The Second Captains Podcast

It was a positive start to the Euros for Ireland, with Wes Hoolahan's goal and performance the highlight in our 1-1 draw with Sweden. Ken is in Paris, having sampled a night with the Irish fans, which he assures us was part of a wider study on fan behaviour throughout the tournament...Richie Sadlier joins us in studio and we discuss Jeff Hendrick's coming of age, Jon Walters injury, what exactly it takes for a player to fail a pre-match fitness test, issues with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, and Robbie's eyes. And Richie reveals his anguish at taking on the senior analyst role in RTE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was as if the world of sport realised that it needed to up it's game to get any attention as the Euros kicked off... and both the GAA and rugby action at the weekend was pretty entertaining.14-man Ireland recorded a stunning first ever victory over the Springboks in South Africa, while our u-20s beat New Zealand in similarly emphatic style. Tipperary hammered Cork, Donegal opened up their summer, and Oisin McConville and Gerry Thornley are on hand to talk us through it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken, Ciaran and Emmet Malone look forward to Ireland's Euro 2016 opener against Sweden, and back to the European festival or tear gas that took place in Marseille over the weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Euros are finally here, and we have the first of our daily shows throughout the tournament. Ken Early is in Marseilles, uncomfortably close to the Queen Victoria pub, the unofficial England football supporters' HQ. Dion Fanning tells us why Ireland have taken the day off today, and Michael Walker is with Northern Ireland. Plus there's a scumbag of the week, and the giant dildo UEFA had to distance themselves from. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two more All-Ireland contenders make their summer bow this weekend - Mike Quirke and Karol Mannion talk Donegal, and Kerry... and debate whether Roscommon deserve to be in that bracket too.We talk about the Muslim footballers playing in Euro 2016 and competing at the highest level while also observing Ramadan with journalist and activist Shireen Ahmed. Plus there's tedious Euros bus slogans, Ken's all-time Euros XI, and supporting Northern Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran are in the grip of Euro fever, as Jerome Boateng becomes a political football, the sportswear marketing campaigns become ever more complex, and Zlatan reveals another reason why he didn't fit in at Barcelona.We check in with Philippe Auclair to talk about the Yin and Yang of Frenchitude, on the eve of the tournament. And Oluwashina Okeleji joins us to pay tribute to his friend and interview sparring partner Stephen Keshi, aka the Godfather of Exodus, who died suddenly this week aged 54. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken has arrived in France, and reports live from his old town of Marseilles as preparations for Euro 2016 continue. Ireland have already had a couple of media storms, with Martin O'Neill's "queers" comment from last week revealed, and then apologised for over the weekend. Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the relatively restrained reaction. Plus there's Ken's rapprochement with Basile Boli, laser hair removal with the Ireland football team, Jamie Vardy's next move and Zlatan's thoughts on Leicester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waterford are All-Ireland contenders, and one of us is convinced they're about to win their first Liam McCarthy since 1959. Eoin Kelly and Malachy Clerkin are in studio to talk about their convincing win over Clare on Sunday.We discuss Jim McGuinness' 5-point plan to beat the Dubs, and Eoin relays in exhaustive detail his journey with the Hill on tour. Plus there's Muhammad Ali's magic tricks, emails from scum around the country, and Murph plans a road-trip with his Dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come and join our celebration of the life of The Greatest. Murph and Ken are ruthlessly axed from this momentous show in favour of World Champion boxer Andy Lee and Second Captains producer/Ali superfan Mark Horgan.Eoin, Mark and Andy are joined by one of America’s foremost civil rights figures, Reverend Jesse Jackson, to discuss Ali’s role in the freedom struggle and to hear Rev. Jackson’s personal recollections of moments shared with The Champ.And Eoin spends some time in the company of the incomparable Jerry Izenberg at his home in Nevada (Jerry’s home, not Eoin’s). Jerry unleashes all of his storytelling ability to get to the heart of what his friend Ali was like in the quiet moments, away from the ring and tv cameras.We also pay some audio tributes to Ali with a little help from Howard Cossell, Mike Tyson, Spike Lee and George Foreman.RIP Muhammad Ali. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Roy Keane's addiction to truth, Roy Hodgson's determination not to be remembered as Boring Roy, and the ongoing racism controversy in French footballEmmet Malone joins us in studio to analyse Keane's remarks and bring us up to speed on what's been happening down in Cork. Plus there’s Martin O'Neill's pop at Dunphy, Paul McGrath, and Matt Spiro talks to us about L'Affaire Benzema. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.