Irish Football Fans

Episode 95 - 2025 A Year In Football

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:30:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan to look at our bottom five lows and top five highs of Irish international football in 2025. Can you guess what we went for? What were your high and lows of the year?

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Episode 94 - I Didn't Hear No Bell!

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:43:08 GMT

Myself and Mark Kennedy have finally calmed down after the results against Portugal and Hungary long enough to catch our breath and record our thoughts on the two World Cup qualifiers. What did we think of the performances on the nights in Aviva Stadium and the Puskas Arena, and what is it like to still be in contention for a seat at the big table with six months to go to the tournament?

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Episode 93 - Mathematically uncertain

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:50 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland Mens National Team's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia - did we deserve anything from the defensive performance, or did spending 90 minutes not trying to create a goalscoring opportunity mean Hallgrímsson's side came away from Lisbon with exactly what they deserved? Armenia came to Dublin looking to finally leave Aviva Stadium with three points, but the team seem to have lucked into a new tactic at home - getting an opposition player sent off!

The Mens Under-17 side kicked off their qualification campaign for the 2026 UEFA Under-17 Championship in Austria, facing the hosts, the Faroe Islands, and Kosovo, and came away with a 100% record without conceding a goal - what did we think of the performance of the team under interim coach Paul Osam and can this side emulate the 2025 squad and qualify for the 2026 Under-17 World Cup?

Finally, Carla Ward has named her squad for the Womens' National Team Nations League promotion play off against Belgium. Without their first choice goalkeeper, and following another retirement, can the team win promotion to League A next year, and what bearing does the result of the tie have on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup?

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Episode 92 - Primary motivation

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:30:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the upcoming games across all four men's teams age groups.

With the senior team flying out to Lisbon before facing Armenia at home, we ask should revenge be the primary motivation for players, or should the three points on offer be enough to drive them to a positive result?

The U21s have opened their qualifying group with two wins from two games. With England all but certain to top the group, a win in their next qualifier against Slovakia will go a long way to guaranteeing second spot for Jim Crawford's team.

With the U17 team that qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup preparing for their appearance at the finals in a months' time, we look at the current U17 squad ahead of their qualifying round group fixtures against hosts Kosovo, the Faroe Islands, and Austria.

Finally, the U19s face Albania in two friendlies as part of their preparation for their 2026 UEFA Under-19 Championship qualifying group in November.

A lot to look forward to in the next few days for fans of Irish football!

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Episode 91 - Has the road already ended?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT

It's taken myself, Mark, and Philip this long to calm down enough after the two qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia to be able to record our thoughts on the games. After taking one point from the opening fixtures of the qualifying campaign, is it already over? Did any players come out of the games well? And what affect will our next fixture, the hardest fixture of the qualifiers away against Portugal in Lisbon, have on the home crowd for the return game against Armenia three days later?

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Episode 90 - The Road to USA/Canada/Mexico

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the squad selected by Heimir Hallgrímsson to face Hungary and Armenia in the opening two fixtures of the qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. How do we think the team is going to line out in Aviva stadium, and what players in the Hungarian side will Irish fans have to watch out for? Jim Crawford has selected the U21 squad to face Moldova and Andorra. Does opening the campaign for the 2027 UEFA U21 Championship against two minnows give the manager some scope for experimentation in the squad? With senior experience and fresh faces at this level, how do we think the team will do over their opening two fixtures, ahead of their first real challenge against Slovakia in October?

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Episode 89 - A New Season

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Myself, Mark Kennedy, and Philip Flanagan are back after a summer rest to discuss what fans of Irish football can look forward to in the coming months as the new season kicks off across Europe - what transfers have caught our eye, is there a manager already in trouble, and who will be looking to make an impact for the national side as the qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins?

(note this was recorded before Heimir Hallgrímsson named his squad to face Hungary and Armenia)

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Episode 88 - End of the European season

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football discuss the last two games of the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League for the Women's National Team. How has Carla Ward changed the side, what is her approach to the game, and what do we think will happen when her team face Belgium in the promotion play off in October?

The inclusion of uncapped players in Heimir Hallgrímsson's squad for two friendlies at the end of the European season added interest to what are usually nondescript affairs. We discuss the impact of adding new blood to the team had over the two games, and what players might have done enough to earn a place in the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers kicking off in September?

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Episode 87 - Nations League and end of season friendlies

Thu, 29 May 2025 18:07:36 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the final two games of the Republic of Ireland Women's Team's Nations League campaign - with six points on offer from the games against Turkiye and Slovenia, can Carla Ward's team earn promotion to League A, or will we face the play offs in October?

The final two friendlies for the mens team represent the last chance for experimentation by Heimir Hallgrímsson before the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers start in September. With four new faces in the squad, how do we think the team will line out against Senegal and Luxembourg, and what challenges will the two sides pose for the Boys in Green?

Finally, with the group stage draw completed for the Under 17 World Cup being held in November, we take a look at the sides Colin O'Brien's team will face in Qatar and evaluate our chances of progressing into the knock out stages

Note - this episode was recorded before the updated mens squad was announced, so contains some discussion on where we expected Sammie Szmodics to play in the two friendlies

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Episode 86 - Bulgaria, Greece, and the World Cup

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:34:14 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the Republic of Ireland senior men's team's play off against Bulgaria, we've picked up one bad habit under the new manager, but also seem to know how to recover from it. With the women's team needing to bounce back from two underwhelming performances, and one particularly bad result, in their opening games of the Nations League, and facing a Greek side looking to get their first points on the board for their campaign, how do we think it'll go over the two games for Carla Ward's side?

Finally, the U19 and U17 qualifying campaigns reached their climaxes, with a disappointing result for the U19s in Germany, but the U17s will play in their first World Cup in Qatar this November. What did we think of the performances from both sides, and who do we think is going to worth looking our for at the end of the year?

(note this was recorded before the women's team's first game against Greece)

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Episode 85 - Brisbane Football Review

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 11:30:00 GMT

In the latest of our series of speaking to fan podcasts from clubs around the world with an Irish player, myself and Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick are delighted to welcome Adam Pace of Brisbane Football Review to the show to discuss the sporting culture in Brisbane, the history of Brisbane Roar, and their current Irish players. We go into the similarities between the A-League and the League of Ireland, and what solutions have been approached by both competitions to resolve the issues that both competitions face.

You can follow the Brisbane Football Review on X(formerly known as Twitter) at https://x.com/BNEFootball or facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneFootballReview

Listen in to their podcast on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/2BZDi6mW2d7DLuBDyCi7yP?si=f1b7cae18d5f47df or Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brisbane-football-review/id1162536685

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Episode 84 - 2024/25 Nations League Relegation Play Off

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:30:00 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the squad announced by Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson to face Bulgaria in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League Relegation Play Off and give our predictions on how the two legged tie will finish.

Carla Ward's first two games in charge of the Womens Team ended in a home win and an away loss, but how did we rate the performance under the new manager, and what do they mean for the upcoming games against Greece?

Finally, with the U21s due to play two friendlies in Spain as part of their build up for the 2027 U21 European Championships qualifying campaign, how do we think the current squad compares to previous U21 sides?

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Episode 83 - The January Transfer Window and the first international of 2025

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to look through the moves for Republic of Ireland players that caught our eye during the January 2025 transfer window, and with Carla Ward's first squad as manager of the Womens' National Team, we preview her first two games against Turkey and Slovenia

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Episode 82 - 2024: A year in football

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 13:30:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the highs and lows of Irish international football in 2024, and make some predictions for 2025.

Do you agree with our selection? What do you think will happen in the next 12 months?

Let us know!

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Episode 81 - Three positive halves

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 18:38:42 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the final two games of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign. Was the post in with a chance of winning the Player of the Match against Finland, and were there any positives from the second half collapse against England?

With the Women's team preparing for their UEFA Women's Euro 2025 play off against Wales, we examine both squads and encourage fans to attend the second leg in Aviva Stadium, not least because of a prediction I stand by!

Finally, we give a brief mention to the Mens' U19 side after their first qualifying round for next year's Championship

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Episode 80 - A northern mind

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:04:26 GMT

Myself and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football are delighted to be joined by John Nicholson of football365 to discuss a wide range of topics, from Lee Carsley's time in charge of England, the waning power of the press, the poppy controversy, and more!

(Note this was recorded before England and Ireland's games against Greece and Finland, respectively)

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Episode 79 - A unique set of circumstances

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:30:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to preview the final 2024/25 UEFA Nations League games for the Republic of Ireland National Men's Team against Finland and England. What do we think of the squad selected by Heimir Hallgrímsson, will the performances against Finland and Greece affect the expectations of Ireland fans, and how do we think the Boys in Green will fare over the two games?

Following the National Women's Team defeat of Georgia in the first round of the play off for UEFA Women's Euro 2025, what can Eileen Gleeson's team expect in the second round against Wales.

Finally, we review the U17 Mens Team's performance in the Qualifying Round for the 2025 UEFA Under 17 Championship and explain how a rare, possible unique, set of circumstances led to them qualifying with three yellow cards

Also, I make a prediction for the attendance in the final home game of 2024.

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Episode 78 - Not quite a moral victory

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:30:19 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland's two Nations League games in October. What did we make of the changes to the side and how the players reacted to going behind, and what does it mean for the final two League B games in November?

Going into their final two qualifiers for the 2025 UEFA U21 Championship, the Under 21 side knew what was needed, but still fell short of qualification. What players from the squad can look forward to promotion to the senior side, and what does another campaign that finished in disappointment mean for coach Jim Crawford?

Also, Sideshow Bob's rakes and I do a live countdown math problem!

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Episode 77 - Heimir Hallgrímsson's first games(effectively)

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:02:25 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to preview the Republic of Ireland's two Nations League games against Finland and Greece. With only one competitive win against the former, and having never beaten Greece, what will the changes to the squad made by Heimir Hallgrímsson make in what is effectively his first game in complete charge of the team?

As the U21s face into their final two qualifiers for the 2025 UEFA U21 Championships against Norway and Italy, can Jim Crawford's team reach the finals for the first time?

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Episode 76 - Moontower Soccer!

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:00 GMT

We're delighted to be joined by Landon Cotham and Jeremiah Bentley of Austin FC podcast Moontower Soccer to discuss Austin FC - the club, the stadium, the fan culture, how important Jon Gallagher is to the team, on and off the pitch, and what to expect from Peter Grogan after the former Bray Wanderers midfielder signed for Los Verdes in August

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Episode 75 - The shortest honeymoon period...ever

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:30:00 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the opening two games of the Republic of Ireland's 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign against England and Greece. The results, and performances, have led us to believe that, while things are bad, they can still get worse, and the honeymoon period for the new manager has already ended.

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Episode 74 - France, England, and a new manager

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:56:22 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, and special guest Philip O'Connor or Reuters to discuss the final two qualifiers of the Republic of Ireland's qualifying campaign for UEFA Women's Euro 2025, and look ahead to the play offs*, and discuss what we can expect from the new manager of the Men's National Team, Heimir Hallgrímsson, as well as the ongoing issues in the FAI

*note this was recorded before the draw for the play offs took place, so we didn't know the opposition for the Women's National Team

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Episode 73 - 2023/24: A season review

Fri, 31 May 2024 12:03:24 GMT

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football look back at the positives and negatives for Irish players over the 2023/24 season - what players impressed us, what events could shape the future of the game here, and what needs to be improved on?

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Episode 72 - Virage Lyonnais!

Fri, 17 May 2024 12:30:00 GMT

We're delighted to be joined by Virage Lyonnais podcast host Vladiimir Chinoune to discuss the history of Olympique Lyonnais, their season in Ligue Un, and Jake O'Brien's performances since he joined last August.

Subscribe to Virage Lyonnais on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qiAvAg8c8PSnGrYRHyHTi?si=e7c026a4b59b4c64

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Episode 71 - Qualifiers, the process, and promotions

Fri, 03 May 2024 13:09:25 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the women's national side's qualifiers against France and England in April, the neverending quest for a new manager, and, with the season in England reaching its conclusion, we congratulate the players who have won promotion with their sides across the leagues

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Episode 70 - Meet the interim boss

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 15:24:36 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland's friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland, under interim manager John O'Shea. Did the rookie boss do enough to convince the FAI, and the fans, that he's a genuine candidate for full time manager of the senior men's team?

While the U21s got their European Championship campaign back on track against San Marino, the more important result came in Italy, where a last minute goal earned a draw for Turkey. What do these do results mean for the team's chances of qualification for next year's tournament in Slovakia?

And finally, we discuss the women's team's opening fixtures in their European Championship qualifying campaign. We've earned the right to face the top teams in the world, what do we need to do to continue facing them?

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Episode 69 - Fein op Woudestein!

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:51:52 GMT

Myself and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football are delighted to be joined by Richard van Zijl of Excelsior Rotterdam fan podcast Fein op Woudestein to discuss the history of the club, how Troy Parrott is performing in the Eredivisie this season, and cult hero, for both Ireland and Excelsior fans, David Connolly!

Subscribe to his podcast for discussions on all things related to Exclesior here - https://open.spotify.com/show/5TIwmINidK4SrPvoJ2ygba?si=894d387730e245ab

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Episode 68 - The 2024 UEFA Nations League and January 2024 Transfer Window

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:39:45 GMT

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football discuss the draw for the 2024 Nations League. With the Republic set to face England, Finland, and Greece, what can fans expect to see when the competition kicks off in September. The search for Stephen Kenny's successor continues, and we talk about the pros and cons for the current favourites, and who we'd like to see take the job.

There were more than 30 transfers of Irish players in the January 2024 transfer window, along with 28 loans, but which moves caught our eye?

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Episode 67 - 2023 Women's World Cup, UEFA Nations League, and the U17 European Championships

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:22:40 GMT

In the second part of our review of 2023, myself and Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick review the Republic of Ireland Women's year, the build up to their first World Cup appearance, performance at the tournament itself, and the Nations League.

We also take a look at the performance of the U17 Mens Team in the UEFA Under-17 Championships in Hungary, and discuss what the experience could mean to a highly talented squad, some of which have already gone on to play first team football

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Episode 66 - The Year That Was 2023 In Irish Men's Football

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 15:01:21 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the performances of the Republic of Ireland Senior Men's team in 2023, from the opening friendly against Latvia in March, through the qualification campaign for Euro 2024, to the final game of Stephen Kenny's time in charge against New Zealand in November.

What were the highs and lows, and that, if anything, was learned from each game?

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Episode 65 - The End Of The Road

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:29:01 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland Men's Team's final Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands, and the final game of 2023 against New Zealand, which became the final two games of Stephen Kenny's reign following the FAI's announcement that his contract would not be extended.

With the recruitment process for a new manager already in progress, what are we looking for in the new manager, and who are the favourites for the position?

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Episode 64 - On The Road To Acceptance

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss two games we really don't want to talk about. There was an element of denial about qualifying for the European Championships in Germany next year when the group draw was made. We've been angry with the results, the most losses in a single campaign since the 1972 European Championships, and despite numerous bargaining efforts with whatever god would listen, it's all left us pretty depressed with the current state of the national side men's team. to the point where we have all accepted the manager's time in charge is ending soon.

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Episode 63 - A Game Of Two Hearts

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:56:39 GMT

I'm joined on the show by Mark O'Brien to discuss his life in football, from moving to Derby at 15, winning Ireland U16 Player of the Year, making his senior debut, and being diagnosed with a leaking aorta (all in the space of 12 months!) the recovery from that, and another serious injury, to playing in Scotland, non-league, and scoring one of the most important goals in Newport County history.

You can order Mark's book, A Game Of Two Hearts from Morgan Lawrence here: https://www.morganlawrence.co.uk/product/game-of-two-hearts-mark-obrien/

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Episode 62 - Nearing The End Of The Road

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 16:32:43 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, and James Carew of pogmogoal to discuss the two Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands, and what the results mean for the manager Stephen Kenny - how close are we now to the end of his reign, and who will take over after him?

Also, James learns the forfeit he has to pay after guaranteeing that Josh Cullen would be sold by Burnley in the summer transfer window...

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Episode 61 - Two Top Ten Teams

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 11:58:00 GMT

I'm joined by Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the senior mens squad announced by Stephen Kenny to face France and the Netherlands, both ranked in the top ten in the world by FIFA, and the U21 squad announced by Jim Crawford to face Turkiye and San Marino

And we haven't forgotten what James Carew said when he joined us in June...

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Episode 60 - 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:30:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the performances of the Republic of Ireland's Women's team in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. What did we think of how the side played against co-hosts Australia, Olympic Champions Canada, and African Cup of Nations semi finalists Nigeria, and who did we think excelled from the squad?

We also review the group stage as a whole and look forward to the round of 16

(note this was recorded before the final fixtures of the group stages, and contains speculation on Germany's performance in the knock out stages)

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Episode 59 - The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 11:27:37 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss Group B in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - what can Ireland expect in the three group games against co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and African Cup of Nations semi finalists Nigeria? We make our predictions for each group, and how we expect the tournament to go.

(Note this was recorded after the abandoned friendly against Colombia, but before the extent of Denise O'Sullivan's injury was known)

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Episode 58 - Hanging By A Thread

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football are joined by James Carew of pogmogoal to discuss the loss in Greece and victory against Gibraltar. After the discussion in our previous episode on what a draw would mean for our qualification hopes, not to mind Stephen Kenny's time in charge of the national side, what does the result in Athens mean for the manager, and did the response against Gibraltar change anything?

We discuss the final 23 players, as well as those who missed out, after Vera Pauw had to make the most difficult decisions of her career when selecting the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - the countdown to Australia is almost complete!

And what statement is going to come back and haunt our guest??

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Episode 57 - 2022/23 The Highs and Lows

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:41:11 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the highs and lows for Irish players during the 2022/23 season. In the past 12 months, we've seen record lows for players numbers in the Premier League, players emerged across European leagues, and one player was the highest highlight

(note this episode was recorded before the two qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar)

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Episode 56 - Is A Draw A Bad Result?

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:30:08 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of the Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the 25 players called up by Stephen Kenny to face Greece and Gibraltar in two Euro 2024 qualifier. The squad is settled, but can the team find consistency between performances, and what lessons have been learned from the four games in June 2022?

The Ireland Men's U17 2023 European Championship campaign came to an end in the quarter finals against Spain, we look at the players who impressed us, and what the future holds for Irish football at this level.

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Episode 55 - From Austin to Missouri

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:11:30 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the Republic of Ireland's women's friendlies against the US in Austin and Missouri, discuss the group draw for the UEFA Under 17 Championship, and announce our initiative to encourage fans of the women's team to update the wikipedia page for each member of the squad before the World Cup kicks off in July

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Episode 54 - Tired of holding our hands up!

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:08:55 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland Men's Team's friendly against Latvia and Euro 2024 qualifier against France, and we ask what we do about the seemingly endless selection of long range strikes that has us holding our hands up??!

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Episode 53 - Transfers, qualifiers, and the World Cup build up begins

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 15:20:12 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the notable transfers and loans for Irish players in the January 2023 transfer window, following the group draw, we look ahead to the 2025 UEFA Under 21 Championship qualifying campaign, and after Vera Pauw names her first squad in the World Cup year, we wonder who, of the new call ups, is most likely to make the final squad in July?

(Note this episode was recorded before Deborah Ann De La Harpe was added to the women's squad)

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Episode 52 - 2022, A Year In Football, Part II

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 15:31:34 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to continue our discussion on the last 12 months of international football, this time focusing on our Top Five Positives and Negatives from 2022.

Note - this was recorded before the speculation linking Stephen Rice with the managerial position at Swindon

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Episode 51 - 2022, A Year In Football, Part 1

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 12:42:51 GMT

Join myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football as we review the highs* and lows of the Republic of Ireland mens team in 2022

*yes, there were highs

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Episode 50 - Norway, Malta, and Morocco

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 11:30:59 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the end of year friendlies for the Republic of Ireland men's team against Norway and Malta, and the women's friendly against Morocco as their preparation for the World Cup in 2023 begins

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Episode 49 - Gareth Maher, Away Days, and Scoring Goals In The Dark

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:30:00 GMT

Myself and Mark Kennedy are joined by Gareth Maher, author of Away Days - Thirty Years of Irish Footballers in the Premier League and Claire Shine's Scoring Goals In the Dark to discuss the history of Irish players in the Premier League, and Claire Shine's recovery from addiction and mental health issues

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Episode 48 - 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 09:00:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the draw for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand. What can Vera Pauw's team look forward to when they line out against co-hosts Australia, Olympic Champions Canada, and African powerhouse Nigeria?

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Episode 47 - The Low of a Draw to the High of a Win

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:36:16 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the Republic of Ireland's Women's team's qualification for the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after defeating Scotland in a play off, and also the Men's team's qualifying group for UEFA Euro 2024 to be held in Germany

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Episode 46 - Performance or Result?

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 11:30:00 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the final two games of Republic of Ireland's 2022/23 UEFA Nations League campaign against Scotland and Armenia - is a good performance in a loss better than a bad performance in a win? Also, we look back at the U21's two legged play off against Israel for the 2023 UEFA U21 Championship, and the U19s topped their 2023 UEFA Under 19 Championship Qualifying Round group with a 100% record, without conceding

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Episode 45 - 2022/23 Predictions

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:51:07 GMT

In the first episode of the new season in England, and across Europe, myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football review the performances of Irish players in the opening round of Premier League fixtures, and make some predictions for how the season will go for Irish players

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Episode 44 - A Jekyll And Hyde Episode

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 11:32:24 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland's four games in June 2022 against Armenia, Ukraine(twice), and Scotland. From the lows of the opening two fixtures, to the highs of the latter two. A change in formation resulted in a change in fortunes, so what does that mean for the remaining fixtures to be played in September?

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Episode 43 - Aiden O'Brien

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:17:51 GMT

Delighted to have a senior men's international player on the podcast for the first time! Striker Aiden O'Brien came on the show to discuss scoring on his first senior international appearance, the transfer window from a player's perspective, and what it's like to train against Gavin Bazunu

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Episode 42 - Life, Football, And Everything

Sat, 28 May 2022 11:30:00 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the senior squad announced by Stephen Kenny to face Armenia, Ukraine, and Scotland in the opening games of the 2022/23 Nations League campaign, and the final three qualifiers for the U21s in their qualifying group for the 2023 UEFA Under 21 Championship, with their fate very much in their hands.

Due to some unforeseen microphone issues, I did have to deliver some of my segments from a phone box behind the iron curtain in 1972!

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Episode 41 - Bad Times Don't Last

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 11:06:46 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the senior men's team's friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania, as well as the Under 17's Elite Round qualifiers against Portugal, Bulgaria, and Finland, the Under 19's Elite Round qualifiers against England, Portugal, and Armenia, and the Under 21's qualifier against Sweden, and preview the women's senior team's qualifier against Sweden*

*Note: this was recorded on Friday night, before the qualifier against Sweden on Tuesday night

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Episode 40 - Under 50 Caps

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:11:26 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the first internationals of 2022 - the centenary game against Belgium and a friendly against Lithuania. With the bid for Euro 2028 submitted, is it good for football in Ireland to host the finals here? And, with the U17 and U19 mens in the Elite round, and the women's U17 qualifiers being held in Tallaght, we discuss their chances of qualifying for the respective finals.

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Episode 39 - Player Debuts

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:25:25 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the players given their international debuts by Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton, Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin O'Neill, Mick McCarthy(in his second time in charge), and Stephen Kenny.

What players were successes, who are barely remembered, the controversial picks, and who we think will go on to become legends from the current squad

See the full list of players we discuss here: https://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Blog?id=3167049253370574283

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Episode 38 - The January 2022 Transfer Window

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:42:45 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the transfers and loans made by Irish players during the January 2022 transfer window, and look ahead to the two friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania announced for the end of March

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Episode 37 - 2021: A Year In Football

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 14:00:21 GMT

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, in one of our longest episodes to date, to review the highs and lows of Irish international football in 2021, including the worst home result of our lifetimes, the worst moment of Stephen Kenny's reign, and how, in the final seven games of the year, the manager has gotten the team to play the football he wants them to play, and we want to see.

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Episode 36 - Group B1

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:00:43 GMT

Following the draw for the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the Republic of Ireland's group, and the fixtures next year against Ukraine, Scotland, and Armenia.

Note: this episode was recorded after the draw was made, but before the fixtures were announced.

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Episode 35 - The Proverbial Cup Final

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:07:04 GMT

Before Stephen Kenny's Ireland team face Portugal and Luxembourg in their final qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, myself and Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick run the rule over the 26 man squad selected by the manager, we take a look at the first two games for the U21 team at a capacity Tallaght Stadium, discuss the announcement by Ruud Dokter that he's leaving the association, and give our thoughts on the new away kit

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Episode 34 - There's only one CR7!

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 15:06:44 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan to review the wins over Azerbaijan and Qatar, and take a brief look at the qualifyig results for the U21 and U17 sides

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Episode 33 - The River Valley Ronaldo

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:49:35 GMT

Ahead of the Republic of Ireland's qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku, and friendly against Qatar in Dublin, we're joined by Stockholm-based Reuters journalist Philip O'Connor to discuss the two games, how Zach Elbouzedi's career has progressed in the short time since his move to Sweden to play for AIK, and we remember Jimmy Greaves

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Episode 32 - Three Games In September

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 10:43:41 GMT

I'm joined once more by Mark Kennedy from Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, along with guest Jimmy Carew of pogmogoal to discuss the three qualifiers played by the Republic of Ireland national team in September - what went right, what went wrong, what we learned, and what we want to see in the games in October

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Episode 31 - 2021-22 Season Preview

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 12:10:48 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the start of the 2021/22 season in English football. What do the opening games of the season mean for Irish football fans, and what can we look forward to in the next 12 months?

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Episode 30 - Mountain Top Rescue

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 10:46:32 GMT

In the final episode of the international season, I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the friendlies against Andorra and Hungary, Troy Parrot's first strikes at international level, and what the performances of the three new caps could mean for the three World Cup qualifiers in September.

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Episode 29 - What Is A Must Win Game?

Mon, 31 May 2021 12:57:23 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss Stephen Kenny's 27 man squad to face Andorra and Hungary in two end of season friendlies, and his U21 counterpart Jim Crawford's 26 man squad who will line up opposite Switzerland, Australia, and Denmark, as well as going through the (few) highs and (many, many) lows for Irish players in the recently concluded 2020/21 season in England and Scotland.

Note: this episode was recorded before John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa and Ciaran Brennan withdrew from the U21 squad, and Peterborough's Sam Szmodics was called into the senior team

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Episode 28 - Walking Through Football History

Fri, 21 May 2021 17:05:36 GMT

Labour TD for Dublin Bay North and tour guide for the Dublin Football Walking Tour Aodhán Ó Ríordáin joins myself, Mark Kennedy from Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan from The Bottomless Pit of Football for a wide ranging discussion on the history of football in Ireland, and we name the players we want to see Stephen Kenny pick for the end of season training camp in Spain before facing Andorra and Hungary

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Episode 27 - Not As Bad As Cyprus

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 11:50:35 GMT

Eleven games into Stephen Kenny's reign as Ireland manager and not only are still waiting the first win, 98th ranked Luxembourg have become the lowest ranked side to defeat the Boys in Green at home, in either a competitive or friendly international. I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan to discuss the second worst loss in Irish football in our lifetimes, the loss in Belgrade, the draw with Qatar and where we can go from here

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Episode 26 - A Serbian Episode

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:46:19 GMT

With the qualifying campaign for the World Cup in 2022 about to start, I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the players we'd like to see Stephen Kenny call up for the first two qualifiers against Serbia and Luxembourg, and the friendly against Qatar. What difference will new coach Anthony Barry make to the preparations and tactics for the games, and who will play against Wales in the U21s friendly?

Note - this episode was recorded before it was announced that Darren Randolph would not be available for the games in March

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Episode 25 - Duff, Goalies, and Videotape

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:25:06 GMT

It's a new year but it's the same FAI. Two of Stephen Kenny's coaching team have stepped aside following the controversial video shown to the squad before the friendly against England. Mark Travers has moved to League One Swindon on loan - could he and fellow third tier goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu be in the manager's thoughts for the qualifiers in March, and what will Jack Byrne's move to Cyprus do for his international ambitions?

*note this episode was recorded before Andy Reid stepped down as U18 coach and Mick McCarthy was appointed as Cardiff City manager

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Episode 24 - 2020, The Year That Forgot Time!

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 17:41:01 GMT

When the Euro 2020 Play Offs were postponed, due to the global pandemic, earlier this year, Stephen Kenny was promoted to manager of the Ireland senior men's international side ahead of schedule. I'm joined by Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, and special guest James Carew of pogmogoal.com to review the new manager's first year in charge, looking at the players, the results, the performances, and what the manager has learned before the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup start in March.

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Episode 23 - We Didn't Get Wales!

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 17:40:08 GMT

The draw for the UEFA qualification groups for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has taken place, and Stephen Kenny now knows his Republic of Ireland side will face Portugal, Serbia, Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan as they bid to qualify for the biggest football tournament in the world for the first time since 2002. I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the group, Caoimhin Kelleher's Liverpool debut, and John Joe Patrick Finn, a 17 year old who made his first appearance for Getafe at the weekend, who qualifies to play for the Boys In Green.

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Episode 22 - Unwanted Records

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 14:41:06 GMT

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to review the three games played by the Republic of Ireland senior men's team in November, the U21's final two qualifiers for the 2021 UEFA U21 Championship and preview the senior Women's qualifier against Germany in December.

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Episode 21 - Do We Really Need To Play England Now?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 13:55:10 GMT

In October, Stephen Kenny became the first Republic of Ireland manager to finish four consecutive competitive internationals without scoring. The team desperately need a goal to ease the already mounting pressure on the new manager. With that in mind, do we really need to face England, the fourth ranked team in the world, right now?

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss this week's friendly, the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Wales and Bulgaria, and the U21s final two qualifiers against Iceland and Luxembourg as they bid to become the first Irish U21 side to qualify for the U21 Championships next summer.

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Episode 20 - Three games in October

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 10:23:19 GMT

I'm joined once again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the three games played in October by Stephen Kenny's men. Despite the team's current goalless streak, there's optimism from the fans due to the style of football being played, but how long will that last? With a recently announced friendly against England, and two Nations League games against Wales and Bulgaria to come in November, what changes does the new manager and his coaching staff need to make to start find the back of the net?

We preview the women's team's qualifier in Kiev against Ukraine - can Vera Pauw lead the Girls in Green to their first European Championships?

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Episode 19 - Come On You Girls In Green

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:19:37 GMT

I'm joined by ESPN journalist Kathleen McNamee to discuss the recent FAI women's team's loss to Germany, look ahead to the qualifier against Ukraine on Thursday, 22nd October, discuss the rise of the Women's Super League in England, what it means for the Women's League here in Ireland, and why so many Irish women are playing across the continent

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Episode 18 - Stephen Kenny's Second Squad

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 11:51:23 GMT

Stephen Kenny has named his second squad. The Republic of Ireland manager has called up 25 players to face Slovakia in a Euro 2020 play off, followed by two Nations League games against Wales and Finland. I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the players, the omissions, and what we can expect from the Slovakian players in Bratislava

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Episode 17 - The First Game Is The Hardest

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:01:10 GMT

Following the draw in Bulgaria and the loss in Aviva Stadium, I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the two results. What did Stephen Kenny get right and wrong, and what do the results mean for the crucial play off against Slovakia, and the two Nations League games in October.

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Episode 16 - A New Kid In Town

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 16:06:42 GMT

Stephen Kenny announced his first senior Ireland squad earlier this week, as did his successor in charge of the U21s, Jim Crawford. I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the makeup of both squads, and Irish players on the move so far in the Summer 2020 Transfer Window.

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Episode 15 - Season Review

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 12:58:49 GMT

In the final podcast of the English season, I'm joined by Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to review the highs and lows for Irish players in the 2019/20 season in England, and we reference classic football show Dream Team before picking our Team of the Season.

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Episode 14 - Thanks, Jack

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:53:57 GMT

We're delighted to welcome Ireland and Brighton striker Rianna Jarrett to the show to discuss her career, and the rising role of minorities in sport in Ireland. Does Sheffield United's success in the Premier League give any clues as to how the new Ireland manager will use their Irish players? Will the Irish players on the fringes of the Southampton squad have a part to play in the manager's future plans? A year ago, Jason Knight hadn't made his professional debut - 12 months on he could be their player of the season. Finally, on the occasion of his passing, we remember Jack Charlton's time in charge of the Irish national side, and what it meant to each of us.

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Episode 13 - Is Ireland facing a goalkeeping crisis?

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 12:10:59 GMT

Is the Republic of Ireland national side facing a goalkeeping crisis? I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the lack of gametime for Ireland's netminders. Also, we (sort of) predict John Egan's goal against Burnley, discuss Danny Rose's move to German, Jeff Hendrick possibly joining AC Milan, Denise O'Sullivan and the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Irish players at Atlanta United in the MLS is Back tournament, and the 2020-21 Nations League fixture dates.

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Episode 12 - A Shot At The Championship

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 11:25:47 GMT

Following our review of Irish players in the Premier League last week, we turn to the return of the Championship this weekend, and review the Irish players at each club in England's second tier, as well as previewing the play offs, and a look back at Mark O'Brien's career after his early retirement due to an ongoing heart condition

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Episode 11 - Return of the Football

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 15:14:08 GMT

Ahead of the return to action for the Premier League on Wednesday, 17th June, I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the season so far for Irish players in England's top tier, and what we can look forward to in the remaining games of 2019/20

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Episode 10 - The End Of The Italian Affair

Mon, 25 May 2020 13:59:10 GMT

While the performance at Euro 2012 had left a lot to be desired, qualification for the tournament had raised the spirits of Ireland fans, and the draw for the 2014 World Cup was not seen as insurmountable, despite the presence of perennial qualifiers Germany. In the last of the three episodes on Giovanni Trapattoni's reign, I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the qualifying campaign for Brazil

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Episode 9 - The return to the top table

Thu, 14 May 2020 16:52:38 GMT

After missing out on the World Cup in South Africa, Ireland were drawn against Russia, Armenia, Slovakia, Macedonia, and Andorra in Group B of the qualifiers for Euro 2012, held in Poland and Ukraine. I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Phil Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the qualifying campaign and Ireland's performance at the tournament

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Episode 8 - An Italian gentleman

Mon, 04 May 2020 18:39:01 GMT

In February 2008, Giovanni Trapattoni was announced as Stephen Staunton's successor as manager of the Republic of Ireland national team. In this episode, I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the first qualifying campaign of the new manager, and its infamous ending.

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Episode 7 - The Wrong Man At The Wrong Time

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:09:29 GMT

Following the failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, the FAI announced that Brian Kerr’s contract would not be renewed, and they would look for a new senior international manager.

At the time, a three man panel led by John Delaney promised a “world class management team”. Almost three years after Brian Kerr was appointed Ireland manager, on Friday, 13th January 2006, Steve Staunton was announced as the new manager of the national side, with Bobby Robson as his consultant, and Kevin McDonald as his assistant.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the the two years of his reign, including the worst result in living memory.

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Episode 6 - The Right Man At The Wrong Time

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 23:05:09 GMT

As 2003 dawned, the FAI still had not appointed a permanent successor to Mick McCarthy. Names like Peter Reid, Bryan Robson, and Philippe Troussier were linked with the position until underage supremo Brian Kerr was announced at the end of January. I'm joined by Mark Kennedy from Hawkeye Sidekick and Our Man In Stockholm, Phillip O'Connor, to discuss Kerr's three years in charge

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Episode 5 - Passing The Torch

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 22:50:54 GMT

Following the announcement that Mick McCarthy will step aside as manager of the Republic of Ireland team, and Stephen Kenny will be taking the reigns of the national side, myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football take a brief look at McCarthy's second reign and discuss what to expect from the new management team

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Episode 4 - The Good, The Bad, And The Dutch

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 22:32:56 GMT

In the first of our look back at the 2000s in Irish international football, we examine the end of Mick McCarthy's first reign as manager, including the qualifiers for the World Cup in 2002, the play off, the tournament itself, and how it ended against the Swiss

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Episode 3: Mick McCarthy

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:37:20 GMT

In the final episode of our look back at Irish international football during the 2010s, myself, Mark Kennedy from Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan from The Bottomless Pit Of Football look at Mick McCarthy's second term in charge of the national side, and discuss what we have to look forward to when Stephen Kenny takes over after Euro 2020

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Episode 2: The O'Neill-Keane Years

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:35:26 GMT

After Giovanni Trapattoni and the FAI parted ways, Martin O'Neill was appointed with the aim of qualifying for Euro 2016. Myself and Mark Kennedy are joined by Philip Flanagan from The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the five year reign of the Ulsterman.

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Episode 1: The Trapattoni Years

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:18:48 GMT

In the first in a series of lookback episodes on the Republic of Ireland international football side, we review the reign of Giovanni Trapattoni from 2010 until its end in September 2013

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