Second Captains @ The Irish Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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