Second Captains

A doctor in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital believes that he has found the first case of early onset dementia caused by head injuries while playing rugby - in the week that Peter O'Mahony was taken off the pitch by Munster's medical staff, Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman and Jonny Watterson of The Irish Times talk us through why rugby has to do more to protect its players. Jason Ryan loved the idea of being a selector and coach with Kildare this summer, while manager Kieran McGeeney took all the heat. But now he's been named as McGeeney's successor, he talks to us about getting back into the hot seat. We also have US Murph on the real-life epilogue to Moneyball, the return of Pierce Brosnan's Emigrant Shout Outs, and Ken's nuanced view of the medical profession.

While Jack Wilshere puffed away on his cigarette, Ravel Morrison was knuckling down and proving he's now a model professional. Richie Sadlier joins us to discuss the rude boys of the Premier League, and if football can provide direction for the wayward. Ken and Eoin ask Jonathan Wilson if Sunderland have replaced like with like by appointing Gus Poyet as their new manager. All this plus Harry Redknapp's new autobiography, Suarez the family man, Oktoberfest, and Big Sam's alter ego.

In the build-up to this season's Heineken Cup Munster have answered a few questions, while Leinster struggle with injuries and new fitting in the new faces. Shane Horgan and Trevor Hogan look at what shape the Irish teams are in ahead of the opening weekend. Roddy Collins is back in the Airtricity Premier Division with Athlone Town, and has 40 years of friendship with Ireland interim manager Noel King to tell us about. After a summer of brilliant hurling, are the GAA about to leave themselves open to charges of elitism by saving Cork from relegation with one swipe of a committee’s pen? All this plus rugby nicknames, McDevitt's Sexton obsession, Gulliver memories and Cologne's drinking subculture.

Alex Ferguson talked a lot in his big interview this week about his time at the club, and whether he will ever return as manager. Ken and Eoin ask if we can believe everything he had to say. We also talk to Richie Sadlier about the much diminished David Moyes and whether he will last the season. There's also author and journalist Jonathan Wilson on the posture and goalkeeping ability of Joe Hart.

The rugby season has been dominated by endless statements from administrators and club owners, but on Saturday in Thomond the fun starts. We talk to former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan and former Leinster, Munster and Ireland player Trevor Hogan about how the stars will perform with these issues hovering in the background. American sports franchises struggle to maintain consistency over a long period of time, but in the last decade the New England Patriots have managed it better than any other side. Brian Murphy explains why. We also have Oisin McConville on marking the legendary Tomas O'Se, the 1972 Miami Dolphins, panenka V roulada, and Brian O'Driscoll's game face.

Eoin and Ken talk about Jose Mourinho's irritability, Romelu Lukaku's awesomeness and Manchester United's backroom staff. Sid Lowe joins us to talk about his brilliant new book, Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona & Real Madrid - in which he analyses the origins and development of the enmity between Spain's two biggest clubs. Emmet Malone has the latest from the Ireland camp, where Noel King has invited back several familiar faces... And Pete Pattisson describes his trip to Qatar where he investigated the appalling conditions facing the migrant workers who power the World Cup construction boom.

The nation was blown away by Clare's confidence and skill on saturday, but they have designs on building an empire. We ask Nicky English, Malachy Clerkin and Christy O'Connor whether a county without a history of success can go on to dominate. Johnny Sexton has been one of the most influential and interesting men in Irish rugby for the last five years, and we talk to him about Paris, O'Gara, principles and the role Brian O'Driscoll has played in his career. There's also hurling exhortations, mature Clare youths, anger as a gift and rugby friendships.

Eoin and Ken talk a lot about Dennis Bergkamp, whose book with David Winner and Jaap Visser, "Stillness and Speed", is released today. Winner joins us to talk about the origins and nature of Bergkamp's genius. Suarez the 'street fighter' has returned, and allegedly damaged the Liverpool brand. Ken discusses Ian Ayre's contribution to the Liverpool cause. And Raphael Honigstein gives the latest on Robert Lewandowski's strange contract situation.

Clare hurlers said they enjoyed the drawn final, while the Cork team have spent the last three weeks repeatedly being told they're an inferior side. Author, journalist and former Clare player Christy O'Connor and Tipp legend Nicky English join us to discuss what has been a strange build-up for the two sides involved. Irish amateur boxing is springing a few leaks at the moment with John Joe Nevin on the verge of turning pro, Olympic bronze medallist Michael Conlan threatening to turn pro and Katie Taylor disillusioned with her career since the London Games. We talk to Kenneth Egan about what is a difficult time for the sport ahead of next month's World Championships. We also have Ciaran 'lights out' Murphy, why its bad to be the underdog in a replay, enjoyable failure and Katie's Irish pub experience.

Eoin and Ken discuss Paolo Di Canio, what Irish coaching can learn from Dennis Bergkamp, and the Manchester derby. Richie Sadlier drops in to talk about what really went on at Sunderland, and we hear the latest on the slow race to succeed Giovanni Trapattoni.

This week we walk through the post All-Ireland wasteland to see if there are any Mayo bodies alive under the rubble. Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles wonder if Dublin winning is good for football, and we ask Mike Finnerty of the Mayo News if this is the defeat that will finally break the county's will. Brian Murphy looks at the issue of preferential treatment for star players, and why the NFL continues to produce so many athletes who struggle with life, and the law, off the field of play. We also have Aidan O'Shea's favourite poem, filthy stadiums, youth V's experience and why Mayo can't become 'just another county'.

Ken gets out his gardening gloves and plucks the weeds from the grassroots of Irish football. Former head of player development at Bohemians and UEFA qualified coach Lisa Fallon, and Antonio Mantero of the thecoachdiary.com look at how we got the underage football culture we have, and how it can be improved. Darron Gibson wants to play for Ireland again, blames his exile on Trap. We speak to Emmet Malone about what could be an important moment for the next Irish manager. Jose Mourinho's conjurer's trick isn't working second time round - Jonathan Wilson explains why.

A year after Jim McGuinness seemed to have changed the way football would be played forever, Dublin have this summer successfully pursued a very different tactic. Oisin McConville and Karol Mannion look at the philosophy of the quiet man of this championship, Jim Gavin. The future of the Heineken Cup has long been in jeopardy, but flip flopping this week by the world governing body, the IRB, calls into question just who controls the world game. Former Leinster captain and Irish Times writer Liam Toland and Chris Hewitt of the London Independent look at the bigger picture for the sport. We also have the latest on the Donegal situation, David Cameron's ancestral fear of jocks, Dubs fan WB Yeats and McDevitt's dreams.

Eoin and Ken discuss the still-vacant Ireland job and Mark Halsey's claims about his textual intimacy with Sir Alex Ferguson. Richie Sadlier weighs in on the burning issue of the day: who's best between Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard? Alan Stubbs recovered from two episodes of cancer to play until the age of 36. The Everton coach joins us to talk about his new book, "How Football Saved My Life".

Mayo and Dublin thought their way out of trouble in their semi finals, but will James Horan and Jim Gavin make any changes to gameplan based on those scares. Mike Finnerty of the Mayo News and Malachy Clerkin of The Irish Times have met the managers and the players this week and give us the inside scoop. Two time winner of the William Hill sports book of the year Duncan Hamilton attempts to explain how football was the cause of George Best's problems in his latest book Immortal, which was written with the help of Best's family. We also have triathlete Aileen Reid on her world class performances this season, Mayo News' 64 page All-Ireland supplement, dealing with fame in the 60's, and schoolboy tactics in top class sport.