We are back after an international break to forget and savouring a weekend to remember in the FAI Cup unless you happen to be from Connacht. Kerry FC's heroic exploits take top billing, but there's a heavy Sligo Rovers angle to that drama too while Johnny was down at Richmond Park to hear from Kian Leavy and John Caulfield after St Patrick's Athletic got the better of Galway. Dan details a dramatic night in Drogheda and there's a bit of Derry chat too in a crowded mailbag that includes TV statistics, Israel, the DUP and why the difficult child has become the FAI's favourite distraction. In a week of 4-3 wins, we remain grateful to our four sponsors who make this happen consistently - our friends at Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewing, Collar & Cuff and Sport Cosanta
--------
1:22:37
--------
1:22:37
S09E29 A Week of Mixed Emotions. Webster on Horgan. Bradley on Europe.
It was a week of mixed emotions for everyone involved in Irish football with news of Ollie Horgan's final farewell coming through ahead of a historic ‘going electric’ night on the pitch for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne. We try and cover both bases here with Dave Webster joining to offer his reflections on the joy of working with the late, great Galwegian with Ollie also coming up in the course of Johnny's chat with Stephen Bradley about another landmark achievement for the Hoops. In addition to that, there's saunas in Saints territory, the perils of football addiction, Celje throwbacks, and a come and get me plea to Dubai property buyers. All of this above board fun is brought to you in association with Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Sport Cosanta & Rascals Brewing. Safe travels Mister Horgan.
--------
1:21:57
--------
1:21:57
S09E28 - Super Thursday, Azores Review & Victor's €2m move
The lads take stock as Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers are both tantalisingly close to group stage football after a quite incredible night on Thursday. Dan relays his trip to the Azores, where some locals were more interested in the staff in the chip van than whether the Rovers performance was different gravy to other LOI wins in Europe. The lads discuss that point but there is no debate around the emotional moment of the week. We're recording from JW's apartment for sale, but his last cup of tea in the old place is about as satisfying as the pitch in Drogheda, while he's alarmed at Galway's squad disintegrating in the off-season. Dan discusses the joys of a global transfer story, with the size of Victor Ozhianvuna's fee just one of the discussions arising from a crowded mailbag which includes something even more precious than the sweet taste of a jaffa cake - an actual quote from a referee! All of this and more is brought to you with our friends at Collar & Cuff, Sport Cosanta, Future Ticketing & Rascals Brewing
--------
58:11
--------
58:11
S09E27: FAI Cup/Oasis Wrap & Patrick Hoban Chat
Our LOI family full of eccentrics is back this week, a little hoarse ten years on from a fine day involving a horse. Did Oasis hit the FAI Cup crowds? Did the Mrs. Browns Bohs fans at Oasis even know they were out of the FAI Cup? Is Liam Gallagher really just a poor man's Sean Malee? The lads butt heads on this and more before we hand the mic over to another forthright front man with Patrick Hoban dialling in to discuss the miserable end to his time at Derry and what the club needs to do to graduate from supporting act to headline artist. There's also a packed mailbag with Rory Gaffney love, the return of Dalymount doom, a five a side angle with a twist and at least one reference to Alphaville. May we stay Forever Young with the help of Rascals Brewing, Collar & Cuff, Sport Cosanta and Future Ticketing. Say it loud and sing it proud today.
It’s a two part show this week as Johnny and Dan kicks things off on location in Tolka Park, picking through the bones of a near miss for Shelbourne that sends them to the European last chance saloon. After the Shels wrap, we go back in time to Oliver Ireland for a catch-up with Conan Byrne that – amongst other things – touches on the pros and cons of punditry and coaching as he embraces a new football life. We also hear about his follow-up meeting with Patrick McEleney after THAT dive in Derry, a topical segue into a mailbag dominated by refereeing rage with a side of VAR that turned out to be a window into the very near future. Throw in another game of Bohs jersey watch, a bad Brandywell bet and an unexpected war on winking and it’s another packed show with thanks to our never late and always great friends from Rascals Brewing, Collar & Cuff, Sport Cosanta and Future Ticketing. Hopefully this isn’t a waste of your time..
#LOICentral is a podcast with opinion, analysis and interviews on all the latest happenings in the League of Ireland, hosted by Johnny Ward & Dan McDonnell
Ireland