LOI Central

It's the LOI Weekly Easter special which means a feast of words about Stephen Kenny's appointment as Ireland manager. We hear a portion of Kenny's virtual press conference (17:58), break down some of the commentary around what his promotion represents and mull over how things might go before speaking to three people who were given a front seat view for sections of his journey. Alan Murphy reflects on the Longford days (37:13), and the passion of the young manager that convinced him to go there. We have a fantastic chat with David Forde about Kenny's role in his Irish ascension (1:02:26), a wide ranging discussions which takes us to unexpected places. Mark Rossiter talks Dundalk and his reservations about the speed of the handover (1:42:18). It's basically a Kenny show but we also ponder when football might return, amongst other things, in this bumper edition. Like an Easter egg, you may not want to devour it all at once. Just space it out and make sure to remember to come back to it.

We don't know what the future holds but we got through the past and the present on this week's show. Dundalk manager Vinny Perth joined us on the line to discuss the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis and the encouraging response of the club's owners. He also helped the lads down memory lane as they picked their teams of the 21st century - with terms and conditions that complicated the selection process. Cork City's Declan Carey also offered us an update on where the Leesiders stand following a turbulent period. We also discuss Setanta Cup nostalgia, haircut dilemmas & the next socialist portrait for the Bohemians boardroom.

No make-up, no lingering looks to camera, no Facebook likes. The coronavirus has sent LOI Weekly back to its roots with an audio only Skype special broadcast from designated bunkers around Dublin. We discuss the serious business of what the Covid-19 crisis means for Irish football and the uncertainty over what happens next. We hear Niall Quinn discuss the LOI's position and managers Tim Clancy and Alan Reynolds offer their take on their club's response to the unprecedented situation. A posse of players let us know how they are keeping busy, while listeners questions takes us down some strange paths. Tune in as we try to keep you company.

It's week five and Johnny phones in from Cheltenham, a sporting event that is continuing uninterrupted in spite of Covid-19, but it's unlikely that we will be saying the same about the League of Ireland. Shane Dawson takes the chair to discuss with Dan about what it all means for the league after the first FAI meeting on the subject. We break down what it could all mean. Ger O'Brien joins the lads to discuss the St Patrick's Athletic structure, the league's best winter signings, and the weekend's games. They might be our last ones for a while.

It's episode four. Or episode phwoar as we digest the Jordan Flores wonder strike and a thrilling game in Tallaght that showcased all that is good about the league. Pat Fenlon joins the lads to digest what the game says about Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk and what the gap between the top two and the rest says about the league today. We also discuss pitch battles, politics and Jack Byrne's royal seal of approval.

It's week three and friend of the show Johnny Dunleavy returns to studio to discuss a tough start to the season for Sligo Rovers, the sudden decline of his old club Cork City and the ups and downs of the League of Ireland and Las Vegas. We touch on some of the big issues of the week; Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk, grass v astroturf and fan owned models v private investment. And there's the obligatory Cheltenham references too.

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.