Second Captains @ The Irish Times

The 2016-2017 rugby season has kept a low profile thus far, but Leinster Munster is a pretty good way to get blast things off. We talk to Mattie Williams about the importance of this fixture, and about some landmark legal cases regarding concussion and player welfare.We talk to Christine Brennan of USA Today about Maria Sharapova’s reduced ban, putting the blame on your agent and why you should always read your emails.Plus there’s Eddie the Eagle’s Superman routine, Eoin’s trip to Galway, and giving credit where its due. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ciaran, Ken and Richie talk about Spurs' win against City, the perils of the playmaking goalkeeper, and the persistence of the bung culture in English football.Dundalk's success is the best story to come out of Irish club football in years, so why isn't everyone happy about it? Plus there's how to spend your Europa winnings, Pep glow and Jose's tricky fixture list. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The All-Ireland football final replay ended in familiar, devastating, fashion for Mayo - we celebrate Dublin's two-in-a-row and try and sift through the Mayo wreckage with Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke.Lawrence Donegan tells us about a Ryder Cup victory for the US at long last, and tells us the Europeans need to be more stoic in the face of fan abuse.And there's Bubba's blubbers, Haddaway, the Oireachtas Report, and of course... The All Ireland Final 'Fair View'. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the Champions League results and the latest revelations from the Telegraph's sting investigation into corruption in English football.Tom English reports from Glasgow on a glorious night at Celtic Park.Plus there's Ken's diabetes snobbery, Bilic's loose curfews, and the video game footballers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The All-Ireland football final replay is finally upon us - and we have all of our big guns Karol Mannion, Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke on analysis and ready to pick a winner. US Murph looks ahead to the Ryder Cup in Minnesota this weekend, and is mortally offended by Danny Willett's brother. Plus there's the vanity of orthodontic work, Tamangos, and, in the year of Trump and Brexit, who needs to win the Ryder Cup more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big Sam Allardyce's time in charge of England lasted just 67 days, after he left the job 'by mutual consent' yesterday evening. He was undone by a sting operation organised by the Daily Telegraph, but is he a little unlucky? Ken outlines why he feels the punishment hardly fits the crime. And there's the requisite amount of greed permissible for a 'council estate lad', Eddie Howe's dealings with the superstars, and we discuss Trump-Clinton Part 1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Tony Pulis' nomination as the man he most respects in football, the difficulties of dealing with certain Einsteins, and the rights and wrongs of criticising players in publicJonathan Wilson analyses Arsenal's crushing win over Chelsea.And John Brewin brings us up to speed on the grumbling and griping of West Ham fans who are unhappy with their new stadium. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Cork ladies football team won their sixth All-Ireland title in a row, but not without controversy. We talk the LGFA's baffling decision not to use Hawkeye with Sinead O'Carroll, Kildare camogie player and news editor of thejournal.ie. Rory McIlroy won 11.5 million US dollars last night, just hours before the sad death of Arnold Palmer. With the Ryder Cup starting this week, there's plenty to talk to Golf Digest's Sam Weinman about. Plus there's Irish Times columnist Dave Hannigan on his new book "Drama In The Bahamas", on Muhammad Ali's final fight, and there's Bradley Wiggins, John Snow and Andrew Marr. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the Einsteins who are annoying Jose Mourinho, the one-man war being waged by Yaya Toure's agent, and the Chelsea goalkeeper who is pining for the city of his heart.Amy Lawrence joins us to discuss Arsene Wenger's 20th anniversary at Arsenal.And Sid Lowe explains why Diego Simeone is cutting years off his contract at Atletico. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Davy Fitzgerald has stepped down as Clare manager - Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin are on hand to tell us why he felt he needed to step down, and why some Clare players wanted him out.US Murph talks to us about the support that has rallied around Colin Kaepernick in recent weeks as his protest over police brutality in America catches fire around the country. Plus there's our amateur boxing exodus, the Mayweather McGregor nonsense, and the return to relevance of the humble streaker. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the very different sorts of reviews being attracted by Pep Guardiola and Wayne Rooney, and the indignities visited upon Geoff Shreeves in the new Friday Night Football format.Jonathan Liew joins us to analyse why Stoke have become such a soft touch. And Raphael Honigstein explains why fans in Germany are suspicious of the Red Bull-sponsored interloper in their midst. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The All-Ireland final went pretty much exactly the opposite of every prediction made last week - Karol Mannion and Mike Quirke try to decipher just what it was we saw in a thrilling, epic, drawn football final yesterday. Former Mayo player John Casey joins us on the line to give us his considered account of what he saw in the tunnel before the game as the teams emerged simultaneously. Plus there's McDevitt's match-day emasculation, Joe Brolly, and the return, as promised, of The Fair View. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken talk about a night of one-sided hammerings in the Champions League. The matchweek featured a 7-0, a 6-0, a 5-0, a 4-0 and two 3-0s: TV ratings gold.Gabriele Marcotti joins us to point the finger at the people guilty for allowing this inequality to happen.Plus there's Dundalk's new path, Roy's long memory, Pep's lash at the fans and Jose's beloved Europa. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's an All-Ireland football final special, with Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion in studio to preview Dublin's quest for two-in-a-row, and what Mayo can do to stop them. We talk to Michael Conroy, veteran of 3 All-Ireland finals, about what his erstwhile Mayo team-mates have learned from their recent heartbreaking defeat. Plus there's pre-race etiquette from Irish paralympian Ellen Keane and family, Eoin's handwriting and Dublin's addiction. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the merits of Claudio Bravo, the resumption of the Old Firm rivalry and Mario Balotelli's sharp insights into this economic treadmill we've all somehow found ourselves on.Jonathan Wilson joins us to analyse the Manchester derby.And Tony Barrett was at the redeveloped Anfield to see Liverpool destroy the champions Leicester City. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Rio, Pat Hickey has released a statement professing his innocence - we get the latest from Tom Hennigan.Andy Lee tells us why he believes he can take Gennady Golovkin on in the ring, in a way Kell Brook was incapable of in London on Saturday night. Plus there Djokovic's non apology, Ann Downey on the ending of Kilkenny's 22 year famine, and the calming effects of Sweet Caroline on boozed up sports fans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ken and Ciaran talk about the Manchester derby. Pep has been getting it from all angles this week - can his City boys redress the balance on the pitch? Richie Sadlier joins us in studio to talk about Ireland's draw in Serbia and some of the fallout that's been happening during the week. Are Ireland fans not allowed to express opinions any more? And should we be concerned about the fact that Martin O'Neill still hasn't signed that new contract?Plus there's Zlatan's bants marketing mix, the infinite sadness of Iniesta, and Bobbi the dog. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Five years ago Richard Dunne gave one of the all-time great performances in an Irish jersey... the same Irish jersey that had to have the number drawn onto it with a felt-tip pen. They say never meet your heroes but Eoin met his today and fell even more in love with one of Ireland's greatest ever defenders. Eoin and Richard discuss Ireland's World Cup campaign, away day blues and playing 5 a side in France. Shane Horgan joins us to discuss Stuart Lancaster's appointment to the Leinster backroom team, and there's Warren Gatland, Ruan Pienaar, ceremonial positions in sport, and the Irish obsession with a draw away from home. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran look forward to Ireland v Serbia and hear what Paul Pogba had to say about table tennis and becoming the best midfielder in the world. Emmet Malone joins us from Belgrade to preview the World Cup qualifier. And John Brewin reports on Sam Allardyce's first game as England manager. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The All-Ireland final turned into a procession for Tipperary, as they destroyed Kilkenny in every facet. We have Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin in studio to dissect what could be one of the great All-Ireland final team performances.Noel McGrath joins us from the team hotel to tell us about parking his cancer diagnosis, combining to deadly effect with his brother John, and watching his younger brother Brian captain the minor team to glory. Plus there's the stench hanging over north Dublin, basque wine and three cheers for the loser. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.