Second Captains @ The Irish Times

Ireland have been undone at rugby world cups in many different ways over the years - from Michael Lynagh, to 15-man lineouts, to Juan Imhoff... but we've never been knocked out by a freak weather event before - UNTIL NOW. It turns out there are alternative arrangements in place if indeed a typhoon does roll into town on Saturday and makes our final match against Samoa unplayable... but it's a World Cup, which means we're a little jumpier than usual. Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times joins us from Japan. The World Athletics Championships in Doha have been a bit of a disaster, from the empty stands that we saw at the start of the week to the 4-year ban handed out in the middle of the event to the most recognisable coach in the sport, Alberto Salazar. Salazar's woes began with a BBC Panorama documentary, and we speak today to the maker of that programme, Mark Daly. Plus there's permutations galore, Seb Coe, Ciara Mageean and the Tier 1 golden circle. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Irish football has been free of John Delaney for just over a week now - and already a great green wave of Gaelic genius threatens to engulf the Premier League.Is it fair that Mauricio Pochettino's position at Tottenham should be questioned simply because his team were blown away by the most talented human being ever to emerge from the city of Galway?After we have surveyed the happiness and unhappiness of various Premier League families, Miguel Delaney and Simon Hughes join us to analyse the weekend's football. How are Liverpool keeping their heads while all around are losing theirs? And what are Manchester United and Tottenham going to do about their embattled managers? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the start of the month, which means it's high time you joined the Second Captains World Service - but if just asking you isn't persuasive enough, here are some highlights from this week so far. The Players Chair was back this week, with a rollicking good chat with Ireland and Wolves defender Matt Doherty. Richie talks to him about Martin O'Neill, Richard Keogh, 'personal' injuries and how likely or otherwise he is to start in Georgia next week. You'll also hear Shane Horgan's rather scathing assessment of Ireland's performance against Japan, and there's Pat Kenny's rallying call to any Irish rugby players feeling the heat with this 5-day turnaround in Japan... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland are still in the Rugby World Cup but... our 19-12 loss to Japan now means we must talk about the bad old days again.We recorded a live podcast moments after the final whistle in our home-away-from-home, the Liberty Hall Theatre in Dublin, with Andrew Trimble and Eoin Reddan, and some uncomfortable home truths were brought to us. We are now an inconsistent team, and we have no real understanding of how well or badly we're going to play from week to week. That still means we could do something at this World Cup, but the smart money wouldn't be on it. We also had the searing rugby insights of David O'Doherty, who gave us a master-class in the dark arts on the David O'Doherty Rugby World Cup Skillz Mat. One emailer reminds us of Ireland's glorious tradition as rugby missionaries, and there's the Sexton conundrum as the team announcement for our next match on Thursday looms. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's all over between John Delaney and the FAI. We reminisce about the bad times, and the crazy times.Leicester's 5-0 demolition job on Newcastle posed a couple of questions. Is Jamie Vardy the most underrated player of his generation? And how has Coach Rodgers gone so quickly from being a bright young manager learning his trade, to a grandee of the game?We also talk about Manchester City's victory at Everton, which featured a stellar performance from Riyad Mahrez, and more slightly confused soundbites from Pep.Then Mark Tighe of the Sunday Times joins us to reflect on the last six months in the story of John Delaney and the FAI. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland outmuscled Scotland, but that aside, what else did we do right, and what else did we learn? Will Jordan Larmour hold onto the 15 jersey? Is Stockdale now a master defender? Have we the forwards to beat South Africa? We chat to Shane Horgan about vintage Ireland, pathetic Scotland, crafty Kiwis and a thrilling opening weekend. Shane says there’s plenty for Ireland to be encouraged by in the Boks opening display, but can we survive a 20 minute physical onslaught the way NZ did?We chat to Gerry Thornley about the positivity flowing through the Ireland camp, managing Sexton’s physical load and why the hosts will improve dramatically from their opener against Russia.Plus there’s Eddie V Heaslip, group flow, ITV’s dojo and Cheika getting caught out by Fiji’s smiling assassins. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Liverpool made it six wins in a row but finished the match clinging on as Chelsea, inspired by their fans' generosity of spirit, threw everything at them in search of an equaliser. Manchester City won 8-0 and then the hero of the day, Bernardo Silva, soured the moment by blundering into a social media racism controversy.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to discuss why the mood at Stamford Bridge remains buoyant in the face of poor results, the absence of Pulisic from Lampard's teamsheets, and to give his thoughts on Inter's victory in the Milan derby.And Laurie Whitwell was at the London Stadium to see Manchester United's defeat to West Ham. Can he see any positives for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, where Jose Mourinho could not? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Champions League is underway, the RWC 2019 is underway and grunge week is over - its the perfect time to join the Second Captains World Service secondcaptains.com/join .Shane Horgan told us this week that he reckons England are going to win the whole thing, and along with Donnacha Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gerry Thornley and Mattie Williams, you'll get all the biggest rugby brains giving you the best insight and analysis.Earlier this week, Jonny Cooper told us about the words of consolation from Jack McCaffrey after his sending-off in the drawn All-Ireland final that inspired him for last Saturday's replay.Plus Ken bullying Eoin, live show discounts and trouble in the camp. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

'No-one likes us, we don't care' would appear to be the attitude of some Dublin fans... but is there a silent majority of the country who, while they'd rather see the cups getting shared around a bit, are nonetheless more than willing to give credit where it's due? Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke give us their thoughts on the greatest team of all time, the players and manager that made them, and the fault-lines that could yet appear on the horizon. Not even 24 hours after the Dubs won the men's final, their women's team were at it as well, and we speak to 2017 footballer of the year Noelle Healy, who kicked the last point of their 2-3 to 0-4 win over Galway. Plus there's crowd trouble on the Hill, Eoin meets Michéal Martin, Oisin's beef with Johnny Magee, and Mike Quirke's new job. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin returns from Seattle, and he's bearing gifts, which translates to both good news and bad news for Second Captains listeners. There is no doubt what the theme is today as the dazzling young stars of Frank Lampard's talent factory blazed far too hot for Wolves to handle.Sam Lee and Jonathan Wilson join us for a closer look at some of the weekend's football. Is there a solution for City's defensive problems in their youth teams? And why does Jonathan believe a reckoning is coming for Frank Lampard? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Second Captains World Service aches for you. Here is a taste of what you've been missing.Oisin and Mike on Brolly's Licence To Ill, Richie Sadlier on Troy Parrott's rise, Ken on Dubs all Ireland ceremony, and RWC 2019 build up. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two weeks ago, Ireland conceded almost 60 points to England... so what the hell are we doing at number 1 in the world rankings? No-one seems to be paying it much heed, least of all here in Ireland, but it suggests we must be doing something right. Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times pick out the best bits from a second win over Wales in 7 days in the Aviva on Saturday, and why after the Twickenham humiliation, the only way was up. James Ryan has emerged from Devin Toner's lineout shadow, and maybe there are less places to hide now, while Eoin Reddan is confident that Joe has remained confident throughout the last fortnight. Sinead O'Carroll of thejournal.ie is in studio to talk to us about the best camogie final in years, as Galway win just their third title in thrilling style against Kilkenny. Ken worries that the world is sniggering at our no.1 status, and we say goodbye forever to the Eoin McDevitt Rugby World Cup Panic Button... thank Christ. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out

If Ireland are Homer Simpson, then Georgia are Homer's assistant and guardian angel Karl, who helps him get promoted to executive in the Dimoxinil episode. Once again they have sabotaged Ireland's opponents and simplified the task of Euro qualification. Tomorrow Ireland play Bulgaria in a friendly that allows Mick McCarthy to look at some of his bench options. We talk about this morning's press conference, and catch up on what else was happening around Europe on international week.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about whether England are likely 2020 Euro champs, to give his scouting report on Ireland's next opponents Bulgaria, and to share his theory on why the international game in Europe has started to mirror some of the inequalities of the club game. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There simply is no better time to join the Second Captains world service than the first week of the month, with new editions of both Richie Sadlier's Player's Chair and Ken Early's Politics Podcast, and an Ireland V Switzerland review coming on Friday. Richie was speaking to Paul O'Connell at Electric Picnic last Saturday, and Ken spoke to Richard Seymour, author of a new book called The Twittering Machine. For those of you who haven't succumbed just yet... here's a taster. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dublin set off yesterday in pursuit of history, trying to become the first team to win the five-in-a-row. They eventually came within one kick of it yesterday evening, before Dean Rock's sideline free-kick dropped short and wide, and condemned us to a replay of yesterday's thrilling All-Ireland football final. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke were there, loved it as much as we did, and tell us why there's room for improvement everywhere, even amidst all the drama. Mike Quirke's bullish pre-match summation of the power of Kerry's bench was proved correct, Oisin's love affair with David Clifford, flaws and all, continues, and we cast half an eye towards a replay that is far from a foregone conclusion. Shane Horgan gives us his instant reaction to the World Cup squad being announced today as Devin Toner, Jordi Murphy and Will Addison miss out. Ken has some technique questions for Dean Rock, and some security questions for the Irish rugby team dressing room, as well as crying toddlers, unbearable excitement

Mane and Salah provided the drama but as far as the title race is concerned, the most significant moment of the Premier League weekend happened elsewhere. Miguel Delaney was at the Emirates to see Arsenal come back to draw with Spurs. Is Unai Emery getting closer to his best first XI, and what bug fixes would Miguel recommend for the latest edition of the MP operating system?Then we’re joined by David Sneyd who saw Seamus Coleman lead Everton to a 3-2 win against Wolves.We also have the latest from the Ireland camp out at FAI HQ in Abbottstown. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

2017 Footballer of the Year Andy Moran has announced his retirement from inter-county football. In a wide-ranging interview for ‘The Players Chair’ with Richie Sadlier on the Second Captains World Service, the man with more appearances for Mayo than any other player has said that having discussed it with James Horan this weekend, he’s made his decision to retire, and has told his team-mates that he will not return for another season. Moran won a National League title earlier this year, Mayo’s first national title in 18 years. In between those two league wins the county had reached 10 national finals, three league and seven All-Irelands, including the 2016 replay. Andy was in the Mayo panel for them all, and only serious injury prevented him playing in all 10 – a cruciate injury that forced him to miss the 2012 All-Ireland, when he was the team captain. Over the course of a 16-year career, he became one of the totemic figures on a Mayo team that was the compelling story of the GAA world in this decade. He

Ireland suffered a record defeat to England on Saturday, and the rather uneasy rumblings of last week have become fully-realised fears in the eyes of many Irish rugby fans - we press the panic button on today's show. Shane Horgan sees our hopes of winning the World Cup disappearing over the horizon, and he's on with Gerry Thornley to pinpoint the many, many areas for improvement from a shockingly poor Ireland display in Twickenham. Ken questions the very reason for the existence of these matches, before we move onto to an Irish sportsman who had a rather better time of it this weekend - Rory McIlroy won the Fedex Cup, and $15 million last night, and Alex Myers from Golf Digest tells us why, yes, 2019 has been a very good year for Rory. Plus there's Ross Kemp on Ben Stokes, Jack Leach saves Superman, why the Connacht u-20s should take on Wales, and the Rory-Brooks Koepka FEUD that refuses to go away. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Premier League weekend: David Silva sublime. David Luiz ridiculous. Eoin has some questions - cheap, nasty, and obvious ones.Did Unai Emery play it too conservatively at Anfield? Who was to blame for Crystal Palace's first goal against Manchester United? And are managers seriously going to keep complaining about penalties not given even in the VAR age? We're joined by Mark Douglas to talk about Newcastle's surprise win at Tottenham. Who are the people Steve Bruce claims to have shut up? Plus there's Rash's peno pain, the Giles walk, Klopp's whatever and setting the bar for racist trolls. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been a bit of a roller-coaster year for Tipperary - an All-Ireland win looked pretty unlikely at the end of the league, looked very likely indeed after the Munster championship round-robin, and then after a 12 point hammering from Limerick in the Munster final, it looked a rather remote possibility again. But from the ashes of that chastening day, they came good when it mattered - and in a game that will be remembered for Richie Hogan's red card, they were crowned All-Ireland champions yesterday. Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin tell us why they reckon Tipp would've won it anyway even without the red card, how real life scar tissues helped this Tipp team mature, and even speculate on what next for Brian Cody. Plus there's Eoin's hurler of the year, Murph's end of season celebrations, and Liam Sheedy's glazed eyes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.