Second Captains @ The Irish Times

Eoin and Ken wonder how it would feel to be 19 and cost the same as Zidane. Hopefully Anthony Martial is the unflappable type.Richie Sadlier talks about De Gea and other transfer window stories, and we also hear from Emmet Malone who's with the Ireland camp out in Portugal. And Stephan Uersfeld joins us from Berlin to talk about German football's attitude to the European refugee crisis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin Ken and Murph kill time before a gigantic sporting weekend by discussing hypnosis, Mayo's sweepers, RWC scum emails, Marshawn Lynch's skittles commercial, and Ken's piano journey.We talk to two of the greats from Galway's past, Cyril Farrell and Noel Lane, about comparisons between the 1980's sides and the current version, and why thinking too much about Kilkenny is never great preparation for a final. Serena Williams is chasing the calender Grand Slam in NYC this week. We talk to US Murph about the excitement stateside and about one of the true trailblazers, Althea Gibson, a black woman from Harlem who was winning Wimbledon and US Open titles back in the 1950's. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dublin Mayo have to do it all again on Saturday. We talk to Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles about Dublin's mid 2000's style mental frailties, Mayo's bouncebackability, and who will win the replay.Ireland V Wales was supposed to help decide what fringe players would make the 31 man RWC squad. Instead we learnt more about who the starting XV should be against France. Gerry Thornley joins us in studio. Plus there's the High Court case that's aiming to stop South Africa going to the RWC, the sport that ate itself, Germany's response to the refugee crisis, and Dafne Schippers - the woman who runs faster than Flo Jo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk through a weekend of Premier League action that saw Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all beaten. Will any of the wounded giants unleash a transfer market Spectacular in the next 36 hours? Chris Bascombe joins us to discuss Liverpool's unfortunate new habit of conceding three to six goals at a time. And Jonathan Wilson analyses whether Louis van Gaal's possession ethos is cramping Manchester United's style. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mayo and Dublin meet again on Sunday in a game that has the potential to be a classic. The margins are wafer thin.... but all five people in studio predict a Mayo win.Newly-crowned European champion Michael Conlan talks about the impact losing Billy Walsh would have on Irish boxing. US Murph tells us about the Australian rugby star now ripping it up for the 49ers, and we look at Schmidt's RWC squad options. Plus there's Bolt V Segway, MDMA GAA snobbery, and more urinal chat. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the glorious new dawn of the second era of Wayne Rooney. There is also a lot of transfer and Ashley Madison dating talk today.James Corbett joins us to talk about why Everton feel they should have a chance of holding on to John Stones.And Raphael Honigstein gives us his view on the record transfer of Kevin de Bruyne to Man City, while bringing us up to date with the latest in football jargon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken discuss the weekend's football. How many more lifetime minutes has Rooney played than Pedro? And how can Tony Pulis reconcile his admiration for Napoleon with his love of tradition, order and respect?Jacob Steinberg joins us to discuss West Ham's calculated risk in appointing Slaven Bilic. And John Brewin was at the Hawthorns to see Mourinho finally get the better of Tony Pulis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kerry are in the All-Ireland final again - the first champions to make it back to the final the following year since they did it themselves in 2008. Oisin McConville and Micheal Quirke discuss the incredible 24 month turnaround from talk of a drought to talk of an era of dominance.Usain Bolt V Justin Gatlin pulled in the fans this weekend - David Gillick tells us if the good vs evil narrative helps the sport of athletics. And we talk the Rorschach test for Chris Bart-Williams, Daley Thompson's tracksuit and the 'footbal fan on post-game rant' youtube genre - the gift that keeps on giving. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken talk about Pedro. A cut-and-dried case of Chelsea coveting their neighbour's ass? If Manchester United didn’t covet Pedro, what was Ed Woodward doing in Barcelona? And why does Jose Mourinho burn out wingers at such an alarming rate?Richie Sadlier joins us to talk through the ramifications of the Pedro deal, and whether Manchester United can feel confident about their attacking options if that’s the last action of the transfer window. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kerry and Tyrone face off in the first of the All Ireland semis on Sunday. Micheal Quirke talks Tiernan McCann ban farce, Kerry converting superiority into a win, and the day Paidi O"Se faced one of his own fans.Johnny Sexton talks to Simon about Leo the coach, recruiting from within and fine tuning for the RWC. Plus there's Ronaldo hair, the crazy cats at the CCCC, and refugees, dictatorships and cycling in Eritrea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken discuss complicated Van Gaal, John Terry's crushed pride and the options now open to Chelsea's wounded Lion.Dr Jonathan Wilson attempts to diagnose what is eating Chelsea FC. And John Brewin assesses Wayne Rooney's prospects of successfully carrying the Manchester United attack this season. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Finally, Galway and Tipperary gave us a game to remember, and we have Eoin Kelly in studio to talk to us about a thrilling All-Ireland hurling semi-final.We discuss Jason Day's incredible journey to becoming a major champion and creating a Big Three, and we talk to one of Ireland's best sportspeople, boxer Michael Conlan, after his European Championship gold medal and Boxer of the Tournament success. Plus there's Eoin's hurling helmet getting a trip to Croke Park, boozed up golf fans, and celebrations in the Early house. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Eoin and Ken discuss the medical profession. Is it ethical for a doctor to stand up for themselves if they are publicly criticised by their employer? And what constitutes celebrity status?Dion Fanning joins us to talk about Jose Mourinho's masterclass in how not to run your public relations. And Gabriele Marcotti analyses the impact of the Premier League's latest gigantic TV contract. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran reflect on the opening weekend of the Premier League season and particularly Swansea City, who are suddenly bristling with superstar players. Is Jonjo Shelvey the English Rijkaard? Is Jefferson Montero the Ecuadorean Jimmy Johnstone? Is Andre Ayew the Ghanaian Tim Cahill?Jonathan Wilson joins us to reflect on the growing strength of the Premier League's middle class. And Oluwashina Okeleji joins us from Nigeria to talk about the Super Eagles' pursuit of Jordon Ibe and THAT interview with Stephen Keshi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was a bumper weekend of sport, the highlight of which was Shane Lowry's win in the Bridgestone Invitational. We also talk about Ireland's assured start to their World Cup build-up with Gerry Thornley.Kilkenny move remorselessly on - Murph thinks Kilkenny are fallible, the rather better-qualified Eoin Kelly isn't so sure - and there's Mayo and Tyrone down to the last 4, but not without some controversy. Plus there's Richie Hogan's skinless feet, intense hair-ruffles, and Brian Cody selfies. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mayo and Donegal is the first meeting of heavyweights in this year's championship, and Oisin McConville and Malachy Clerkin ask some tough questions of Mayo. They're still backing them for victory mind, and Ken goes 2 steps further, backing them for ultimate glory in September.Shane Horgan talks to us about walking the tightrope between avoiding injury and cementing your place in the squad during these Rugby World Cup warm-up games. Plus there's a bad case of wicket-fever, welsh hallucinations, Kamp Staaldraad and Waterford's reasons for hope. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran ponder how long you realistically need to prove yourself in the eyes of a judge as perceptive as Jose Mourinho. 10 matches? 10 minutes? 10 seconds?Tony Barrett joins us to discuss the potential transfer of John Stones, and how market forces are recasting the city of Liverpool as a feeding ground for the richest clubs. Plus there's evil Messi, Ken's predictions for PL and McDevitt's marathon fable. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have world middleweight champion Andy Lee in studio talking about his new career as a boxing promoter, his challenger's distasteful thoughts on women, and visualising the biggest night of his career.David Epstein, author of The Sports Gene, joins us to talk about the explosive Sunday Times / ARD investigation that suggests widespread doping in athletics.And we talk about just why Jim McGuinness was right to be disturbed by the weekend's football action. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the possibility of an island, the impossibility of a handshake, and why Pep Guardiola seems to be eager to let everyone know Bastian Schweinsteiger is a crock.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about whether Arsenal really are the biggest threat to Chelsea's chances of retaining the title. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.