LOI Central

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 hire Stephen Bradley heads into his second decade in charge. We also hear from Garret Higgins on the new National League and debate it's relevance to the LOI while we also hear a snippet of irate Mark Connolly after Derry were destroyed in Dalymount. On top of that, there's a crowded mailbag with the usual combination of revelry and angst before the irony levels go through the roof as a giddy JW ponders if his Galway Whatsapp group could bring European banter to another level prior to them taking on Shels in their first game since Live Aid! All of this high jinks is in association with Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals, the host of Rocktoberfest on Saturday October 11

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 before reflecting on Sam Rooney, Ryan Sheridan and the supersub Saints who stole the show on Sunday. The mailbag includes more questions about Dan's holiday, the McClean situation, the good side of Graham Burke and a hypothetical debate around plane evictions. All of this and more in association with our friends at Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals Brewing where Rocktoberfest on October 10 is the big date in the diary

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 enduring madness of the League of Ireland. Owen Heary defends James McClean and Cian Barrett and tells John Russell how he might begin his defence. It's all here thanks to Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Planify.ie and Chido as Dan enjoys his badly-needed holidays before the chaos of next week.

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 torment of a long term injury and reflects on his transition from Shels to Dundalk, while Podge tries to put his finger on the factors behind the Graham Coughlan inspired turnaround at the RSC. Dan deals with some James McClean queries in a busy mailbag that deals with the European fallout at a period of the season where a number of clubs appear to have reached a crossroads. As ever, we are pointed in the right direction with thanks to Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing, Chido and Planify

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 Horgan still prominent members of the news cycle. Aside from that there’s a busy mailbag with anonymous Athlone, signing shy Saints and a forgettable Finn Harps year. Add in Darren Purse’s arrival, an unexpected Frank Spencer tangent and a side of Mayo and we’ve got another show with the help of of our friends at Chido, Planify, Future Ticketing & Collar and Cuff. Ooh Betty!

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 just too much football. Were things better in the old days of basic coffee, clean air and blank Augusts? John Russell must yearn for the era before Kerry FC, one element of a mailbag that touches on betting business, more crowd chat and a brief rundown of the European state of play. All of this in association with our friends at Planify, Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing and Chido

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 way to a new destination. We debate his big move with the help of Owen Heary who reckons it was a left field switch, and then tells us that there's a few left wingers he would like to kick if it was possible to turn back time. There's a mailbag full of gear talk that brings us to border updates, airport sightings and the curious case of Johnny's childhood chocolate stash. All of these treats are brought to you in association with Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Chido

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 the LOI player. In a crowded mailbag there’s relegation chat, release clause regrets and inevitable chainsaw content. All of this and more in association with Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff, Chido & Planify

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 planning to do on July 19? All of these points feature in an express length show with a few words from Pico on his football friends and tributes from some of his old mentors in the shape of Keith Long and Stephen McPhail. Our mailbag ranges from Pat's pain to Tommy Lonergan love and the latest battery status for Alan Reynolds and Bohs. All of this delivered with the love of a matador costume by our friends at Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Planify and Chido

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 from a multinational press room, Dan gives his take on the last week while Johnny poses the big questions from home after another puzzling Shels-Bohs encounter, a win for St Patrick's Athletic that might build belief and the verdict on Galway's temporary home. In a packed mailbag there's James McClean book discussions, substitute host feedback and another dose of dodgy box chat. All of this familiarity is brought to you with the help of our friends at Collar & Cuff, Chido, Future Ticketing and Planify

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 to an airport bound Dan somewhere in the southern states. But the story is really only about a small African nation and it's Crumlin born defender keeping the world champions at bay. Zlatan couldn't make it, but Rascals, Collar & Cuff, Planify and Future Ticketing all showed up to bring you episode 18!

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 the challenges faced by Dawson in an appearance where he was occasionally left up shit creek. There’s a mid-season themed mailbag with some Derry angst, more Robbie Benson goal nostalgia and a farewell to the verucas. There’s also the quiz question that wasn’t and some Conan halfway line goal nostalgia, all made possible by our friends at Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Planify and Chido, our favourite Mexican themed lager.

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 goal. There's Dublin Derby summaries, Derry City woes and a lot more summer beer garden chat that Rascals new Chido six pack could aid and abet. Yes, tune in, suncream up and drop out with Future Ticketing, Collar&Cuff, Planify.ie and Rascals while we take you towards the real summer which everyone knows only starts when the leaving cert does!

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 still manages to keep the quiz business in order after talking to both Daryl Horgan and Ciaran Kilduff. The mailbag is chock a block with talks of the same penalty as well as a left field take on New Zealand's chances in the World Cup. It's episode 15 and there's way too many topics to mention here and it's all done in tandem with Rascals Brewery, Collar & Cuff, Planify.ie and Future Ticketing. Oh and the big lad from Alkmaar they couldn't remember? That was Wout Wegorst.

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 Shelbourne and Derry City and delving into a mailbag that veers from student dilemmas to Graham Coughlan's impressive communication. All of this and more in association with our friends from Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Planify and Rascals Brewing

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 the road ahead? Our mailbag included a fair few Kian Leavy related observations and Johnny spoke with St Pat's playmaker Chris Forrester about the rough treatment handed out to his team-mate and his own personal quest for 100 club goals. It's a serious conversation that's more relevant than irreverent and it's brought to you by our friends at Collar & Cuff, Planify, Future Ticketing, O'Reilly Sports and Rascals Brewing.

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 debate and a bumper mailbag to boot where Bohs feature highly again with the long walk to the tunnel. So we’re still in the section of the season where Shamrock Rovers don’t fire on all cylinders, but Rascals Brewing, Planify, Collar & Cuff, O’reillys Sportswear and Future Ticketing are firing episode 12 straight into your headphones!