Loi Weekly

This week's pod comes to you 5000km from home as Dan and Johnny are in Baku ahead of Dundalk's big Champions League tie with Qarabag tomorrow. The lads talk local customs, travelling & Ringsend matters with Sean Gannon and Daniel Kelly. Local journalist Oqtay Atayev gives us the Azerbaijani perspective on the game and two of Dundalk's local press contingent - Adrian Taaffe and James Rogers - give us their take on the match. We also discuss anthem whistling, cosy airport chats and also preview Shamrock Rovers' big tie with Apollon Limassol. 

Episode 24 is here and as Johnny takes his monthly holiday, Dan is joined in studio by former Galway manager Shane Keegan and has his say on the Baku or Ballybrit debate. LOI stalwart John Sullivan was also in studio with St.Josephs Boys & Bray Wanderers Academy Director Will Clarke to discuss the U19’s success in Armenia, the skills of Tom Mohan and the impact that coaching philosophies and LOI structures will have on Irish football’s future. We also look ahead to a big week in Europe.

The second week of Europe is here and as usual that means Dan is somewhere else on the continent, this week its Latvia and from their capital Riga, Dan gives his thoughts as well chatting to Robbie Benson (in a busy Dublin Airport) about what lies ahead for Dundalk on Wednesday. With Dan away Aidan Fitzmaurice is back in the hot seat with Johnny to delve into the other 3 teams in Europe’s chances of progression on Thursday as well as the pros and cons of an All Island League. While PFAI General Secretary Stephen McGuinness & newly appointed Player Development Manager Emma Connaughton joined us in studio to discuss a new role within the association swell as some potential positive momentum within Irish football.

European week has arrived and Mark Rossiter joins the lads to run through the games and take us on an entertaining journey back through the highs and lows of his own career - from the compassion of Mick McCarthy at Sunderland to the unique approach of Stephen Kenny at Dundalk and the business life he was developing on the side. Latvian journalist Edmunds Novickis gives us the rundown on volatile Riga FC ahead of their Irish date while Cork City chairman Declan Carey gives us the state of play on Leeside after a turbulent spell. And we also find time to discuss the merits of whiskey, steak and Supermarket Sweep.

It's our 100th episode and we mark the occasion with the presence of two former Irish internationals, Kevin Kilbane and Irish 21s assistant Keith Andrews. The lads talk coaching standards, League of Ireland standards, Stephen Kenny, Sam Allardyce, Gary or Phil and Liam or Noel. We've also two tickets to give away -- it is, after all, our 100th episode.

Andy Boyle is in studio after his return to Dundalk to discuss the challenge of trying to prove yourself in a different football environment. He talks us through the highs and lows of life in England and Scotland and explains his reasons for coming back to a club that has changed quite a bit since his departure. Talk of a cross-border league has added to the debate around Irish football and the lads also check in with Gerard Lyttle to try and find out what the response has been in Belfast circles.

We're quick off the block this week in reaction to the Champions League and Europa League draws, with Paul Corry – who curiously never played European football – coming in to chat about the draws and reaction to the Bohs-Rovers game over the weekend. As well as discussing that man Mandroiu, Corry discusses how life is going post-footballl but this show is mainly about the European action ahead. We talk to Ruaidhri Higgins on skype and get reaction from Stephen Bradley, John Cotter and Harry Kenny.

We were joined by two advertisements for the UCD production line on this week's pod. Shelbourne's Ciaran Kilduff discusses his move home from the US and reflects on his career in the league while offering some insights into life under Stephen Kenny and the European doors it opened. Current UCD winger Neil Farrugia should be with Kenny in Toulon this week but the 20-year-old joins us to discuss his longer term ambitions, his European hopes, and there's also an unexpected diversion into the tactics of hockey and the merits of Spanish wine. He's no ordinary footballer.

LOI WEEKLY S03 EP17 with Oscar Brennan It's a quiet time in the League of Ireland Premier Division, with games cancelled due to Toulon, but Oscar Brennan comes in to discuss the First Division with his new club Shelbourne now top after beating Longford on Friday. Oscar has some strong views on coaching standards in Ireland at all levels, while he reveals his new part-time job, which does in-fact involve craft beer. The lads have some thoughts on Shane Ross, the Sports Minister's forum last Friday and some of the reactions to Niall Quinn's propositions. We also talk Ireland about a great start in Toulon & about the upcoming trip to Denmark.

It's a union of central defenders this week as Dundalk's multiple league winner Brian Gartland comes into the studio, joined on Skype by Bermuda captain and Sligo Rovers fans' favourite Dante Leverock, who is slowly recovering from a painful trip to Dalymount Park last Friday. Dante tells us about life in Sligo, his plans to help Bermuda create history in Costa Rica next month, and how his girlfriend's wedding planning service could help his team-mates. Gartland talks title battles and European memories, and discusses Niall Quinn's plans – and his own ideas – about the future of the league.

With Dan away on International duty, Johnny was in studio to mind the house. Dan did dial in from the Ireland camp in Portugal as the league season enters the halfway stage. Bray Wanderers boss Gary Cronin, fresh from the win over Galway, comes into studio while the man with 'BOSS' on his t-shirt, Jack Byrne, lives up to the moniker. In a packed show, betting expert Julian Canny comes in to discuss extremely worrying gambling trends in the First Division. And Jack also weighs in about the twist and turns of his career and puts the issue to bed as to what his best position is.

We went a different direction by going Stateside this week with ex LOI all-rounder Kieran Foley, who has made his way in the business world and was central to the growth of the Caribbean Cricket League, outlining his vision for football in Ireland. He is part of Niall Quinn’s group that is plotting a new vision. We also review and preview the latest games with more than a nod to Pat Mustard

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.

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.

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 unlikey offer to 'see the light'.

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.

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 future and an exciting title league campaign so far. Johnny also spoke to Derry City Assistant Kevin Deery after they defeated St.Pats in Inchicore on Monday evening to go 2nd in the League Table.

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.

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 & looks ahead to the under-21s' Toulon tournament in June. The lads also give their views on the league season so far, while Mohan makes a plea for more improvements that can be made in a league he predicts is going to improve dramatically.

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.