Second Captains @ The Irish Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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