The Second Captains Podcast

Episodes page 1 of 6

1. Ep 3691: Jose's Formula, The Chorus of Old Trafford - 26/10/26

   26 Oct 2026 · 1 h 02 min

   This Monday morning, Bruno Fernandes seems to see himself as a sad giant made of rocks deciding he's fed up with protecting an ungrateful city from being crushed by an even bigger rock. Of course, the name Carrick…

2. Man Utd's Lake Como Meltdown, Iraola For The Long Haul?, The GAA Vs The AFL

   22 Oct 2026 · 25 min

   Man United took a beating on the shores of Lago di Como yesterday evening so Ken Early in turn took a step back, zoomed out and asked, just what exactly has Sir Jim Ratcliffe done to this fine club? Plus things seem…

3. Ep 3686: Wins All Round In The Champions Cup, Connacht Conquer Saracens, Munster Get It Done In Cork - 19/10/26

   19 Oct 2026 · 44 min

   It's been quite a few seasons since Connacht have been in the Champions Cup and an opening game against three-time winners Saracens wasn't exactly a gimme. But after trailing early doors, they pulled it back in an…

4. Ep 3685: Crash Bang Premier League, Rovers On The Ropes, Arteta's Joker Guru, Webb Eats Gorilla, Lampards Golden Wrist - 19/10/26

   19 Oct 2026 · 1 h 01 min

   Welcome back to the podcast where you can receive your news from inside the mind of Howard Webb three to four weeks before Howard Webb himself announces it. Arsenal have announced job cuts, with £20m-a-year Mikel…

5. Man Utd And Martinez, Haaland's Moral Core, Bohs Bite Back

   15 Oct 2026 · 29 min

   Your World Service taster menu features, this week, a platter of football for your gorging pleasure. Man Utd and Martinez, Man City, Haaland's moral core, and Alan Reynolds' right of reply at Bohs. If you like what…

6. Ep 3681: The Long Walk to Justice; George Gibney Jailed for 15 1/2 Years - 13/10/2026

   13 Oct 2026 · 1 h 07 min

   George Gibney was yesterday sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in jail for the sexual abuse of four girls in the 1970s and 1980s, bringing to an end a decades-long fight for justice. Two of the survivors from the 1990's…

7. Ep 3680: Leinster's Bright Lights, Sam's Guns, Telescopic Tees, Wing Craft - 12/10/26

   12 Oct 2026 · 43 min

   Leinster are back at the RDS, and notwithstanding some teething problems (no scoreboard, floodlights blinding their out-half, 40 minutes without scoring), they cruised to a win over Cardiff in front of a capacity…

8. Episode 3680: Cum On Feel The Noize - 12/10/26

   12 Oct 2026 · 1 h 27 min

   A crushing win for Manchester City at Anfield, who went a man up in the second half then tore Andoni Iraola's scufflers to pieces. A beaming Enzo Maresca hailed his players and supporters for creating a big noise of…

9. Liverpool V Man City, Maresca Won't Meddle, Ronaldo's Rant, A Long Time Ago

   9 Oct 2026 · 23 min

   On this week's Second Captains World Service we discussed Maresca’s blind faith in Man City, how the Liverpool and City fans will react on Sunday and Ken and Branno headed off to the Garvaghy Road in Armagh to ask what…

10. Ep 3675: Mark Zuckhurlberg , Eamonn Fitzmaurice Heads To Galway, Dara Ó Cinnéide On His Opposition To Outside Managers - 05/10/26

    5 Oct 2026 · 44 min

    Galway is one of only two counties to have won an All-Ireland football title with an outside manager, and they’re endeavouring to do it again with the unveiling on Saturday morning of their new manager, Kerry legend…

11. Episode 3674: Ireland's Window Finally Closes, A Plea For Divorce, Early 4 Taoiseach - 05/10/26

    5 Oct 2026 · 57 min

    Ireland ended their four match run with five points leaving them third in the table. But, bar a Troy Parrott goal for the ages, these last few weeks will be remembered long into the future for the debate off the field…

12. Sham City, Player Relations, Ken Seeks Clarity

    1 Oct 2026 · 29 min

    Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially…

13. Episode 3669: The 114, Klopp Kool Aid, Loose Lip Barbers - 28/09/26

    28 Sep 2026 · 53 min

    … And now some news from the Premier League. It was revealed last Friday that Manchester City are set to be found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges laid against them by the Premier League, which could quite possibly be…

14. Episode 3668: Israel 0-3 Ireland - 28/09/26

    28 Sep 2026 · 35 min

    After the most dramatic, most divisive day in Irish football for a quarter-century… a football game. Gavin Bazunu was not a part of the Irish squad, Ireland bowed their heads for the Israeli anthem, no handshakes were…

15. What Football Means To Israelis, The Power Of Boycotts, Biorhythm Monsters

    24 Sep 2026 · 26 min

    We already knew this was going to be an international football week unlike anything we’d ever experienced and the sight of the Ireland football manager accepting the support of the Taoiseach over derogatory comments…

16. Ep: 3662: Brighton And Brentford Bash Basque Boys, Wirtz Won't Make It, Brobbey's Body Shots, Ratcliffe Rages - 21/09/26

    21 Sep 2026 · 1 h 22 min

    A rabble-rousing weekend in the PL saw Keith Andrews and Fabian Hurzeler humble the Basque Premier League princes. But when Brighton and Brentford smash one of the big teams, who really deserves the credit? We discuss…

17. Ep 3661: Greatest Sport Ever Played Seeks Change, Limbs In Dalyer, LOI Race - 21/09/26

    21 Sep 2026 · 43 min

    The rule changes made by Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee have dramatically improved/changed the game of Gaelic football forever. Now hurling wants a piece of that pie. But why would "the greatest sport ever…

18. Why The Israel Games Are Going Ahead According To The FAI, JJ Gabriel Wants Out at Man Utd, Ken's Height Humility

    17 Sep 2026 · 29 min

    In this week's best of show, you'll hear part of our interview with FAI Director of Football, John Martin, on why the FAI has committed to playing our Nations League games against Israel, Ken on teenage phenom JJ…

19. Ep 3656: Manchester Is Blue But City See Red, Referees Dominate The Premier League Weekend, A Pro Ref Apology - 14/09/26

    14 Sep 2026 · 1 h 16 min

    The Premier League season labours past week 4 with a sense that things are yet to fully ignite - but the recently rebranded Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMOL, has hit its stride by issuing their first apology of the…

20. Ep 3655: Lowry's Record Win, Trump On Ireland, Whiskey Washing

    14 Sep 2026 · 50 min

    From the Air Force One fly-by to the Chinook helicopters to the talk on Irish unity to chants of "four more years" in the Doonbeg clubhouse, it was as strange a weekend as Irish sport has ever seen. None of it…

21. Champions League Week, My Beak Is Soft, Troy Media

    10 Sep 2026 · 21 min

    The English teams have been tearing it up in the Champions League so far this week. We chatted to Lars Sivertsen about Martin Ødegaard’s blistering early-season form and signs that adoption of tactics long-favoured at…

22. Ep 3650: Katie Grabs The Mic, The Croker Crowd, Walk On Music - 07/09/26

    7 Sep 2026 · 45 min

    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…

23. Ep 3649: Troy La Liga Main Character, Arsenal 2.0, Stoic Carrick, Heavy Crane In Oxygen Tent, Sensei v Sensei - 04/09/26

    7 Sep 2026 · 1 h 07 min

    For players new to La Liga, there's no better way to get people's attention than scoring the winner against Real Madrid. Betis Troy has lift-off - but did he really RAM Jose Mourinho's historic quotes back down his…

24. Troy's Spanish Sensei, Katie Week, Ken Is Back, Transfer Trauma

    4 Sep 2026 · 24 min

    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…

25. Ep 3645: Andy Lee On Katie In Croker, Transfer Deadline Day, Ken's Premier League Predictions - 01/09/26

    1 Sep 2026 · 1 h 00 min

    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…

26. Ep 3644: Mad Money, Handsome Donkeys, Troy's Hits, Cherki's Laces - 31/08/26

    31 Aug 2026 · 1 h 07 min

    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…

27. Troy Watch, Which Country, Premier League Begins, Ken Returns

    28 Aug 2026 · 26 min

    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…

28. Ep 3639: All Aboard The Rory-Coaster, Golf Seeks Bastards, Pellegrini On Troy, Did LIV Win - 24/08/26

    24 Aug 2026 · 41 min

    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…

29. Ep 3638: Man United Mauled, Liverpool Have Holes, Republic Of Brentford, Arsenal Cruise, Haaland's Haircut - 24/08/26

    24 Aug 2026 · 44 min

    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…

30. In Search Of Aura And Alphas, Troy's Dream Move To Betis, The Power Of Protest

    20 Aug 2026 · 30 min

    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…

31. Ep 3633: Kate’s Medal Rampage, Coscoran’s Late Charge, Irish Athletics’ Week Of Wonder - 17/08/26

    17 Aug 2026 · 38 min

    A week that will live long in the memory concluded yesterday with Ireland coming away from the Birmingham track and the Parisian pool with an incredible haul of nine medals. We reflect on Kate’s medal rampage and how…

32. Ep 3632: Arsenal End City, Rice Mines, Elliot Anderson Tax, The Bezos Era, Pats Dent Rovers - 17/08/26

    17 Aug 2026 · 38 min

    The Community Shield has never lied to us yet, so what exactly should we make of Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City? Gavin Cooney is with us to say goodbye to Man City, and to crown Arsenal as back-to-back champions. Is…

33. Jose Seeks Obedience, Croker Sells Out, Scathing Reviews- 13/08/26

    13 Aug 2026 · 25 min

    Man United and Leeds selling out the home of the GAA, James McClean's Derry disaster, our lust for glory medal charge at the European swimming and athletics championships, the dog whisperer, trying to figure out who…

34. Ep 3627: FIFA 2026, Troy Of The Canals, Jose's Truth, Vini's Decision - 10/08/26

    10 Aug 2026 · 1 h 04 min

    The warring football confederations of the world have once again spent the weekend slinging statements at one another. But is Gianni Infantino’s position substantively any worse than it was this time last week? We…

35. Ep 3626: Cork Exact Revenge, The "Let It Flow" Era, Coleman In Killybegs, Low Hanging Fruit - 10/08/26

    10 Aug 2026 · 52 min

    Camogie is in it’s “Let It Flow” era, and it made for a hell of a game between Cork and Galway, two sides that keep meeting in finals and two sides that.... straight up don’t like each other. We chat to friend of the…

36. Reading The FIFA Leaves In Rabat And Zurich

    6 Aug 2026 · 21 min

    This week on the Pod the curious World of FIFA continued to unravel before our eyes. To help guide us through the labyrinth, experienced FIFA-ologist Sam Kunti joined us to chat Infantino and possible contenders for…

37. Ep 3622: Galway Take It West, Aussies Repel Irish Invasion, Murph Allies With Japan, Ajax By The Tolka

    4 Aug 2026 · 49 min

    Galway are All-Ireland women’s football champions for 2026, ending a 22-year wait for their second title, but the result was in doubt right until the final whistle. And earlier in the weekend, 10,000 miles away, a…

38. Selling Football's Soul, Big Beasts Prowl, Mayo's Secret Sauce

    30 Jul 2026 · 26 min

    You'd have thought Gianni Infantino’s rambling, incoherent, self congratulatory instagram post to all the losers and haters out there would have been the main FIFA story of the week, but he has trumped it by unveiling…

39. Ep 3616: How Did Mayo Do It, Better Than The World Cup, Cubs Caps And Curses, Ken Called It - 27/07/26

    27 Jul 2026 · 47 min

    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…

40. Ep 3615: Mayo Are The All Ireland Champions - 27/07/26

    27 Jul 2026 · 50 min

    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…

41. Return Of The Earl, Global North v Argentina, Kevin Keegan Icon

    24 Jul 2026 · 28 min

    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…

42. Ep 3611: Limerick All-Ireland Champions Again - 20/07/26

    20 Jul 2026 · 50 min

    Galway wanted it to be one way, but it was the other way. Limerick are All-Ireland champions for the sixth time in nine years, and they were seldom troubled by an opposition that were outplayed, outfought and…

43. Ep 3610: Spain Are World Champions - 20/07/26

    20 Jul 2026 · 58 min

    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…

44. The Hand of Tuchel

    16 Jul 2026 · 29 min

    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…

45. Ep 3604: Blue Wave Crashes, Thy Kingdom Come, Mayo4Sam '26, Louth Hit Wall, McConville The Wicklow Boy

    13 Jul 2026 · 1 h 07 min

    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…

46. Ep 3602: England Stagger On, Cable of God, Haaland Loses Oars, Whatever! - 12/07/26

    12 Jul 2026 · 1 h 02 min

    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…

47. Messi Abides, Conspiracy On The Nile, Non-Stop World Cup

    9 Jul 2026 · 36 min

    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…

48. Ep 3598: Cork's Second Half Stats, Clare Hearts Crushed, Hype And Hope, Ned Stark Wisdom - 06/07/26

    6 Jul 2026 · 57 min

    The hurling season needed two big semi-finals, and this weekend was redemptive. Galway provided the shock, Clare came within minutes of joining them, and the fifth meeting of Cork and Limerick will not materialise…

49. Ep 3597: England Beat Mexico, Haaland Bosses Brazil, Trump Calls FIFA - 06/07/26

    6 Jul 2026 · 1 h 07 min

    England survived weather delays, altitude, the home fans, a red card, a penalty and their own history to overcome Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca and go through to a World Cup QF against Norway. It will be Norway's first…

50. American Shuffle, World Cup Ghosts, Ken An The Range, Pico V Messi

    2 Jul 2026 · 20 min

    Welcome to our World Cup taster show which includes slow moving Americans, German ghosts and Ken on the range. Tonight we cover Spain Austria and Ronaldo's latest/last shot at winning the World Cup. Ken and Branno are…