Longford assistant Daire Doyle joined the lads in studio to talk about his football career, a journey which took him from talented team-mates in Tallaght and Coventry to the pint and payment culture of the English non-league and then back home to build towards his new life as a coach working with Neale Fenn. Neal Horgan also dials in to discuss Cork's changes, John Caulfield's future, and his desire to kickstart a debate around an All Ireland League.
May 08, 2019•59 min
Following the news this morning of John Caulfield's departure from Cork City, Dan & Johnny give their quick reaction on the end of his incredibly successful reign with Cork & what lies ahead for the club.
May 01, 2019•7 min
Yes we are a day early, but Punchestown Is calling. After another eventful 72 hours Dan & Johnny delve into two more busy rounds of the L.O.I, although Johnny isn’t that busy in truth. Luke Byrne was in studio to discuss why two old employers in Rovers & Bohs are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier Division, even though Dundalk have made an ominous return to form. He did also tell us about a very interesting encounter in Cobh, one that showed how the First Division created an unlike...
Apr 30, 2019•50 min
Brendan Clarke and Robbie Benson drop into studio to join the lads and digest the lessons of the Dublin Derby spectacle for the league as a whole - with Johnny's unlikely bromance with David McWilliams adding some audio to the discussion. We also get the lowdown from the lads on ongoing matters at St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk as Johnny admits that the league race might have some life in it yet. The merits of a smaller Premier Division and the importance of facilities are also discussed.
Apr 24, 2019•1 hr 8 min
It has been a momentous few days for Irish football and Dan takes a quick break from the madness to recap on what has been going on with the FAI and what is likely to happen in the near future as the game begins to ready itself for a life post-John Delaney. Our star guests are Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers and ex-goalkeeper Shane Supple, both of the PFAI, with Gary the first guest ever on the show to bring his thesis in with him. All four discuss thoughts on the FAI's turbulent few weeks, the f...
Apr 17, 2019•1 hr 5 min
Dan comes in – fresh or otherwise – from Wednesday's Oireachteas committee proceedings and gives his take on a potentially seminal day for football without a ball being kicked. We hear from Ger O'Brien after St Patrick's humbled champions Dundalk but our two studio guests are Owen Heary and Gary O'Neill. Heary reflects on a frustrating end of his Shelbourne reign while Gary is still on a high after UCD's recent win over Waterford and discusses his future as his time runs out at Belfield.
Apr 11, 2019•1 hr 8 min
We could have spent all day talking to Ireland coaches Tom Mohan and Jim Crawford – but unfortunately Dan had to jet off to attend an Oireachtas Committee – as you do. Mohan, Ireland under-19s supremo, discusses his managerial career so far, and recalls his playing days & memories of Derry City playing Finn Harps ahead of the northwest derby this weekend. Ex-Newcastle United midfielder Crawford recalls Shelbourne's 2004 European odyssey, discusses what it’s like working with Stephen Kenny &a...
Apr 03, 2019•1 hr
We couldn't find an Executive Vice President this week but we do have St Patrick's Athletic manager Harry Kenny, who explains how he made some new friends in his search for a dressing room en route to the studio. Harry talks about the Saints' sluggish goalscoring start to the season, and the all consuming reality of life as a full-time manager. Dan discusses the FAI mess, while the lads also discuss the win over Georgia.
Mar 27, 2019•1 hr 5 min
Johnny McDonnell and Greg Bolger joined the lads in studio to talk about talented midfield players after Jack Byrne's call into the Ireland squad. Greg tells us about the physical changes that have contributed to an upturn in his performances with top of the table Shamrock Rovers - but says that nobody in Tallaght is getting ahead of themselves despite the best attempts of the two Johnnys to tell him that this could be Rovers' year. Gibraltar weather, Giovanni Trapattoni's boat to Athlone and th...
Mar 20, 2019•1 hr
No Ward no problem. Dan holds court in studio as Johnny is away on Cheltenham duty, but don't worry he still gives his thoughts on LOI proceedings & on Countdowns highest rated show ever. Six time league winner Stevie O'Donnell joined us in studio to discuss his new career off the pitch with his new club Dundalk, while PFAI Player Executive Ollie Cahill and his five league medals were also in attendance. We also caught with Derry City fan & player Ciaron Harkin, while reminiscing about E...
Mar 12, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Alan Reynolds and Johnny Dunleavy both make long trips to our Dublin studio for episode four, with "Rennie" discussing recent tensions with Cork City and his theory on why he was brought in to work with John Caulfield back in 2016. “JD” also reflects on his years at Turner's Cross but is revelling in his new role at Sligo Rovers. The lads also discuss the joys of coaching courses and the challenge of integrating overseas recruits to LOI dressing rooms. All the while, an under-par Dan struggles t...
Mar 06, 2019•1 hr 3 min
3 is the magic number, yes its an early pod, but only a few hours after losing a lead and the game away to champions Dundalk, making it three defeats from three games, UCD manager Collie O'Neill still comes into studio to chat to the lads about the season so far. Johnny catches up with Shane Supple after Bohs win another Dublin derby, while the lads discuss revolutionary new statistical data that managers have access to – as well as the second and third round of games. Aaron Greene red card, yes...
Feb 26, 2019•1 hr 11 min
Belvedere boys Sean Kavanagh and Jake Hyland are reunited for this week's pod to reflect on their childhood penalty shootout heartache and the grown-up reality of football in England and Ireland. Sean discusses the loneliness of his final days at Fulham and the lift he received from coming back to Shamrock Rovers. Drogheda skipper Jake opens up on his horrific hospital experience after breaking his leg last October. We also hear from Limerick boss Tommy Barrett ahead of the First Division's big ...
Feb 20, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Third season syndrome is upon us & LOI Weekly is going strong....somewhat so at least. Dan & Johnny return with a strong opening act as the new Shels boss Ian Morris & Bray's new recruit Paul Keegan join the lads in studio, while we also hear from Dundalk's Sean Hoare about life without Stephen Kenny & Derry City's new manager Declan Devine about his return at the helm.
Feb 13, 2019•1 hr 24 min
It's the final show of the season and two of LOI Weekly's most consistent performers, Shane Supple and Ger O'Brien, joined the lads in studios to reflect on the year that was and outline their hopes for the year ahead. Are Dundalk streets ahead of the pack? Will the FAI repeat the same fixture mistakes? Why can't everybody just get along? Ger talks changes at St Patrick's Athletic and the challenges facing younger players who have reached a crossroads. Shane outlines his frustration at another e...
Nov 08, 2018•1 hr 7 min
Ger Lyttle, whose time at Sligo Rovers came to an end recently, calls to the studio to discuss his time in the League of Ireland and his future plans – including a job in the league that appeals to him. He also discusses the FAI Cup final with Dan and Johnny as the three guys agree on who will win the 2018 decider. Dane Massey speaks about the baby boom at Oriel Park and the reason to be excited about another game with Cork, Dan implores football fans in the southwest to get out and watch Paddy ...
Oct 31, 2018•1 hr 11 min
It’s awards season on LOI Weekly with Stephen McGuinness from the PFAI in to reveal the candidates for player of the year, young player of the year and the team of the year - as voted by the players themselves. Waterford’s Bastian Hery discusses Irish weather and why the League of Ireland climate is not attractive to some outsiders. And Bohs flier Daniel Kelly discusses his speedy rise from amateur football
Oct 24, 2018•1 hr 5 min
'O amor está no ar’, which is Portuguese for ‘Johnny ain’t here’. He’s a long gone Johnny and he’s left Dan with the extremely capable if somewhat Aviva weary Aidan Fitzmaurice from The Herald. No goals in two games at Lansdowne but we have Dundalk assistant manager and serial head nodder Vinny Perth to agree again with Stephen Kenny and why shouldn’t he? Dundalk are top of the pile again and probably would’ve given Wales a better game. Bray’s John Sullivan juggles working in a Ben Dunne gym wit...
Oct 17, 2018•1 hr 15 min
From the bowels of eir Towers comes episode thirty five-five-ive. Shane Keegan, once of Galway United but now a scribe of the gin swilling, trenchcoat wearing fourth estate, lists all the players he tried to sign and mostly failed to. Kevin Doherty from Drogheda takes the M1 south to the Dublin 8 postcode and 'delivers' his verdict on an All Ireland league as well as life as a postman. Our anchormen Dan and Johnny report on Gypsies in Cork, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, Dundalk Success and Wate...
Oct 11, 2018•1 hr 9 min
The gloves are off today when Shamrock Rovers defender and Andros Townsend stand-in Roberto Lopes talks tackles, derbies, past misdemeanours and Cape Verde. The gloves go back on when Johnny gets sent to Coventry and talks about the International setup with all round Portsmouth nice guy Ronan Curtis. We keep it brief this week, and with just over an hour played we finally put to bed the latest FIFA bribery scandal that was really all our own doing. Happy Birthday Sligo and it was never a peno!
Oct 04, 2018•1 hr 6 min
Leaves get browner, evenings get shorter and teenage boys start to glaze over, because every autumn we do an outside broadcast and EA Sports launch the annual upgrade of their FIFA game. Wounded gunslinger, Johnny Ward, gets the miranda rights from twitter over last night’s Hobangate on the wireless while Sheriff Dan does verbal high fives with Sean Gannon after Dundalk all but secure this year's title and maybe next year’s too? We nab Ian Bermingham to get his two cents on the departure of mana...
Sep 26, 2018•1 hr 19 min
Dan’s back from the east and there’s a storm a brewing. Considering a second career as a tennis umpire after his 17th rehabilitation and nearly as many podcast appearances, compulsive score checker Stephen O’Donnell becomes the first player to endorse a marriage preparation type course on the pod whilst screaming for new balls please in Derry. Fresh from his celebratory glass of Pinot Noir, Drogheda native Collie O’Neill is settling into his new south Dublin persona as he steers a triumphant UCD...
Sep 19, 2018•1 hr 26 min
They say that Journalism is a craft that takes years to learn. It's like golf. You never get it right all the time. It's a game of fewer errors, better facts, and better reporting. Well, that said we have two Johnny Caddys in eir Towers today. Johnny McDonnell picks the clubs and Johnny Ward yells ‘fore’ for 9 handicapper and grade 2 jockey Eoghan Stokes, who sometimes plays for Bohemians as a side gig. We have WhatsApp audio from Derry maestro Aaron McEneff on the week they play in the EA Sport...
Sep 13, 2018•1 hr 12 min
Following Dublin’s win on Sunday we have more missing persons than a 1970’s milk carton. Paddy Kavanagh is still AWOL and so is our Location Manager. You’ve heard of the Old Ronaldo and the new Ronaldo, well this week we have the Underestimated Ronaldo who sometimes turns up at UCD and calls himself Gary O’Neill. No, not THAT Gary O’Neill! The one from Kerry, where he was the only soccer player in the village. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Luke Byrne ankled it into the ground floor ...
Sep 05, 2018•1 hr 9 min
In 1966 Bob Dylan told Columbia Records that he felt the quality of the material he had recorded for ‘Blonde on Blonde’ was too good to compress onto a single long playing record. Columbia agreed and the double album was born. This weeks podcast continues in the spirit of that seminal masterpiece. Well it’s long. Kevin Kilbane, Preston North End’s 73rd ranked past player and Ireland’s third most capped player joins us in studio mid bagel. On that 1966 record, one song, ‘Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowl...
Aug 30, 2018•1 hr 32 min
In place of an absent Paddy Kavanagh, and in these times of religious tumult we present one Darragh Markey who has embodied the struggles of his native land as he describes his odyssey from the consecrated halls of the seminary in Maynooth to the beckoning lupine financial jungles via a sporting detour in Inchicore. Is this the man 'who’s dark hair would weave a snare that Johnny might one day rue’? The 'Wolf of Thomas Davis Street' talks with our Haribo divided hosts about fixture congestion an...
Aug 23, 2018•1 hr 6 min
The craic was flying in the studio this week or maybe it was just the crackly phone line as we heard from new Bray owner Niall O'Driscoll about trying to start from scratch and get the local public back on board and Sligo Rovers midfielder Lee-J-Lynch on the squad decision to forfeit a portion of their wages following their FAI Cup loss to Longford. But the real shock of the weekend was Drogheda's win over Shamrock Rovers and their manager Tim Clancy popped in to discuss the joys of management, ...
Aug 15, 2018•1 hr 12 min
The taxi lights were off for an hour with Johnny McDonnell and Ger Rowe joining Johnny and Dan to discuss their football history, stranded strikers in Newry and modern coaching. Dundalk's stalled European campaign is dissected, and the lads examine how Cork City might fare against Rosenborg. Ger gives the lowdown on the FAI Cup underdogs plotting to cause the biggest upset since Johnny Mc was passed over for Diego Costa. Cobh boss Stephen Henderson phones in to discuss his journey back to sobrie...
Aug 08, 2018•1 hr 11 min
It's an early edition this week with Johnny in studio with his bags packed for Galway and Dan bound for Cyprus. The lads hear from Paul O'Conor on changes at Bray and Tim Clancy on stadium news at Drogheda. Dundalk's Europa League chances are discussed, in addition to Johnny's achy steaky heart - he won't be able to bring one of Shanahan's finest on a night out. Sister Assumpta, Tesco Express & all of the weekend's games get a mention in a pod that's wrapped up before half-time.
Jul 30, 2018•41 min
Johnny and Dan are joined this week by debutant Robbie Benson and LOI Weekly regular Ger O'Brien. Robbie talks all things Dundalk including THAT goal by Michael Duffy, Stephen Kenny's European focus, and his belated decision to commit to life as a professional footballer. Ger reacts to this week's disappointing news on the Richmond Arena proposal and offers an update on the St Patrick's Athletic plan from here. We also answer some of your Twitter questions and debate if last week's European resu...
Jul 24, 2018•1 hr 19 min
