RTÉ GAA Podcast

After a fallow spring, the GAA season kicks into gear this weekend with the Allianz Hurling League. Mikey Stafford is joined by Jackie Tyrrell, Ursula Jacob and Denis Walsh of The Sunday Times to preview the truncated competition and ask what certain counties will be looking to take from it.

Adrian Eames and James O'Toole discuss the weekend's Premier Division action with Pat Fenlon. Joining them is the league's top goalscorer Adam Foley of Finn Harps who scored the winner against Derry City to earn his team a first ever league win at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. The lads also pay tribute to the late Alan McLoughlin.

Shane Dowling and Ciaran Whelan join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill this week as the GAA world awaits word on when club training can return. The lads discuss how the hurling and football leagues could be very different animals this year. They also reflect on their contrasting retirements and the wrench it is to leave the inter-county scene.

As inter-county teams return to training this week, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Anthony Daly and Tomas Ó Sé to recall some pre-season war stories and discuss the level of commitment now required.

Back after the winter hiatus, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Pat Spillane and Brendan Cummins, with the lads in philosophical mood. They ponder the elimination of risk from game plans in both football and hurling, as well as the continuing growth of the power of the inter-county manager, as evidenced by the recent level 5 breaches.

The Antrim star tells us about being inspired by the Saffrons heroes of '89, Sambo McNaughton's unusual method of dropping players, and his favourite Munster forwards.

Carlow footballer Paul Broderick tells us about failed attempts to dye his hair like Mayo legend Ciarán McDonald's, his admiration for the steely Meath team of the 90s and shares his thoughts on the Tailteann Cup.

Tipperary captain and All-Star Conor Sweeney reveals his Gaelic football idols and looks back on a momentous season for the Munster champions.

Padraic Collins reveals who his inspirations were in both football and hurling and discusses the Clare footballers' ambitions for the season ahead.

SATURDAY SPORT| Marty Morrissey chats to Larry McCarthy about his hopes for his term as GAA president and what his priorities will be

The panel look ahead to the latest renewal in Mayo's modern day quest to beat the Dubs

Brendan Cummins and former Limerick camogie star Aoife Sheehan look ahead to a massive weekend of action. Brendan looks at the puckout strategies of Limerick and Waterford and how they could influence the senior hurling final. Aoife heaps praise on the Galway defence, which will be key to defending their camogie title against Kilkenny.

Journalist Kieran Shannon and Kerry legend Pat Spillane join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to preview Dublin v Cavan and Mayo v Tipperary. Can Cavan at least give Dublin something new to think about? Can Tipperary give us another shock in this year of years and down Mayo, or will James Horan's blend of youth and experience reach another final?

Retired Westmeath footballer John Connellan penned an open letter on the threat posed to the GAA by the funding model that has sparked the resurgence in the capital. Connellan, Kevin McStay, Conor McKeon, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill discuss how to protect the competitiveness of the GAA nationally.

Ahead of a huge weekend of hurling and camogie action, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by former Limerick camogie star Aoife Sheehan and Anthony Daly to preview the Waterford-Kilkenny and Limerick-Galway semi-finals in the hurling, and the last four encounters between Cork and Kilkenny and Tipperary and Galway in the camogie.

After this weekend there will be just eight teams left in the All-Ireland championships. Kevin McStay and Anthony Daly join Mikey Stafford, Rory O'Neill and Colm Keys of the Irish Independent to look ahead to the action.

As doubt surrounds Mickey Harte's future as Tyrone manager, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Malachy Clerkin join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss his legacy, the fallout in Kerry and the weekend's games. Michael Duignan previews a massive weekend of hurling.

As Sligo become the first team to forfeit a Championship game due to Covid-19, Tomas Ó Sé joins Mikey Stafford, Rory O'Neill and Kieran Shannon to discuss the situation and his own response to it, which has caused some furore in itself. Elsewhere Brendan Cummins looks at the two first round qualifiers as hurling's back door swings open.

It's a huge weekend of Championship action and to discuss it all Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Colm Keys of the Irish Independent, Oisin McConville and Derek McGrath.

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Jackie Tyrrell, Dessie Dolan and John Fogarty of the Irish Examiner to wade through the latest Covid chaos, look ahead to the weekend matches and weigh up the true value of a challenge games.

With little over a week to throw-in, there is already plenty of intrigue around this year's hurling championship. Starting in October, with the second wave of Coronavirus upon us and that other plague, the yellow sliotar, causing even further upset. Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Brendan Cummins and Ursula Jacob.

The Allianz Leagues return this weekend with two rounds to play and the anticipation is on another level after the shutdown of inter-county action in March. Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Tomas Ó Sé and Ciaran Whelan as they ask the important questions.

Pat Spillane and Oisín McConville join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss what the GAA must do to stage the All-Ireland Championships, admit fans to stadiums and generally save Christmas. Plus Pat puts forward the case that the very structure of all professional sport has been irrevocably changed by the Coronavirus.

On this week's podcast host Clare MacNamara is joined by Rena Buckley, Camogie Association CEO Sinead McNulty and Foxrock-Cabinteely chairman Glyn Davies to examine the state of ladies football and camogie. Huge successes in underage participation have seen the sports grow, but are facilities, media exposure and governance hampering further growth?

The postponement of the Donegal SFC final and increased restrictions on both sides of the border mean that the smooth and scheduled running of the Ulster and All-Ireland championships are, once more, in some doubt. Aidan O'Rourke and Irish News sports journalist Cahair O'Kane join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the challenges ahead.

Pat Spillane and Anthony Daly join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill on this week's podcast, where they chat about the dual clubs still excelling on two fronts, the GAA's plans to cap inter-county spending and Paul Galvin's abrupt departure from Wexford.

Marty Morrissey and Colm Keys join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the GAA's proposal to shift its calendar, as well as looking at the latest plans to run off the championship amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Historian Mark Duncan and author Michael Foley join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss events of Bloody Sunday, their impact on the GAA and why the association are planning such significant centenary commemorations

Shelmaliers victorious captain and Wexford corner-back Simon Donohoe joins Brendan Cummins, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the derided and then lauded Wexford county championships structure, the difficulty of flicking between hurling and football, and the momentum

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Sunday Game analyst Ciaran Whelan and Dick Clerkin, a member of the GAA's Covid Advisory Committee, to discuss another eventful week for sport amid Covid-19 pandemic.

Ahead of this weekend's Waterford SHC showdown between city rivals Mount Sion and De La Salle, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by former Waterford managers Derek McGrath and Paraic Fanning to chat about keeping enemies close, Ballygunner's excellence and the GPA proposals to fix the fixtures.

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Colm Keys of the Irish Independent and Ger Killeen, AXA Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at UCC, to discuss the financial and public health ramifications of proceeding with the 2020 championships.

As the GPA this week held their AGM, Colm O'Rourke and Irish Examiner GAA correspondent John Fogarty join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the role the players' body have within the GAA and how that, and lots more besides, may change in a more financially challenging post-Covid world.

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill welcome RTÉ GAA Correspondent Marty Morrissey, GAA reporter Damian Lawlor and Kilkenny legend Jackie Tyrrell to discuss Jackie's surprising junior hurling plans, the latest on the return to play and the controversy over Dean Rock's new coaching company.

Pat Spillane and Anthony Daly join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the GAA's plea for an increase in capacity from 200, the worrying trend in GAA clubs suspending activity, the challenge facing club football referees and the opportunity for club players with county ambitions.

The GAA's relationship with the media is only likely to get stranger as we cope with social distancing, limited press boxes and new broadcasting norms. Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by UCD history professor Paul Rouse, Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and Conan Doherty of SportsJOE and JOE to discuss the new reality for GAA media.

Donal Óg Cusack and Oisín McConville join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to debate the club v county divisions dominating GAA's return to play, and the GPA's role in modern Gaelic games. Plus New York chairperson Joan Henchy fills us in on Covid-19, visa issues, Sláintecare 2020 and the political climate in United States.

We convene a special podcast following Leinster and Munster hurling draws, with Brendan Cummins and Tomas Ó Sé giving Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill their thoughts after a significant day in the return to GAA action. Mikey also speaks to Dr Ciarán Kearney and Liam Moggan about the basics of sports psychology.

With the GAA moving towards a return to action, Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Dessie Dolan and Kevin McStay to discuss the prospect of a straight knockout championship. Plus Cliodhna O'Connor and Dr Ciara Losty give some advice on coaching ladies football and camogie teams.

Mikey Stafford is joined by legendary hurling coaches Martin Fogarty and Eamon O'Shea to discuss their hurling philosophies, why the basics are the still the key, and the joy of striking.

The possibility of creating a combined Ulster hurling team to compete in the Liam MacCarthy is in the news once more. Derry's Chrissy McCaigue and Neil McManus of Antrim join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the idea. We also have the first in a new series of coaching discussions.

Following huge interest in The Last Dance, Mikey Stafford chats to DCU Mercy head coach Mark Ingle and Irish Examiner columnist Kieran Shannon about the legacy of Michael Jordan, the history of basketball's relationship with GAA and what both sports have taken from each other down through the years.

This week Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Donal Óg Cusack and Derek McGrath to assess the impact of the coronavirus shutdown on the mental health of GAA players. The pair also discuss the full-forward line on the All-Star hurling team of The Sunday Game era.

We have reached the final decision on our All-Star football team of The Sunday Game era, and who better to argue the toss on the full-forward line than Colm Cooper and Kevin McStay. The Gooch gives us some detail on his junior football revival before he and Kevin name their own fantasy full-forward lines.

Runaway vote leader Pat Spillane and five-time All-Star Sean Cavanagh join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the best half-forwards of The Sunday Game era. Pat fills us in on International Superstars and his potential NFL career, while both Pat and Sean exhibit their love for the Chicago Bulls.

We've reached the half-forward line on the All-Star hurling team of The Sunday Game era, so Michael Duignan and Anthony Daly join Rory O'Neill and Mikey Stafford to discuss some of the finest hurling talents of the past 40 years.

This week in our series of 'Great GAA Speeches', Anthony Molloy joined Jacqui Hurley on RTÉ Radio One "Sunday Sport" to recall Donegal's breakthrough All-Ireland SFC success of 1992. Molloy became the first Donegal Captain to lift the Sam Maguire Cup after the County's 4 Points victory over Dublin.

Wexford Senior Hurling Manager Davy Fitzgerald was a guest on "Sunday Sport" on RTÉ Radio One with Presenter Jacqui Hurley. The Clare native reacted to the latest Government announcement on the Road Plan to exiting the lockdown.

With the defence already selected by RTÉ.ie readers, we are on to the midfield. Tomas Ó Sé and live contender Ciaran Whelan join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the best centre-fielders. Ciaran recalls the day he stopped the unstoppable Anthony Tohill, while Tomas rhapsodises about his brother Darragh... eventually.

After some controversial selections from the public in the defence, we move onto discussing the midfield on the All-Star team of The Sunday Game era. Ken McGrath and Brendan Cummins join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the evolving game around the middle and we deal with the reaction to JJ Delaney's omission from the team.

In our series of 'Great GAA Speeches', Ray Silke joined John Murray on RTÉ Radio One "Sunday Sport" to recall Galway's 1998 All-Ireland SFC success - as the Tribesmen overcame the pre match favourites Kildare and returned West with the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time in 32 years

We are currently selecting the half-backs for All-Star hurling team of the Sunday Game era, and Henry Shefflin and Neil McManus join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the heroes of the past and how modern day equivalents have evolved.

With our full-back line and goalkeeper selected we move on to the best Gaelic football half-backs of The Sunday Game Era. Colm Cooper and Kevin McStay join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the best exponents of arguably the sport's most glamorous line.

In our series of 'Great GAA Speeches', Peter Canavan joined Jacqui Hurley on RTÉ Radio One "Sunday Sport" to recall Tyrone's 2003 All-Ireland SFC success - a day raw with emotion, pride and joy. Canavan became the first Tyrone Captain to lift Sam Maguire and it marked the sixth Ulster County to win the All-Ireland SFC Title

We continue with the thankless task of picking the best Gaelic football team of The Sunday Game era. Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Pat Spillane and Michael Murphy to discuss the readers' choice and share some thoughts on what makes an effective defender.

Jackie Tyrrell and Michael Duignan join Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to discuss the difference between a full-back and a corner-back, the glory of Eddie O'Connor's temper and the greatest defenders to man the last line of a hurling defence since 1979.

It's Monday of another week in social distancing land, so Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill meet up with Shane 'Cake' Curran and Tomas Ó Sé on Skype to discuss the top goalkeepers of the last 41 years.

With sport on hiatus, we have some hurling sport by selecting the best hurling All-Star goalkeeper of The Sunday Game era. Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Anthony Daly and bonafide goalkeeping great Brendan Cummins. Madness, leadership, shoutiness and tactical awareness all recognised as key components of a great goalkeeper.

Rory O'Neill is joined by James McMahon of RTÉ Online to discuss the potential implications of COVID-19 on GAA season. Tomas Ó Sé gives his take on exit of Donie Buckley from Kerry backroom, while Westmeath hurling hero Killian Doyle joins on the line to reflect on huge win over Carlow.

UCD professor and former Offaly manager on just one of things needed to fix the fixture chaos.

On a busy show, Rory O'Neill is joined by Marty Morrissey, Paul Rouse, Colm Keyes and Oisin McConville to reflect on the election of new GAA president Larry McCarthy and what he will bring to the role.

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Colm O'Rourke and James McMahon. O'Rourke runs the rule over Galway, Mayo and Dublin, before casting an eye forward to Congress. Tipperary's John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer chats about head injury assessments and his opposition to the proposed introduction of a sinbin in hurling.

This week Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Conor McKeon of The Herald as they discuss the weather (events), the GPA's hardline stance and commemorating the War of Independence. Also, Jackie Tyrrell explains Wexford's recent dominance over Kilkenny, while Clare football manager Colm Collins has a novel idea for beating the weather.

On this week's RTÉ GAA podcast Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by Kevin McStay to examine the scourge of cynicism in football. Retired inter-county referee Barry Kelly speaks in favour of hurling's black card, while Mikey and Rory also react to the GAA's record-breaking finances.

Brendan Cummins and Pat Spillane join us to review the second weekend of league After losing both of their opening games in hurling's top flight, Brendan assesses where Tipperary are at early on After Kerry's win over Galway, Pat feels the Kingdom are still too open defensively and remain a bit behind the Dubs

Eddie Brennan and Aidan O'Rourke join us after the opening weekend of the Allianz Football and Hurling leagues. Aidan talks us through how the mark can be used for good by teams, while Eddie reflects on Laois' first game Rory O'Neill and Conor Neville also join host Mikey Stafford

The focus this week is on new rules, new formats and new sliotars. Mikey Stafford is joined in studio by The Examiner’s GAA correspondent John Fogarty, RTÉ Sport’s Declan Whooley and Sunday Game producer Rory O’Neill.

Colm Cooper and Anthony Daly join Mikey Stafford to look ahead to the AIB All-Ireland club finals. While Cooper fancies Corofin to make it three in a row against Kilcoo, Daly gives Borris-Ileagh a huge chance of upsetting Ballyhale Shamrocks. Also, Conor Neville and Rory O'Neill discuss the biggest stories of the week.

Mikey Stafford is joined by Adrian McGuckin to reflect on the managerial career of Mickey Moran. Brendan Cummins salutes Borris-Illeigh’s renaissance man Brendan Maher. Rory O’Neill and James McMahon also react to Eoin Larkin’s call to help hurling in Ulster, while there is news of a big clash to begin RTÉ’s live Allianz League coverage.

Anthony Daly and Tomás Ó Sé look into their respective hurling and football crystal balls for 2020, while Mikey Stafford is joined in studio by Declan Whooley to talk about the latest GAA news stories.

Mikey Stafford is joined by former Mayo player and team-mate of McDonal Austin O'Malley to reflect on the news that Ciarán McDonald has joined the Mayo senior football backroom team. Rory O'Neill and Declan Whooley also discuss yellow sliotars and the future of Wexford football under Paul Galvin

Following the surprise departure of Jim Gavin, we look back on the era of dominance that the former manager led with Dublin and the legacy he leaves behind. Mikey Stafford is joined by Pat Spillane to reflect on that and their future. Rory O'Neill of The Sunday Game and Colm Keys of The Irish Independent are also with us.

Colm O’Rourke joins the panel to discuss the latest goings-on with the CPA’s withdrawal from the Fixtures Calendar Review Task Force. Kilcoo corner-forward Conor Laverty is on the line to chat about the upcoming Ulster Club final against Naomh Conaill.

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill chat to Brendan Maher ahead of Borris Ileagh's Munster Club hurling final against Ballygunner, while Tomás Ó Sé shares his thoughts on Nemo Rangers' walloping of Kerry representatives Austin Stacks.

Des Cahill welcomes Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times to discuss his views on the importance of the Club Championship, while Gary Dolan joins us to chat about his busy weekend in becoming a parent and helping Garrycastle to victory The Sunday Game editor Rory O'Neill and Conor Neville on RTÉ Sport Online are also with us.

Martin Kavanagh joins us on the RTÉ GAA Podcast this week after their win over Cuala and positive news on selector Michael Ryan after his health scare. Colm Cooper is also with us to preview the Kerry club final this weekend Mikey Stafford and Declan Whooley on RTÉ Sport Online are with The Sunday Game's Rory O'Neill in studio.

On this week's RTÉ GAA Podcast Mikey Stafford chats to Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin about an emotional weekend for the Kilkenny club, while Eoin Ryan of RTÉ Sport Online and Philip Lanigan of the Irish Mail on Sunday look at the news of the week - including a huge result for Philip's adopted home club of Ratoath.

On this week's RTÉ GAA podcast, Mikey Stafford is joined by Michael Foley of The Sunday Times, Sunday Game producer Rory O'Neill and RTÉ Online's Declan Whooley to look back at Special Congress and the introduction of a second tier in the All-Ireland football championship

Pat Flanagan join us after leading Padraig Pearses to a historic Roscommon football title , while Marie Crowe chats to Niall Gilligan and Davy Fitzgerald of Sixmilebridge This week's podcast is hosted by RTÉ Sport's Mikey Stafford with guests Rory O'Neill of The Sunday Game and Conor McKeon, GAA reporter with Independent News and Media

Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill are joined by the editor of the42.ie Adrian Russell, to chat about his new book 'The Double: How Cork Made GAA History'. Cuala senior hurling manager Willie Maher joins the lads on the line to discuss the club's return to the Dublin county final, managing Con O'Callaghan and his own managerial ambitions.

Mikey Stafford is joined by Sunday Game series producer Rory O'Neill, Pat Nolan of the Irish Daily Mirror and Denis Walsh of the Sunday Times to discuss Cork's big week of hurling appointments. There is more discussion of Special Congress, while the lads also look at what motivates Jim Gavin and Davy Fitzgerald.

Mikey Stafford is joined by Sunday Game series producer Rory O'Neill and Conan Doherty of Sports Joe to discuss the biggest stories of the week, plus Donegal manager Declan Bonner joins us on the phone to tell us all about keeping goal for his club in his fifties.

Peter Sweeney is joined by Colm Keys of the Irish Independent, former Offaly manager Paul Rouse and Mikey Stafford of RTÉ Sport to look back on the All-Ireland final and what Dublin's win means for the future of the GAA.

Des Cahill and Peter Sweeney are joined by Denise Masterson, Aidan O'Rourke, James McMahon to preview the All-Ireland Football final replay and the Ladies final

Des Cahill is joined by four-time All-Ireland winner Kate Kelly, Kerry legend Colm Cooper, journalist Cliona Foley and Mikey Stafford of RTÉ Online to look ahead to Sunday's camogie finals and discuss the lessons learned by Kerry and Dublin last Sunday and the psychology of an All-Ireland final replay.

This week Des Cahill and Peter Sweeney are joined by Kerry legend Colm Cooper, former Dublin star Ger Brennan and Pat Nolan of the Irish Mirror to look forward to the All-Ireland football final. The seminal Dublin-Kerry clashes from 2009, 2011 and 2013 are dissected and the threat of Tommy Walsh is discussed.

On the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, hosts Des Cahill and Peter Sweeney are joined by Cork legend Dónal Óg Cusack and Emma Duffy of The42.ie, and topics covered include the increasing demands played on inter-county managers and this weekend's women's football All-Ireland semi-finals featuring Dublin-Cork and Galway-Mayo.

Des Cahill and Peter Sweeney are joined by Donal Og Cusack, Jackie Tyrrell and Vincent Hogan of the Irish Independent to preview this week's titanic tussle of Kilkenny and Tipperary in the All-Ireland Hurling final at Croke Park.

This week Des Cahill and Peter Sweeney are joined by Kerry legend Colm Cooper and former Westmeath All Star Dessie Dolan to talk about the All-Ireland football semi-final clashes between Dublin and Mayo, and Kerry and Tyrone.