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We were back in Rascals on Monday night with a cheeky duo who have divided opinion throughout the years. Fresh from his retirement, Greg Bolger arrived on stage along with late doubt Paddy Barrett for a conversation that merged talking points from both the past and the present. Not all of them made it to air. We do sell our shows based on exclusive access! There's some good Dundalk-Cork City archive content, Caulfield chat and news of an extremely fragrant household name. Before that, there's a bit of FAI Cup final chat and a whistle stop transfer update that only the Chinese taxi drivers will remember years from now. As we continue along our final journey, our thanks to Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Rascals and Planify
Johnny is off this week, preparing for our sold out live show in Rascals next Monday - entering this week's trivia quiz gives you a last chance to join us - so Dan dialled up old pals Eoin Doyle and Tim Clancy who discussed old photos and unfortunate reunions before delving into a review of the 2026 title race now that the trophy is on its way back to Tallaght. Were Shamrock Rovers good? Or were the rest just not good enough? And what happens next for Pat's and Bohs? We discuss those talking points along with Waterford's great escape, some early cup final predictions and the future for Darren Purse's Sligo Rovers. As ever, this wouldn't be possible without our friends in Future Ticketing, Planify, Rascals & Collar and Cuff
The PFA Ireland's main man Stephen McGuinness joins us in studio this week to finish the annual tradition of naming the union's shortlists for their big awards on our show. He reveals the Premier Division team of the year, the three candidates for the top gong and the three young player candidates which includes our man out on the course, Waterford's Tommy Lonergan. With the help of Stephen, we ruminate over the voting habits, the controversial player of the year call (Where's Dawson?/Where's Devoy?) and also discuss the St Patrick's Athletic struggles over the weekend. Stephen also contributes to our chat around James McClean's weekend interview and the Derry City powered fallout. After that we delve into a mailbag where there's Saints angst, Bohs under the radar, Graham Burke's rap sheet & a hint at nostalgia to come with the help of Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Planify and Rascals Brewing - the scene for our live show on Monday November 2. Tickets are available from Wednesday lunchtime.
There’s a lot to digest this week, as we reflect on Monday night’s drama in Tallaght and the implications for the title race, with Stephen Bradley now in pole position to both win the league and outlast our podcast as we reveal the news that we are not #SignedFor2027. Johnny isn’t feeling too sentimental, though, as he reflects on more weekend pain for Galway United and a cup final pairing that could both annoy and attract the LOI neutral. Beyond that, there’s a packed mailbag built around Bohs anger, the impact of THAT wedding, a hypothetical managerial royal rumble and a combination of lobster and Simpson’s anecdotes that some of you may miss in an LOI Central free future. Join us on the final stretch with the help of the Countdown clock AND our friends at Rascals, Future Ticketing, Planify & Colllar and Cuff. Live show coming to you in Rascals on Monday November 2.
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
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
From the publisher's feed
@LOICentralPod is a podcast with opinion, analysis and interviews on all the latest happenings in the League of Ireland, hosted by Johnny Ward & Dan McDonnell