Second Captains

Sean Kelly was the world’s number 1 cyclist for five years, and was one of the most beloved Irish sportspeople worldwide throughout the Eighties. He also failed two drugs tests, and was at times overshadowed by his compatriot Stephen Roche. He discusses his new book ‘Hunger’ with Eoin today. Tyrone have had a bizarre lead-in to their All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo this weekend, with conspiracy theories, fact sheets and tackle counts looming large. Three time All-Ireland winner Enda McGinley and Malachy Clerkin of The Irish Times discuss whether their paranoia is justified, and how this might impact on Mayo. We also look at Clare / Limerick and hurling hype with Derek Lyng and Nicky English, Pat McQuaid the journalist, Brolly the barrister, good drugs, and the Davy Fitz death stare. Contact us on twitter @SecondCaptains, email the show SecondCaptains@Irishtimes.com and follow us on facebook.com/secondcaptains.

Eoin and Ken imagine what the future holds for two of Alex Ferguson's old lieutenants, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs. Emmet Malone reports from Cardiff on Ireland's draw with Wales, a match which we also force Richie Sadlier to discuss. Sadlier analyses why Manchester United seem to be everybody's third favourites despite walking the Premier League last season. Jonathan Wilson grapples with Arsenal's reluctance to spend, and James Appell fills us in on the sudden collapse of Anzhi Makhachkala. Follow us on twitter @SecondCaptains, facebook.com/SecondCaptains and email the show SecondCaptains@irishtimes.com.

We only have 3 athletics world champions in our history, so the company is pretty rarefied for Rob Heffernan – we introduce him to one of the other members of the golden circle, Sonia O’Sullivan, on today’s show, to talk about a lifetime's work and what's needed from the next generation. US Murph tells us about the rise, the fall, and the possible return of the 'honey badger', one of the players to watch in next years NFL season and we go to Clare and Limerick to discuss media wars and the Limerick curse ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland hurling final. All this plus McDevitt's shame, Ireland Wales numbness and the citizenship test. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

On today's Second Captains Football we speak to David Peace, author of the brilliant 'Damned United', about his latest novel on the life of Liverpool legend Bill Shankly. We also look ahead to Ireland-Wales with the Irish Times' Emmet Malone, and have the very latest on the summer's big transfers, and whether one move could set off a chain reaction of signings across Europe. All this plus Jose's managerial tricks, the Brendan Rodgers apology request and Man City anonymity. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

On today's show Nicky English and Christy O'Connor talk about the influence history has on a team's fortunes, and Peter Kelly tells us if his fellow Dublin hurlers feel 2013 was their last big chance to win an All Ireland. Russian sports administrators have a busy few years ahead hosting the Winter Olympics and the World Cup, and so the world has turned its attention to Putin's attitude to gay rights - David Herszenhorn of the New York Times reports from Moscow. We also have the captain of the Irish boxing team at the London Olympics, Darren O'Neill, on whats been a tough year in and out of the ring. Plus there's death-road PBESO, voodoo hurling, Westy's meltdown and fan culture in Irish football. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

On today's show David James talks to Ken and Eoin about volcanoes, friendship and why Gary Neville can't be both a coach and a pundit. Andrew Mangan and Dion Fanning discuss what the Luis Suarez saga says about morality and obligations in football. We've also got Robbie the magnificent, Fergie's shadow, and how World Cup 2022 might be changing Qatari society. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

Donovan Bailey is the last 100m world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, besides Usain Bolt, to have no association with performance enhancing drugs. He joins the lads to discuss cheats, insecure athletes, and if we can believe in Bolt. Tiger Woods is back winning tournaments, and thanks to little Charlie Woods, might be winning the PR battle too. Brian Murphy explains why America is learning to forgive the world's best golfer. We've also got Mark McHugh on concussion and Donegal's demolition, cocky sprinters, Johnny Football's latest stunt, and how Ger Loughnane could help Anthony Daly win the All Ireland. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

Eoin and Ken talk Pep and panzer chocolate. Are the signs already looking ominous for Guardiola at Bayern? And how much of West Germany's sporting success was owed to the work of Nazi-era chemists? Then we've got John Barnes on the question of whether great footballers are born or made. German investigative journalist Jens Weinreich on the true meaning and significance of the recently published report into doping in West Germany, and Graham Hunter on the chances of Cesc Fabregas being a Manchester United player by the end of the month. All on today's Second Captains Football. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

Now that the Sean Cavanagh tackle has become an incident of national importance, we talk to Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles about the consequences for the underage players, as well as Tyrone hatin', Mayo lovin', and why James Horan might be a genius. In the week that Sonia O'Sullivan questioned the ambition shown by our young athletes at major events, we talk to 800 metre runner Mark English about what goes on in the mind of a 20 year old man who's on his way to the World Championships. We've also got fake apologies, the fight and the fighter that shocked America, hero worship and Joe Brolly's tears. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

On today's Second Captains Football... Sid Lowe on hubris at Madrid and intrigue at Barcelona, Jan Åge Fjørtoft on how Guardiola is plans to improve on perfection at FC Bayern, and Cornell University professor Chris Anderson explains why Everything You Know About Football Is Wrong. Follow us on twitter @SecondCaptains, facebook.com/secondcaptains and second captains.tumblr.com. Email the show editor@Secondcaptains.com.

The All Ireland Football Championship goes from a steady jog to a full gallop this weekend - Oisin McConville and David Brady talk about Jim McGuinness, referee manipulation, Mayo's flight of discovery and how one man can dominate a 15 man game. Joe Schmidt has recruited the final member of his management team, so we talk to Ireland's new forwards coach John Plumtree about his plans for the team. We've also got PBESO, sporting revenge, frat parties and Johnny Football, the most talked about athlete in America. Follow us on twitter @secondcaptains, facebook.com/secondcaptains, secondcaptains.tumblr.com and email the show editor@secondcaptains.com.

Football is back. This Tuesday's show features Tony Barrett on the chronic uncertainty at Liverpool FC, Richard Sadlier on the tricks a new manager can use to win over a wary dressing room and Philippe Auclair on the arrival of oligarch money into French football: will the 2014 title go to Natural Gas or Potash? All on this debut edition of Second Captains Football - available every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm. Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com.

In the first of our four shows this week, we talk to Ireland’s first UFC superstar, Conor McGregor, about wealth, fame and the joys of proving your parents wrong. Brian Cody is gone for this summer, and the man to take him down was Jimmy Barry Murphy - we talk to Nicky English and Derek Lyng about his magical presence and why himself and Davy Fitzgerald are the same, but different. There’s also Michael Meehan on scoring the goal of the season, the fall and rise of Cavan football, Eamon Dunphy’s taxi driver and Pat McQuaid’s latest political move. Download it here, follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com. Second Captains Football will be available from 6pm.

Second Captains went live and dangerous this week to celebrate the launch of our four shows a week schedule with The Irish Times, which starts next Tuesday 30th July. It was a stellar cast at the Grand Social club in Dublin with Eamon Dunphy and Richie Sadlier speaking from the heart about the pitfalls and joys of football punditry, while Oisin McConville, Jason Sherlock and Anthony Moyles talked penalty taking, arm linking, and Croke Park heroics, and there was even a very special edition of the fastest growing slot in Irish radio, Pierce Brosnan's Emigrant Shout Outs #PBESO. Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com

Chris Froome has won the Tour de France, but the questions about what we saw on the Alps aren't going away. David Walsh believes that Froome is clean. We'll hear Paul Kimmage's verdict on the new champion. Meanwhile, BT and Sky are trading insults ahead of the new Premier League season - Gabriele Marcotti and Jonathan Wilson explain why the stakes are so high, and how English football will be affected by the new billion-pound-a-year TV deal. All this plus hurling's shot at greatness, Dick Clerkin, the Clones Cyclone and the Farney Army, anti-doping vigilantes, Brendan Rodgers' smile, and don't forget to listen in for a special edition of the show this friday at www.irishtimes.com/secondcaptains Follow the lads on twitter @SecondCaptains and on facebook.com/secondcaptains. Email the show at editor@secondcaptains.com