Loi Weekly

Back from our day trip down memory lane in Morton Stadium, Johnny wastes no time in getting Galway and climate change into the fray as we dwell on the wettest July on record and a wet blanket on Irish teams in Europe. Ireland chief scout and analyst and ex-Rovers and Bohs midfielder Stephen Rice drops by to bedazzle Johnny with his attention span and takes a deep dive into our European challenges. In a multiverse of Milhouses, we pore over alternate futures for GAA players, marching in the rain, top goalscorer stakes, and all the rest of your e-lec-tronic letters with Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewery and Collar and Cuff still signing the cheques to make sure we keep delivering this kind of quality, in-depth, edge of the seat, cutting edge broadcasting without ever having seen a hurling match! It's episode 25 and it's still raining.

On our 24th lap of the season, we reunite two old teammates in the unlikely surrounds of Morton Stadium to discuss the circle of their football life. Owen Heary talks Dream Team, Dream Managers and Dream Tacklers and his new found passion for running as he catches up with his old pal Mark Rossiter - fresh from a positive knee episode - to go over old arguments and pick through the details of the last week and the broader European picture. We dodged a few javelins to get to the bottom of who's posting our social media, who took the most famous television penalty, where the youngsters are coming from and whether Longford needs a bar or not? It’s neither a marathon nor a sprint, so stick with us, Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing and Rascals Brewery until we cross the finish line.

Rover and out. It's a late night reaction pod to start this week as the lads pour over Icelandic disappointment for Shamrock Rovers and the questions it raises before taking a trip back in time with Sam and Al to earlier in the day to deal with your mailbag queries and emerge from the overpriced coffee houses of Inchicore to do some work. After reflecting on the enormity of turning 40, the lads ask Chris Forrester about turning 30 as the start point for an open chat about his relationship with football. Beyond that, there's FAI Cup chat, ruminations on Dan's uncoached football career, Galway pub tips, another twist in the Roddy Collins book saga, and more handwringing about departing players and unfinished stadiums. Take the quantum leap with us into this seventy minute journey with Collar and Cuff, Rascals Brewery and Back to the Future Ticketing!

It's summer in Dublin and we have just the cure for those rain soaked blues. From Icelandic encounters en route to what used to be JJ Smyths, to the race between the Dalymount evolution and Armageddon. The well dressed Gary Cronin brings us some current affairs while Ciaran Kilduff delves into his bank of European memories while Johnny struggles to remember what is even happening next week. We have KD Lang v Sinead O Connor, fantasy five-a-sides, the age old TV debate and a group of sponsors still willing to support this malarkey. Yes, a big shout to Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing and Rascals Brewery for making it to episode 22 and a bigger one to Johnny for remembering it!

This week we are joined by an Englishman and an English as the summer brings us to new destinations. ESPN journalist Mark Ogden tells us about his quirky trip to Iceland to find out what lies ahead for Shamrock Rovers and what Champions League football means to the minnows. Then we head west to talk with Michael English about Mayo FC’s attempts to break into the Irish mainstream. Aside from all of that we’ve got the usual mailbag chat featuring Bohs angst, Pat’s kids, Peak6 taking over Twitter and RTE’s value for money. Available under the Freedom of Information Act you will find that this entire production is funded by the barter accounts managed by Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewery and Collar and Cuff, and Johnny's fee does not include any form of bus pass. It's episode 21 and it's blackjack!

It’s a value for money virtual podcast this week as the lads mull over the purpose of their existence in journalism if chatting rubbish for an hour doesn’t entitle them to a substantial six-figure salary from licence fee payers. Georgie Kelly is a real national treasure, the late developing Donegal man dialling in from pre-season training in Rotherham to discuss his old love rival Pat Hoban, his respect for the mentality of the real love of his life, and the climate of football in England – not the climate chat that JW wanted. As usual there’s a mailbag with a bit of Damien Duff and a bit of Mayo sandwiched between title talk discussion and we hear from Pico Lopes and Ruaidhri Higgins after Tallaght on Monday. Unlike Westlife, this is one band that always sticks together...

Dan's back but his memory of Antalya isn't. He'd also like to forget about Ireland's Greek tragedy but can't and neither can Paul Corry as the old friend of the pod returns with two phones and a new love to analyse what went on in the Mediterranean last week and we take a live look at the European draws as they come in. Johnny, fresh from his first festival of the year, reckons stabbing a crustacean in the brain is better than boiling it alive but can't get the last look the twitching lobster gave him out of his memory and apparently Evan Ferguson won't reach 100 caps before the doomsday clock strikes midnight. If all this is a bit too weird for you, blame Collar and Cuff, Rascals Brewery and Future Ticketing for continuing to support this ridiculousness and ask yourself is the "Pat McDonnell" Dan may or may not be related to, the lad from Father Ted or the annoying paint ad on the radio. So sit back and eat your lobster as the world burns and be thankful we're under an hour this week.

No Dan this week as he's away on International duty so we left it up to Johnny to round up the guests. Wembley wonder with Coventry and back at Burnley, we have Premier League defender Luke McNally, who's back in the country where he reminisces about his days at Enfield, the NECSL, marking a 16 year old Evan Ferguson and his fortuitous move to Drogheda where he hooked up with our second guest, none other than ex manager of Drogheda and Pats, Tim Clancy, who speaks candidly about his time at Pats, the fanciful ambitions in Inchicore, the culture of social media, why there are fewer and fewer easy games and Kevin Doherty's success at United Park. The format may be different but the chat is still red hot and all of this is thanks, as ever, to Collar and Cuff, Rascals Brewery and Future Ticketing!

As Johnny's Saudi past comes back to haunt him, the boys wonder if Galway United saying no was the catalyst for our oil overlords to bring sporting domination to another level. Irish football could do with cash to build some stadiums and Pat Fenlon joins us in studio to talk about the FAI infrastructure plan, his new job at Bohemians, and how transfer windows work. St. Pats' Dean Lyness chats with Dan about living away from family as the daddy of his teammates in a new country. Beyond that there’s the big "Love Island" mystery, Dan’s bird troubles and all the big stories from the main event of the double header weekend - Enda’s wedding. Tallaght Stadium’s Coppers like status, fire drills in Cork and more recurring anecdotes from Johnny’s private life are brought to you in conjunction with Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and Rascals Brewery. It's episode 17 as we head towards an International break.

Journeys. That's todays topic. Whether it's the Kerouac-esque 'On The Road' lift bumming Johnny Ward or the Tallaght to Cobh goalkeeping journey that Lee Steacy takes, we've a restless road feeling to todays show. Our guests, from the First Division, talk openly about their journeys, even if Shane Keegan is driving, how their clubs may fare in the Premier Division, and how all work and all play for an Irish footballer could be more lucrative than the alternative. We also look at the red cards a go-go from the weekend, Johnny's fascination with CJ, the best goal songs played at stadiums, who's wedding will be the new Fyre festival and whether the Wisconsin postal votes means anything at all! As usual we rely totally on the steadfast support of Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and Rascals Brewery to allow us all to decide whether or not Mark Knopfler marks a goal better than a Monkees song on repeat.

The seven year itch remains unscratched and, as the bromance dwindles, talk turns to goalkeepers, fixing the FAI Cup draw, the Irish 2023/24 clubs in Europe, bouncy castles and cursing with Crowley. If that isn't enough to pique your curiosity we also have a chat with Garry Buckley about fatherhood, injuries, Sligo Rovers and the amazing story of two brothers. There's also cameos from Declan Devine and Kevin Doherty as we cast our eye over the week that was. As usual we owe it all to the good people at Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and Rascals Brewery for making all of our dreams come true every single week. It's heating up out there so put on plenty of sunscreen before you plug in...

This week we blur the lines between sports and politics as we welcome in Aodhán Ó Ríordáin to the pod. On the back of Damien Duff's crusading comments about the league, Aodhán talks candidly to us about how and why football is where it is and faces an uphill struggle while Johnny faces a downhill struggle despite his penchance for the hills. There's Viper Room nostalgia, hypocritical oaths, Stadiums with no respect and a whole host of the usual Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing and Rascals Brewery fuelled deep dives into why this game of football continues to define us. It's here, its a tad late but it's episode 14 and, trust me, its as good as it gets..

It’s Eurovision week and while Ireland’s Wild Youth fell at the first hurdle, this week’s show looks at how our young footballers are beating the odds to compete on the European stage. Academy heads Mike Geoghegan (Waterford) and Craig Sexton (Bohs) drop by to discuss funding difficulties, staff shortages and the differences between Dublin and the rest of the country. Johnny Logan is on the menu at Rascals but our own Johnny is back in the virtual house with a viral Dan to discuss Galway rising, managerial clobber and the innocence of tunnel blocking teens. All with the usual undying support of Rascals Brewery, Collar and Cuff and Future Ticketing.

In Johnny's absence this week we have guest presenter Garry Doyle from The Star joining Dan in studio for a wide range of topics which includes a look back on the double header with interviews from Richie Towell and Ruaidhri Higgins, the breaking news departure of Tim Clancy from Pats and the continuing debate on funding from government gambling revenue. Brian Gartland, the new Head of Football Operations for Dundalk also joins us to discuss the plans for community integration, signing policy, and his opinions on the trajectory of the league as a product offering. There's a lot covered in a pod with a small smattering of Galway Utd and not a mention of The Simpsons or The Coens! With the usual help from Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and Rascals Brewery, it's Episode 12 and it's jam packed!

The pod finally makes it to the 21st century this week and embraces AI, but not the East Galway interpretation. As well as kinky kebabs, the Bohs singles charts, Galway's lack of sustainability and Johnny recast as the lone ethical ranger (almost) we had veteran goalkeeper Barry Murphy in studio to look back on his career, the complicated emotions of retirement and the litany of characters he met along the way from Magnum Mondays with Roddy to preparing for TNS with Mike Tyson. On the serious side, Dan gives us the lowdown on his story on the state funding for horse and greyhound racing and the discussion it should provoke. All this busy week in sport is in conjunction with Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing and Rascals Brewery who have a big festival weekend ahead. It's episode eleven and its a banger.

It's a giddy mood in Glasnevin where we host Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty and Dundalk's Keith Ward fresh from the post round and the training ground respectively. The lads pick up where our referee debate ended last week as well as chipping in on the great 2023 Astro Debate! They also find time in our extended edition to touch on Daire Doyle's gas meters, landlord Enda Stevens, post-wedding friendlies, and European balls! Like we said, it's a giddy affair as our hosts recount toilet adventures with The Monk, the bus who wants to be Roy Keane, confectionary cooking tips and a lot of TLAs. It's episode ten with Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing and Rascals Brewery and think El Duderino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing!

It's gotten to the stage where we needed a referee for the podcast and we found the ideal candidate in Tomás Connolly, an experienced whistler turned administrator who has now turned 'to the dark side' by becoming an assessor. We brought him in to answer the many queries we've faced on yellow cards, relations with managers, grief from players and the overall standard of our men and women in the middle. Damien Duff has been vocal on the issue and he spoke to Dan after the Easter Monday games brought down the curtain on a busy double header. Our mailbag allows us to analyse the Virgin pilot, a bad weekend for Derry and Dundalk, Wispa comebacks, transgender pronouns, French accents, the market for Johnny and Dan's men's health pod and Enoch Burke's quest for Dave Rogers! All overseen and adjudicated by our good friends at Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewery and Collar and Cuff. It's another great pod interview and just like a ref, we can't believe he's given it!!

Back in studio for this week's show and the lads are joined by League of Ireland legend and Malaysian Marvel, Colin Hawkins. Colin talks for the first time about his recent life changing illness and the journey he's been on since that fateful diagnosis earlier this year. On his road to recovery he continues to find time to check in on the league and gives us his views for the year ahead. Meanwhile we have the usual hodge podge of regular features, the newly stung Collar & Cuff mailbag, our Rascals Brewery 'Quizness', coleslaw and curry, Craggy Island VAR, goalkeepers daydreams and a weird man with glasses hanging around outside. Thanks as always to Future Ticketing et al for making it all worthwhile. It's episode 8 and it's not raining!

Another late breaking news story tries to bamboozle us but as usual we got the kids to bed early and get to the story of the day as Keith Long is named as the new Waterford manager after Danny Searle's abrupt exit. Who'd be a manager? It turns out that Ciaran Kilduff is very open to going down that route and the former Dundalk striker joined us this week to catch up with his good pal and ex-teammate Robbie Benson who is now open minded to dabbling in that business in the future. We discussed their old manager Stephen Kenny's week, the changing face of League of Ireland dressing rooms, and the challenge of navigating boardrooms...and board games. There's a first date with Virgin, Johnny's alternate reality as a well groomed Kent Brockman, a very stylish Collar & Cuff mailbag with a new theme tune and of course a tip of the hat and a chink of the glass to Rascals Brewery and Future Ticketing. Forget Succession. This is the new episode you've been waiting for.

Its episode 6 and with our hosts being at opposite ends of the country means we're zooming again. It's Premier League break time as we digest the season so far. We also check in on Kerry FC with Billy Dennehy on managing expectations and Jonathan Hannafin on achieving a dream that means much more to him than a chance meeting with Johnny in a Dublin pub last year. Our ever expanding mailbag touches on artificial pitches, recurring referee questions and when Shamrock Rovers start becomes a crisis. There's chance encounters with fast food at 2am, Johnny's fake social moustache, 15 year old Bohemian stars, and an extended look at the first division. All of this cross country repartee comes courtesy of Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals Brewery. Its episode 6 and its a bit on the early side...