The 42 GAA Weekly

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to grapple with the meaning and emotion so abundant in Mayo’s stunning All-Ireland victory. Has there ever been a more seismic moment in the GAA? Or in Irish sport full stop? While being aware of recency bias, we are scratching our heads. Also, Mayo people’s delight is obvious and palpable, but why has nearly everyone else been so deeply affected by Sam going west? We get into theories ranging from the Seven Universal Plots, and how Mayo fulfilled most of them, to Steve McQueen’s Papillion, who was brutalised but never broken. What will be the lasting repercussions of this victory for the human spirit? Will we see other teams take inspiration and make the breakthrough. And stylistically, are we set for an era of heavy metal football - with younger, lighter, faster, high-pressing players taking prominence as the true possibilities of new Gaelic football become ever more clear?    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue convene at Croke Park to analyse Mayo's emotional All-Ireland final victory over Kerry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue, Fintan O’Toole and Ronan Early convene for a philosophical football final preview.At least it starts out that way, before getting down to the brass tacks of who is going to win this game and why.But first the lads grapple with the question of whether Triggers brush, with 17 new heads and 14 new handles over a 20-year span, is still the same brush? Parallels are drawn to the Ship of Theseus Paradox which has exercised thinkers for centuries: If a boat has every component replaced over time, is it the same ship or a new one? And are Mayo still Mayo, and Kerry still Kerry, in their essence, despite the passage of time and changing cast of characters?Also, should Kobe McDonald defer his move to Australia? Ronan thinks he should, Declan thinks he will, while Fintan tells them why it’s an opportunity too good to pass up.Predictions are given, complete with winning margins, to be used in evidence against us should the game take on a different and unforeseen, on this podcast at least, course. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O'Toole dial in from Croke Park in the immediate aftermath of the hurling decider, where the Munster champions dominated proceedings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to chat about Galway and Limerick’s showdown at Croke Park on Sunday.Can the Tribesmen gain belated revenge for 2018, a seismic final that set both teams in wildly different directions?Can Galway frustrate Limerick like they did Cork on Sunday, or have the Munster champions got too many long-range shooters for the same plan to be effective?At what point do Galway push out and crank up the pressure on Limerick? Who marks Jason Rabbitte and what happens if that Limerick defender gets a yellow card?How does Paul Kinnerk keep innovating with Limerick, and what do we know about the chemistry in Galway’s backroom team?Also, do counties and players sell themselves short by staying quiet before a big game? Or is it unrealistic to expect amateur players to engage freely with the media?Also, do counties and players sell themselves short by staying quiet before a big game? Or is it unrealistic to expect amateur players to engage freely with the media? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole and Paul Keane give their immediate reaction from Croke Park, after Kerry's narrow win over Dublin. The pair also look back at Mayo's emphatic victory over Louth, and Wicklow's incredible comeback against Down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to discuss the seismic clashes of Mayo-Louth and Dublin-Kerry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to assess the two losing hurling semi-finalists. The victorious Galway and Limerick sides will be discussed in detail ahead of the All-Ireland final. For now we are looking at the Rebels and the Banner, who both seem to have reached the end of the road with their current teams, albeit in different moods and circumstance. For Cork it is yet another galling collapse in Croke Park, when they were favourites for the game and in a strong position in the first half. Where do they go in 2027? Is major surgery required? How can they begin to heal the accumulating mental scars? Clare earned plaudits for the ferocity of the challenge they brought to Limerick. But did they suffer from white line fever, failing to score after Tony Kelly’s penalty in the 57th minute? And by being one correct decision away from the final - in Nickie Quaid managing to stay on the field for the penalty - have Clare exposed the folly of a championship format which had them on the brink after only two really good performances?   Meanwhile, Henry Shefflin gets the Kilkenny job. How did this come about? And what are his chances of success?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue reflect on All-Ireland hurling semi-final weekend at Croke Park. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O’Toole joins Ronan Early to look ahead to Cork-Galway and Clare-Limerick in Croke Park this weekend.From bookies paying out early, to fellas getting tattoos and pundits criticising their rivals - there is always a stick with which to beat the Cork hurlers. This week it comes in the form of Ringmahon Rangers and the FAI Cup fixtures impasse.The lads did not expect one of Cork city’s premier soccer nurseries to feature in the build-up to the Rebels’ showdown with Galway - but they knew it would be something. Cork hurling has long since become a soap opera with wild storylines entirely beyond the control of anyone actually involved in the operation. So how do they handle the noise? Block it out or have a brief laugh as you focus on the substantial job at hand: beating Galway.Fintan breaks down areas where Glaway can hurt Cork, and how Cork can temper their threats and build a winning total themselves.Also, can Clare rise from an indifferent campaign and produce one of their best displays ever, which is what will be needed to beat Championship favourites Limerick? We assess their chances.To get in touch with the pod, please email [email protected] or [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole is joined by Paul Keane in Croke Park to look back on a brilliant and dramatic weekend of football action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to look ahead to a packed weekend of football, as the Championship is down to the last eight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to look ahead to a truly exciting round of knockout football.But first they talk about the promotional own-goal of putting the Kerry-Armagh clash on their streaming service instead of free-to-air TV. Why are the GAA hiding their jewels while interest in the World Cup booms? Or is there a counterargument, and does GAA+ really need the biggest games to be a viable service?On the field of play, we look ahead to the blockbuster ties of Dublin-Donegal as well as Kerry-Armagh and call Mayo-Meath and Monaghan-Westmeath.And for all the hurling snobs about there, fast-forward to 58.47 for some chat about Clare-Dublin and Cork-Offaly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to debate the Munster final.Is the discussion over the final whistle contrived controversy. Did the stop-start game need a dramatic talking point at the end to elevate the spectacle?Why were Limerick so excited to win? What makes for a great hurling dynasty? To rack up All-Irelands do you need to be strong when others are weak? And with Cork now at Limerick’s level will their GOAT credentials be put to the ultimate stress test?Declan, meanwhile, assesses Galway’s chances of beating both.Also, we run through the knockout football games for the weekend ahead and, as ever, call it. There is even a World Cup prediction at the end if you want to ruin your accumulators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole is joined by Paul Dollery of The Sun in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to reflect on Limerick edging out Cork in a tense Munster decider today, and Galway cruising past Dublin in last night's Leinster final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue joins Fintan O'Toole to look at a week when GAA bosses have dominated the agenda.First Jarlath Burns had his say, then Ger Brennan hit back, as the controversy over managerial bans continues. What impact is this all having on Dublin's season?Derek Lyng has stepped down in Kilkenny, the lads reflect on his time in charge and wonder is Henry Shefflin set to take charge.And they look ahead to this weekend's big hurling finals... why this is a season-defining game for Dublin and Galway, and can Limerick change their record against Cork? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue joins Ronan Early to discuss the fallout from the Kerry-Donegal clash.Jim McGuinness and David Clifford have avoided bans for their part in the fracas at Fitzgerald stadium, just months after Ger Brennan, the Dublin manager, received a 12-week ban for an offence not dissimilar to McGuinness’.Is the GAA disciplinary system - with its myriad committees and ruling bodies who administer justice in private and do not comment publicly - fit for purpose nowadays? What needs to happen for greater consistency and transparency?Also on today’s pod, Declan details why the marriage of Davy Fitzgerald and Antrim hurling failed to produce the kind of results both parties would have liked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole is joined Syl O'Connor at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to run through the main talking points of Cork's big win against Clare and Kilkenny's early exit from the Championship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole joins Ronan Early to talk about the big hurling stories of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole is joined by Shane Brophy of the Nenagh Guardian to analyse Clare's 11-point win against Tipperary in Semple Stadium. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early ahead of a decisive weekend in Munster, Ulster and Leinster. Tipperary and in particular Clare may have a route back to the All-Ireland series should they lose in Thurles on Saturday - but realistically neither will be in a healthy state following a defeat in Thurles. How have the All-Ireland champions of 2025 and 24 arrived at such a critical juncture at this stage of the season? And who can revitalise their campaign this weekend?Also, are the GAA winning their battle for media supremacy? Backlash to Clare and Tipp being on GAA+ has been muted so far. Have the association been helped in this regard by the fact that in the region of 400,000 households have a dodgy box? Are the potentially outraged citizens content to fill their boots with illegal streams, while others pay the subscription?Declan tells us how Monaghan continue to outperform the external expectations of a county with a small population. Can they beat Armagh in the Ulster final, or will Kieran McGeeney and co land the prize they have chased so hard this decade? And in Leinster, can Westmeath upset Dublin?To get in touch with the show, email [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O'Toole is joined by Paul Brennan of The Kerryman to reflect on Kerry's Munster Senior Football Championship final win over Cork. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early on a week when it dawned on the wider GAA public that provincial finals ain’t what they used to be. Round 2a and 2b of the All-Ireland series might have stolen a march on set-piece occasions that have stood for generations, but is that right?And who should show the plum ties from the latest new format? Do GAA+ now hold all the aces? If so, how does this serve the public?Also, previewed today are Cork-Kerry, Galway-Roscommon and the Munster hurling championship clash of Waterford-Cork as well as key Leinster battles, Wexford-Dublin and Offaly-Kilkenny.Finally, what’s in a rivalry if one side is dominant and the other doesn’t seem to care all that much? Or, can the embers of hatred - the good-natured sporting type - ignite again? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to look ahead to the weekend’s action and reflect on some of last weekend’s shocks.The lads are feeling humbled and fallible after getting a few of their big calls wrong last week, but like true inter-county stalwarts they are blocking out the outside noise and only taking feedback from within the group as they set out to make another bunch of predictions - which could go either way.Will Down carry their irresistible form into Saturday’s meeting with Armagh? Can Louth see off Dublin and make it to another Leinster final against Westmeath or Kildare?And, in hurling, can Clare capitalise on the absence of Cian Lynch and most probably Aaron Gillane too and beat Limerick in Ennis?Get in touch with the pod at [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.