The Second Captains Podcast

Ireland have won 10 Six Nations games in a row now, and continue to do it in style with another 6 tries against Italy, and their first 6N/5N clean sheet since 1987.We chat to Gerry Thornley of The Irish Times and Tom English of BBC Scotland about Jack Crowley's passing game, Henshaw's case for holding onto the 13 jersey, who would replace Hugo Keenan if he's badly injured, why England are going to be tough to beat in Twickers, and if Scotland should blame the ref, the TMO, World Rugby's protocols, or themselves, for a defeat to an out of sorts French team.We get told to turn that frown upside down by a listener, and Murph looks at Jim McGuinness' soccer CV and wonders if he could do a job for the Republic of Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our regular best of show which this week features Arsenal's lightly celebrated win over Liverpool, a mild mutiny at Chelsea and AFCON fun with Oluwashina. We also have Vegas Murph, Ireland's Grand Slam plan, lotsa (GAA) league analysis and pedants on pedants.To listen to our programming throughout the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s 5 euro a month for independent, commercial-free, member-led podcasts with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not supposed to be this easy! Ireland's previous biggest win away to France was by 7 points, way back in 1948. In the wake of a record win in Marseille, we let a mix of emotions - joy, awe, confusion, expectation - wash over us. We chat to Shane Horgan about the unbridled optimism of our running game, our rejuvenated lineout, Jack Crowley's mental resets, Beirne's brains, a defanged Shaun Edwards and what's up with France?Ireland are now strong favourites to win a slam, but who is our main challenger as the Scots win but lose, as Finn Russell ticks off his teammates, as England learn on the job and as Wales somehow build belief from nothing.And after watching Derry outplay Tyrone Murph tells us who is going to win the All-Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FAI's search for a new manager is not going well. Pot stirrer Eoin McDevitt is still doing his bit though; he chatted to Neil Lennon on Premier Sports over the weekend, and today on Second Captains it's Gus Poyet, who is very keen on the job.Man United just about got past "County Newport" but the big story is nightclub enthusiast Marcus Rashford. Ken reviews the reviews of the clubs of Belfast.Plus there's the incredible shrinking Barcelona, Dion Dublin's pro-am, and all the things that Liverpool will miss about Klopp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Football League is winning hearts and minds on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Irish version of the NFL kicked off this weekend, with some cracking games and away upsets.  Michael Murphy is back in the Second Captains saddle for another year, and he talks to us about conversations with Jim McGuinness about a sensational playing return, conversations for 10 years about Roger Schmidt and gegenpressing, and why 1-20 in Ballybofey in January is pretty good shooting. We also discuss bogey teams in the GAA - Galway can’t beat Mayo, Monaghan can’t lose to Dublin (in the league, at any rate), and Mickey Harte is still inflicting pain on Kerry football.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The murder by a loyalist gang of Sean Brown, the Chairman of the Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Derry in May 1997 was a heinous, violent act, and one that has reverberated through generations of his town and his family.   In this special Second Captains episode, we travel to Bellaghy to talk to his daughter Siobhán and grandson Damán about their continuing fight for justice.  We talk about the obstacles that have stood in their way over the last 27 years, and the impact of the NI Troubles Legacy and Reconciliation Act on the inquest currently ongoing into his death.  Their barrister is Des Fahy, author of “How The GAA Survived The Troubles”, also talks to us about who Sean Brown was, and why being a member of a GAA club was enough to get an innocent man killed.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All-Ireland club finals don’t always deliver quality games, but they are usually good for a narrative arc or two… and in 2024, we managed to get the best of both worlds.  Maurice Brosnan of the Irish Examiner talks to us about Éanna Burke’s last-minute wizardry that won it for St Thomas’, and we discuss Conor Glass’ mastery of the big moments which will be the stand-out memory of Glen’s maiden All-Ireland club final win. Ken weighs in on what hurling can do to improve itself - and his findings may enrage traditionalists - and Eoin makes the argument for wet-weather-only fixtures.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ivan Toney seems to have made good use of his time away from the game, learning how to use his mind to manipulate and control the Universe. With this new skill in his locker it's looking like a big 2024 in prospect for the big man.We also talk about new developments in game management, Darwin's 10/10 and Manchester United's latest stunning boardroom "coup".Then Samindra Kunti joins us from Doha to report on the Asian Cup, where Palestine still have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stage after drawing with the UAE in their second match.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Murph joined us on the World Service for a round-up of the NFL Playoffs, a hearty laugh at the Dallas Cowboys and to give credit to the punting abilities of The Wicklow Whacker - Dan Whelan. Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho's time at AS Roma has come to a close in his customary third season at the club. We ask where next for the self-proclaimed 'Little Magpie'?Plus, there's Ken's beef with the Germans over Jadon Sancho and a return to pedant's corner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munster were on a bad run of results, injuries and performances, hadn't won away from home all season, and were 10-0 down away to Toulon in a must-win tie.... so naturally they shot the light outs, got a 4-try BP win, and changed the entire complexion of their Champions Cup campaign.We chat to Ruaidhri O'Connor about Munster marrying the old and the new, the impact Peter O'Mahony's return had on the team and why, almost 30 years into professionalism, big characters can still make all the difference.We continue to put grit into Murph's gears, take a lift to the top floor of the Lions experience, have a peek at the 6N form guide, seek the help of Permutations Man, and Ronnie O'Sullivan wins an 8th Masters title while also goading and chastising everyone around him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.