Second Captains @ The Irish Times

It was a sunny Sunday when for once football was pushed into the shadows - but nobody keeps this baby in the corner for long. La Liga clubs have been the most active in the summer transfer market so far. Has there been an outbreak of caution in the Premier League or is everyone just waiting until the last minute to lose their minds? We discuss Manchester United's reported interest in Harry Maguire. Is £80 million for England's World Cup hero solid business, or one of the most insane examples of transfer mania yet recorded? We join Oluwashina Okeleji in Cairo to talk about the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. What has happened to Nigeria's 90s flair? How does Kalidou Koulibaly compare to some other highly-valued centre-backs? And why are the Egyptians supporting Algeria? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A spritz of the Second Captains World Service See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After missing out last year, Mayo are in the Super 8s, and they seem destined to keep us entertained for another month or so... at least. Mike Quirke and Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times give us their thoughts on the weekend's football, with Mayo surging past Galway, and wins for Cork, Meath and Tyrone. There's one team the lads fancy to take a few heavy beatings... and it's not the Division 3 team. And there's the unbelievably tasty prospect of Mayo against Kerry in Killarney next Sunday to look forward to as well. Willie Dunphy was one of the real leaders in the Laois hurling team that shocked Dublin yesterday, and he's on today's show talking to us about the day they conceded 10 goals to Cork, sweet deliverance over the last 8 days, and why they can keep it going too. Plus there's Phil Neville's advice to the Cork footballers, Nesbitt watch, lovely Lahinch for the Irish Open, and Frances Murphy's molten hot take on the young men of Ireland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to discuss covering the FIFA WWC for RTE, Team America, male and female celebrations, and Phil "the humble one".We talk to Johnette Howard about how the team is perceived in the US, confusing brashness with confidence, Rapinoe's wars with Trump and where the fight for equal pay will go from here.Tim Vickery chats to us about Brazil winning the Copa in Brazil, Jesus' moment of madness, and how Argentinian fans' calls for Leo Messi to become more vocal and communicative may have created a monster.Plus there's Phil Brent, Jonathan Pearce magic, Pogba PR, COYDIG boos and CR7 watching himself on the big screen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jonathan Pearce went full Jonathan Pearce, England went full England and Dr Ken diagnoses glazed eyes.Plus Murph on the GAA's Mr fix it, and Frances Murphy's birthday greeting. Welcome to another taste of the Second Captains World Service. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A spying scandal has erupted ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and the USA and Phil Neville has another national team set-up to criticise.We look back at the quarter-finals and forward to tomorrow's much-anticipated Anglo-American showdown in Lyon.Also today, we go through Swiss Ramble's snapshot of Arsenal's lost decade.We're joined from Lyon by Caitlin Murray, author of "The National Team", a history of the USWNT, to talk about the Americans' march toward the final and why many perceive them as the villains of the tournament.Plus there's the audacity of Hope Solo, football idealists, selling jerseys and putting out a Lance vibe in France. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.