Second Captains @ The Irish Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The weekend saw some spectacular action on the pitch - but very little impresses the men of football's Greatest Generation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

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

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

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

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

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