Second Captains @ The Irish Times

The Irish football team: a consistent source of disappointment, or a consistently bracing source of perspective on life? Ken and Murph disagree, just as they disagree on many things about the game. One thing they do agree on is that in international football, a superhero isn't necessary, but as Wales and Norway demonstrate, it sure helps. Richie Sadlier and Gavin Cooney join us to analyse what happened in Yerevan. Why can't we create chances? For all the supposed improvement are there any signs of the development of real confidence? Is there anything to be said for another system change? Plus there's wild talk of "creativity", "passing triangles" and the need for "De Bruyne crosses". See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We had four pretty awful provincial Gaelic Football finals this weekend, the undoubted main story of which was Derry outlasting Donegal in a dour, defensive Ulster final during which Donegal played a risk averse, low energy game.Galway keep marching on in Connacht, and then there was the galling sight of Dublin and Kerry once again filleting provincial opposition in their finals on Saturday.Why on earth did Kildare not use a sweeper against Dublin and will Derry get it so easy outside of Ulster? We set the scene for our chat with Oisin McConville and Paul Flynn, coming up on the World Service on Wednesday. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The universe gave Ken all the signs in the world, including an actual, real-life rat infestation on the streets of Paris, but he refused to listen. Real Madrid are champions of Europe.After a chaotic, dangerous and depressing night in Paris for so many Liverpool fans, Ken speaks to Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson about whether they're a great team or not, the mistakes made for the Vinicius goal and just how Madrid keep winning this competition.Liverpool played 3 cup finals this season, failed to score in any of them, and now it looks like Sadio Mané is leaving and Salah will go soon after. How does Jurgen Klopp go about rebuilding from here?Plus there's El Chiringuito on the streets, Liverpool on parade and the behaviour of the French police towards Liverpool fans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last month, Waterford were the number 1 contenders for Limerick’s All-Ireland crown. Today, they’re out of the championship. Did expectation and big talk kill them?Ken wants to know why the Dublin hurlers haven't bought the Liam McCarthy Cup, and with the All-Ireland finals no longer in September he accuses the GAA of ripping up the fabric of Irish life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Manchester City are the Premier League champions, again sealing the title with a 3-2 comeback win at home. We talk about City's win and how in the end the players carried their manager over the line.We are joined by Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson to talk about City's win. The last day provided the drama, but is the competition in a healthy state? Is the billionaire-worship of football fans an ominous sign for wider society? Plus there's Mbappe's staying power and who was right in Saipan, anyway?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been a wild week on the Second Captains World Service with Frank's redemption, Everton's fan power, Rangers in Seville and we even take the time to have another pop at Derry football. This is just a taste of what we've been up to, for access to all shows Monday to Friday go to secondcaptains.com/join, its five euro a month with no minimum contract, no sign up fee and you can cancel whenever you want. It's sexy podcasting, with no strings attached.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cork were mad as hell and they just weren’t gonna take it anymore… and their defeat of Waterford yesterday has blown the entire championship wide open. Waterford are now relying on winless Tipperary to do them a favour next week, otherwise the league champions won’t even qualify out of Munster. And a packed Cusack Park in Ennis was a stark contrast to how spinelessly Meath exited the Leinster football championship – a situation which moved Ken almost to tears. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There was little in West Ham’s record against Guardiola-era Man City to suggest they would cause many problems to the aspiring champions yesterday, but it turned out Jarrod Bowen and Lukasz Fabianski had other ideas.Meanwhile Liverpool won the FA Cup yet defiled the occasion by booing both the anthem and the second in line to the throne. Dion Fanning and Gavin Cooney join us to analyse the weekend’s action. How confident can Jack Grealish be of getting his hands on the league trophy next Sunday? Why can’t Liverpool beat their closest rivals? Why are Everton’s matches now appointment television? And we also discuss the controversy around Newcastle’s Saudi Arabia-style change kit. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Munster had 41,000 fans roaring them on to what, after 65 minutes, looked like being a famous victory over Toulouse. In the end they lost it in the most heartbreaking way, by shanking a few kicks in a penalty shootout. It had ,however, all the drama, atmosphere, desire and great play shown by the teams in the 2000's, but will that be of any solace this week?We also discuss Leinster doing just enough against Leicester, their date with the French double winners, Zombie coming alive at the Aviva and if there's a better way to finish games than penalty shootouts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep 2328: Liverpool's Quad Dream Dies, Pep Doesn't Feel The Love, Klopp's Conte Criticism - 09/05/22 by Second Captains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a bonkers week of Champions League football Ken reflects on his childhood, and a book he shouldn't have read.For coverage of the Champions League, Premier League, the GAA season, the Champions Cup and everything else that's going on in the wide world of sport join us for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. No contracts, no minimum stay, no hidden costs. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep 2323: Long Ball Lampard, Chelsea Sale, The Ramsdale Express, Ricey's Bad Weekend - 02/05/22 by Second Captains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was a beautiful weekend to be out west, especially when your team silences all the losers and haters out there, as Murph's Galway tribe did on Sunday by beating a much fancied Mayo team. Murph also details his very western weekend which involved football, a funeral, and some booze, and Ken wonders why his colleague keeps appearing on TV. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The ghost of The Slip haunted yesterday's Merseyside derby, as Everton took an old-school approach to getting out of Anfield alive. We talk about why this was a terrible idea. Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the weekend's action. Did Everton ever have a chance with Lampard's game plan? Do Mohammed bin Salman's Mags already look a Champions League qualification contender for next season? And how likely is Antonio Conte to stick around at Spurs? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The best of this week's fare on the World Service. Join us for a fiver a month at secondcaptains.com/join. No contracts, no minimum stay, no ads, just lots of podcast goodness. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Liverpool will play Chelsea in the FA Cup final after a Wembley semi-final that burnished Ederson's reputation almost as much as Mane's.Meanwhile, after Eintracht Frankfurt's fans turned the Nou Camp white, Barcelona's directors claim they are shocked, shocked to find that ticket reselling is going on in here. John Brewin and Jack Pitt Brooke join us to analyse the weekend's action. Is City's defeat on Guardiola? Can Ronaldo do it again at Anfield? And which of the three sides hobbling after fourth place is going to make it?Plus there's Brendan's magpie love, Arsenal's collapse and Wreck-It Ralf. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Yesterday on the World Service we did a big piece on what's been described as the unprecedented international action being taken against the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, and on the depth of Daniel Kinahan's continued involvement in boxing. If you'd like to hear it, alongside all our great Champions League and Champions Cup coverage, sign up now at secondcaptains.com/join for just €5 + VAT a month. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US Masters was won by the world number 1 Scottie Scheffler last night, but in another, more important way, surely Rory McIlroy should be declared the winner? We discuss how Rory enlivened what would have been an otherwise routine Sunday evening in Augusta, and how Shane Lowry continues to excel in the big tournaments. There was also Tiger's grind, and Jim Nantz's minimalist commentary style, and a possibly superfluous Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mention. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Frank Lampard chases away the vultures while Ralf Rangnick sardonically dismisses his team's chances, but Arsenal are doing everything possible to keep them alive. Meanwhile one Irish warrior is cut down in his prime, while another spreads his wings...All that before we get to the main event - the latest in the stunning series of matches between football friends, Manchester City and Liverpool.Dion Fanning and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the game at the Etihad (and some of the rest of the weekend's football). Why does Critch still think City are better? And if we're honest, would we prefer this rivalry to get a bit nastier? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tiger's return to the Masters, Champions League quarter-finals, a potential Premier League title decider, the Champions Cup last 16: we're in the middle of an amazing fortnight of sport, which means it's a brilliant time to come try out the World Service for just €5 + VAT a month. Plus there's plenty of Ken's political podcasts to sink your teeth into too. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.