Second Captains @ The Irish Times

Darron Gibson has made headlines with harsh comments about some of his Sunderland team-mates, which obviously somebody recorded and posted online. Fans: this is why footballers don't want to talk to you. Footballers: this is why you shouldn't go drinking with fans after losing 5-0.Guardiola reckons Premier League favourites Manchester City are at last looking like the team he's had in mind since he joined, while Nemanja Matic has joined Jose's Giants from Chelsea. His new manager has fired a shot across the bows of Antonio Cont'. Dermot Corrigan joins us from Madrid to report on Cristiano Ronaldo's tax case. The World Player of the Year is charged with tax evasion and Dermot tells us there is lot at stake in the courtroom.And in the wake of the news that James Richardson is leaving the Guardian's Football Weekly, Ken confirms that he is happy, for now, at Second Captains. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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The rules of golf state that if you start a meltdown on the Sunday of a major, you continue that meltdown and lose the tournament. Jordan Spieth arrested an alarming decline yesterday with the gutsiest golf seen since the Tiger era. He has three majors but the question remains - is he Ice-Man or Maverick?Michael 'controversy follows me everywhere' Duignan has become a walking headline these last few weeks. He comes into studio to address criticism thrown at him by Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald. Plus Eoin Kelly joins us to assess Waterford's chances against Cork, and tries to understand the form-line of this confusing 2017 Tipp side.We demand answers from Oisin McConville, who tipped Donegal at the start of the season, and who keeps saying Mayo have to move on from points machine Andy Moran.Plus there's Euro 88 Mexican wave controversy, Ken on the mighty Dubs (if other counties just listened they might learn something), Shefflin's managerial career, and Cillian O'Connor's ideal transfer move. See acast.com/p

Joe Brolly told the Sunday Business Post yesterday that capitalism would kill the GAA. Football shows us a sport where the process is already far advanced. July gives you little actual football to distract from the business of money making, which the big clubs are doing on their summer tours. So today it's Neymar buying sneakers, and Jurgen Klopp talking about the price of butter. Sid Lowe joins us to talk about how the Neymar transfer talk is being received in Spain, and explains why the FA President, Angel Maria Villar, was arrested last week as part of a corruption investigation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken are talking about fake news. Ken confesses to a missed opportunity.Premier League teams are on pre-season tours, making money and trying to spend it. Liverpool can't get anyone to take their stinking money. Jose Mourinho has been impressed with Marcus Rashford's phenomenal upwards growth. News may be fake, but inches are real. We're joined by Rory Smith of the New York Times to talk about how football transfer stories were the original fake news.What is it about football that makes it the ideal environment for fake news to arise and spread? Does it tell us anything new about how the media really works? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Winning comes easy to some people - and this weekend Roger Federer, and the footballers of Dublin and Tyrone, all burnished their credentials with crushing victories. Oisin McConville and Mike Quirke reflect on the Dubs' 7th consecutive Leinster championship win, as each new game brings another scoring master-class from a different member of their forward unit. They are somewhat less impressed by Tyrone who they feel still have a bit to go to challenge the reigning All-Ireland champions, but they had plenty in hand to take care of Down in yesterday's Ulster final. Post-prime Roger Federer might end up being one of the best players of all time, even if we leave aside his achievements in his ACTUAL prime - Louisa Thomas of the New Yorker joins us to talk about his 8th Wimbledon title, and Venus falling short at the last hurdle. Plus Murph alienates 75% of the country, Ken reflects on Jimmy Connors' late career, and we play some foul-mouthed Al Pacino. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information

Cork are the Munster champions, and powered by a cohort of brilliant young players, the dip we've all been expecting as they adjusted to their new reality just hasn't arrived. We analyse the influence of Gary Keegan, former Irish boxing supremo, on Cork. We said a few weeks ago that there are 7 teams capable of winning the All-Ireland senior hurling championship this year - and with 6 teams left after this week, who was dumped out? Brian Cody's Kilkenny. Michael Duignan and Eoin Kelly talk us through it all. After 4 years of build-up, 8 weeks of frantic touring, and 3 brilliant tests, the Lions and the All Blacks shared the spoils on Saturday morning. Shane Horgan suggests the success of the Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton axis could be a lesson for how rugby is played. Plus there's the Peter Pan of Rossie pitch invasions, kissing your sister, and the future of brainy rugby. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Wayne Rooney knows how to tug on Evertonian heartstrings. Romelu Lukaku perhaps a little less so. At least one of his new team-mates at Manchester United has a thing or two to teach him about farewell tribute messages.We consider the phenomenon of the viral signing confirmation announcement. Aston Villa have pushed the boat out for John Terry: having raised the bar, what can they do to welcome Glenn Whelan?James Corbett joins us to talk about the impressive business Everton have done so far this season. Are we seeing the emergence of a new Everton, or is their rich owner simply looking like a big spender by releasing the money generated by player sales?Plus there's football pranks and rugby japes, the Chelsea shop, the Everton song, things that make life worse and signing Stomrzy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken returns just as international football ends for summer 2017. Once again, Germany have won most of the trophies and have added the Euro U21-title and Confederations Cup to their haul. The World Champions look well set for the next World Cup, all Joachim Löw needs to do is figure out which of their 40 top-quality internationals to drop.As the Confederations Cup winds up, we talk to Nick Ames in Moscow. How did Russia perform as host? And is football making an almighty mess of video technology?It's a hot sweltering summer and a lot of people seem to have worked themselves into a bad mood, but amid the rancour and recrimination one very special guy has brought a smile to Ken's heart. We talk through a few of the summer transfer stories. So far this transfer window has been an Everton muscle show, which nobody has been able to say since the mid-1980s.This is a free-to-air show. To listen to all Second Captains programming become a member at secondcaptains.com/join. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out

The Lions won the second test of the series against New Zealand, and that's all that matters, regardless of the fact that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the tourists simply couldn't pass up. The All-Blacks will be back to 15 players for the third test, and the weather might not be as amenable on Saturday (although it's New Zealand, so rain is never far away), but the Lions have given themselves a chance - Eoin Reddan tells us why we should expect one of the fiercest physical battles in rugby history next Saturday morning. Galway are happy enough in fierce physical battles too, and their win in the Leinster final yesterday against Wexford might just have convinced the last few doubters of their suitability as All-Ireland favourites. Michael Duignan and Eoin Kelly were suitably impressed, and they join us on the line. Eoin questions the communication skills of Galway's hulking hurling hordes, Will "Mr Bombastic" Greenwood has the desired effect on a returning Ken Early, and we take a (short)

From the moment Tadhg Furlong told us about the unique charms and appeal of his uncles' home on Whiddy Island last December in the Liberty Hall Theatre, we have been dreaming of one day broadcasting from this jewel of Bantry Bay. And last Saturday morning, as Tadhg made his Test debut for the Lions against New Zealand, that dream became a reality. And as we all tried to digest the thoroughness of the All-Black win (and our beautiful al fresco breakfast), we recorded a very special show with contributions from Barry Murphy - 2008 try-scorer for Munster against the All-Blacks, Richie Sadlier, and local Cork hurling legend Mark Foley. Tadhg's uncle Tim told us about his family's pride in his achievements, his granny came down for a look, and at the end we were left with one of the most special days in Second Captains history. A massive thank you to all of our listeners who came over, to the community on Whiddy Island, to our gracious host Tim, to O'Hara's Brewery and to Tadhg for his help in setting us up.

The biggest story of the football weekend was the bombshell revelation that every member of the Russian squad from the 2014 World Cup is under investigation for possible doping. We speak to Nick Harris who broke the story for the Mail on Sunday, and ask if a story like this is going to be in the media cycle for longer than just a few days, or if attitudes to doping in football will remain as wilfully ignorant as ever. Last autumn all of Ireland was in thrall to Dundalk's Europa League exploits, and wondered aloud at what the influx of money would do for their continued domination of the domestic game. Fast forward to today and there's a team running away with the SSE Airtricity League alright... but it's Cork City. Former City legend Neal Horgan tells us how they've done it - with 18 wins and 1 draw in the league this far, and what they can achieve in Europe. We also hear about Damien Duff's competitive spirit (even against 9 year olds), Stefan Effenberg and a potted history of radio no-shows. See acast.com/p

We give you a taste of the latest Player's Chair with Damien Duff. From the shower.For the full broadcast, join the Second Captains World Service at secondcaptains.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was supposed to be a war of attrition, but in the end Tyrone blew Donegal away in their Ulster championship semi-final yesterday with a dynamic, all-action display of attacking football. Oisin McConville thought this Donegal team had a bright future, but he and Mike Quirke now ponder the next step for them, and how far Tyrone can expect to go this summer. And we discuss whether Kildare showed enough in their defeat of Meath to trouble the Dubs if they meet in the Leinster final. Shane Horgan has little time for the psychological warfare brewing between Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen - mainly because they're not the most charismatic pair of leaders you've ever come across. Plus there's duelling banjos, 1980s pitch invasions, man V shark, Lions meat, lame forfeits, and a scathing verbal broadside from Shane... aimed squarely at Murph and Ken. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

GET IT TO THE BIG MEN!!!..... came the cry from Martin O'Neill at half time, and that's exactly what the boys in green did, rescuing a point and almost getting a win against Austria.Were we robbed by a sizeist ref, and did Duffy even need to jump for the ball that resulted in a disallowed goal? But Ken also wants to know where have the good performances gone, what happened our midfield, and he has an interesting stat on Glenn Whelan and Ireland's big wins. Dion Fanning joins us in studio to analyse the game and implores Ireland fans to judge Wes Hoolahan the same way they do every other player. Dion also give his thoughts on the group table with four games to go. Plus there's McDevitt's horrendous tweet blunder, the wanker gesture, the law of diminishing returns with McClean's reducers, Austrian delusions of grandeur, Roberto Carlos' chicken legs, England under 20's, Scottish heartbreak and of course, Joe Hart .... Joooeeee Haaaarttt!!! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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We relive our Cat Laughs show with Dara ÓBriain and David O'Doherty.For the full broadcast, join the Second Captains World Service at secondcaptains.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid to their third Champions League win in four years - a victory for light-touch management and the model of having the best players in the world.Meanwhile James McClean scored another Ronaldo-like goal, Harry Arter impressed and Martin O'Neill gushed with joy as Ireland's boys of summer swatted aside Uruguay. We take a look at Ireland's midfield options for the Austria game.Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us to reflect on the Champions League final and whether Ronaldo has ended the GOAT argument.Plus there's Fergie's Ronaldo love, bank holiday bonhomie, Ken has a pop at kids (or "trinkets" as he calls them), Zidane the duck, "lads its only Juventus", and the moment of the weekend....Giggy's nutmeg! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The latest positive drug test in the GAA was the big story in this weekend's Sunday Independent - and over the course of the next 36 hours, statements from the Kerry County Committee and Sport Ireland have sought to add clarity to the case of Kerry footballer Brendan O'Sullivan.We're joined by the man who broke the story, the Sunday Indo's sports editor John Greene, and former Kerry footballer Mike Quirke, to ask questions on how this story was handled, the lack of transparency throughout, and MHA - the banned substance which found its way, via 'a contaminated product' into O'Sullivan's system.Galway, the new favourites for the All-Ireland hurling title, got their championship season underway with a routine victory over Dublin in Tullamore yesterday but the real story continues to be the failure of the Dubs to get their best 15 out on the pitch.Michael Duignan tries to understand why so many of Dublin's best players don't want to play for their county.Plus there's Tony Adams, Arsene Wenger and the swimming ca

Arsenal lit up Wembley with their best performance of the season, so naturally Eoin takes the opportunity to engage in some cheap shots about David Luiz.The final was a minor classic, the best of the seven Wenger has won. Should the board succumb to the golden glow of victory and award Arsene Wenger a new contract, or has this success made a necessary decision much harder? Eoin imagines himself into the role of Jose Mourinho and lays out the tactics that will beat Pep Guardiola next season. In the middle of midfield, controlling proceedings, is summer signing Graeme Souness. Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal joins us to analyse what sticking points could still be getting in the way of agreement between Wenger and Arsenal's board at this stageAnd Terry Daley joins us from Rome, where he witnessed Totti's emotional farewell.Our Monday broadcasts are free to air. However, to listen to all our programming, become a member of the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free, member-led