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What three teams can emerge from the Munster Championship, where the best laid plans go to die?

And is there a surprise in Leinster, with Kilkenny coming back to the pack and Galway, Dublin and Wexford showing signs of progress.

Also, we pick six forwards who can light up the spring and summer months to come.

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Declan Bogue, Fintan O’Toole and Ronan Early have maneuvered their way around the protests to the studio to record a 75-minute football Championship preview.

The lads look back on their favourite championship moments from childhood, from going to All-Ireland finals without a ticket, to seeing Leitrim take the Croke Park field in 94, to getting lost on Ulster final day - with the search party delayed until the game had ended.

Provincial and All-Ireland winners for 2026 are predicted. New rules are debated. And bold statements are justified as the league gives way to bright evenings and hot Championship days.

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Does Ben O'Connor need to make a statement before the championship with a big performance against Limerick?

Have Limerick had the most successful league campaign in that they have a clear idea of their best team, whereas there are more questions for Cork, especially in defence?

Or are Limerick more vulnerable as a result of opponents knowing what to expect?

In the Division 1B final, Clare take on Dublin. Clare have wintered under the radar, are they ideally placed to take the championship by storm? And are Dublin something of an undervalued stock due to last season's All-Ireland semi-final. Are they now serious Leinster championship contenders?

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But before the lads get into that, they are invited to defend the entire practice of watching sport. Is it a mug’s game? Are you better off playing at your own low level rather than cheering others on from the sidelines? Views are exchanged.

One area of agreement is that watching David Clifford is never a waste of time. What makes the Fossa man such a prime Gaelic football specimen, from physical attribute to temperament and vision? And what can he go on to achieve in the second half of his inter-county career?

How will Donegal seek to limit his influence in the league final? Why will Jim McGuinness’ men be keen to make a statement on Sunday?

Cork and Meath are going up, the result of players buying in for a number of seasons. What motivated them to stay involved year after year when things were not going so well?

Micheal Lyster’s broadcasting mastery and legacy are discussed. What made him so great? Why did audiences feel so at ease in his company over the decades?

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Fintan argues that this will be the standout day of the intercounty football calendar. Ronan is skeptical - how can you get truly excited about a competition where a leading contender does not want to make the final.

Nevertheless there is much to anticipate, including Galway and Dublin’s relegation shootout.

In Division 2, Declan tries to get to the root of the apathy in Tyrone. Why have their supporters stopped showing up to their games?

Has there ever been a promotion race like in Division 4, where two points separate the first seven teams?

Also, will Galway’s hurlers beat Limerick? And why has the Munster SHC press launch gone up against Ireland v Czechia?

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Declan explains why Cian Lynch should remain in midfield. Fintan ponders Cork’s options for full-back as the Munster championship countdown continues.

The Rebels are off to Portugal now, where they may make progress on deciding their championship XV. But what happens on these training camps? Declan gives us the lowdown.

Galway’s tide continues to rise. What can this team achieve in 2026? And how worried should Kilkenny be following their heavy defeat in Salthill? Very, going by Derek Lyng’s post-game comments.

Also, are Clare building nicely in 1B or could they be undercooked for Munster?

Has Wexford’s league campaign been a qualified success so far, and how will Kildare do against them in two upcoming meetings?

A bit of football chat is in the mix too, will we get a Kobe-Clifford shootout, and who wins the Dublin-Armagh relegation four-pointer?

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Cork and Limerick hurlers can meet a maximum of six times in 2026. That’s a lot of familiarity to add to the already close relationship the counties have shared in recent seasons.

The Rebels struggled to get close to John Kiely’s all conquering team for years, but since 2023 there has usually been little between these sides - with many of their games bestowed with instant classic status.

But how desperately will either want to win on Saturday night in the Gaelic Grounds? Future meetings between the teams, some real, some possible, all more important, are stacking up: league final, Munster Championship tie, Munster final, All Ireland series.

If either of these sides are to win the Liam MacCarthy in 2026 then they’ll have to go through the other, more than once. It’s not proved easy in the past.

Also, are Galway building serious momentum as Micheál O’Donoghue’s second reign begins to take shape? Can they upset Kilkenny in Leinster this year? Saturday’s league game might give us an idea.

And at the other end of the hurling pyramid, Fermanagh are struggling in Division 3. Declan outlines how difficult it has been for them to get to the next level following their Lory Meagher Cup triumph in 2024.

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Where does Kobe stand on the hype scale next to the likes of Eoin Kelly, Joe Canning and David Cliffird?

What’s it like for teenagers to shoulder that level of expectation? And in McDonald’s case, how much is his talented and enigmatic father Kieran a factor in the wonder surrounding the 18-year-old?

Also, should AFL clubs pay GAA clubs compensation for players? As things stand, is recruiting lots of young Irish players just a low-stakes gamble for Australian sides?

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Also, the masters of two-point shooting and why there should be more of them.

Plus, Kieran McGeeney thinks the contest for kickouts has descended into piggery. Should we be more worried if coaches, who will always seek control, like the new rules?

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The 42 listeners will be familiar with Shane from the Football Family podcast and How to Win at Dominos.

Shane made his name as a soccer coach with Wexford Youths and has managed at Galway United and Cobh Ramblers.

For the past couple of years he’s been the football and hurling manager of Tipperary club JK Brackens.

Now, he is part of the ticket for the Wexford senior hurlers. Today, Shane talks about coaching across different sports, his love of the game-based model pioneered in GAA by Paul Kinnerk and expresses his long-held misgivings about straight line drills and ball alley sessions.

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Is O’Connor’s invigorating brand of straight-talking going to endure? Or will he look to curb it slightly so as not to antagonise the faceless power brokers of the game above in Dublin?

Can Brennan keep his side in Division 1, win back Leinster and make a run for Sam Maguire? Or, are Dublin set for a period of decline? If so, what would relative decline look like for them?

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Rebels boss Ben O'Connor was displeased with the red cards, one for either side. The conversation starts there . . .

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But is a league game in February the right stage for acts of vengeance? Well, judging by a likely record crowd for the league, tens of thousands believe it will do, for now.

Will we see a cracker between last year’s All-Ireland finalists? Or could a red card again skew the balance of an even contest? Or, if the rain refuses to stop, could this match be played under the rising Lee?

Also, the lads take a look at Limerick and Kilkenny ahead of their clash in the Gaelic Grounds, and make some predictions for the hurling year ahead - which they reserve the right to change several times between now and July.

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In hurling Ballygunner take on Loughrea, with the Munster superpower keen to add to their one All-Ireland in 2022, while the Galway champions come into the decider with a sense of grievance due to the suspension of midfielder Cullen Killeen.

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Fintan reviews Ballygunner’s win over St Martin’s. And the lads discuss the chances of a successful appeal for Loughrea’s Cullen Killen, who was red carded in the closing moments of his side’s decisive win over Slaughtneil.    

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The Tipperary man talks openly about the injury that prematurely ended his playing career, his enduring love of the game and his sense of mission to make sure as many people as possible have the chance to play it.

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The lads examine the letter of the law and how it was interpreted in those final frenetic moments in a thrilling Munster final in Thurles. Has there been a more stark example of the punishment exceeding the adjudged crime? Is the rule fair? Is it unfair to put officials in a spot where they have to make disproportionate and game-swinging calls in crucial moments?

Also, the lads talk about the grace of St Finbarr’s and Jimmy Barry Murphy, who showed their essence in the minutes after a most gut-wrenching outcome.

St Martin’s thrilling victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks is dissected, while Emma Duffy joins the pod to preview the weekend’s LGFA and Camogie finals at Croke Park.

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After a couple of hurling weekends which lacked shocks or pulsating contests, Fintan expects an improved spectacle in Croke Park as the Wexford champions try to derail Ballyhale. Awaiting the winners are Ballygunner, who gave an exhibition of control and poise in unsympathetic conditions at Semple Stadium last weekend. The lads marvel at their skill level and decision-making under pressure.

Can Athy do what Kildare rivals Naas struggled to do over the previous four seasons and eliminate a Dublin opponent? And, in Munster, Dingle take the long road to Thurles where the Barrs await. Are the Kerry champions right to feel hard done by on the venue choice?

Also, does football need further rule tweaks to address lateral passing, possession hoarding and suspense-killing tactics which can still be deployed at any moment?

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Is it ever acceptable to wear initialled club gear in non-club settings? Why do managers need to have their job title scrawled on their back? What would happen if they went rogue and wore normal clothes?

Also, Fintan chats us through following Ireland-Hungary on a delayed stream in Sixmilebridge. We discuss why a boom for soccer has never meant a bust for GAA.

We reflect on the words of Jimmy Barry Murphy and Shane O’Donnell, who have achieved everything but are in dreamland as their clubs head towards a provincial final.

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The hurler of the year 2025 faces the hurler of the year 2024 as Éire Óg Ennis take on Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster SHC semi-final. John McGrath and Shane O’Donnell are just two of the decorated players who will line out in a fascinating encounter of the dual clubs, who met on the football field last year.

Ballygunner are heavy favourites to reverse last year’s loss to Sarsfields. We dig into the reasons beyond their Waterford hegemony and extraordinary run of Munster final appearances.

Also, Fintan reckons Ulster club hurling has never been as strong as it is now, but Declan is not convinced.

We chat about the general standard of hurling down to Junior B level - when did skill and athleticism levels across the board go through the roof? How and why did this happen? In these days of extraordinary progress, are there any skills that have been lost from the game?

Plus, for the time of year that’s in it, tangents abound. Should clubs be mandated to go with inside managers? And, most controversially, are Monday clubs not that great?

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But what makes GAA athletes desirable to professional teams in a different sport? Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to consider the appeal for the Geelongs and Carltons and Brisbane Lions of this world.

Plus, can GAA clubs and counties make staying in Ireland more attractive to talented young men and women - or is the lure of professional sport and the Australian lifestyle simply too great in the majority of cases?

Is there an argument for compensation for GAA clubs and counties? If so, how does that square with the Association’s amateur ethos?

Also today, Fintan and Declan tell us what it’s like to be an All Star judge.

Plus, Declan pays tribute to the great Nudie Hughes.

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For how long is it sustainable that managers are paid and players are not?

But what GAA administrator wants to tackle this most delicate issue? As Declan says, nobody wants to be in that seat the day the music dies.

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The lads track Hannon’s career from an attacking teenage sensation to the centre back and brain of Limerick’s multiple All-Ireland winners. Why was this smiley and, at first glance, unassuming man the standout leader in this team full of big personalities?

What happens now with Limerick? How many young players will be fast tracked, as the most experienced campaigners rack up the miles? Or is there a sting in the tail of this great side, a la Kerry in the mid 80s, Kilkenny in the 2010s and Dublin in 2023?

Also, the AFL factor in this weekend’s football finals and Hogan v Shefflin in Kilkenny.

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Does being a dual club inhibit All-Ireland success? Or is ultimate success as many people participating in as many sports as possible?

Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to debate everything dual and wonder whether the demands of hurling and football leave both adult and child players with not a whole lot of time to do other things.

The lads also discuss the upcoming county finals in Cork, Limerick, Mayo and Dublin and exchange views on how much is too much for admission to these games. €25 for the SHC in final in Kildare raised eyebrows at the weekend, but it seems the Lilywhite county are not outliers in their pricing structure.

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Can Cork succeed where they have failed previously in achieving a three-in-a-row? Can Galway gain revenge for 2024? And where will this game between the two undisputed strongest sides in the sport be won and lost? 

Also, was Camogie president Brian Molloy right in how he worded his call to arms for supporters to come out in force on Sunday? Everyone from TikTokers to politicians got a shout out as he urged them to put something real behind their skort protestations in May.

. . . But can you browbeat people into going to a game? Might he and the Camogie Association be better off extolling the value of their impressive product; what promises to be a stellar senior final along with the intermediate and junior finals which are also full of intriguing storylines? 

In the second half of the pod, we look at some of the managerial comings and goings in men’s GAA and discuss what will inform Pat Ryan’s decision on whether he wants to give it another crack with Cork in 2026.

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Also, we discuss Kerry’s tour de force against Donegal and ponder what it means for both counties, and the direction of the game in the coming years as coaches see what styles of play work most effectively under the new rules.

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The lads discuss the clash of the totems, David Clifford and Michael Murphy. Which one can shape the day to their will and how will both defences cope with the threat they possess?

Can Kerry thwart Donegal’s hard running? Can the Ulster champions find a way to limit the supply to the Kingdom’s multi-faceted attack?

What would a second All-Ireland title mean for Jim McGuiness, still haunted by loss to Kerry at this stage in 2014.

And how great is the pressure in the clubs and villages and townlands of Kerry to add to the one All-Ireland title that has been claimed since then?

All that and a bit more, including a look back at the hurling final, are coming at you in this week’s extended podcast.

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The lads try to make sense of how the Premier County turned a six-point halftime deficit into a 15-point victory, and how Cork managed to add just two points in the second period.

Liam Cahill adds another championship to his collection of underage triumphs with Tipperary, while Pat Ryan and the Rebels are left licking their wounds from another heartbreaking defeat in the capital.

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The lads chat about everything from what it was like to witness pitch invasion after pitch invasion from the wrong end of the ground in 1991, to seeing Cork claim the U21 title in 1997 but not being able to wait for the trophy presentation because your Tipp-supporting father was too vexed to hang around.

On Sunday, which defensive unit can best cope with the opposition's goal-hungry attack? Who will win the midfield battle? How have both managers overcome criticism to get their sides to this stage?

Noel McGrath or Patrick Horgan: which of these long-serving greats will have a fairytale ending to 2025?

And why Conor Lehane is a case study in resilience and quiet determination to anybody who has ever been overlooked.

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A thrilling semi-final, but there is controversy over the final score . . .

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What qualities from their defeat of Limerick will Dublin need to carry into their clash with Cork? How will the Rebels deal with being clear All-Ireland favourites? Has the four-week layoff been a help or could it leave them undercooked?

The lads discuss the psychology of the Kilkenny-Tipperary rivalry, and ponder who is under more pressure going into Sunday's game.

Also, why supporters of hurling's traditional big three tend to become somewhat unhinged during times of drought.

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The lads also reflect on last night's breaking news from Mayo, as Kevin McStay and his management team were 'relieved' from their roles with the senior football team.

If you’d like to sign up to The42, now is a great time to try it out ahead of the defining games in this year’s All-Ireland championship. Simply go to The42.ie/podcasts where you can get your first month for €1 and if you enjoy it, then we’ll give you your first year’s subscription for only €30. There’s no long-term commitments, you can cancel at any time but we’re confident that you won’t want to. You’ll have access to all our written content and podcasts across a range of sports, and in GAA you can enjoy the writing of columnists Paul Keane and Micheal Clifford, while there’s wide-ranging coverage from Croke Park this weekend from Declan Bogue and Emma Duffy.

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Also, Declan Bogue, Fintan O’Toole and Ronan Early discuss the nature of sometimes toxic relationships between supporters and players reluctant to venture out following a sub-par performance in a game.

The Tailteann Cup continues to grow in stature - why is this? And is there space for a Junior football championship for counties?

And, why Ciarán Kilkenny embodies the Eamon Dunphy definition of a good pro.

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The lads also debate whether the Munster Hurling Championship was for once underwhelming.

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With Limerick seeking their seventh consecutive Munster title, and Kilkenny looking to secure a sixth Leinster Championship, Declan and Fintan try to make sense of these dominant outfits.

Can Limerick and Kilkenny get the jobs done for another year, or can Cork and Galway break these protracted winning streaks?

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Also, rugby writer Ciarán Kennedy joins us to chat about his wonderful piece articulating the pain, but mainly joy, of being a Waterford hurling supporter.

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Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to chat about Limerick’s shock and awe and Cork’s no-show. 

The lads also discuss Tipp’s young guns, Waterford’s chances by the Lee and the de-facto Leinster semi-final between Galway and Dublin as well as Davy’s troubles in Antrim. 

Declan assesses the extent of Mayo’s woes and looks forward to Donegal versus Tyrone.  

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Limerick stole a march on the Rebels in 2017 and 2018 and reigned supreme until 2024, when Cork rose again.

Can Limerick put the red genie back in the bottle? Can Cork drive home their advantage? We discuss another hotly anticipated clash between the southern powerhouses.

Also, can Dublin’s footballers answer their critics? The majesty of the Ulster and Leinster finals - and some ugly scenes around these otherwise life-affirming occasions.

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A loss for either side will likely mean the end for their 2025 campaign - on May 10. As Jackie Tyrrell said, careers and seasons are on the line here.

On today’s pod, Fintan O’Toole, Declan Bogue and Ronan Early get into the peril that faces both sets of players and management teams. They also ponder the fact that most of the country won’t get to see this do-or-die clash, with it not being on free-to-air television.

In the Ulster championship, Donegal face Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh. Today we put a sharp focus on the All-Ireland champion’s long-serving manager.

We try to get to the nub of how he has been able to inspire such extraordinary levels of loyalty from players, in the good times and the hard.

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To what extent should supersonic rock 'n' roll reunions take precedence over thoughts of moving All-Ireland finals into August?

Also, who would be a county manager? We delve into the myriad demands and motivation at play in the scrutinised world of the bainisteoir.

And, the Leinster SFC - is it back? We take a look at its halcyon days and ponder their possible return.

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Fintan argues that the most storied fixture of Cork v Tipp lacks the vitality of some other head-to-heads. But this Sunday in the Páirc looks set to evoke the great days of a time-honoured duel. 

Declan meanwhile runs the numbers on the decline of crowds once you move away from the Munster SHC. He gives his theories on the trend, from the rise of the Covid kids to the decline of straw hat man.

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They discuss the format change and rivalries which have led to sellout crowds, huge TV audiences and a succession of thrilling contests. 

Who is primed to emerge from this fraught arena in 2025? And which proud, ambitious counties will be among the dreaded bottom two?

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Have age and rule changes caught up with him - or will this most diligent and obsessive player find a way to adapt and thrive in the championship of 2025?

Also on today’s pod, are the Cork hurlers worth the hype, or could their manager Pat Ryan be right to have concerns about their second half performance against Tipperary?

And were Antrim right to dig their heels in to ensure their game against Armagh took place in Corrigan Park?

These topics and more will be discussed on GAA Weekly, the podcast which seeks to take a different perspective on our national sports.

Instead of taking an around-the-grounds approach where we try to cover as many games and talking points as possible, we put a sharp focus on two or three subjects - and lean into the considerable experience of our GAA writers Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole to bring as much insight and detail as we can.

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The 42 GAA Weekly relaunches today for the championship, and will broadcast free-to-air from now until the end of the hurling and football championships. Today our GAA journalists Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to discuss the scope of what O’Dwyer did – and more importantly how he did it.

What made players from the mid-1970s to the 2010 so react to this man from Waterville? How did his early years in south Kerry imbue him with a determined and innovative mind?

What kept him at the top of his game for so long? And why does his great Kerry team remain the yardstick by which all others are measured?

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