Second Captains @ The Irish Times

Ken has arrived in Brazil, he has a ticket and his heart is full of football joy. He talks to Eoin about the local buzz, Messi rule, Neymar photos, the Roy Keane saga, Scholes' attack plan and Rooney relationship.Ken meets with Fernando Duarte and Jonathan Wilson in Sao Paulo to discuss paternal Scolari, Hulk respect and Brazil's overall prospects.Richie Sadlier talks to us about Spanish dominance being bad or good for the game and why Holland don't have to be loyal to their football culture. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Murph discuss happy campers, the world's most aloof sportsman, celeb spotting and World Cup journalism.Rory McIlroy is the bookies favourite for the US Open. We talk to the author of Four Iron in The Soul Lawrence Donegan about why Rory is a good bet, the delicate nature of on course rivalries, and the big American Phil Mickelson love in.Andy Lee and his big punch were trending in America last weekend. He joins us in studio to discuss a career changing moment.We also talk to author of Last Man Standing Christy O'Connor about reaction speeds of hurling goalkeepers, Nash, copycats and Clare's seven gameplans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This weekend's hurling was supposed to be about Sky Sports but Kilkenny's excellence did a pretty good job of stealing the limelight. Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and former Tipp captain Benny Dunne cast their eye over the broadcast newcomers, JBM and Brian Cody's re-energised team. Oisin McConville talks about violent parades and Mayo's sleepy start to 2014. And we are joined by Shane Horgan in Tucuman Province and Trevor Hogan in studio to talk about Joe Schmidt's honest appraisals.Plus we have Ken's maritime marathon, hurling goalkeepers bruising like a peach, and an Irishman throwing the knock-out of the year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the day Ken departs for Brazil, we present the snappily titled 'Irish Times Second Captains Ken Early World Cup Farewell Show'.Richie Sadlier talks about his World Cup memories and if World Cup performances define a players career. He also reveals the unusual way Irish teams used to relax during big tournaments.Tim Vickery also joins us from Rio to tell us what Ken can expect on arrival and if the Brazilian public are embracing the tournament. Plus, embarrassing interviews with Roy Hodgson, Ken Early's World Cup Crystal Ball and some very good news about our WC coverage. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken discuss how much Eoin would be willing to pay to see Ireland win the World Cup. Also discussed are Roy Hodgson's tournament anxiety and Joachim Low's mixed messages.John Brewin talks through England's clumsy yet entertaining performance against Ecuador.Miguel Delaney explains why he thinks Spain are going to win the World Cup, again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Both of last year’s All-Ireland finalists are in action this weekend, with the country still wondering if Mayo are the team best set to dethrone Dublin – Dublin legend Jason Sherlock and Shane Curran are in studio to discuss if James Horan has what it takes tactically to get his team over the line. The World Cup goes back to South America for the first time since 1978, when the tournament was hosted by an Argentina in the grip of a military dictatorship. Argentinian journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo joins us from Buenos Aires to tell us how that first World Cup victory is seen now. Plus there’s the return of Pierce Brosnan’s Emigrant Shout Outs, Ken refuses to tell us who he’s tipping for the World Cup (until Second Captains Football), and Eoin tells us the three things he needs to survive an Irish summer… the sun, the Dubs, and three football games a day. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken discuss the Sunday Times FIFA exposé and the signs over the weekend that a new Ireland team is finally taking shape under Martin O'Neill.James Corbett joins us to analyse the implications of the Sunday Times report on corruption surrounding the Qatar World Cup bid.And Dion Fanning ponders the roots of our national Roy Keane addiction. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Munster champions Limerick felt disrespected in the run-up to their Munster semi-final against Tipperary - their wing-forward David Breen tells us why that particular mentality seems to play into their hands, and how they engineered that thrilling last-minute victory. Leinster are Rabo Pro 12 champions again, but are they slipping further down the European pecking order? Denis Hickie tells us what they have to do to push on from here. Plus we have the enduring fascination with Roy Keane's Ireland future, Froch-Groves II, Randy Macho-Man Savage commentating for Limerick Live 95 and the weird sporting dreams of Eoin McDevitt. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss the Roy Keane to Celtic rumours, the latest English footballer to writhe under the lash of Paul Scholes' criticism, and Wright Thompson's terrific profile of Luis Suarez.Fernando Duarte joins us to talk about his new book "Shocking Brazil: The Six Games That Shook the World Cup"And Gabriele Marcotti gives us the latest on events in the Italy camp ahead of the game at Craven Cottage on Saturday night See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

George Groves and Carl Froch made one of the most spell-binding fights in British boxing history last year, so this weekend they go at it again, in Wembley Stadium. Richie Woodhall and Irish middleweight Andy Lee preview the fight for us. Like Groves, Tipperary will have revenge on their minds against Limerick this weekend, and US Murph looks at the controversial exclusion of Landon Donovan from the US World Cup squad. Plus we have Ken’s vengeful Viking heart, David Beckham’s alligator arms, and idiot teenage sons. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken kneel in homage before Sergio Ramos, and wonder whether Martin O'Neill will turn up the heat on Ireland's players after yesterday's defeat to Turkey. Jonathan Wilson joins us to discuss Real Madrid's conquest of Europe and why Iker Casillas would think the Champions League is bigger than the World CupAnd Emmet Malone is in studio to talk over what MONkeano will have learned from the Turkey match. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's not often you have two Irishmen at the top of the leaderboard of a showpiece golfing event, so even without Rory McIlroy's eventful off-course week, last weekend's PGA Championship at Wentworth would have been noteworthy. We ended up with a heartwarming return to form for Irish Times columnist Shane Lowry, and McIlroy's first win on European soil - we discuss it all. And in the GAA, 2012 champions Donegal signalled their intent by defeating Derry, in Derry in the quarter-finals of the Ulster championship. Is this a renaissance we can believe in, or did the losers contribute to their own downfall? Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles join us in studio. Plus we have Ken reporting from the Champions League final, Ronaldo and Cork's over-the-top celebrations, Waterford's young guns, and Shay Given's GAA punditry credentials. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Second Captains news horn has been sounded....yes we have a Neil Lennon Special for you today with Ken, Eoin, Murph and BBC's Scotland commentator Roddy Forsyth in Glasgow.We also discuss Scholes on Rooney, Suarez's mystery knee operation, the biggest fool in Manchester and more bad news for David Moyes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Murph discuss Suarez's importance to the World Cup, hurling madness, no hype Cork and American coming of age dramas.The hurling championship really gets going this weekend and we have two men who know what the modern game is all about - former Tipp captain Benny Dunne and Maurice O'Brien of Limerick and Dublin, who won Leinster Championship last year, join us in studio.No state is more tied to a sport than Indiana is to basketball. US Murph on Larry Bird, Bob Knight, Gene Hackman, Hoosiers, Reggie Miller V Spike Lee and kindly mid-westerners. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's Champions League final week, and before Ken heads for Lisbon we talk about where Atletico Madrid's head space is. Winning the league in Barcelona last week was a miracle, can they do it again a week later against Real Madrid, the other giant of Spanish football? And with the World Cup looming, one English journalist has taken it upon himself to investigate how the hell they keep losing penalty shoot-outs. He's written a how-to manual, called "Twelve Yards: the Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty". Ben Lyttleton joins us. And Ken weighs in on the Yaya Toure controversy, which may mark a low-point in footballing discourse. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the season finales in England, Spain and Germany. Andrew Mangan joins us in studio to talk about the end of Arsenal's trophy drought. And Jonathan Wilson gives his verdict on the confirmation that Louis van Gaal is the new Manchester United manager. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The GAA championship has begun, and the first weekend lived up to all reasonable expectations, at least in the area of improbable comebacks, controversial refereeing decisions and post-match managerial outbursts. Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles are in studio to take us through their highlights. Ian Madigan won the RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final for Leinster, and then found out this morning he’s been left off the Ireland squad for the tour to Argentina. Gerry Thornley discusses this and BOD situation. Ken and Eoin discuss their favourite sculptures, Miguel Angel Jimenez has a new fan, when is annual leave just a holiday, and Anthony Kim’s belt-buckle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eddie O'Sullivan is back in coaching with Biarritz, Munster are going for the full Irish with their management team, and former Ireland and Connacht full-back Gavin Duffy has rejoined the Mayo gaelic football squad - no prizes for guessing which of these stories has most exercised Murph. Former inter-county minor footballers Liam Toland and Shane Horgan give us their thoughts. US Murph talks to us about Johnny Football, and the NFL's first openly gay player sealing his selection in the NFL draft with a kiss. And we stand toe-to-toe with our colleague Malachy Clerkin in his war of words with Donald Trump, we talk sporting curses, and note the most annoying fashion trend among Irish males.... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Murph and Ken discuss whether getting stretchered off too much is a sign of softness, who Louis van Gaal will sign to beef up Manchester United's defence, and why buying Premier League based players is going to be more expensive than ever.Sid Lowe joins us to look ahead to the final game of the La Liga choke-a-thon.And Raphael Honigstein discusses possible tensions in the German World Cup camp. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ciaran and Ken talk about the power of Pulis, the satire of Sherwood, and the lessons we can learn from the story of the Shunammite (Old Testament). Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin analyse the contenders for Manager of the Year. And Philippe Auclair explains why France think they can do without a player as talented as Samir Nasri in the World Cup. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.