Second Captains @ The Irish Times

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.