The Second Captains Podcast

82,000 in the stadium and 1.6m watching on RTE - there's never been an event like this in Irish sport.We look back on a mesmerising but surreal evening in Croke Park with Sinead O'Carroll and Malachy Clerkin. We discuss Katie's insights on Katie', grabbing the mic, how boxing was always the easy bit, and if she is 100% definitely retiring.Plus there's Westlife, the Croker crowd, seeing both sides of boxing, walk-on music and doing it her way.Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a hell of a week on the World Service - Ken is  back - Katie build-up has been emotional - And on top of all that, we’ve made friends within Hector Bellerin!Plus there was transfer window madness, and today one of Germany’s most respected football writers, Christoph Biermann, joined us to talk about his new book: Game Theory: How Luck and Analytics shape football.Next week we have the Champions League, we will review Troy V Jose and Katie's fight, plus there's Trump's trip to Doonbeg and a few big GAA and rugby stories coming to the boil.Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome former world champ and one of the best coaches and boxing analysts in the world, Andy Lee into studio. Andy has coached Katie, has fought on the same card as her, and was in London for her moment of Olympic glory.Ken took a look at who has moved, and more importantly, who hasn’t, on the final day of the transfer window, and how a butterfly flapping its wings creates an angry fan on the other side of the world.To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week two of the Premier League season has concluded - and SC’s football correspondent has finally deigned to check in. Ken explains his absence and reports on his activities. We follow Troy Parrott’s quest to establish himself at Ireland’s new pet club, Real Betis. Some unduly harsh reviews of his full debut remind us that Spain is traditionally a difficult feeding ground for number 9s. We talk about the spiralling inflation in the Premier League transfer market. How can this be explained? Is it new accounting rules? Too much money chasing not enough talent? The level of computerised games? Sheer rank stupidity? Chelsea under Alonso, Pep's message, Cherki's laces, John McGinn and Cosette-Gakpo feature along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a daft week here on Second Captains with a stonking opener to Premier League season, Troy Parrott making his La Liga debut, the biggest, fastest, strangest sale in sports franchise history, and Glasgow Celtic flaming out of the Champions League.Next week is even tastier with Katie Taylor's historic fight in Croker and more importantly, the return of Ken Early!To listen to all our programming, go to secondcaptains.com/join 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and 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.

Troy Parrott could be in line to make his La Liga debut tomorrow night in the Mestalla and we have some hot off the press Manuel Pelligrini quotes about competition for places and where he sees his new striker fitting in.Last week Rory McIlroy finished third last at the St. Jude Championship, 25 shots behind the winner Scottie Scheffler. This weekend at the BMW Championship he came within three holes of winning the whole thing. All aboard the Rory-Coaster!We chat to Mal Clerkin about Rory's very patchy season, golf beefs, the need for more bastards, LIV"s legacy and if in fact the Saudis were successful at sports washing.Plus there's Rory's floor, Ciarán Murphy's two point masterclass and Jose knowing his audience.Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The opening weekend of the Premier League had a bit of everything - surprise results, late goals, Newcastle/Liverpool and big-spending Spurs.We chat to Richard Jolly, who was in St James Park to witness the Keegan tribute, and Lars Sivertsen about United getting mauled by Hull, Spurs' damaging defeat, Villa getting hammered by Brighton and Arsenal in cruise control.Plus there's the Irish men of Brentford, Duff gets glazed, Kenny's glasses and Haaland's haircut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our weekly Second Captains world service taster! Troy's move to Betis has lit up our lives in the last few days as we dream of press trips to Seville, watching him play in the Champions League, taking those Spanish smarts back to Ireland camp - It really is the perfect move. We also have the Premier League to look forward to, which looks more unpredictable than ever. We chatted to Rory Smith and Dion Fanning about the power vacuum in the league now that Pep is gone.We have more Premier League next week, the Katie fight is coming up fast and on Friday we have a great show about the power of protest. To hear all our shows go to secondcaptains.com/join - it's 5 euro a month, it only takes a couple of minutes to join, there's nothing sneaky or tricksy about it, there's no hidden fees or contracts, you can try it for a month and see how you go. We're independent, member led, Irish owned and we do 6 shows a week. Give it a whirl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Given their underdog status, the weight of history and the Clifford factor, how did Mayo pull this off?We chat to Paul Flynn and Dara Ó Cinnéide about Moran's masterplan, teenage kicks, Mayo's energy edge and a sensational display from Ryan O'Donoghue.Was this the greatest football season ever? Was this better than the World Cup? And what data did Ken utilise in order to predict a Mayo win?Plus there's Cubs caps, Coyne's calling and "be more Mayo". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

75 years, the curse, the finals, all those heroes denied ... until yesterday, it finally happened, Mayo are the All Ireland Champions!This morning Murph caught up with Kobe McDonald, Jordan Flynn and manager Andy Moran.We discuss the greatest ever day in Croker, the many Hollywood moments and the reality living up to the dream. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Pod marked the return of Ken from the New World and with him he brings tales of Argentinian conspiracy theories. We also had Gavin Cooney drop by to chat about the legacy of Kevin Keegan. To listen to all of 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, well maybe Messi wishes he had. Spain are Campeones del Mundo!It was a strange final leaving questions lingering of how FIFA has been allowed to reduce the centre-piece of the football world to an add-on alongside a tacky, ill-conceived concert.Ken dials in for the last time this tournament. We hope you’ve enjoyed it all.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our World Cup taster show which this week has us throw you - the listener- straight into the middle of Ken Early's report live from Atlanta as Argentina celebrate their classic semi-final win over England below him. You'll also hear Tim Vickery and David Sneyd and if you sign up you'll hear a lot more...To listen to all our World Cup 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two sell-outs in Croke Park this weekend, a bewildering cocktail of storylines, and a Kerry/Mayo final to look forward to in 2 weeks time - Dara Ó Cinnéide and Paul Flynn discuss VAR, Mayo’s forwards, and Louth hitting the wall.And Oisin McConville joins us to tell us how he and his Wicklow team turned a 13-point deficit into the most glorious day in their football history.All that plus concertina solos, high emotion, and the best summer this sport might have ever had. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England will wake up on Sunday morning with a hangover and a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.The once maligned Jude Bellingham again rescued this English team before becoming embroiled in a bizarre post-match back and forth with his manager via the medium of ITV.We chat to Lars about the view from Oslo (well, Dallas) and discuss TV cable interference, and the hooking of Rice and Haaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our World Cup taster show which this week finds us in Atlanta as Ken expertly reports live from the stadium moments after Argentina overcome Egypt in one of the games of the tournament. To listen to all our World Cup 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All-Ireland football quarter-finals did not disappoint, and we have two tasty semi-finals to look forward to - Kerry against Dublin, which a small number of people might have predicted, and Mayo against Louth, which absolutely no-one would have predicted.Paul Flynn and Dara Ó Cinnéide are the best in the business, and they have much to discuss - red cards, penalties, Kobe's one shot at the title, how far can this new-look Dublin team go, and should Tyrone have started Darren McCurry?Plus there’s sad celebrations, old man Ronaldo and the impetuosity of youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England are into the knock-out stages of the World Cup where they will face DR Congo. It took them just over an hour to score the first of two goals against Panama and previous Tuchel-Boosters are beginning to have doubts. Ciarán chats to James Horncastle.It's 2030 and Ken is in a stadium shouting into a microphone about the preposterous situation of the 45 year old Ronaldo lining out in a World Cup Group Stage game for Portugal - that, it seems, is the future we have to look forward to.For now Ken and Branno were in Miami/Bogotá to see Portugal and Colombia both advance to the latter stages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Brannigan has arrived in New York City, and his first job is to release battery hen Ken from his content cage.We talk to Pablo Montano from AS about Spain’s thumping win today, and if Yamal can regain full fitness during this tournament.Branno and Ken go to Little Egypt and witness the North African's first ever win at the World Cup and get caught up in the crazy aftermath. Plus there’s Eoin’s Metallica shame, the Turks get angry and the player Brazilian fans love to hate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All-Ireland football championship knew it had to produce something to grab some eye-balls on this World Cup weekend, and boy did it deliver.  Donegal and Armagh were both beaten, and they now face trips to Dublin and Kerry respectively.Paul Flynn and Dara Ó Cinnéide line up at the start line with us before a whirlwind tour of 8 incredible games this weekend.  Have Kerry’s injuries cleared up just in time; are Monaghan under-rated; how did Cork break down Donegal; is there a kick in Meath this year… and just how valuable will 2 weeks’ break be for Galway?And as the 'Dubs to Parnell Park' debate rages, there's a Brannecdote of note.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re less than an hour away from the big kick-off at World Cup 2026, Ken is at the Azteca and we are having a blast on the World Service this week. You’ll hear from Ken all tournament long and Branno’s gonna join him in a few days time.Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. To listen to all our World Cup programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It costs 5 euro a month, 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, and helping us send Ken and Branno to America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to cheat week on the Second Captains world service! It all started with the Arsenal West Ham VAR fallout and got progressively murkier as the week went on with the Southampton "Spygate" saga, Celtic's questionable late penalty against Motherwell and Florentino Perez calling out all the haters and losers at Real Madrid.  There was also the news this week that Chelsea are looking to get Xavi Alonso as their next manager, news that astonished Ken given Liverpool seem a better fit and given how Liverpool's season has gone with Slot in charge.Coming up tomorrow we have the latest in our series of Fiesta Fridays ™ - last week it was Seve - this week it's bullfighting culture wars. Its a fiver to join, it takes 30 seconds, you have instant access to every show we've ever done, and all the top stuff coming up such as Ken at the World Cup, the Premier League and Champions League deciders, Madrid continuing to be insane, Rory's majors quest, Leinster in the champions cup final, the munster hurling championship is getting red hot, and the football championship is getting real tasty too. GO TO secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The newest member of our championship punditry team, Dara Ó Cinnéide - already getting rave reviews - was at Dr Hyde Park to see Roscommon pip Murph's Galway to their first home win in a Connacht final in a quarter-century yesterday. Dara and Paul join us to chat about a huge day for the Rossies, the first provincial finals of the summer, Jayo Sherlock, and how, for David Clifford, it's all in the eyes. Plus there's Willie Hegarty's commentary par excellence and the return of the finest barber in the west.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal are nearly there. As the manager flailed wildly with random substitutions, David Raya and Martin Ødegaard stood up to make sure that when the referees stepped up to rule on the climactic, decisive melee, Arsenal already had the crucial edge. We go through the fallout, and also talk about the Southampton spying scandal, while Eoin confesses to a faux pas in the presence of an unusually glamorous and sophisticated colleague.Nick Ames and Rich Jolly join us to talk about the West Ham-Arsenal VAR drama and debate some eternal questions. Is football's tottering refereeing system in need of urgent action to save it? Or is it actually working about as well as can be expected, but being sabotaged by a poisonous alliance of the cheating players and managers who disregard the rules, the self-righteous morons who watch them, and the entrepreneurial anger-farmers who whip everything up?Oh and Real Madrid we haven't forgotten about you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our World Service taster show. This week was dominated by Arsenal Football Club, who could now win it all, or nothing, but either way should be allowed celebrate the wins along the way? We also covered PSG's second leg defensive masterclass, Guehi's blunder, Man Utd's next manager, Leinster and Ulster making European finals, footballers taking mid season holidays and we dedicate our Friday show to one of our all time sporting heroes, Seve Ballesteros.Click the player at the top of the page to play this taster show. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s 5 euro a mont, 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 independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, 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?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Leinster eased into an 18 point lead with 12 minutes remaining in their Champions Cup semi final, everyone in the stadium could finally put that Northampton nightmare  behind them, right?We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about that late wobble and what caused it, how such a good team can also look so vulnerable, big Joe McCarthy saving the day, the blitz gamble, Leo's lecture to the media, Porter power, and the massive challenge posed by Bordeaux in the final.We also discuss power plays, Ulster finding happiness, and the Randle reverse review at Munster.Plus there's at swim two podcasters, the right runners and McDevitt's marathon wish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.