The Second Captains Podcast

Rory Mcilroy brightened up our Monday morning with a clutch 20-foot putt on the last to beat golf's number 1 heel, Patrick Reed, by 1 shot in the Dubai Desert Classic. We discuss clutch Rory and the horror of seeing the tee-throwing, subpoena-wielding, LIV golf-subscribing Reed going so close to beating the Irishman (and I mean an Irishman).This year's Six Nations will have the number 1 and 2 ranked teams in the world, England under new management, a confident Scottish squad, a best ever Italian team and Wales getting the band back together under Gatland once again.We chat to former England flyhalf Stuart Barnes about him rating Ireland as favourites, if we have maxed out on our talent, if Gatland can be as successful again without Shaun Edwards, why we all continue to underrate the Wales-Gatland dynamic, and if France can go back to back.Plus there's a streaming speed hullabaloo and we wonder if Novak is emoting for real after his latest Australian Open triumph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All Ireland Senior Club Football Final is a big day in the calendar but nobody expected the result of Kilmacud Crokes and Glen to become the water cooler topic of the nation this week. We welcomed Paul Flynn & Michael Foley onto the show to discuss how farcical this has all been. Plus there's Eddie Howe's likeness to Dr Frankenstein and how Hollywood has come knocking in Milltown Co, Galway.Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kilmacud Crokes beat Glen of Derry to win the All Ireland Club Football Final this weekend, but footage shows they had 17 men on the pitch for the final play of the game. Should Glen appeal? Should the GAA offer a replay? Or should they go with Ken Early's suggestion and kick Kilmacud out of the competition altogether?Munster scored one of the greatest tries in their history, away to Toulouse, thanks to a series of sharp passes and smart running lines. They lost the game but even in defeat gained energy, joy, excitement and hope that they can be a great side once again.... even if they have a horrible last 16 tie away to Siya Kolisi's Sharks. We chat to Gavan Casey of The42 about World Champion Amy Broadhurst's defeat to Grainne Walsh in the National Elite Boxing Championship Finals, and what it means for Broadhurst's Olympic Qualification hopes.And with Edinburgh failing to understand what they needed from their game against Saracens, permutations man feels compelled to have his say. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mikel Arteta described Arsenal's 3-2 win over Manchester United as "increlliant" - which just about covers it.Led by Saka and Zinchenko (thanks Pep!), Arsenal recovered from the gut punch of Marcus Rashford's brilliant opening goal to turn the game around and all but knock United out of the title race. Andrew Mangan and David Sneyd join us to talk about the weekend's football. If Arsenal do win the title should Pep Guardiola get a medal for selling them Zinchenko? Did City's 3-0 defeat of Wolves suggest they might be about to go on one of their 18-match winning runs? And the question everyone is asking: who is better between Haaland and Ferguson? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were delighted to welcome Ian Wright to the World Service this week to talk about Arsenal's hot streak, how he eventually came to find his voice in broadcasting, as well as the role of the modern striker - namely Haaland and our very own Evan Ferguson. Plus there's US Murph on how it's often the humble kickers that shape lives and legacies.Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting with a McGrath Cup game for Kerry on January 5th, 2022, he played 34 games, scored 20-187 and won eight trophies from nine competitions.  David Clifford has had a hell of a season.  Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times joins us to talk to us about Fossa’s win in the All-Ireland junior club final yesterday, and the travelling circus that has accompanied their route through the Kerry, Munster and All-Ireland championship, with crowds following Clifford wherever he went. We also pay tribute to Paudie Clifford’s victory speech, comparing it favourably to Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame acceptance, and there’s also the return to top-class international rugby of Eddie Jones.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United surging back into title contention, Arsenal winning at Spurs, City and Liverpool losing on the same Saturday for the first time in ten years... is the long-established PL order transforming before our eyes?But while many things thought solid are melting into air, other old truths remain: Chelsea are outspending everyone, Everton are engulfed in revolutionary tumult, and VAR is still happily inserting mistakes.Miguel Delaney and Mark Critchley join us to talk about the Manchester and London derbies, whether Manchester City have what it takes to reel Arsenal in, and whether Jurgen Klopp is reaching the end of the road at Liverpool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the great Irish sporting controversies dominated the World Service this week.. who really was at fault for the opening French goal in our 2-0 defeat in Paris in 1976? There's also Ken's case for Bale's footballing immortality, as well as US Murph on what's making the Buffalo Bills' march to the NFL playoffs just so damn Hollywood. Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023 is but a pup and already Irish rugby fans are fretting over the team's World Cup chances if Johnny Sexton isn't fit.Since his switch to loosehead prop just over a year ago Andrew Porter has become almost as important to both Leinster and Ireland. Simon caught up with him to discuss winning streaks, how Porter separates work from the rest of his life and his work with the Tackle Your Feelings campaign which aims to help people be proactive about their mental health, a topic close to Porter's heart since he lost his mother to cancer at 12 years of age.We also look at Ulster's latest loss in Italy, Vialli's stats and The Buffalo Bills. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graeme Potter is the Chelsea coach... but why were the Chelsea fans singing the name of Thomas Tuchel at the Etihad last night? The Currency's Dion Fanning and Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian join us on today's show to talk about Chelsea supporters' unrealistic expectations, why Potter's body language matters, why none of this is his fault - and why his blamelessness doesn't actually matter. We also talk about Evan Ferguson's prospects of playing for England (hands off, Lee Carsley), Wout Weghurst's triumphant return to the Premier League, and why Zinedine Zidane has fallen foul of a quote-friendly sports administrator.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.