Second Captains @ The Irish Times

The gang is officially back together again as Eoin, Ken and Murph gather around a big ol' Berlin kitchen table and record live in person like those pre-Covid days of yore. It's only bloody Synth Week Live from Berlin!!We chat to Dion Fanning and Gavin Cooney about the other cause for celebration today, Ireland's win against Azerbaijan, one which surely eases pressure on Stephen Kenny... for now at least. The win aside, the main headline from the match was the small matter of Callum Robinson's two goals, goals which led to some serious DM traffic for our football correspondent over the past two days. Plus there's Fairview Lady vs Mensch, Courtois going off script, and live show news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last week we spoke with the amazing Khalida Popal, founder & former captain of the Afghan women's football team, and human rights lawyer Kat Craig, about how they got Khalida's teammates out of the country and out of the hands of the Taliban. We had an amazing reaction from world service members to this show with quite a few getting in touch to see if they could help in any way. Today, we are making the conversation free to all. If you have any feedback or think you can help please email us at editor@secondcaptains.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Salah's goal was so good even Mane looked impressed. We try to unweave the rainbow of Liverpool 2-2 Man City.Miguel Delaney and Gavin Cooney join us to talk through the weekend's football. Should Salah get his contract? Did Ronaldo join the wrong Manchester club? And are there answers for City's striking problems in the Premier League beyond Harry Kane? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the start of the month so the perfect time to sample the World Service. Join for a fiver a month, with no minimum sign up, no contract, no ads just lots of independent journalism. Go to secondcaptains.com/join. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep 2150: Ryder Cup Tears, Ken's New Favourite Trump Quote, Apologising For F-Bombs - 27/09/21 by Second Captains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was a week of forgetfulness and brutal reminders. Bruno forgot to keep it down. Spurs players forgot their game plan. We all collectively forgot that Man City were the best team in the PL. Rory Smith and Dion Fanning join us to talk through the weekend action. Are Arsenal back, reaping the rewards from Giving Him Time? But then, how much time is too much? And are Leeds roadrunners running out of road? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on the world service we discussed Jadon Sancho's lack of impact at Man Utd, Barca's delusions, strikers in their 30's and the race to be Kerry manager and in this taster we have US Murph running scared, Lawrence Donegan's Twat Stat, and. Ken on rugby's demographic being a feature not a bug. Join for a fiver a month, with no minimum sign up, no contract, no ads just lots of independent journalism. Go to secondcaptains.com/join. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today kicks off with an explosive allegation: a Manchester United fan believes the media are biased against his club. We delve into this scandal to see if there's anything to it.Jack Pitt-Brooke and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the weekend's football. Did Harry Kane deserve the criticism that came his way after the defeat to Chelsea? What's the latest in Pep Guardiola's feud with the City fans? And where are we with that Solskjaer/Lampard analogy...Plus there's Roy on Kane, Ronaldo's penalty appeal hat trick, Nagelsmann guff, trouble in Paris and Jimmy Greaves memories. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken gets triggered, then gets happy and comedy legend Bob Mortimer tells us the time his mum finally believed he had made the right choice in leaving the legal profession. Join the world service for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tyrone are the All-Ireland football champions... so why is everyone still banging on about Mayo? We bang on about Mayo for a little while, before Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn make sure to give Tyrone their due for their skill-level, their finals mentality, and their opportunism. But why does this keep happening? There were tactical, technical and psychological flaws shown up on Saturday, and we delve deep into them all. Elsewhere there was a magnificent Galway surge to win the All-Ireland camogie title, we heard some serious GAA fast talkers, and we salute Britain's first billion-pound athlete. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken pitches a concept for new Premier League branding. The "mercury effect lion wearing a crown" is a non-symbol, it doesn't transmit anything. It's time for a new logo that encapsulates the league's rugged values.We also talk about Ronaldo's return and mass hysteria as the Kathryn Mayorga case hovers above. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

So far on the World Service this week, we've had one hell of an All Ireland final preview with Paul Flynn and Oisin McConville, we've basked in the warm glow of the Bazunu and Omobamidele Show, and, most importantly, we've seen Murph and Ken let bygones be bygones and hug it out. Sign up to the World Service now for just €5 + VAT a month for independent, member-led broadcasting with a minimum of inter-presenter beef at secondcaptains.com/join See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was a classic All-Ireland women's football final in Croke Park yesterday, which saw Meath stun the four-in-a-row champions Dublin in a major shock. It was however no shock to seasoned watchers and admirers of Meathness - Murph gives us a run-down on just what makes the Royallers tick. Leona Maguire is the first Irishwoman to play in the Solheim Cup, but she wasn't content to get there - ever since the competition began on Saturday morning, she's been a revelation. Her singles match this evening could be pivotal, and with Katie Taylor winning on Saturday evening as well, it was a very, very good week to be an Irish sportswoman. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland were behind to Azerbaijan with 4 minutes to go at home to Azerbaijan. A Shane Duffy equaliser spared Ireland's blushes somewhat, but some people have run out of patience. Richie Sadlier and Damien Delaney join us on the show today to discuss just how quickly we can expect an upturn in results on the pitch, how much responsibility Stephen Kenny bears, and what we can expect from Serbia tomorrow night. Fault-lines within the Second Captains team also reveal themselves, as Murph accuses Ken of attempting to gaslight the nation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The main event on the World Service so far this week was Ireland's visit to Faro to play Portugal where a record-chasing Ronaldo lay in wait. Today, we've been grieving the loss of something that was very nearly beautiful, with the help of Richie Sadlier. Sign up to the World Service for independent, member-led, ad-free broadcasting now for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Another dramatic weekend of GAA action will be picked apart in full by Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn tomorrow - they did see this Tyrone ambush coming on Saturday afternoon, they just didn't foresee Kerry not foreseeing it.With Sean Cavanagh and Pat Spillane clashing on live telly, the call has come again to move away from having analysts from the counties involved on broadcasts... we are not so sure that's a good idea.Meath are the All-Ireland minor champions for the first time in 29 years, and Nicole Turner won silver at the Paralympics this morning - before charming the nation with a post-match interview for the ages. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

He’s back baby and the global Manchester United family is celebrating harder than ever.But if United signing a 36 year old Ronaldo and making him the best paid player in the league is obviously such a good idea, why did they wait until Man City seemed about to close the deal before making their move?Laurie Whitwell joins us to analyse the makings and implications of the mega deal. Will Greenwood improve under CR7, how does Bruno feel about this, is it a football signing, how did Fergie influence things and can he do a Tom Brady and play into his 40's?We also talk about Messi's PSG pro-am, Rio the matchmaker, Roy's selfies, Chelsea's band of brothers, Thiago Time, Arsenal's bad marriage and patronising Pep. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pep Guardiola is heaping over-the-top praise on Gabriel Jesus, which means he’s probably gonna get rid of him at the end of the season. Ken also takes a look at the Marseille brawl, how Rafa Benitez motivates his players and big Shane Duffy's return to form. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Was this the greatest ever performance in an All Ireland hurling final? Maybe. Did we see the greatest half of hurling ever? Possibly. Are Limerick the biggest strongest hurling team ever assembled? Definitely.We talk to Jamie Wall and Malachy Clerkin about the perfect plan executed to perfection, how they seem to peak in finals, how much joy they take in their style of play, and the lessons rivals need to learn if they're ever going to beat them.Plus there's glassy-eyed stick-wielding fans, angry Brian Murphy, McConville V Flynn and Clash Of The Ash. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hola! On this week’s World Service Ken speaks Spanish, speculates about Kane transfer speculation and admires the unique El Chiringuito formula for success - WWE, Love Island and old Spanish men talking nonsense about football. Meanwhile Murph and Eoin watched on as the best GAA punditry team in the biz, Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn, went at it over John Small and a hypothetical "anti Dublin bias", and Jamie Wall came up with a masterplan for Cork to beat Limerick.All these shows are at your fingertips IF you’re willing to part with just 5 euro a month. No minimum contract, no hidden extras, no ads. Go to secondcaptains.com/join. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.