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The Second Captains Podcast
Heimir's Armenian Hangover, England's Golden Losers, Ben Healy's Big Break, KenCall Live - 09/10/25
Finn Azaz was asked about Heimir’s comment last week that the Irish players underestimated the challenge of Armenia. “I think it goes further than that. “In terms of the build up, the wins against Bulgaria, the improved performances and results leading up to that game. . . maybe there was a lack of understanding of the challenge that we were coming up against away to Armenia, in terms of the occasion, in terms of the environment and in terms of them as players.” We put those quotes to Ken this morning, after he touched down in Lisbon for Saturday night’s World Cup qualifier.
We spoke to Jack Pitt Brooke about Thomas Tuchel not including Jude Bellingham in the England squad and Ken discussed Steven Gerrard's comments about England's golden generation of "egotistical losers".
Our new phone-in show KenCall was launched to great acclaim on the World Service recently and next week we’re bringing KenCall live to the Gaiety theatre stage. If you’re gonna be there, all the better, if not, you can still send in your voice notes to be put to Ken on the night to edtior@secondcapfains.com - Subject KenCall. We still have tickets remaining for Monday night by the way at secondcaptains.com
Ben Healy was one of the stories of the sporting summer, when he not only won a stage of the Tour de France but went on to wear the yellow jersey for two days, and if that wasn’t enough, just ten days ago he capped it all off by winning bronze at the World Championships. We caught up with Ben for his first in-depth interview in the Irish media about what has been the year of his dreams.
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Prague Comedown, Italian Football Surrenders, Tiger Tanks, Writing Rory
25:29|Welcome to our World Service taster show and this week it's all about the Prague come-down and the build-up to the Masters.As we watched on with horror as Czechia booked their place at this summer's World Cup, Ken was able to find the slimmest of silver linings; at least we're not Italian.And as Rory aims to go back-to-back at next week's Masters, we speak to some Golf writing Big Beasts as Kevin Van Valkenburg joins us to chat about the latest ignominious episode in the world of Tiger Woods and Alan Shipnuck stops by to chat Rory!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
Ep 3514: We Can't Go On, We Must Go On, ScapeGoat Hunt, The Keys Of Navarone
01:15:13|Passing through the latter stages of grief today. Eoin, on the hunt for victims, puts Ken in the dock, accusing him of blaming the Ireland fans for our defeat in Prague. On the positive side, at least being out of the World Cup frees us up to talk more about the shadow of evil looming over the tournament.Elsewhere - Roberto de Zerbi might be about to take over at Tottenham, and thanks also to Richard Keys for doing his part to brighten up a depressing weekend. Dion Fanning joins us in studio to pick over the bones of our shared dreams. Does he support Ken's alleged astonishing attack on the Ireland fans? What about the listener who believes it's time to SACK Heimir? What really went wrong out there? And how are we all feeling about tomorrow night, where the next chapter begins against North Macedonia?
Ep 3513: Donegal In Different League, Michael Murphy's Red Mist, Kick Out Central, The Wicklow Way - 30/03/26
44:41|The pain of Thursday night will last a long time in all our hearts, so let's hold hands and podcast together.Oisin McConville joins us to discuss Donegal's one sided league final win over Kerry, Michael Murphy's baffling yellow card, the huge influence kick outs now have on the game and his own heartbreak after Wicklow failed to gain promotion to Division 3.Plus there's disappearing Dresden, "Comfortably Numb", and Branno on the beat.
The World Cup Dream is Dead, Prague Week Ends
35:08|The World Cup Dream is Dead, Prague Week EndsIt’s goodbye to Prague, farewell Denmark, so long Azteca Stadium. Over and out from Czechia. We reflect on the final whistle.We’re in Berlin after one of the great weeks on The Second Captains Podcast (before the extreme heartbreak took over).
Ep 3506: Prague Week Beginneth, In The Studio With Kenneth, Man City Cup Winneth - 23/03/26
01:09:04|Prague Week starts with Kenny Cunningham joining us in studio to talk about how he wants to see Ireland approach the World Cup playoff on Tuesday night. Caution: Kenny's team may shock you. We talk about the Carabao Cup final, and whether the tactical match-up of baiting the press vs refusing to press is the worst thing ever to happen to football. While all this is happening Ken goes out to Abbottstown to hear the latest from the Ireland camp, where John O'Shea and Nathan Collins were holding court. Plus Arne Slot's use of resources, Chelsea's misbegotten alignment strategy, and whether basic overexposure to football is making Ken more irritable with the kinds of goals he sees teams giving away.
Ep 3505: National Football League Drama, Michael Lyster Memories - 23/03/26
48:26|Kerry and Donegal are in the Division 1 final, Cork and Meath have won promotion, Armagh and Galway survive, Dublin are relegated, and even that fails to tell the full story of a thrilling last day’s action in the national football league. Ger Brennan lost his composure at half-time in Salthill, and his team lost their composure thereafter; David Clifford continues to do David Clifford things; and Meath are no longer a breath of fresh air, they’re a real threat - Paul Flynn is in studio to talk us through it all. We also remember Michael Lyster, the man who presented coverage of 77 All-Ireland finals for RTE in a stellar broadcasting career with the Sunday Game, who died yesterday aged 71.
Prague Week, Heimir Seeks Calm, Retro Mo, Pep's Legacy
20:48|Welcome to our World Service taster show and this week it's all about the build-up to the World Cup Playoff against Czechia. We will be in Prague next week, in the heart of the action, broadcasting two shows a day from our balcony.We also had retro Mo, Pep's legacy, Rosenior's notes, Saint Parrott's Day, and coming up we have Gary Breen on the Iran 2001 playoff, and next week its more build up to the match in Prague, and the fallout from Man City V Arsenal.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
Ep 3500: Ireland's Crown, Rugby Fun, Murph's Sixth Nation Sense - 16/03/26
01:03:14|Thomas Ramos' kick in the 83rd minute of the last game decided the championship, broke Irish hearts, and was one of hundreds of epic moments that made up the greatest Six Nations yet.We chat to Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble about the quality of rugby on display, Ramos' reliability, Pollock's winner/loser moment, McCloskey's massive influence on Ireland, Crowley's best performance in green, Farrell's contract situation and all the positives that have come out of this tournament for Ireland.Plus there Murph's Sixth Nations Sense, a Roscommon divided and Baloucoune showing Darcy Graham he was there for the taking.
Ep 3499: Chelsea Respect The Ball, Pep's Annus Mirabilis, Max Power, Anfield Slot Changed, Save Us Didzy
01:06:32|Is the future like a black highway at night? What does it really mean to 'respect the ball'? And is there anything in the game with such universal appeal as an implausibly aged footballer? We pick the likely player of the year candidates and discuss why Manchester United's transformation under Michael Carrick is Arne Slot's biggest problem in more ways than one.Rory Smith and Rich Jolly join us to talk about the weekend's football. Max Dowman brings joy. Has this been Guardiola's worst week? And are Liverpool really serious about backing Arne Slot all the way through to 2027?