Loi Weekly

Is it just us or is the whole world looking for the next South Dublin coffee house? Well you won't find it here. We've got cheesy chips, curry chips, and Stephen Bradley, who wasn't bad at chips in his day. As Bradley's team gets ready for the ex British colony of Malta and their high temperatures, we narrowly avoid an international incident of the Kay Burley variety, when talking with Gianluca Lia of the Maltese sporting press. He tells us about the weird impact Irish refereeing is having on the upcoming Rovers v Hibernian tie. We also have a cameo from Tim Clancy on the transfer window while there's cats and dogs in the mailbag, cryogenically frozen actors, the entire first division team narratives, and not a falcon in sight. So, with thanks to Future Ticketing, Porterhouse Brew, Malone Financial Services and Collar and Cuff, this really is the stuff that dreams are made of.

This week's special guest is Trevor Croly. Over a decade and a half in coaching, he talks about his time as manager of Shamrock Rovers, what he learned, the Bohs bus-inspired jersey, their up-and-down season and a lot more besides. We also hear from John Caulfield ahead of Alex Murphy's move to Newcastle, much to Johnny's sadness. And Dan is off to Berlin – after an admission that the lads had a something-other-than-ten out of ten performance last week. All this and much more with thanks to Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff, and Porterhouse Brew.

It's another remote-arama podcast with Johnny going nineteenth century on the Blaskets and Dan just back from his eastern European International duty. We have Stephen O'Donnell checking in along with Greg Bolger as we anticipate the big European nights for the LOI clubs in the coming weeks. It's all in all not quite as good as a Nathan Collins wonder goal but not quite as bad as a George Best hangover. Yes, it's somewhere in the middle but it's available now! Thanks to Future Ticketing, Porterhouse Brew and Collar and Cuff.

It's another roadshow of sorts this week with Johnny in Kinsale and Dan back from Yerevan and we return from our non Galway-Cork related mid-season break to speak about the planned LOI expansion into Kerry with Billy Dennehy speaking with Johnny about what's going on down in the Kingdom and where it might go. The lads discuss the potential, wonder how long it is before US tourists in Killarney are LOI groundhopping and ponder the irony of Saudi Arabia finally doing something for Galway. Derry slumps, John Russell's Sligo Rovers appointment and wedding suit reviews also feature in a show that is a tight fit by our standards

On Bob Dylan's 81st birthday we have a show with absolutely no reference to the poet laureate of Rock 'n Roll but do have the poet laureate of LOI, Brian Kerr, giving his views on the Liam Buckley dismissal. Whilst Dan dials in from Europe, Johnny finally get's a Long(ish) chat with Keith before a discussion on the SARI promotion of it's work and a chat with Europe bound, teenage sensation James Abankwah. As usual the mailbag is stuffed and the Porterhouse brews are flying out the door. And yes, you guessed it, Collar and Cuff and Future Ticketing are along for the ride as usual. Episode 15, my friends, is blowing in the wind!

Johnny's fantasy of being in a forensic cop show came a step closer to being realised as the Operation Brookweed news broke just before going into studio. Dan and Johnny discuss the match fixing story as well as religious bookstores and relics before welcoming noted author, actor, topless model and entrepreneur Brian Gartland in to discuss his new book and his story so far. There's Ray Charles, Hotel Shenanigans in both Portugal and Abbey Street, that rivalry with Cork, Love Hate and away games with Ireland. You can also win a signed copy of Brian's book to read along with your Porterhouse brews, Johnny's Collar and Cuff suit is still in the news and Roy Keane even gets in on the action. All thanks to Future Ticketing, Porterhouse Brew, Malone Financial Services and Collar and Cuff

This week we welcome first-time caller, long-time listener, Padraig Amond, who made the trip from Carlow to Exeter and he tells us about life in league one with The Grecians, getting papped at a Florida airport and how he might not be playing at Galway United next season. Johnny talks to Stephen Bradley about quadruple substitutions in an effort to manoeuvre around a large bleached mastodon that may have been in the room at the time before chatting to Liam Buckley about how good or otherwise the pitch was. Music this week comes from Dr Alban, Haddaway, Picotto and the Shels supporters. There's a birth name reveal and how a Duncan became a Bob, Johnny gets his suit stretched out a bit, and the boys lose touch with the kids. As usual we have to thank Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and The Porterhouse for allowing us to create more tangents than a Raymond Chandler novel. I'll stop talking now and let the rest of it float in the air.

There's only one talking point to discuss this week. It's the big news that stopped us in our tracks. Did Johnny really go for a curry with Alan Patchell instead of a day at the races with Dan? Oh, there's also the whole Stephen Bradley to Lincoln thing, which the lads discuss in depth at the top of the show. We get the thoughts of Rotherham hero and exam student Georgie Kelly, the footballer who doesn't want to be known as a footballer and a friend of many pods but the only player to give an on-air review of this one. Johnny catches up with Countdown's Dinny Corcoran about his 100 goals and the ales that cost him a few more.

We've got a doozy of a show for you this week as we welcome back Mark Rossiter to the show and this time he brings Drogheda's best bearded northsider with him. Yes, in a wide ranging chat, Gary Deegan helps Johnny exorcise the ghosts of cup finals missed, reflects on how a brush with death changed his perspective on life and opens up on the fake and fickle nature of the ruthless football industry over the water. He also explains why nutsacks don't mix well with carpenters' tools and the practical reason he used to bring his dog to training. There's the demise of the mystery voice because you said so, designated flare operators, and a whole lot of other stuff in an extra long episode brought to you by Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Porterhouse Brewery and Malone Financial Services. You wanted it easy, and it couldn't be any easier.

The gloves are off this week and Nancy Reagan's continuing war on drugs means that Bradley, Higgins, and O'Donnell are retained for their thoughts on what happened over the weekend. As we stumble into the middle age of this season's pod and lose touch with the kids Dan speaks to English born, Drogheda based, Scottish U-21 international Sam Long & Johnny catches up with Kildare raised, Oxford based and likely future Ireland international Luke McNally. And if that's not confusing enough we also have a message from the future (and not talking Future Ticketing) about the demise of Ian Morris at Waterford. Roads!, where we're going we don't need roads. It might not be 1985 Nancy but Roy Keane wasn't always a pundit kids. Episode 10 with our bare hands!

Just before Jesus rising time we've got a Shelbourne Special for you. It's a biblical tale of hateful revenge turning into brotherly love for Mark Coyle and Aodh Dervin - two new disciples of Damien Duff's gospel at Tolka. They talk about getting the call from the Messiah and what it means to go full time as well as spreading the good news via on field chats. There's loaves and chicken, excited mothers, mysterious text messages, a postman, scientist, the big bag of Mail, the voice of God and monk brewed Porterhouse. Collar and Cuff are tasked with a suit for Johnny's wedding at Canaan and if that's not enough bible for you there's always the church of LOI with two rounds of games this weekend! All thanks to Future Ticketing.

In this week's carbon neutral pod we travel forward in time to chat to Tom Grivosti of St. Pats and virtually welcome Derry and Ireland Under 21 Assistant Manager Alan Reynolds back to the pod to talk about handshakes, housewreckers, headcases and a small bit of football. There's the continuing saga of the mystery voice, the new Johnny Ward voice of advertising, the increasingly popular mailbag, the usual legal wranglings of O'Donnell, Clancy and Higgins, and a milk run gone wrong. All of this over a few laughs and a coffees in our Oliver Ireland studio and of course thanks to our usual sponsors, Future Ticketing, Porterhouse Brewing and Lou Feringo's favourite tailors, Collar & Cuff!

What's the difference between X-Factor and X-Rated? It's not quite a PC discussion but we do have a PC to join us this week with Paul Corry dropping in along with Pat Fenlon to discuss the relationship they could have enjoyed, Troy Parrott's development, the coaching of Irish midfielders and much more besides. Johnny's favourite young managers get a mention but there's credit for some old dogs too. Don't do a Corry on it and leave before the end.

Sun's out and Johnny's out, well out from the cloud of CoVid and back in studio for episode 6. Guitar hero, winged wonder and ex PFAI executive Ollie Cahill, joins us for a chat about Dan's dubious predictions, Away days in Kyiv, "The Gaza Strip" in Abbotstown, Paul Doolin, the other 'Ollie' at Shels and a whole heap of miscellany too random to work into this piece. All of this plus a roundup of the weekend games, Dan's twittering, the ever popular mailbag and the Porterhouse mystery voice. All of this as ever is brought to you in conjunction with Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing and Malone Financial Services, so fire up the outdoor grill and tune in!

This weeks show is brought to you by the letter 'C'. C is for Cheltenham, CoVid, Clattering, Custodians and Chunes. With Johnny isolating, Dan grabs words with Stephen O’Donnell and the Irish sounding German Leon Pohls after Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers before the separated duo joust over mystery voices, echo chambers, double week of fixtures,and season passes. Topically there's a Ukraine Charity Match with excellent Guinness on the northside. You get all this without the usual all American Patty's day palaver that goes with this weekend, so turn your porterhouses green, tune in, drop by and you might get a winner!

A downright giddy pod has Johnny shoulder dancing with GAA players, those Kiwi gypsies who apparently rejuvenated a championship winning team, and should you get a player sent off? If that wasn't enough we have a very special guest as Ireland Under 21 manager Jim Crawford drops by for a lengthy chat. As well as the upcoming Sweden game and the lowdown on the current class of '22, there's tackling a cheeky little Bordeaux, the granny rule, eligibility drama, marking the pitch in Harolds Cross and the Shels connection. Throw in the mailbag, the mystery voice with the Porterhouse, losing your shirt at Cheltenham with Collar & Cuff, and the mystery of the missing winner and you have all you need to get warmed up for another double fixture week!

It's episode 3 and Mark Scanlon, the League of Ireland Director, drops by the pod for an extended chat about the big issues. There's third tiers, women's leagues, season tickets, LOI TV, Stadia, rankings and everything in between. As well as all that we have your mailbag questions answered , a sprinkling of Damien Duff, and our new and improving Mystery Voice competition where you can win beer if you're not off it for Lent, and if you want to drink it in a nice suit, our friends from Collar & Cuff will look after you. Yes, your 40 days and nights of sacrifice begins right here!

On the day the national underage league launches, we have a fascinating talk with two people employed full time to run an academy in Ireland. Cork City's Liam Kearney and Shamrock Rovers' Shane Robinson drop by the studio to look at how the underage game has developed and hopes to develop in light of Brexit and the new European football landscape. Also on this weeks captivating episode Dan delves further into the Cork City story and Johnny offers a spellbinding insight into the Russian situation and Vlad the Impaler. There's a mystery voice winner draw, a new mystery voice that's slightly less mysterious and the usual enthralling look at the weeks action. All of this and not one mention of the 'I' word!

It's a brand new season but with some old favourites. Johnny's ankle is fixed after his cup final cliffhanger and his first two legged assignment is to welcome Damien Duff to his world of young management. Johnny McDonnell drops in on his way back from Karachi to explain the St Patrick's Athletic/Pakistan/Michael Owen alliance which raised more eyebrows than Johnny's winter move to the FAI. Dan isn't sure if he really, really wants our new mystery competition and we catch up with Derry's Ronan Boyce for a supervised interview ahead of the 2022 campaign. There's also a club by club preview, a Troy McClure impression and a pod you may remember for such partners as Future Ticketing, Malone Financial Services & Porterhouse Brewing Company.

For our 2021 swan song we have cup winning captain Ian Bermingham in studio to talk new season, new contract, new manager and new baby! We also have some of his old manager's press conference as Johnny poses a few questions to Stevie O'Donnell. Georgie Kelly zooms in and explains why he had to strike while the iron was hot. Johnny and Dan discuss the big news stories over the last week and Aisling Fennin from Future Ticketing looks ahead to what Johnny is so very very very excited about. Ask any taxi driver!