side eked out a win in Cardiff to secure the Triple Crown and keep their Grand Slam hopes alive.We chat to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about the nature of the second half recovery, some of the errors that meant they had to come from behind, Ringrose's red, Prendergast's ups and downs, brilliant Bealham and Scotland's missed kicks.Another Sunday afternoon, another GAA golador makes a seasonal re-appearance.  7 days after Michael Murphy's return, David Clifford started his first game under the new rules and got 3-3 to fire Kerry past Tyrone.  Why are all of Gaelic football's biggest names looking so happy/enthusiastic this February?Plus there's the latest string to Jamison Gibson Park's bow, Bundee's war face, 6N permutations and the Fenton factor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While our Chief Soccer Correspondent is chasing the GOAT in Miami, the rest of the football world continues to roll on, or in the case of the English Premier League the word trundle may be better applied, as Liverpool look to have it wrapped up in February. We have Dion Fanning in the studio and Mark Critchley on the line to look back at a weekend that saw Arsenal slip up, Salah stake a claim for the Ballon d'Or and Manchester United say to their beleaguered staff it’s soup or nothing.We also reflect on the enormous outpouring of love for our chat with Charlie O’Leary on the World Service and reveal whether or not a spliff was offered to us on the DART. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly world service best of show which this week includes Charlie O'Leary meeting The Pope, Dion on Stephen Bradley taking on the FAI, Sharlene on the pressure of running the 400m relay final leg, plus we covered the 6N, Nunez's miss, City's fall and all the PL and CL stories and next week we review Man City V Liverpool and Wales V Ireland, chat to Andy Lee and will be all over the women's internationals and big GAA matches.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Ciarán Murphy (zero All-Irelands, zero All Stars) sidelined, Paul Flynn (six All-Irelands, four All Stars) joins us in the studio to look back at a gusty weekend of National League football, while Conor McManus (three All Stars, greatest Monaghan player in history) joins us on the line. We chat friend-of-the-show Michael Murphy's return featuring a tribute to 2006 era Zidane, Dublin's wind-assisted win in Tralee and the secret rule scenario.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look back on yesterday's supersized Dublin derby: was it a great success, did Bohemians sell out their values, and does anyone care with the moose on the loose?We also discuss whether Stephen Bradley was right to BLAST Heimir Hallgrimsson for his tactless if generally complimentary pre-Christmas remarks about Shamrock Rovers.Gavin Cooney and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk about the weekend's Premier League action. Are highly-paid modern-day footballers really entitled to be injured? Should Ruben Amorim bend or break? And when did they realise their inner reactionaries had taken control?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘All THIS?! FOR ONLY FIVE EURO A MONTH?!’, is what you’ll be saying after listening to this week’s World Service taster menu. Come see if our selection of tantalising hors d’oeuvres can’t tempt you to try our whole member-led, ad-free buffet? Head to secondcaptains.com/join for more details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The magic of the FA Cup cast its spell as Plymouth slew the giants of Liverpool - but is it really still magic if the giants don't care?Ange Postecoglou responded to another Tottenham defeat with a harrowing speech about the chronic injury situation. Is even the injury situation also all Postecoglou's fault? And does playing more games make you more or less likely to get injured? We try to make sense of conflicting evidence.-- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 points from 10, two of our three 6N rivals beaten, the three in a row still on, the slam still alive, and a young outhalf improving by the week - these are salad days for Irish rugby!We chat to Shane Horgan and Ruaidhri O'Connor about the win, a dismal Scottish display, Sam Prendergast's performance, French butchers, England finding their Fin, concussion protocols and who Easterby should select for the Wales game.Plus there's a comprehensive 6N permutations slot, the fun police are out, and ROG delivers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'All THIS?! FOR ONLY FIVE EURO A MONTH PLUS VAT?!', is what you'll be saying after listening to this week's World Service taster menu. Come see if our selection of tantalising hors d'oeuvres don't tempt you to try our whole member-led, ad-free buffet? Just go to secondcaptains.com/join now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.