Second Captains @ The Irish Times

The first part of the hurling summer has ended, and it's ended with Wexford and Limerick on top in Leinster and Munster. If that sounds like it has a real mid-90s vibe to it, then you'd be right. Hurling Uber-mensch and the soul of Wexford, Liam Griffin, tells us why winning on the double, in minor and in senior, was so important for Wexford, and why it's a reward for hard work, planning, an exceptional playing group, and for Davy Fitz's application. Two-time all-star Seamus Hickey wasn't surprised by anything he saw from Limerick yesterday, as they dismantled the form team of the summer so far Tipperary in the Munster final. He tells us what drives this young team forward. Plus there's an attack on Wicklow from Murph, two fingers to Oliver Cromwell, professional fouls, flawless hurling, and feel-good vibes all over the place. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep 1501: Donegal Dominant, Dublin Dismissive, Kerry Unconvincing, The Dublin Q - 24/06/2019 by Second Captains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep 1500: Pip Lets Rip, Ref Quits, LVG On Messi - 24/06/19 by Second Captains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We didn't think we'd spend at least part of this week discovering factoids about the many and various ways that Scotland have managed not to qualify from World Cup groups, but after the misadventures of their women's team against Argentina last night, that is exactly what we've been doing on the Second Captains World Service. We present the results of those findings here on this SC taster menu, along with Eoin's wife pranking him, Oisin McConville backing Donegal for Sam (in a manner of speaking), and US Murph on the Toronto Raptors' NBA finals win. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Munster hurling championship last year had plenty of fire-works, but it didn't have drama to match the last few minutes of the Leinster hurling championship round-robin series on Saturday, as first Galway, then Dublin, then Wexford, then Kilkenny all found themselves staring elimination from the All-Ireland championship in the face. When the music stopped, it was 2017 champions, and All-Ireland finalists in 2018, Galway who were left in fourth place, and staring at a long summer. Michael Duignan and Malachy Clerkin were in Wexford Park and Parnell Park respectively, and they could hardly have asked for any more entertainment. Galway's horrible weekend was compounded when their footballers lost to Roscommon in the Connacht final on Sunday, and there's a mention to for the rather bloodless affair in Thurles between Tipp and Limerick, which nonetheless attracted almost 40,000 people into the stadium. Plus there's some typically exuberant Roscommon radio commentary, permutation puzzlers, blasé Galway fans,

Nine of the 16 second round teams at the Womens' World Cup have been confirmed, and the Americans still look like the team to stop, after following up their demolition job on Thailand with a 3-0 defeat of Chile.Meanwhile Paul Pogba has announced that he feels like a new challenge, somewhere else. But where? Who can afford him? And what direction do United take after he leaves?Rebecca Myers of the Sunday Times joins us from Nice to talk about the USWNT - a "super-elite" sporting institution that has to deal with more than the usual share of political pressure. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to our weekly sprinkling of the Second Captains World Service. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been a dark time for the Gaelic football fans out there, as their game has been ignored in favour of the small ball, on television at least. So there's no better antidote for that than a reunion of the Second Captains punditry dream-team of Mike Quirke and Oisin McConville on today's show. It will be a Cavan/Donegal Ulster final, after their stunning wins at the weekend - just what exactly has happened to make the Ulster championship the greatest show on turf this summer? And with the Dublin dominance continuing unabated, what steps are Meath taking to ensure that one day they'll be able to mount a challenge? Plus there's another very profitable weekend on the golf course for Rory McIlroy, a day of shame for hurling (as one of their refs actually applies the rules), good news at last for Graeme McDowell, and a silver medal for the Irish oche-artistes at the world darts championship. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Women's World Cup is underway in France, but the best player in the world is nowhere to be seen. We discuss the case of Ada Hegerberg and the Norwegian Saipan.Meanwhile Ireland are top of the Euro 2020 qualifying group after an encouraging performance in the 1-1 draw in Copenhagen. The Nations League final was a fascinating duel - we talk about Matthijs de Ligt, why he's so highly rated and why he hasn't yet decided on a destination.Damien Delaney gives his view on Ireland's performance - are there real reasons to be hopeful, or is optimism getting the better of us? Lars Johnsen of Josimar magazine joins us to talk about the case of Ada Hegerberg - why isn't she at the World Cup, and how has her stance gone down in Norway? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WELCOME TO HELL, or as its better known, Copenhagen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep 1483: Liverpool Win The Champions League - 03/06/2019 by Second Captains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Champions League Final Fun, chilled Klopp, Ken On Tour and Rice to Man United all feature on our latest snifter of the Second Captains World Service. Disfrutas! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leinster were able to bounce back from defeat in the European Champions Cup final to secure a third trophy in the last 2 years with a 18-15 defeat of Glasgow.Eoin Reddan and Gerry Thornley run the rule over the Pro 14 final - a game where that defeat to Saracens, and the opening game of the Rugby World Cup against Scotland, both cast a shadow. While Leinster were winning in Glasgow, Roscommon were doing what Roscommon do best - wrecking the best laid plans of Mayo with a stunning one-point win in Castlebar. We're joined by Shannonside FM legend Willie Hegarty. Plus there's polished wood swing seats, Sir Bradley Wiggins' culture fix (and John Lennon fixation), the Connacht internecine hatred pie-chart, and another summer of Mayo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has attacked Manchester City and PSG for inflating the European football market, prompting a spicy response from Khaldoon al Mubarak. The City chairman's smooth delivery has charmed McDevitt - but do his arguments stand up? We also discuss whether Matthijs de Ligt would be throwing his career away by joining Manchester United.Finally Terry Daley joins us on the line to talk about the Chelsea culture war: Maurizio Sarri's first season seems respectable enough from a results point of view - so why are so many Chelsea fans against him? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Munster have now lost 8 semi-finals, and 2 finals since they last won a trophy. Many people saw last Saturday's Pro14 semi-final against Leinster in the RDS as a must-win game, but what they were left with was more questions, departing coaches and a thoroughly bewildered-looking head coach and captain. Former Munster player James Coughlan and Gerry Thornley try and assess their next move as they look to progress, while Leinster have another final to look forward to, this one against Glasgow in Celtic Park next weekend. Oisin McConville joins us to talk about an extraordinary game in the Ulster championship which saw Armagh beat Down and win their first game in the province since 2014. Plus Ken scouts Glasgow Rugby, while marvelling at all the Scottish players who have first names that are surnames, and there's golden Fairview days, the GAA herrenvolk, and Leo Cullen's cultural insensitivity. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"What is life, what is the reason why we live? It is to live these kind of emotions..."So Pep Guardiola told the BBC in his pre-FA Cup Final interview. By this standard Saturday was another great day for the City manager, as he got to live almost the full range of emotions - from exultation as his players gave another fantastic performance, to fury as a reporter took the opportunity to ask him about money matters.Why do City feel as though they're not getting the credit they deserve? What more do they have to do? Jonathan Wilson and Rory Smith join us to analyse a week that was the most successful and perhaps the most irritable in the history of Manchester City, and the part the media have themselves played in the apparent decline of trust in their integrity.We also chat about Kompany's next move, Mbappé's bombshell, and a flurry of dubious quotes involving Gareth Bale. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who "barely fogs a mirror", and who "is as bould as a pig"? These, and other important issues are discussed on today's mini-promo-pod for non-members of the Second Captains World Service. The two men responsible for those illuminating, evocative phrases are US Murph and Michael Duignan, and you can decide for yourself who said what about whom. This week we cover Bielsa and Lamps, Tiger back to back, hurling's comedy show and Man City's many troubles off the field.There's also Ken on Harvard and it's pompous wrought-iron signs, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, stupid laughs, and the bizarre listening habits of our world service members. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Afterwards, it seemed inevitable that Saracens' power-game would eventually wear down Leinster in Saturday's European Champions Cup final. But - was it really all that inevitable? Or were key mistakes at key times the reason why Leinster couldn't add a fifth European title? Shane Horgan and Donnacha Ryan, a losing finalist last year with Racing 92, join us to discuss the turning-points, the decisions and the individual performances that turned this game in the London club's favour. Eoin McDevitt was on tour with the Dublin hurlers on Saturday, and was in the ground for one of the great moments of hurling shithousery from Dublin selector Gregory Kennedy - if he had seen it. Plus there's Mattie Williams getting confused with Declan Kidney, baldness is not a reason for despair, match-day car-parking, and genetics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When City won the league in 2012, Carlos Tevez caused consternation by waving a banner saying "RIP Fergie" at the title party. This time the top two have expressed nothing but mutual respect, gratitude and admiration. It's all very decent and civilised, and everybody can congratulate themselves on their new found maturity. But with Guardiola promising City will return even stronger, where now for the chasing pack? Can Liverpool possibly sustain their form into next season? Must Jurgen Klopp turn to the dark side if he hopes to ruffle Pep's beautiful plumage? We speak to Sam Lee, Manchester City correspondent with Goal, about how Guardiola has kept City consistent and where they are planning to reinforce the squad for next year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A snifter of Spurs lunacy, Richie Sadlier after his trip to Anfield and Ken on Ajax's trench foot See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.