The 42 GAA Weekly

Fintan O'Toole is joined by Emma Duffy, who was in Croke Park to witness Galway's dramatic one-point victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland ladies football final.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to grapple with the meaning and emotion so abundant in Mayo’s stunning All-Ireland victory. Has there ever been a more seismic moment in the GAA? Or in Irish sport full stop? While being aware of recency bias, we are scratching our heads. Also, Mayo people’s delight is obvious and palpable, but why has nearly everyone else been so deeply affected by Sam going west? We get into theories ranging from the Seven Universal Plots, and how Mayo fulfilled most of them, to Steve McQueen’s Papillion, who was brutalised but never broken. What will be the lasting repercussions of this victory for the human spirit? Will we see other teams take inspiration and make the breakthrough. And stylistically, are we set for an era of heavy metal football - with younger, lighter, faster, high-pressing players taking prominence as the true possibilities of new Gaelic football become ever more clear?   

Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue convene at Croke Park to analyse Mayo's emotional All-Ireland final victory over Kerry.

Declan Bogue, Fintan O’Toole and Ronan Early convene for a philosophical football final preview.At least it starts out that way, before getting down to the brass tacks of who is going to win this game and why.But first the lads grapple with the question of whether Triggers brush, with 17 new heads and 14 new handles over a 20-year span, is still the same brush? Parallels are drawn to the Ship of Theseus Paradox which has exercised thinkers for centuries: If a boat has every component replaced over time, is it the same ship or a new one? And are Mayo still Mayo, and Kerry still Kerry, in their essence, despite the passage of time and changing cast of characters?Also, should Kobe McDonald defer his move to Australia? Ronan thinks he should, Declan thinks he will, while Fintan tells them why it’s an opportunity too good to pass up.Predictions are given, complete with winning margins, to be used in evidence against us should the game take on a different and unforeseen, on this podcast at least, course.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O'Toole dial in from Croke Park in the immediate aftermath of the hurling decider, where the Munster champions dominated proceedings.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to chat about Galway and Limerick’s showdown at Croke Park on Sunday.Can the Tribesmen gain belated revenge for 2018, a seismic final that set both teams in wildly different directions?Can Galway frustrate Limerick like they did Cork on Sunday, or have the Munster champions got too many long-range shooters for the same plan to be effective?At what point do Galway push out and crank up the pressure on Limerick? Who marks Jason Rabbitte and what happens if that Limerick defender gets a yellow card?How does Paul Kinnerk keep innovating with Limerick, and what do we know about the chemistry in Galway’s backroom team?Also, do counties and players sell themselves short by staying quiet before a big game? Or is it unrealistic to expect amateur players to engage freely with the media?Also, do counties and players sell themselves short by staying quiet before a big game? Or is it unrealistic to expect amateur players to engage freely with the media?

Fintan O'Toole and Paul Keane give their immediate reaction from Croke Park, after Kerry's narrow win over Dublin. The pair also look back at Mayo's emphatic victory over Louth, and Wicklow's incredible comeback against Down.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to discuss the seismic clashes of Mayo-Louth and Dublin-Kerry.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to assess the two losing hurling semi-finalists. The victorious Galway and Limerick sides will be discussed in detail ahead of the All-Ireland final. For now we are looking at the Rebels and the Banner, who both seem to have reached the end of the road with their current teams, albeit in different moods and circumstance. For Cork it is yet another galling collapse in Croke Park, when they were favourites for the game and in a strong position in the first half. Where do they go in 2027? Is major surgery required? How can they begin to heal the accumulating mental scars? Clare earned plaudits for the ferocity of the challenge they brought to Limerick. But did they suffer from white line fever, failing to score after Tony Kelly’s penalty in the 57th minute? And by being one correct decision away from the final - in Nickie Quaid managing to stay on the field for the penalty - have Clare exposed the folly of a championship format which had them on the brink after only two really good performances?   Meanwhile, Henry Shefflin gets the Kilkenny job. How did this come about? And what are his chances of success?