Loi Weekly

As the dog chews on the lamb bone, the lilies wilt and the last creme egg causes a slight dry retch, we leave Easter behind with Brian Murphy and Mark Rossiter's reflections on Bohs, Red Bull regrets and a dressing room that was no place for young men. We also ask Murph about the challenges of coming home to Waterford, life as an understudy in England and hear how the sleep patterns of Neil Warnock's wife influenced team selections. The Galway United media officer talks to Adam Wixted, we reflect on the President's dubious taste in terrace chants and we also set the challenge for the weekly Four Star Pizza treat! Where else would you get all this with extra cheese?

On this weeks epic widescreen shaggy dog story of a show, Johnny and Dan look back on an International break that still feels hungover. New kid on Drogheda's block, Ronan Murray talks about his east coast adventure, the Covid dose and Roy Keane missing him at Cobh. The Paddy Barrett show gets piloted today as Saint Pat's defender Paddy talks Killing Fields in Cambodia, Killing Time in Lockdown, and Killing a packet of Digestives when sharing a house with his manager! Daire Doyle weighs in on Longford's weekend and don't forget about our Four Star Pizza quiz. Say what you like about LOI Central, at least it's an ethos Dude!

On this weeks algorithm run robotic pod we have Tommy Barrett from Limerick, Colin Healy from Cork, and Greg Bolger and Conor McCormack from Nomadland. There's also Titus Bramble, Bob Geldof, Pixie Lotts and Dexys Midnight Pizza Question, all this and a snazzy new theme tune....On this weeks algorithm run robotic pod we have Tommy Barrett on a new beginning at Treaty United, Colin Healy on his proper start at Cork, and our main chat is with nomads Greg Bolger and Conor McCormack who tell us about how football has programmed them to never get too comfortable anywhere. There's also Titus Bramble, Bob Geldof, Pixie Lotts and Dexys Midnight Pizza Question, all this and a snazzy new theme tune....

Tunnels, lights, injections… Remember when these used to be football terms. Well let's take them back. With the help of our friends at Future Ticketing, we're back with a whole new fresh look at a brand new season from Jack Byrne, sunning himself in Cyprus, Keith Long doing his Teresa Mannion impression, and Gary Rogers all weighing in on the season to come. Jack also reflects on the lessons he learned and the best players he encountered during his time in the league. Dan and Johnny are still a virtual presence but thank heaven for small mercies. Oh and there’s free pizza….seriously!

We've reached the end of the road for 2020 and a 30 episode journey from the studio to the sitting room. Ireland chief scout Ruaidhri Higgins and good friend of the show Johnny Dunleavy join us to reflect on Dundalk's cup final joy, their Europa League ending and to ask if they can push Shamrock Rovers in 2021. Even Johnny Ward agrees that might be possible, although his Dundalk friends may not believe him. Paul Corry, Mark Rossiter, Conan Byrne and Shane Supple also send in their brief reflections on the year as we wonder aloud if 2021 will be any different--

We’re back after Dan went MIA to present our annual PFA Ireland awards special and we have Roberto Lopes, Danny Grant and Mark Doyle with us to discuss their nominations for the various awards. ‘Pico’ looks ahead to the cup final, and tells us some Zlatan and Cape Verde tales while Danny discusses his future career plans and Mark explains his late development. PFAI chief Stephen McGuinness also calls for clarity on the 2021 season and a say for players in what happens.

After a league season like no other, Finn Harps avoid the drop, Shelbourne face into an anxious playoff against Longford and Sligo somehow finish fourth, despite losing half of their games, and are very likely to be playing European football next season. Dan has the week off but sends in his appraisal of each of the Premier Division teams' campaign, with Pat Fenlon in the house to talk about what was a truly bonkers 2020 season. Pat is joined by Ollie Horgan to discuss perhaps Harps' greatest escape, Daire Doyle talks about Longford's chance of beating Shels and a somewhat tired and emotional Garry Buckley dials in from Sligo just before heading out for training.

Management is a big theme of this week's show. Drogheda manager Tim Clancy joins us after leading his side to promotion and explains the 24/7 commitment of dealing with the role and trying to fit real life around it. Alan Reynolds talks about his own transition and reflects on his dramatic year that started at Waterford, veered to Dundalk and has brought him to the Ireland U21 backroom team working with an exciting generation of players. We hear from John Caulfield after their massive win against Bray last weekend and look ahead to their Premier Division finale with Longford, while asking where all the goalscorers have gone.

Shamrock Rovers are champions and we are joined by their manager Stephen Bradley for a wide ranging chat about Rovers plans for the future, the lessons of the recent past, Jack Byrne, the overall direction of Irish football and much more (22:00). We also look ahead to Dundalk's big date with Arsenal with the help of Lilywhites midfielder Greg Sloggett (1:23:30) and hear from the Drogheda camp after they prevailed in the dramatic First Division finale (1:45:50). The lads also discuss the Finn Harps revival, trusting Galwegians and the other burning issues of the week

We talk to Joe on this week's show, with Cork City legend and former assistant boss Joe Gamble following up on his request for a right to reply to last week's pod (35:00). He explains the struggles faced by himself and Neale Fenn, the budgetary complications, recruitment lessons and the logic behind Daire O'Connor's abrupt exit. Prior to that, we look ahead to Dundalk's big European date with Molde with the help of Norwegian football expert Ben Wells (10:48).

There's a Wicklow theme to this week's show with Arklow's Daire O'Connor giving us the lowdown on his abrupt exit from Cork City, his relationship with Neale Fenn and his plans for the future (10:55). We then hear from Bray Wanderers boss Gary Cronin on their promotion charge, his early season fears, and the process of rebuilding the club after a turbulent era(52:00). The lads also discuss Rovers' imminent title party, more batshit goings on at Dundalk and a look back to the summer of 1995

We're bringing people back together on this week's show as former team-mates Robbie Benson and Stephen Folan reflect on days gone by at Dundalk and their current missions with St Patrick's Athletic and Finn Harps respectively. Stephen travelled around the world in 2020 whereas Robbie was stuck at home during lockdown but they were both grateful for the return of the League of Ireland for their own reasons. There's also a bit of Stephen Kenny chat, Johnny and Dan's take on Filippo Giovagnoli's week, breaking news at Cork and Galway and a farewell to Kris Twardek

‘We didn’t start this year with plans of interviewing a Faroese football expert come September but this is 2020 and we look ahead to Dundalk’s big date with Ki Klaksvik with the help of Kasper Neesgaard who tells us what we can expect from the underdogs (19:00). Daniel Kelly gives us a flavour of the mood in the Dundalk camp (11:30). We then go back in time and also look to the future with the help of LOI legend Colin Hawkins who discusses assisting players with the next step in their career, the lessons from his experience and his hopes for Stephen Kenny and Irish football’s future (45:00).

It’s a Graham themed show this week with two for the price of one. Graham Gartland and Graham Cummins crossed paths in Scotland and they are reunited on the show to discuss their careers in football, European experiences, the Scottish culture, adjusting to becoming an older player and all of the challenges that come with it. We also discuss Cork’s struggles, Rovers ambitions, Dundalk’s European opportunity and there’s the mandatory Galway reborn interview with Shane Duggan.

It’s a role reversal this week as Johnny is on the working beat and Dan is traversing the country ahead of a historic Europa League tie in Tallaght. We hear from Stephen Bradley, Jack Byrne and Graham Burke ahead of Shamrock Rovers v AC Milan and Italian based Irishman Mark Doyle gives us the lowdown on the guests. We also discuss Dundalk’s European date in Andorra, John Sheridan’s Waterford farewell and Kerry’s untapped potential.

This surreal season is another twist in the lengthy League of Ireland careers of our two guests, both of whom have been around the block New Galway United manager John Caulfield joins the show to discuss his fresh start, the end of his Cork City adventure and coping with the likes of Johnny Ward. Ronan Finn discusses a hard fought derby win, the experience he hopes to bring to the title-run in and the change of position and change of off-pitch focus that has come hand in hand with his graduation to senior status. We also discuss Stephen Kenny's Irish start, Royal Rumble style entrances and the age old 'Is Finland in Scandinavia?' debate.

After a week with a news cycle dominated by European ties, Stephen Kenny's new dawn and bizarre goings on at Dundalk, we welcome two guests with some experience of all of the above. Mark Rossiter and Ciaran Kilduff discuss the Kenny factor, what Dundalk have lost, and how the Shamrock Rovers players will feel about their AC Milan opportunity. Killer also discusses life at Shelbourne and shared experiences with Gary Deegan, while Rossi breaks down Sligo's improvement and also reflects on his role in the Bohemians and Wolves friendly that set Matt Doherty off on the road towards stardom.

We're back after a week of high drama and Paul Corry joins Johnny and Dan to pick through Dundalk's journey from Perth to Italy, the lessons of the European results so far and what we can expect from Rovers and Bohs tomorrow. Dan talks with Andre Wright about Bohs' trip to Hungary, Johnny wrestles with his emotions around John Caulfield's Galway arrival and we hear snippets from the League of Ireland's Big Fil - Filippo Giovagnoli - about what he's got to offer during his kamikaze mission

Dundalk's Champions League campaign ended abruptly at the first hurdle and Johnny and Dan pick through the bones to ask what their exit says about where the club stands right now and where they go from here. We also have a lengthy chat with Alan Bennett about Cork's upturn in fortunes, the buzz of watching youngsters develop on their potential and the dynamic of being a 38-year-old veteran in a young man's league. Johnny also hears from Tim Clancy in the aftermath of a Drogheda win that prompted more upheaval at Galway.

This may be a year of restricted travel, but there's a global feel to this week's show. Sligo Rovers' South African born New Zealand international Ryan De Vries tells us about Japan, love, life, his roundabout route to The Showgrounds and his uncertain future (54:13). Conor McCormack reflects on almost a decade in the LOI, his Italian adventures and his favourite European experiences ahead of Derry's jaunt to Lithuania (25:30). And Dundalk's Patrick McEleney discusses his relief at getting back on the pitch ahead of a Champions League tie in Hungary against Slovenian opposition (09:02). There's all of that and the review and preview of a big week for Shamrock Rovers with a bit of live FAI Cup draw reaction thrown into the mix.