The Second Captains Podcast

The GAA weekend saw games in both the hurling and football leagues, but looming over all that was the protest at Congress in Croke Park that saw Jarlath Burns and his top table brought face-to-face with anti-Allianz protestors. Paul Flynn is with us to try and prize apart which parts of the GAA behave like a corporate entity, and which would rather remain amateur. We also discuss the Kobe McDonald phenomenon, and Cork's implosion in Derry on Sunday. Meanwhile Bundee Aki is back in the frame for Ireland selection, Stuart McCloskey is Eoin's favourite sportsman... and how Shane Lowry's late implosion at the Cognisant Classic in Florida last night will haunt him for months.  

Chelsea’s record 24-25 loss impressed a lot of people, but today we hear from Todd Boehly’s appearance at a conference in Miami where it became clear that Chelsea is about the least interesting item in his current portfolio.Dion Fanning and John Brewin join us to talk about the weekend’s Premier League action. Arsenal ground out another crucial win, but Arne Slot, for one, wrinkles his nose in disgust at what they have done to the game. But in an age of 30-man squads and 16-man teams, is greater top-down control by coaches inevitable? Meanwhile, the IFAB meeting in Wales coincided with the worst weekend for VAR nonsense in some time - but will any of the new ideas lead anywhere good?We also are glad to see that as our national day approaches, Premier League teams are reaching out to the corduroy breeches community.

Edwin Edogbo made his debut for Ireland against Italy earlier this month. The experience was marred by online racist abuse he suffered on Irish Rugby channels, culminating in comments on X being blocked by the IRFU. Mark has been taking a look at where these comments originated and spoke to Dr Eileen Culloty, Associate Professor in the School of Communications in DCU where she’s also Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy & Society about the rise in co-ordinated online attacks,This week on the World Service we also discussed Infantino's values, Canada's painful loss to USA in ice hockey, Snoop Dogg at Swansea, how the hell Bodo/Glimt are doing this, Everton's scrums, Ireland's win over England, plus there's hurling on Friday, Ireland Czechia build up next week, and more 6 Nations ahead of the Wales game.To become a member and hear our shows all week it costs 5 euro a month and there’s no ads, no sign up fee, no minimum stay, no contract, and we’re independent and member led – go to secondcaptains.com/join

Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk through the North London derby - a near-historic margin of victory for Arsenal, yet a victory that felt almost routine. Will this settle the nerves? Has big Vik answered the critics? Could Arsenal benefit from a night in the old Tuesday Club style? Meanwhile, have Spurs been wise to appoint a fixer-coach who favours an unfamiliar system? How has a club this rich fallen this low? And how low can they still go? We also talk about FIFA's new role in burnishing the public image of Trump's Board of Peace initiative.

Italy beat Scotland. Scotland destroy England. Ireland hammer England; the rugby punditry predictions flag is flying at half mast today.Shane Horgan, author and journalist Brendan Fanning and 3 time Six Nations winner with England, Mike Brown, join us to try and make sense of a competition that makes no sense.Ireland now score tries from deep, from transition, throw offloads, have pace on both wings, and have a scrum half who appears to have seen the exam papers before the exam.Plus there's Farrell's celebrations, Finn Russell's restart and England's total collapse of the heart

Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk through the North London derby - a near-historic margin of victory for Arsenal, yet a victory that felt almost routine. Will this settle the nerves? Has big Vik answered the critics? Could Arsenal benefit from a night in the old Tuesday Club style? Meanwhile, have Spurs been wise to appoint a fixer-coach who favours an unfamiliar system? How has a club this rich fallen this low? And how low can they still go? We also talk about FIFA's new role in burnishing the public image of Trump's Board of Peace initiative.

Welcome to our weekly World Service taster show!This week we spoke to Green Bay Packers punter Daniel Whelan in studio about his journey from Greystones United to the NFL; Ken covered Arsenal's ongoing title wobble; we looked at Jose's Vini blame game; Jack Pitt Brooke gave us the skinny on Spurs' new coach ahead of the North London derby; Paul Flynn came in to chat about football in 2026, and we build up to England V Ireland in the 6N and the omission of Sam Prendergast from the match day squad.To become a member and hear our shows all week it costs 5 euro a month and there’s no ads, no sign up fee, no minimum stay, no contract, and we’re independent and member led – go to secondcaptains.com/join

Last week, while the rest of the team worked desperately to cover a series of world-shattering football stories, Ken was peacefully wintering at Baden-Baden. He returns with news of the Upper Rhine, where people are, as ever, keeping themselves to themselves.Today we talk more about the implications of Ireland’s Nations League draw against Israel. The matches currently look likely to go ahead as scheduled in late September and early October. But should they go ahead? And can such a decision be made without putting the question to another General Assembly vote?We also talk Troy Parrott, Harry Kane, and Keith Andrews finally getting the credit he deserves.

Ireland have their first win of the Six Nations, but form and confidence are still eluding Andy Farrell's team. as the out-half debate rages on and the scrum continues to struggle.Shane Horgan and author and journalist Brendan Fanning pick through the issues at 10, the quality of Ireland's tries, and the Lynagh disallowed score.The BBC’s Tom English joins us to talk about Scotland’s astonishing win over England in Murrayfield and if it was all down to the coaching, or the 6 Nations Rugby Gods.  We also discuss the racist abuse suffered online by Edwin Edogbo.  Elsewhere there was Murph’s trip to Tralee, the benefits of preparation when dealing with adverse weather conditions, and an eventful post-mortem at a 40th birthday party he wasn’t invited to.