PODCAST · sports
LOI Central
by LOI Central
#LOICentral is a podcast with opinion, analysis and interviews on all the latest happenings in the League of Ireland, hosted by Johnny Ward & Dan McDonnell
Episodes
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S10E34: Rovers Roar, Kacper's Ghost & The End of Our Era
There’s a lot to digest this week, as we reflect on Monday night’s drama in Tallaght and the implications for the title race, with Stephen Bradley now in pole position to both win the league and outlast our podcast as we reveal the news that we are not #SignedFor2027. Johnny isn’t feeling too...
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S10E33: International Break, Israeli Fakes & Semi-Final Fever
The boys are (remotely) back in town with Dan recovering from a long, winding and paranoid international window while Johnny digested it all from Kerry while the Galway Aul Lads Whatsapp group begins preparation for their big FAI Cup semi final with Derry City (and not Dungiven). We talk title...
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S10E32 First Names, Title Reigns, Wager Gains and Dawson's Game
It's the last pod before the end of the world, sorry the international break, and we’ve been relegated to a watercooler conversation in the kitchen of Oliver Marketing. After a week where the top three won the big games against the lesser names, Johnny reveals the angst ridden nickname he shares...
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S10E31 Three Way Title Race, Johnny Mc’s Vision, Shels Hell & Purse on Purse
The lads are back in Oliver for a hectic show that might just be as breathless as the remainder of the League of Ireland season. Aside from fiscal and physical fears, Johnny is on board with the apparent Pat’s rebirth and Bohs momentum while Rovers questions persist. Johnny McDonnell dials in to...
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S10E30 Cup Dramas, Shels Strife & Conscious Conspiracy Theories
Dan is back in Oliver this week but with a twist as Paul O’Hehir joins us with Johnny off in London, searching for a town centre he can eventually take over with his aul lads WhatsApp group. With the help of some Alan Reynolds audio, the lads pick over the cup weekend, the Shelbourne dramas and...
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S10E29 Will Clarke Chat, Waterford Wonders & The Week That Was
Where there's a Will, there's a way. Dan and Johnny relocate to a stadium in Dublin 4 this week to catch up with the League of Ireland Academy Director to chat about the state of play post government investment and what needs to happen next to make encouraging investment sustainable. Before that,...
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S10E28 Return to Oliver, National League Launch & Galway in Europe?
We are back in the familiar setting of Oliver Marketing to pick over the week that was without needing a wifi connection. The lads discuss the low key vibe around a huge Shamrock Rovers game, the implications for the idea of a title race and the questions spinning out of it as pre-LOI Central…
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S10E27 FAI Cup Reaction, Rovers Review & Rooney
The lads are in Dan's gaff this week for live reaction to the FAI Cup quarter final draw after a weekend where every Premier team was a winner apart from Shamrock Rovers. What went wrong in Albania? Can they turn it around against KuPS? What's the best result for the league? The lads discuss that...
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S10E26 with Owen Heary and Tommy Lonergan
With three teams in deep in Europe, one playing in front of over 50,000, another likely to make the last stage before the Europa League group stages, why would anyone talk about the above? Then there was the fallout boys: two players who have vaguely featured for their clubs this year and the...
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S10E25: European Latest & Catching up with Conor Kearns & Padraig Amond
Johnny is on a well earned break this week so Dan holds the fort after another Shamrock Rovers home win in Europe to check in with Conor Kearns and Padraig Amond who give their view on the Hoops before discussing the rollercoaster of emotion they have both endured in 2026. Conor discusses the...
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S01E24 Memory Lane with McMillan & Bit’O’Betty’s New Manager
Dave McMillan joins the lads this week to discuss his new status as the second top goalscorer in LOI in Europe history and his memories of the run a decade ago that really put his Dundalk side on the map. We discuss how some members of that group are getting on today with Stephen Kenny and Daryl...
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S10E23 Content vs Discontent, Russell’s North Haverbook and Rovers Away Pain
Dan is back in Ireland and making an unexpected appearance on the pod after a few last minute changes in the wake of another disappointing away day in Europe in Shamrock Rovers. Can they turn it around? That’s just one talking point of a football show which, ironically enough, debates if there is...
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S10E22: Rovers, Russell & Manager Chat with Owen Heary
Dan's still at the World Cup - he hasn't mentioned it - but he was still able to keep an eye on a big win for Shamrock Rovers in Europe but was it one of the great wins? Johnny gives his take, before discussing his train journey to the Connacht derby that was followed by John Russell making his…
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S10E21 Rovers Review & Garry Buckley Chat
Dan is still on location by the sea in Vancouver, joining Johnny to discuss events in another seaside destination as Shamrock Rovers unpick a European defeat in Malta that could prove very costly. Johnny also chats with Garry Buckley about retirement, mortgages and the up and down lifestyle of…
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S10E20: Shels Shock, Pico's Journey & Weekend Reaction
It's the biggest Ireland-Mexico crossover since 1994 as Monterrey based Dan joins big cheese Johnny at home. There's news to discuss. What's the story with Shelbourne's dismissal of Joey O'Brien? What next for Pico Lopes' World Cup odyssey? And what exactly are the Ringmahon Rangers players...
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S10E19: Pico Pride, Pat's Charge & Puzzling Bohs
It's a transatlantic effort this week as Houston based Dan joins up with JW from the city that will play host to Pico Lopes' final World Cup group game late on Friday night as his journey now looks likely to continue. From meeting Tajikistan lads in the lift or the travails of tuning into LOITV...
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S10E18 Pico and Dan at the World Cup & Ruaidhri O'Connor in with Johnny
This week, a momentous nil-nil in Atlanta, the biggest bug scandal since Watergate, a goalkeeper elopes mid season, Liam Boyce gives us his 2c and the Bohs bodhrain bangs on. We got the man who wasn't there in the studio, as Ruaidhri O'Connor keeps Johnny company in Glasnevin before dialling out…
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S10E17: Catching up with Conan Byrne & Canadian Reflections with Kian Leavy
We’re back in business with a slightly different show this week as Conan Byrne dials in to join Canadian based Dan to reflect on the season so far and magic moments in Montreal for Dawson Devoy, Kian Leavy and Adam Brennan. We hear from Kian in a shameless Ardee themed segment before discussing…
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S10E16 with Robbie Benson
More game time for Paul O'Hehir this week as he sits in as a number 6 keeping the house for Johnny and a true League of Ireland legend, Robbie Benson. Benson goes wide in this weeks episode and laments the lost final year of his career whilst contradicting Johnny on his finest moments in front of...
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S10E15 with Daryl Horgan and Ciaran Kilduff
Decisions, decisions, decisions! Whether it be where to have a sneaky joint in Alkmaar or whether its a late penalty in Waterford, there's no better man than Johnny Ward to seek advice from. This week we have another welcome co-hosting nixer for Paul O'Hehir as Dan slips off on holidays, but…
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S10E14 with Eoin Doyle
Johnny is away in sunnier climes this week so Dan skips out to the southside of Dublin to catch up with friend of the show Eoin Doyle to get his impressions of the season so far. They talk best signings of the season and the best finishers in the league before unpicking the problems with…
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S10E13: Hosts Reunited & Chris Forrester Chat
Dan is reunited with Johnny this week for a remote rundown of the talking points raised by the Bank Holiday weekend. Have Bohs forgotten how to win? Does complacency explain the Shamrock Rovers crowds? What's happening with Cork City? What does Waterford's appointment of Graham Coughlan say about...
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S10E12 with Paul O'Hehir & Joey O'Brien
We literally dial it in this week as Johnny combines Punchestown duty with LOI duty and Paul O’Hehir stands in for Dan whilst not getting his annual jolly to the KIldare racetrack. There’s reaction to Joey O’Brien’s reaction to Shelbourne’s capitulation at home to Drogheda, lots of Sligo Rovers...
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S10E11 with Daniel Lambert & Aidan Keena
We swap one Dan for another this week as Daniel Lambert ankles it down to Oliver Towers on the back of his 40th birthday celebrations. After a derby defeat for Bohs we look at the weekend game in Tallaght, as well as back on a storied career for the Bohemians CCO, taking us from Dunsink in…
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S10E10: The Meaning of Life and the Death of a Title Race feat. Barry Murphy
After a decade of terrible mainstream media fuelled lies, we land on an existential discussion about the importance of football, the futility of fandom and the repeated death of a title race that doesn’t seem to really matter anymore anyway. Money, money, money, to win or break even? That is the...
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S10E09: Easter Wrap, Oriel Reunions & Galway Rising
We are ten games into our tenth season and whether you're in Vietnam or in the shower, we hope there's something for you here as we wrap on a dramatic weekend where there was courage and controversy in Dundalk, more Galway joy, a bit of Bohs and Shels angst and unexpected days off in Derry. Dan…
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S10E08 Post-Prague LOI, Late Night TV & Carl Winchester
Some walk by night, some fly by day, nothing can change us, 'cept and sure of the way. We are moonlighting back into the LOI scene as the Prague hangover looms over all strands of Irish football. This is the show you've kinda all been expecting. The one where Agnes Dipesto and Burt Viola call…
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S10E07: Giddy Galway, Dublin Dominance & Disorganised Derry
It's St Patrick's Night and Dan and Johnny are just two fortysomething dads recording a pod and debating the mechanics of the passing of time. They spend less than a hour of their existence picking over the talking points of the double header with Johnny enthused about his Galway PALS and Dan...
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S10E06 Tolka Drama, Title Discussions & Terrible Decisions
The lads are remote this week, and a bit distant at times as they struggle to process the big questions floating around their heads at this early stage of the season. What is a title race? Who will Galway United finish ahead of? What's wrong with Derry? Is Stephen Kenny back in the game? Who will...
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S10E05 with Paul O'Hehir and Paddy Kavanagh
When you've spent your last nine euro on a curry cheese chips in Inchicore and been presented with a bag of promised vinyl and a sauna is the only cure for a hangover then you know it has to be another episode of your favourite podcast. Dan is away this week so we took our chance to see if Paul...
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S10E04 with Johnny Dunleavy and Paul O'Hehir
After a fiery Friday and a surprisingly flat Monday, Dan is joined in studio by Paul O'Hehir and a gift bearing Johnny Dunleavy to pick through the talking points of the weekend. It brings us from flare ups and young players lighting up the league to unusual theme park sightings and unexpected…
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S10E03: Pitch Battles and Frustrating Fridays with John Caulfield and Tommy Barrett
We're back indoors at Oliver Ireland wondering if we're going to be outdoors anywhere this weekend after another interrupted League of Ireland Friday. John Caufield joins us from Galway where a frustrating start to the season has followed a challenging winter, while Tommy Barrett dials in after…
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S10E02 The Weekend That Was & Brush/Doyle at Rascals
We are back and so is football, weather permitting. The lads reflect on an opening weekend of the season that was affected by the elements, although that didn’t stop over 21,000 people turning up at the bore in Dublin 4. Johnny and Dan discuss the pros and cons of the exercise in addition to some...
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S10E01 A Look Forward and a Look Back to Sunday Night at Rascals
We are back for season ten and kicking off by bringing you back to Sunday night where we officially launched our 2026 season with not just one but two lads called Mark who captained League of Ireland clubs last year but now play for Coleraine. Mark Connolly and Mark Coyle reflected on their...
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S10E0 The Preview of the Live Preview
This is not a podcast apparently, its just a preview of the preview show that's coming to you live on Sunday! That's right we're back, and we've a competition for tickets to Sundays show.
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S09E40: The Christmas Wrapping Up and New Year Wish List
Ho, Ho, Ho..It's the 40th and final podcast of the year and the lads convene to talk Christmas, Conference League and a bit of James Clarke amongst other things. How did 2025 compare to expectations? What do we want from 2026? Was Dave Mulcahy this generation's Bob Dylan? Will we get a title…
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S09E39 It’s Almost Christmas! with John O’Sullivan
Stranger Things in studio today as John O’Sullivan joined us for a midwinter chat. Yes, that John O’Sullivan, the one who played for Shelbourne until everything changed in August. He tells the story of an unhappy end to a happy time and the ruthless nature of football before sitting in for a…
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S09E38: Review of 2025 and Plans for 2026 with Mark Scanlon
We were live in Collar & Cuff this week where League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon joined us to reflect on the 2025 season and look ahead to the plans for 2026. In a wide ranging discussion, we discussed fixture lists, financial plans, facilities issues, Foyleside fan issues and some other...
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S09E37 Cup Final Review & Shields/Ward Reunion at Rascals
This week’s show is half double winners, half double act. Firstly, we reflect on Shamrock Rovers’ success over troubled Cork City in the cup final and discuss the impact of Harry Nevin’s red card amongst other talking points arising from the day and the season for both clubs. In a packed mailbag,...
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S09E36 Live from Rascals with Dunleavy & Amond
It was LOI Central Live, and the entirety of Monday's gathering in Rascals Brewing was exclusive only to those who joined us for the tantalising combination of pizza, beer and League of Ireland related musings. The league's top scorer Padraig Amond defied expectations to join Johnny Dunleavy on...
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S09E35 PFA Ireland Premier XI with Paddy Barrett and Michael Duffy
There’s a dual focus to this show as we reflect on an incredible week while also taking an overall look at the year as our friends at PFA Ireland have given us the honour of naming the Premier Division team of the year on this week’s show. Is that why Paddy Barrett and Michael Duffy are on?…
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S09E34 Dalymount Draw, Friday Feelings & Permutations Paradise
We are back from an international break to begin the countdown towards the climax of the season – our live show in Rascals on Monday November 3 with tickets going on sale on Wednesday. Oh, and there’s the end of a thrilling European race, the playoff battle and the prospect of an FAI Cup Final at...
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S09E33 International Break Time with Kevin Doherty
On a week where skeletons are being found lying around all kinds of closets, a squeaky clean Kevin Doherty stops by Oliver Ireland for an international break chat on the highs and lows of 2025 – so far. While hedging his bets on talented non-Drogheda players, he is quite clear about his…
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S09E32: European Odysseys, Waterford Whispers and Seani Maguire’s FAI Cup Feelings
The finishing line is in sight for everyone apart from Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne as the closing stretch of the league clashes with the beginning of European league phase excitement. Dan and Johnny convene to discuss a busy week on a variety of fronts; and return to the familiar theme of...
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S09E31 Double Header Review. How good are Shamrock Rovers? What next for Galway United?
The boys are back in Oliver Ireland for a quickfire review of a double header that could prove very significant come the end of the season. Johnny has Galway’s woes on the mind, while Dan debates the potential legacy of this Shamrock Rovers side before we hear from Andrew Quinn and Joey O’Brien...
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S09E30: The Mayhem and the Magic of the Cup
We are back after an international break to forget and savouring a weekend to remember in the FAI Cup unless you happen to be from Connacht. Kerry FC's heroic exploits take top billing, but there's a heavy Sligo Rovers angle to that drama too while Johnny was down at Richmond Park to hear from…
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S09E29 A Week of Mixed Emotions. Webster on Horgan. Bradley on Europe.
It was a week of mixed emotions for everyone involved in Irish football with news of Ollie Horgan's final farewell coming through ahead of a historic ‘going electric’ night on the pitch for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne. We try and cover both bases here with Dave Webster joining to offer his...
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S09E28 - Super Thursday, Azores Review & Victor's €2m move
The lads take stock as Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers are both tantalisingly close to group stage football after a quite incredible night on Thursday. Dan relays his trip to the Azores, where some locals were more interested in the staff in the chip van than whether the Rovers performance was...
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S09E27: FAI Cup/Oasis Wrap & Patrick Hoban Chat
Our LOI family full of eccentrics is back this week, a little hoarse ten years on from a fine day involving a horse. Did Oasis hit the FAI Cup crowds? Did the Mrs. Browns Bohs fans at Oasis even know they were out of the FAI Cup? Is Liam Gallagher really just a poor man's Sean Malee? The lads…
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S09E26 Shels Heartbreak, Ref Rage & Conan Byrne Chat
It’s a two part show this week as Johnny and Dan kicks things off on location in Tolka Park, picking through the bones of a near miss for Shelbourne that sends them to the European last chance saloon. After the Shels wrap, we go back in time to Oliver Ireland for a catch-up with Conan Byrne that…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
#LOICentral is a podcast with opinion, analysis and interviews on all the latest happenings in the League of Ireland, hosted by Johnny Ward & Dan McDonnell
HOSTED BY
LOI Central
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does LOI Central have?
LOI Central currently has 385 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is LOI Central about?
#LOICentral is a podcast with opinion, analysis and interviews on all the latest happenings in the League of Ireland, hosted by Johnny Ward & Dan McDonnell
How often does LOI Central release new episodes?
LOI Central publishes regularly with 385 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to LOI Central?
You can listen to LOI Central on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts LOI Central?
LOI Central is created and hosted by LOI Central.
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