The 42 GAA Weekly

Ronan Early, Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue look ahead to the beginning of the GAA National Leagues this weekend.

Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue provide immediate reaction to today's two All-Ireland club finals live from Croke Park.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to discuss whether there will be a Kerry clean sweep in football titles, or whether St Brigid’s can atone for final defeat in 2024.In hurling Ballygunner take on Loughrea, with the Munster superpower keen to add to their one All-Ireland in 2022, while the Galway champions come into the decider with a sense of grievance due to the suspension of midfielder Cullen Killeen.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue tell Ronan Early about their standout memories of 2025: best games, players, moments and also their biggest disappointments and hopes for next year. Fintan reviews Ballygunner’s win over St Martin’s. And the lads discuss the chances of a successful appeal for Loughrea’s Cullen Killen, who was red carded in the closing moments of his side’s decisive win over Slaughtneil.    

Declan Bogue sits down with National Head of Hurling Willie Maher this week. The Tipperary man talks openly about the injury that prematurely ended his playing career, his enduring love of the game and his sense of mission to make sure as many people as possible have the chance to play it.

Fintan O’Toole joins Ronan Early to delve into the talking points of the weekend, the main one being the controversy over the conclusion of Dingle versus St Finbarr’s.The lads examine the letter of the law and how it was interpreted in those final frenetic moments in a thrilling Munster final in Thurles. Has there been a more stark example of the punishment exceeding the adjudged crime? Is the rule fair? Is it unfair to put officials in a spot where they have to make disproportionate and game-swinging calls in crucial moments?Also, the lads talk about the grace of St Finbarr’s and Jimmy Barry Murphy, who showed their essence in the minutes after a most gut-wrenching outcome.St Martin’s thrilling victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks is dissected, while Emma Duffy joins the pod to preview the weekend’s LGFA and Camogie finals at Croke Park.

Fintan O’Toole joins Ronan Early to look ahead to the weekend’s big games: Ballyhale against St Martin’s, Athy v Ballyboden and the showdown of Dingle and St Finbarr’s.After a couple of hurling weekends which lacked shocks or pulsating contests, Fintan expects an improved spectacle in Croke Park as the Wexford champions try to derail Ballyhale. Awaiting the winners are Ballygunner, who gave an exhibition of control and poise in unsympathetic conditions at Semple Stadium last weekend. The lads marvel at their skill level and decision-making under pressure.Can Athy do what Kildare rivals Naas struggled to do over the previous four seasons and eliminate a Dublin opponent? And, in Munster, Dingle take the long road to Thurles where the Barrs await. Are the Kerry champions right to feel hard done by on the venue choice?Also, does football need further rule tweaks to address lateral passing, possession hoarding and suspense-killing tactics which can still be deployed at any moment?

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole preview Thursday’s draw for the 2026 provincial championships, and look ahead to the Munster hurling, Connacht football, and Ulster hurling club finals

Following David Clifford’s shimmy into the world of apparel, Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to discuss the big questions: Is Clifford cool enough to sell hoodies? If not, then which GAA players are?Is it ever acceptable to wear initialled club gear in non-club settings? Why do managers need to have their job title scrawled on their back? What would happen if they went rogue and wore normal clothes?Also, Fintan chats us through following Ireland-Hungary on a delayed stream in Sixmilebridge. We discuss why a boom for soccer has never meant a bust for GAA.We reflect on the words of Jimmy Barry Murphy and Shane O’Donnell, who have achieved everything but are in dreamland as their clubs head towards a provincial final.