The Second Captains Podcast

After a hectic Christmas period of inter-provincials, Irish rugby now turns it's attention to picking a new captain - Gerry Thornley and Shane Horgan think the most suitable man isn't either of the three front-runners of Rory Best, Johnny Sexton and Jamie Heaslip.The GAA season also crept back into life this weekend, and Michael Foley of the Sunday Times has a feel-good story of where the money goes from the Leinster Council's January warm-ups. Plus there's Davy Fitzgerald's New Year's Resolution, darts fever, and Ken's celebrity rugby Christmas mass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss a weekend of phenomenal goals and whether Andy Carroll can ever overcome the challenges posed by gravity.Tony Barrett joins us to talk about Spurs' title credentials and John Stones' chilled-out penalty-box defending. And Dion Fanning was there to see West Ham complete a first league double over Liverpool in 52 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ring in the New Year with Eoin, Murph, Ken and Richie - its the Second Captains New Year's Eve Auld Lang Syne Hogmanay Hootenanny Special.We talk to Richie Sadlier about his bizarre experience the night Ireland beat Germany, his hopes for Euro 2016 and whether we can trust James McClean.Plus there's scum email of the year, hugging strangers, the time Paul Kimmage told Ken to stop smoking, Martin V Michael O'Neill, and SHANE LONG....BAH! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin and Ken talk about Stoke City's super-awesome Christmas, Roberto Martinez's fondness for finger-pointing, and Louis van Gaal's tendency to misspeak himself.Jonathan Wilson tells us whether we're seeing the emergence of a third great Arsene Wenger Arsenal side. Plus there's the huge Cadbury's Roses controversy, U2 in Paris, Obama and Bear Grylls, calm Walters, Jose Man United scarves, Matic's miss, Ken's prediction for the Premier League, and the art of the footballer apology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have once again retired to our winter retreat (a remote log cabin) along with our many horses and wolves, to produce a very special Christmas Eve show - the Second Captains Christmas Sports Pudding.We talk to the most festive and cheerful man we know, Brian Murphy, about an incredible Super Bowl story that involves Ernest Hemingway, Steve Young, a hobo, Key West, and how Brian met his wife.Plus there's an unwelcome guest, the Murph and Mackie awards, the art of shameless plugs, and KEN SINGS OUT THE SHOW! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ulster are winning pretty, and they're doing it with brilliant young Irish players. Gerry Thornley speculates on a potential new-look Irish team, analyses Munster's white line fever and Leinster's new Pro 12 vista.Andy Lee lost his WBO middleweight belt with a heart-breaking defeat to Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday night. We ask Bernard Dunne what Andy's options are now. Plus there's Lance Armstrong's love of drugs, light sabre-wielding adults, pancake arses and McGuffins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss Sepp Blatter's sorrow, Louis van Gaal's candour and Jose Mourinho's irresistible attraction to football executives who know nothing about football but a lot about TV ratings.John Brewin analyses the chances of Jose Mourinho becoming the next manager of Manchester United. And Raphael Honigstein gives us the reaction from Germany where Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will leave FC Bayern at the end of the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eoin, Ken and Murph discuss Jose getting the sack, the mask slipping, the limitations of charisma, his future employability, and the incredible number of mistakes he's made in half a season.Michael Calvin has written the football book of the year, it's called "Living on the Volcano", and it tells the life of an English football manager. He joins us on the line to discuss Rodgers' crown, Garry Monk's sunken eyes and how damaging the job is to your mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a long, long build-up for Andy Lee but his fight with Billy Joe Saunders is finally here - we talk to the reigning WBO middleweight champion of the world about fight week, the traveller angle and going to war. And it's the long-awaited Second Captains Irish Times Christmas Books Podcast, with Malachy Clerkin, where we reveal the best (non-written-by-Second-Captains) book of the sporting year. Plus - tips for slow readers, Sonia sez relax, and we ruminate on how life's a beach and then you die. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is now Conor McGregor's world, the rest of us just live in it. After his truly spectacular 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo on Saturday night, Ken Early joins us from Las Vegas to give his reaction.And after a weekend that started promisingly with wins for Connacht and Ulster, Munster and Leinster slipped to two more devastating, dispiriting defeats in the European Cup - we talk to Shane Horgan about deeper issues at play. Plus there's Ken's biting critique of the cowboy lifestyle, the Babe Ruth of body language experts and the return of the travelator challenge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.