Loi Weekly

It’s week two and safe pair of hands Shane Supple joins the lads to review an opening weekend that was low on goals but high on talking points. We talk Brian Murphy, the derby debacle, overseas recruits, Cork concerns and First Division predictions. Send us your thoughts and we might even read them out.

We’re back, and this time it’s visual. Season 4 is here in full colour on Eir Sport and YouTube but the audio experience lives on too with Paul Corry joining Dan and Johnny to preview the 2020 season. Who wins the league? What about the people running it? What has Nigel Farage done for it? We cover that and more on this week’s show.

It’s Christmas Eve, and what better present than an LOI Weekly Christmas podcast. Shane Supple and Brian Gartland joined the lads for a special televised edition of LOI Weekly to look back on the year that was, as well as casting a glance towards 2020.

Emotional times here at LOI Weekly HQ as it’s the concluding episode of season three, with an appropriately high-profile guest to close out our 40th episode of 2019. Dundalk head coach Vinny Perth joins us in studio for an in-depth chat about a trophy filled season, European lessons and disappointments & a cheeky hint about upcoming developments both on and off the park. He also reveals what episode of the pod he turned off after listening for just ten minutes. We also have Johnny's exclusive and surprisingly intimate chat with PFAI team of the year member & Derry City striker David Parkhouse (and his girlfriend). The off-season officially begins in 90 minutes time.

After ending Shamrock Rovers 32 year wait in the FAI Cup, we were joined by their manager Stephen Bradley & the clubs sporting director Stephen McPhail in studio to give their accounts on how it all unfolded. As well as discussing the game, tactics & regrouping after Dundalk’s last second equalizer, ‘Bradser’ discussed how he once hated football as a teenager, how he knew he wanted to coach from a young age & how his career path is similar to one Jack Byrne. McPhail talked about how LOI clubs must back themselves at the negotiating table & also expressed his distrain for the idea that Ireland doesn’t have the players to play attractive football. The lads also wrap up the playoffs, as well as look ahead to Dundalk FC’s Unite the Union Champions Cup tie with Linfield FC.

It's FAI Cup final fever in the House of Eir as Dan and Johnny discuss at length their predictions and aspirations for Sunday's decider. Dan hears from Dundalk's Dan Cleary and Shamrock Rovers' Sean Kavanagh before we throw open the Whatsapp lines to a collection of regular guests from across the season who send in their predictions for the big game. Managers, ex-players and current players all give their two cents. Who needs Twink and Logan when you've got Derek Pender and Neal Horgan? This finally trails off into a debate about the most famous LOI personality, Johnny Logan or President Michael D Higgins…It’s a good debate & an even better pod.

It’s the PFAI awards special with Stephen McGuinness in studio to reveal the identity of the Premier Division team of the year and the player of the year shortlists. Nominees Sean Gannon and Dano Mandroiu are in studio and we also hear from St Pat’s boss Stephen O’Donnell

It's a Shels Special this week! Well kind of! We hear all about "Life after football!". Does it exist? who's fault is it anyway if it does? We give free reign to Johnny this week as he decides if Shane Dawson is a worthy successor to the Swiss Skyped Six Day absentee Dan McDonnell, who's in hiding from a Swiss chambermaid over a fifteen minute checkout breach. Spilling turkey salad all over his rather natty suit on his lunch break, is one time goalkeeper and now time corporate recruiter Shane Supple, and he is joined on our leather couch by Shels manager Ian Morris to debate, the Irish team's lack of performance, the European run in, and the collegiate life. Karl Sheppard dials in from Cork and Johnny doesn't mention Galway once. But can Ian Morris name every single player who's going to be at Shels next year? Can he? It's episode thirtysomething and whaddya know, there's no sign of Ken Olin.....

With the title race wrapped up and the relegation battle devoid of drama, we covered a few bases this week. Ireland U19 boss Tom Mohan joins us to discuss an interesting squad selection, but finds that Georgia bound Johnny really only has Galway on his mind. Dan reminisces with St Patrick's Athletic board member Alan Mathews about his days on the front line of management. Neal Horgan has written books about that kind of thing and he dials in to discuss his latest effort as Irish football quite literally approaches a crossroads. Beyond that, there's mini leagues, Sideshow Bobs and ticket giveaways all set to soundtrack of Johnny's life. If you're looking to while away an hour waiting for the new "Breaking Bad" movie to pop up on Netflix...You could do worse--

1985 Ahoy! Bus pass carrying Pat Devlin cranks the podcast DeLorean up to 88mph and revisits the roots of all evil in the upside down world of Opel sponsored candlelit stadia. The big number 5 from Donaghmede, Lee Desmond, lights his own candle for the under performing Saints and the 'signing on' generation of pre Brexit, post Delaney semi pros. Johnnys taxi drivers go back to Milltown and Dan ends up on page 3. It really is 1985, so put this cassette in your walkman and just press feckin' PLAY

Dundalk are Premier Division champions once again & we hear from their Head Coach John Gill on his journey & on the pressures of success at Dundalk. Paul Corry joins Johnny in studio as does Dan via Skype to discuss Dundalk’s dominance, their treble chase & Johnny’s famous declaration. Sligo Rovers Canadian winger Kris Twardek also joined the show to discuss how he ended up in Sligo, his career in England & what making the FAI Cup in the Aviva Stadium would mean for the town.

Luke Byrne joins us, not quite fresh from promotion celebrations but happy to reflect on a morale boosting year at Shelbourne. We also hear from his manager Ian Morris and check  in on two other bosses experiencing a different range of emotions right now - Limerick’s Tommy Barrett and Waterford’s Alan Reynolds. Cup draws, cup wins and the now customary Galway tangent also feature on the show.

After a massive week in Irish football & a week full of famous debuts, Eir Sport reporter & lifelong Shels fan Shane Dawson makes his debut on Episode 31. Shane joined Johnny in studio as Dan dials in from his so called ‘holiday’ to discuss the buzz around the U21’s, the FAI Cup semi final draw & Dundalk’s pursuit of the elusive treble. We also hear from Jack Byrne who spoke to Shane following his international debut on Tuesday night, as well as Derry City manager Declan Devine who spoke ahead of their EA Sports Cup Final this Saturday against Dundalk.

Former UCD boss Collie O’Neill & St Pat’s Director of Football Ger O’Brien joined the lads in studio to discuss the recent upheaval that has affected both of them. Collie expands on the reasons behind his departure from UCD and discussed where the club stands going forward. Ger outlines his position at St Pat’s after Harry Kenny’s abrupt exit and Stephen O’Donnell’s arrival.

Paul Doolin is our studio guest, discussing his career and future in light of four managers losing their jobs in the space of just over one week in the League of Ireland. He talks about being snubbed for jobs, his belief that the game is populated by spoofers and also reflects on his time as Irish u19 boss - including his reasons for excluding Jack Byrne. Derry City boss Declan Devine talks about the positives of the Cup defeat to Dundalk, while the two lads discuss cup results, Cork’s week and why Shamrock Rovers could really do with beating Bohs on Friday.

We go FAI Cup crazy this week, with Drogheda United goalkeeper/goalkeeping coach Paul Skinner coming in to talk about his strange days at Celtic and the art of goalkeeping coaching, ahead of their trip to Tallaght on Friday. Also on Friday Cork City make the trip to Eamonn Deacy Park to face Galway United, whose manager Alan Murphy attempts to set the record straight in regard to some of Johnny's comments this season. Dan battles with a cold to clarify some of the debate about our clubs' progress in Europe last week, while the lads also discuss two shocking developments: Dan Carr's move to Cyprus (and Stephen Bradley's remarks) as well as the dismissal of Collie O'Neill at UCD.

Johnny is on tour again but we have another Johnny on tap as Johnny McDonnell joins us along with LOI legend and Shamrock Rovers U19 boss Stephen Rice to reflect on Dundalk’s European exit and discuss what our top teams need to do to reach the next level.

Johnny and Dan are back on home soil this week, but we go to Bratislava to get the view on the ground from Dundalk’s man in Slovakia Donal Greene ahead of another big European night. Shane Supple dials in to discuss where the league stands in Europe and to look ahead to Friday night’s Dublin derby at Dalymount. Keith Cowan speaks to us about the Finn Harps revival. Bucket theft, banana skins and slanted pool tables also feature in our review of the week.

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.