Arena with Maurice Brosnan

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by award-winning ESPN senior writer Wright Thompson. The lads discuss the uncertain state of sports journalism, why it is important to separate the business behind the industry from the craft itself and what great sports writing can still offer in a rapidly changing media landscape. Wright recalls the extraordinary reaction to his infamous 2017 profile of Conor McGregor, explains why being there still matters and discusses how long a profile really takes. To get in touch with Maurice, email Maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie. You can read Wright’s Steve Kerr profile here: The Warrior Still Remains 

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Denise Martin, a leading member of the Gaelic Games Performance Analysis sub-group.A lecturer in Sports Performance Analysis at ATU Galway, Martin explains how performance analysis actually matters. She discusses the biggest mistakes coaches make, how to run team meetings that actually engage players and what to do when players switch off or struggle to understand the message.The pair also explore practical ways to improve feedback, structure effective review sessions and how the ACE model can help coaches communicate more effectively.To get in touch with Maurice, email maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.The Gaelic Games Performance Analysis Guide for Good Practice is available here. .The Games Intelligence Unit final report of 2025 is available here.

This week, sports journalist Cathal Dennehy joins Maurice Brosnan to preview the National Senior Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium and assess the current state of Irish athletics.The lads discuss the potential blockbuster clashes on the track, the Irish rivalries that are developing and what to look out for this weekend. They also examine the challenges Rhasidat Adeleke has faced since the 2024 Olympics after her candid Instagram post last week, in which she opened up about her struggles with injury and confidence.Arena is a weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner. You can get in touch with Maurice at maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.The article the lads discussed is available here: The Irish running rivalry fuelled by hate: 'I needed that f****** resentment and bitterness. I love it. I get off on it'

On this week's extra episode of Arena, the weekly sports podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Joe Callaghan, who was at Atlanta Stadium to witness Argentina's remarkable victory over England.The pair break down both semi-finals, discuss what stood out to Joe from inside the stadium and examine the reaction to England's defeat. They also look ahead to a blockbuster final, asking whether the tournament's two best teams have made it to the showpiece.You can read Joe's reports here and here.To get in touch with Maurice, email maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Kevin Conlan from Seoul Gaels to discuss the GAA abroad and this week’s World Games.Hundreds of players from across the world are in Waterford this week as part of the GAA World Games competition. Over 100 teams are taking part, with over 30 countries represented. It is being held for the fifth time and is now a triennial event.The lads discuss how the GAA could grow abroad and whether it needs to. They also examine the challenge of creating training sessions that work for everyone, from former intercounty stars to complete beginners, as well as why the social side of the GAA is often just as important as the sport itself.To get in touch with Maurice, email maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by columnist Kieran Shannon to examine Cork's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway and what comes next.Kieran's analysis this week argued that Cork's performance exposed technical, tactical and mental shortcomings and that the county now needs a comprehensive forensic review, one that, in his view, should have taken place after last year's All-Ireland final defeat.So where do Cork go from here? How should the management team respond? What changes are needed within the coaching setup? And how will the players regroup ahead of next season?To get in touch with Maurice, email maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

 A bonus episode. We're joined by Joe Callaghan from Texas to discuss the World Cup so far, England's unconvincing performances, the supporters on the ground and the enduring fascination with Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro. You can read Joe's article, which we discuss during the episode, here

On this week's episode of Arena, the Irish Examiner podcast, Maurice is joined by Monaghan boxer Aaron McKenna.McKenna has the chance to become Ireland's newest world champion when he takes on Italy's Etinosa Oliha at Zuffa Boxing 10 in Dublin's 3Arena on August 8, live on Sky Sports.With three blockbuster cards coming to Dublin across August and September, Irish boxing is preparing for one of its biggest periods in recent memory. But beyond the action in the ring, the sport itself is undergoing major change.The lads discuss Aaron's world title opportunity, the resurgence of Irish boxing and the shifting landscape of the professional game, from rival promoters to the influence of Saudi investment. What does it all mean for boxing's future?Get in touch with Maurice at maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.