LOI Central

The boys are (remotely) back in town with Dan recovering from a long, winding and paranoid international window while Johnny digested it all from Kerry while the Galway Aul Lads Whatsapp group begins preparation for their big FAI Cup semi final with Derry City (and not Dungiven). We talk title races, Stephen Bradley speculation, cup predictions, Down Under trips to Dalymount and the book that Dan technically isn't allowed to discuss for another two weeks in a show powered by your mailbag questions and brought to you in association with Collar & Cuff, Planify, Future Ticketing and Rascals, the host of Rocktoberfest this Saturday

It's the last pod before the end of the world, sorry the international break, and we’ve been relegated to a watercooler conversation in the kitchen of Oliver Marketing. After a week where the top three won the big games against the lesser names, Johnny reveals the angst ridden nickname he shares with a Bohemians talisman who only needs a one word introduction. Meanwhile, Dan prepares to head off into the Matrix where AI have conspired to turn us all into batteries to fuel the machines to power an Ed Sheeran concert; although Johnny might be turning the power off to save his Rovers bet. In a mailbag so full it threatens to overspill into the whole show, we field questions from a pork based Roscommon delicacy, introduce the 'shummy' to football lexicon and ponder who actually was the player of the season so far. There’s a whole lot more to episode 32 to keep you half awake whilst putting your kids to bed and you can blame Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Planify and Rocktoberfest, a Saturday October 10 gathering free of Galway madness.

The lads are back in Oliver for a hectic show that might just be as breathless as the remainder of the League of Ireland season. Aside from fiscal and physical fears, Johnny is on board with the apparent Pat’s rebirth and Bohs momentum while Rovers questions persist. Johnny McDonnell dials in to discuss a Saints prediction turned premonition while we also hear from Stephen Kenny and Darren Purse who were in contrasting form when speaking to Dan. There’s a bit of Shels hell in a crowded mailbag where Dan is put back in his box with a few Simpsons references and a Zapruder shout tossed into the mix. All of this and more with the support of Future Ticketing, Planify, Collar and Cuff and Rascals, the hosts of Rocktoberfest on Saturday October 10

Dan is back in Oliver this week but with a twist as Paul O’Hehir joins us with Johnny off in London, searching for a town centre he can eventually take over with his aul lads WhatsApp group. With the help of some Alan Reynolds audio, the lads pick over the cup weekend, the Shelbourne dramas and title race optimism. There’s also Belgrade memories, Kazan tales, Dublin pubs, unlikely Celbridge venues and more in a crowded mailbag that will hopefully keep you conscious even if you have a bias. All of this and more in association with our friends at Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals, the host of Rocktoberfest on Saturday October 10

Where there's a Will, there's a way. Dan and Johnny relocate to a stadium in Dublin 4 this week to catch up with the League of Ireland Academy Director to chat about the state of play post government investment and what needs to happen next to make encouraging investment sustainable. Before that, the lads pick over the week that was, with Dan wowed by Waterford before making a first pilgrimage to Mayo while Johnny speaks wistfully about Warsaw in a wider discussion that precedes a mailbag with a bit of Rovers fallout, more Galway in Europe speculation and the conflict between a perfect 10 and a bloated 12. All of this and more with thanks to Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar and Cuff and Rascals Brewing, the host of Rocktoberfest on Saturday October 11

We are back in the familiar setting of Oliver Marketing to pick over the week that was without needing a wifi connection. The lads discuss the low key vibe around a huge Shamrock Rovers game, the implications for the idea of a title race and the questions spinning out of it as pre-LOI Central hire Stephen Bradley heads into his second decade in charge. We also hear from Garret Higgins on the new National League and debate it's relevance to the LOI while we also hear a snippet of irate Mark Connolly after Derry were destroyed in Dalymount. On top of that, there's a crowded mailbag with the usual combination of revelry and angst before the irony levels go through the roof as a giddy JW ponders if his Galway Whatsapp group could bring European banter to another level prior to them taking on Shels in their first game since Live Aid! All of this high jinks is in association with Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals, the host of Rocktoberfest on Saturday October 11

The lads are in Dan's gaff this week for live reaction to the FAI Cup quarter final draw after a weekend where every Premier team was a winner apart from Shamrock Rovers. What went wrong in Albania? Can they turn it around against KuPS? What's the best result for the league? The lads discuss that before reflecting on Sam Rooney, Ryan Sheridan and the supersub Saints who stole the show on Sunday. The mailbag includes more questions about Dan's holiday, the McClean situation, the good side of Graham Burke and a hypothetical debate around plane evictions. All of this and more in association with our friends at Planify, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals Brewing where Rocktoberfest on October 10 is the big date in the diary

With three teams in deep in Europe, one playing in front of over 50,000, another likely to make the last stage before the Europa League group stages, why would anyone talk about the above? Then there was the fallout boys: two players who have vaguely featured for their clubs this year and the enduring madness of the League of Ireland. Owen Heary defends James McClean and Cian Barrett and tells John Russell how he might begin his defence. It's all here thanks to Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Planify.ie and Chido as Dan enjoys his badly-needed holidays before the chaos of next week.

Johnny is on a well earned break this week so Dan holds the fort after another Shamrock Rovers home win in Europe to check in with Conor Kearns and Padraig Amond who give their view on the Hoops before discussing the rollercoaster of emotion they have both endured in 2026. Conor discusses the torment of a long term injury and reflects on his transition from Shels to Dundalk, while Podge tries to put his finger on the factors behind the Graham Coughlan inspired turnaround at the RSC. Dan deals with some James McClean queries in a busy mailbag that deals with the European fallout at a period of the season where a number of clubs appear to have reached a crossroads. As ever, we are pointed in the right direction with thanks to Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing, Chido and Planify

Dave McMillan joins the lads this week to discuss his new status as the second top goalscorer in LOI in Europe history and his memories of the run a decade ago that really put his Dundalk side on the map. We discuss how some members of that group are getting on today with Stephen Kenny and Daryl Horgan still prominent members of the news cycle. Aside from that there’s a busy mailbag with anonymous Athlone, signing shy Saints and a forgettable Finn Harps year. Add in Darren Purse’s arrival, an unexpected Frank Spencer tangent and a side of Mayo and we’ve got another show with the help of of our friends at Chido, Planify, Future Ticketing & Collar and Cuff. Ooh Betty!