The Second Captains Podcast

It was a limp display from Ireland this weekend and Andy Farrell wasn't shy about showing his displeasure with the performance, the attitude and the decision to kick their last possession into touch. We talk to Andrew Trimble about Farrell's post match reaction, Jack Crowley's rapid progression, and Rassie's latest tweet tirade. Plus there's fan trouble at the FAI Cup Final and in Parnell Park and...

Six days left until the start of the World Cup, but there's one last weekend of Premier League to talk about, and City's defeat to Brentford means the first part of the season has ended on a cliffhanger... Then we're joined by Dion Fanning and Rory Smith to talk about Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan, Newcastle's win over Chelsea, and whether Todd Boehly knows something FSG doesn't. Hosted on...

No World Cup build-up is complete without a chat with our friend in Nigeria, Oluwashina Okeleji. We asked him about Senegal's chances, if Mane will play, Cameroon's WC build up, and attitudes in Africa to Qatar's record on human rights. Ireland's first Gymnastics World Champion Rhys McClenaghan popped into studio with his medal during the week. We spoke about the inevitability of mistakes in Pomme...

This was the goaling-est weekend of the Premier League season thus far, even notwithstanding the tactical chess match that was Chelsea/Arsenal. Gavin Cooney of the42 and Jonathan Wilson join us to discuss Liverpool's win over Spurs, Eddie Howe's rise, trouble at the bridge and Marsch madness. There are also reports from David Ornstein of the Athletic that Liverpool are up for sale - another chance...

Ireland survived an almighty onslaught in the first half against SA before playing some brilliant attacking rugby of their own. Did this game prove this team can cope against the most powerful sides in the world? We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Ireland's grace under fire, the ability to transition from defence to attack, the job Paul O'Connell is doing in scrum and maul, and if th...

Liverpool battled to a win over Napoli and once again it was hard to take your eyes off Darwin Nunez. Eoin wants someone to measure a footballer's "presence" on the field but Ken is all about the facts and figures and compares him to a few other star PL strikers. As Iran prepares to play a World Cup on its own doorstep, the country has been swept by waves of protests after the September 16th killi...

We talk about Arsenal keeping up their two-point lead, Manchester United keeping up their 85-year run, and as Newcastle roll into the top four, Eoin tries to force Ken to give due credit to Eddie Howe. After another defeat for Liverpool prompted fresh rounds of comparisons between this season and Klopp's last season at Dortmund, we discuss the relevance of the "seven-year-itch" theory. I...

It takes a big person to admit that they were wrong. This week on The Second Captains World Service, Ken Early was prepared to do just that as he trawled through his own back catalogue to a piece written in advance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Also, we were joined last night in Windmill Lane by Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington in what was a fascinating chat to launch her excellent new autobi...

Munster may have lost on Saturday evening in the Aviva, but were there enough reasons to be cheerful about the manner of their defeat to Leinster - and was it a positive portent for Irish rugby to see two young Irish outhalves playing so well at full-back? We also discuss the Jean Kleyn yellow card and if some moments are impossible to referee. Kilmacud Crokes are the Dublin Senior Football, Hurli...

As the games pile up the flames of crisis are blazing brightly at Leeds, Spurs, Wolves, Brighton and Liverpool, but for one happy club the only light on the horizon is the golden glow of a new dawn. Today is all about Aston Villa's world record new manager bounce.  We also identify the qualities Casemiro has brought to Manchester United, and why Roy Keane was so eager to defend Ronaldo o...

It's been a sparkling week on the World Service as Roddy Collins and Paul Howard joined 30 of our members for what was a highly enjoyable debut live show in our new city centre studios. We also spoke to Dion Fanning & John Brewin about Ronaldo's failure to read the room & Darwin "Shredder" Nunez. Join us for ad-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/j...

Munster finally got their season up and running on Saturday with a convincing win over The Bulls. They still butchered a lot of chances but a confident looking Joey Carbery got MOTM, new coach Mike Prendergast got a tune out of his attack and a number of fringe players - Edwin Edogbo, Shane Daly, Tom Ahern and Jack Crowley - all made an impact. We chat to Shane Horgan about rays of hope down south...

Liverpool beat Manchester City in a match that had more than the usual share of morbo. We pay tribute to the men who did more than anyone else to make this occasion so memorable: Anthony Taylor and Darwin Nunez. We also discuss some of the weekend's other action, including Xavi's mediocre record at Barcelona, Jordan Pickford's actually rather exceptional record at saving shots this season, and a s...

Ken met up with the Irish WNT this week and had an interesting chat with Vera Pauw about the achievement of making it to the World Cup, her self belief, tactics, bringing on Amber Barrett and the team singing a Wolfe Tones song in the dressing room afterwards. Join us for ad-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join – it’s finger lickin’ good, special. Host...

A lot of South African people appear to have discovered for the first time that Johnny Sexton likes a word with the referee - we talk about Sexton's commanding seasonal debut on Saturday as Leinster and the Sharks shared 13 tries. Mark O'Connor was celebrating a Grand Final victory with his Geelong team-mates in Melbourne a few weeks ago, and in Tralee on Saturday night, he was able to c...

Arsenal defeated Liverpool 3-2 in extremely entertaining fashion yesterday, and they remain top of the league. High time, then, for some flowers to be laid at their feet. Ken lines up to give them their dues, and he's joined by Miguel Delaney and Andrew Mangan of the Arseblog podcast.  There's also Ireland's horror draw for Euro 2024 qualification, with France, The Netherlands, Greece and Gib...

On the world service this week we discussed Conte's troubles at Spurs, Trent trolls, the Norwegian Sun God, Pep's glasshouse, and what football can learn from F1 - all while MC Devitt ran the show for 90's hip hop week. Join us for ad-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join - it's finger lickin' good, special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

It seems there is no safe harbour in the world of sport from the scourge of cheating, not chess, and not even professional fishing - Eoin brings us the latest. We discuss the legacy of Brian Mullins, the man who best epitomised the youth and exuberance of Dublin in the 1970s. Sibling rivalry turns sour in European GAA for 2 world service members, and we launch 90s Hip-Hop week, with Eoin outlining...

Eight weeks into the Premier League season and rampant Norwegian goal yeti Erling Haaland has already burned through the existing stockpile of superlatives. We trawl the archives in search of fresh supplies. Meanwhile, Florentino Perez is back on the Super League war trail with a new battle cry: "Think of the Children." But is he right to see football as competing with entertainment products?&nbsp...

On the world service this week we had Nations League mayhem, the similarities between sports stars and actors, loss of Kencentration, chess cheats and Stephen A gets put in the shade. Join us for ad-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, Eliud Kipchoge knocked 30 seconds off his own marathon world record but.. he still didn't break through the 2-hour barrier. We have some simple advice that should do the trick. Federer charmed and sobbed his way through his farewell event, the Laver Cup, winning fans' hearts one last time - but has he got what it takes to become a great coach? A listener argues the GAA should embrace its amat...

Ireland have done it again, starting well and taking the lead against a higher-ranked side away from home and then going down to defeat in the second half. We analyse the game and some of the criticism that has followed. We also discuss some recent interviews with Mark Lawrenson and Eric Cantona. Dion Fanning and Kieran Canning join us to talk about the match at Hampden. As we fight to stay positi...

Jack McCaffrey hasn’t played for Dublin since a cameo off the bench which ended in injury against Tyrone in Omagh in February 2020. Paul Mannion’s last game was the 2020 All-Ireland final.   They were both off the Dublin panel, presumed retired - until yesterday evening. We get the Fair View of their surprise return to inter-county football, what it means for Dublin… and what it means fo...

There's more than one way to make your name in the Premier League. Until now Nathan Collins has been trying the quiet excellence way, but on Saturday against Man City he hopped on the fast track to building his profile internationally. We also discuss a disgraceful episode in Spain, and the sad scenes at Munich's Oktoberfest, where Bayern's top brass tried and failed to look like they're having a...

Why are English football people so down on Todd the mouthy American interloper? What is a long snapper? And would it surprise you to hear the New England Patriots were involved in one of the oldest cheating scandals in NFL history?  That means US Murph, Champions League and fun times on the World Service this week. Join us for ad-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at&nbsp...