LOI Central

Dermot Keely denies and then agrees that he was better without the ball but we are certain this podcast makes an argument that your life would be better with his new book. Dermot dropped into studio with the Irish Sun’s Neil O’Riordan, his long term partner in prose, to discuss the many strands of his life in the league he loves. It’s hard to summarise them under one heading so, just like a player in his dressing room or a student in his classroom you just need to strap in and see where the journey takes you. Before that there’s a wrap of the weekend that was at the top and bottom of the table and there’s also a getting to know you interview with St Patrick’s Athletic’s Romal Palmer, all facilitated by our friends in Future Ticketing, Lily’s Childcare, Collar & Cuff and Rascals Brewing.

Who'd have thought we could do such a weather dominated show without Johnny? Our spiritual leader is absent but there's plenty to rabbit on about this week, with Graham Gartland stepping in to shoot the breeze with Dan about the dark clouds that hovered over Dundalk. In a Dundalk dominated mailbag, Dan warns that the future forecast remains uncertain. Then, we go Stateside for some hailstorms, or to the manager of Northern Colorado Hailstorm to be precise with Eamon Zayed dialling in for his LOI Central debut to discuss his new life in the USA, and a stormy relationship with Garts during their Hurricane Doolin years. Beyond that, there's a few drops of Damien Duff and the closest thing to Malen Head to Mizen Head in terms of guest representation with voices from Derry, Sligo and Waterford drizzled across a busy show that we couldn't do without being under the umbrella of Lily's Childcare, Rascals Brewing, Future Ticketing & Collar & Cuff. It's episode 32 and the wind is crying Mary, or at least that's what it sounds like!

Interesting standards of rabbit pulling and random phonecalls a-go-go, as episode 300 takes you on a seat of your pants ride through the last eight years of football on this fair isle. The honeymoon period feels definitely over as middle age approaches and our hosts get showered with accolades from all walks of footballing life, well in Johnny’s perfect world they would. But in this imperfect topsy turvy world it would be remiss not to turn our attention to the Dundalk crisis and FAI Cup matters amongst other things with the help of some special guests and old friends who we dial up Ryanline style. On a growth curve from banana sambos to Uno Mas , we’ve touched on ring tone interpretations, getting sacked, lobsters, horse fighting and Brendan Gleeson’s next big role as a midfielder. Confused? The great people at Future Ticketing, the awestruck Collar & Cuff , Lily’s Childcare and Rascals Brewery certainly hope you make enough sense of whats happening here so we can go on for another 300. It’s a whole different show and it’s almost two hours!

In a week of reunions this is really the one you’ve been waiting for. A surprisingly energised Dan returns to clean up after Johnny’s ‘you let Dougal do a funeral’ interim stint in charge. Amid the wreckage, we lament Northern accents, misinformed ministers, analogue opinions, and Larne before Dan tries to bury some inaccuracies in the interminable TV and standards debates. In our Galway United segment, Johnny gets hold of Ollie Horgan to discuss their top four chances amongst other things and with the financial fair play committee still looking at Collar & Cuff, Lily’s Childcare, Rascal’s Brewery and Future Ticketing as we approach episode 300, we ask why oh why should football be still dealing deals like its 1981. Yes folks, it’s episode 30, it’s 90 mins, it’s early so just Roll with It!

It’s a double act this week but not the usual one. Taciturn northerner Garry Doyle joins our normal “fan with a typewriter” Johnny Ward as we trawl through the week’s news which is not too harsh on Pats, but harsh on RTE and rugby fans. But isn’t rugby a popular sport? Not before 1987 apparently and Andy Farrell raises some questions too. Back with the roundy ball and we dip into the U19 league which has a Drogheda team flying, and United Park (or is it Weavers?) gets a thumbs up from the lads too, even though Sky don’t like it. But even with the increased depth in the Premier Division we ask is it the coaches and the coaching that has generated the most fascinating league in recent memory? We reign Johnny in on Tangets, refuse to rule out Shamrock Rovers, and is Waterford the story of the season? All this and much much more as Collar & Cuff, Rascals Brewery, Lily’s Childcare and Future Ticketing bring you episode 28 of a season that may be getting longer!

It’s hosts with notes this week as Johnny is overwhelmed by the sheer professionalism of his co-hosts who ably step in for a paternity left Dan McDonnell in the sunny surroundings of Oliver Marketing. Yes, it’s a full studio this week as Johnny is joined by the Robin to Dan’s Batman in Sean O’Connor, a fledgling journalist who’s more than finding his feet in this years league press boxes. Alongside Sean is another Boy Wonder in Keith Treacy who’s commentating skills were pushed to the limits this week and still had the energy to tackle the show that delved deeply into the European saga, RTE gates, the beauty of a lumping Galway, air raid sirens at Lincoln, stag parties in Phibsboro, the Waterford 9, and another mailbag heavy with Bohs woes. We also cut away to Harry Kenny and Paul Doolin for a tribute to the late great Jim McLaughlin who sadly passed this week. All of this bumper, bumper, edition is brought to you by the ever forgiving and always encouraging Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewery, Collar & Cuff and Lillys Childcare. Yes the sponsors are getting value for money this week. Pray for traffic jams on your commute because it’s episode 28 and it’s a marathon!

Reunited for at least the second time, the veterans of not one but two lengthy group-stages European campaigns join a solo Johnny and a stand in producer for the 27th episode of season 8 from a sunny Oliver studios. First in the door is Ciaran Kilduff, who might be a tad irate about the perception of the women’s game, while his old teammate Ronan Finn has his ideas about what a club should be about: winning matches. Even though his student days are behind him and maybe his coaching days in front of him, the veteran midfielder still has ambitions with UCD. But the big debate today is why does nobody want to win the league? In a Bohs heavy mailbag, there’s also room for some Shamrock Rovers debate and the extreme contrast in styles between Michael O’Neill and Stephen Kenny. There’s Cork splashing the cash, commercial versus football success, and no, the podcast won’t be cancelled should Dundalk go down. The business end of the season approacheth and we’ve Collar & Cuff, Lilly’s Childcare, Rascals Brewery and of course, Future Ticketing to thank for getting us this far. Its an early edition, presenter light, episode 27 and it’s here now!

It's not a standard show, as we record on Monday night after Shels scoreless draw with Derry City and it appears that the burning question is - what is the standard? Owen Heary, a multiple league winner with Shels, dials in to offer his take on the panache free situation at the top of the table and mull over what happens from here. There's plenty of love for the League of Ireland from Luke Dennison, the Drogheda United goalkeeper from California, who chatted with Dan after their draw with Bohemians. Aside from those chats, we've got a busy mailbag with more Stephen Walsh jibes, Dublin bias, and a lively instalment of ref chat. Be warned: there's a few questions about the standard. What we have no doubts about is the standard of our sponsors with Rascals Brewing, Lily's Childcare, Collar & Cuff and Future Ticketing giving us the consistency we need to keep this show on the road.

The boys are back face to face in Oliver after a weekend of mixed emotions with JW mourning Galway disappointment and Dan energised by a casual Friday of tram and pram pushing in Dalymount. After a giddy reunion featuring urinal banter, the perils of pissing money down the drain, and tales of wrong weddings and inaccurately named children, Paddy Kavanagh stops by to talk football, agents and modern wages before offering his two cents on the state of the game. We’ve also got the return of Pat’s chat to the mailbag, Drogheda artistic impression analysis and the Stephen Walsh Olympics question that needed answering. All of this is facilitated by our friends in Lily’s Childcare, Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff and Rascals Brewery so bí ciúin and yes, there is a bar in Dalymount!

We are in peak LOI in Europe time, which means the annual state of the nation debates about our league although this week’s pod veers off into a discussion on the state of several other nations. Dan has declared Derry’s defeat to Bruno’s Magpies the most damaging in recent league history but Johnny thinks the pub talk will disappear from memory and wonders if some of these UEFA countries should do the same. Conan Byrne stops by after watching Shamrock Rovers lose to Sparta Prague to offer a slightly surprising Hoop themed end of year prediction before we enter the thorny topic of wage inflation – with a bit of St Pat’s nostalgia thrown in - and ask if any of our clubs are really getting bang for their buck. We hope that our friends at Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Lily’s Childcare and Rascals Brewing never find themselves asking the same question. It’s episode 24 and its worth Kuwaiting for.

The boys are sort of back in town, if not in the same room, as post-Euros Dan reflects on the contrast between the glory of Germany and the survival instincts of Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Tuesday night. Johnny was there for the great escape, catching words with Johnny Kenny, the hero of the first half hour, before waking on Wednesday to confirmation that Galway United have eventually tempted one of their wild geese back home. Johnny talks European ambitions with Greg Cunningham and the difficulties of the chase with John Caulfield. In a busy week of storylines, the lads discuss new signings, increased spending, grappling with teams from Gibraltar and whether lawyers or League of Ireland players represent better value for money. All of this is wrapped into a cost effective hour or so with the help of our friends at Collar & Cuff, Rascals Brewing, Lily's Childcare and Future Ticketing.

It's just after the final whistle in Iceland, and no, not the one Mum's go to, so we look at the game with old friend Barry Murphy who married his debs date and ain't happy with certain goalkeeping pundits. We've also got a Derry double act with Hoban and Higgins and Dan stops by from the semi to pose a perplexing quiz question. No Collar & Cuff mailbag this week because our announcer is too busy writing Bob Dylan's liner notes, but we do have the saves of the season so far, the Caoimhin Kelleher question, Stephen Kenny's rebuild from number 1 up, keepers and beauty queens, and how good is Ed McGinty? All served up with a hanky in your pocket by Collar and Cuff, Rascals Brewery, Future Ticketing and Lily's Childcare. It's episode 22 and it's under an hour.

A title race!? In July!? With no Shamrock Rovers!? With THEIR reputation! No, it's not Roly from "The Fast Show" but our two regulars who are joined by sometime RTE co-commentator and very busy all rounder Paul Corry to discuss, dissect, analyse and eulogise the demise of the Shamrock Rovers title challenge. Is it goalkeeper problems? Where's the manager's head at? Transfers? And is their best chance this season in Europe? All of these questions in the hand-stitched mailbag are pondered by our crew. Dan, who arrived almost on time to our virtual studio, takes time out from his busy sightseeing schedule to cast his eye over the games from his brief return home while Johnny's co-commentating is analysed by our listeners. It's a Rovers-heavy show with both Sligo and Shamrock featuring heavily but we do get to the other contenders and Corry nails his colours to the mast while Johnny looks optimistically at third place. We've made it to July and all because Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Lilly's Childcare and Rascals Brewery continue to throw us enough magic beans that we hope to someday grow a beanstalk. It's the hope that kills you, it's episode 21 and there's no party in Tallaght!

"Parenthood", "Strangers On A Train", "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Family Guy", and "The Saint". No it's not the films leaving Netflix this month, rather it's the topics of discussion on this week's brief, disjointed, somewhat chaotic, trans European pod. With Dan dialling in from a substandard German hotel room with tales of darts players and sharing Paul Cook anecdotes on a train, we remember Tommie Gorman and Joe Heron, analyse the European draws, and listen to Johnny mull over the League of Ireland journeys that fatherhood will bring him on . Our "Usual Suspects" of Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewery and Lilly's Childcare continue to support a show with hotter takes than Padraig Amond's face after an afternoon on the sunbeds. So buckle up for a quickfire blast of stream of consciousness podcasting, yes, it's episode 20 and it's pure Hollywood!

It's horses for courses this week as we have our final show before our midterm break. As the European election posters come down, we embark on our own leadership debate with a review of the season so far with the help of studio guest Graham Gartland. We discuss inappropriate trips to Croatia, Rovers goalkeeping woes, the secrets to Shelbourne’s defensive success, and the battle at the bottom. And, yes, we even do title predictions. Dan also checks in with the lesser heard Keith Long to chat about the lesser seen Dublin media amid Waterford’s brilliant start to a new campaign. Beyond that, there’s talk of hairy babies, scorched press boxes, and the merits of sending dead or alive horses to the European parliament. As usual we cater for all tastes with Collar & Cuff, Lilly's Childcare, Rascals Brewery and Future Ticketing all providing the platform for the mayhem. It's episode 19 and it's time for a break!

It's a laid up Dan with an unexciting back story that leads us in to episode 18 on the back of astro wars, Pat's problems, baby stories, Metallica funerals, the perfect 10 and who's season will the cup save. It's hard to call a bottom 2 but not as hard as Galway's 10 defenders or being sent to Sligo like Reece Hutchinson, or the male Reese Witherspoon as he's now known. We chat about his cool intentions as he walked the line in Derry, and life in a Rovers dressing room packed full of kids who are legal to be blonde and not much else. We chat about his unlikely exit from England to find stage left in Sligo and the life of an Englishman that's almost halfway to New York. The mailbag was chock full of a lot of worried Pat's correspondence and some Bohs ones too and we were asked for predictions for player of the season so far and debated the merits of a ten team league. It was Collar and Cuff, Future Ticketing, Lilly's Childcare and Rascals fuelled mayhem this week as we officially head to summer and episode 18.

Episode 17 sees Johnny flummoxed by a 'Legal Blonde' from a Sunday night on the northside that plunges him into a Monday morning Big Brother dystopian reality. Unlike Clough and Taylor, it's a big week for Damien Duff and his football wife as they keep on keeping on to stay ahead of the posse at the top of the league, we discuss can they stay there and try not to keep mentioning Galway. We welcome Dundalk legend Jurgen Klopp - sorry it’s Dane Massey - into our Oliver studios to ask where his 2016 team would finish in the 2024 table, analyse the state of his former club and take a trip down memory lane ahead of a Kenny v Caulfield reunion. There's cycling in Kerry, pints on the over 35 circuit, Portuguese training camps with Cork City, and a mailbag that includes Shamrock Rovers' loan policy, LOI Central’s erratic social media strategy, and a fresh slant on Johnny's inability to haggle in a designer store. All of this bumper episode is brought to you under the supervision of Future Ticketing, Collar & Cuff, Rascals Brewery, Lilly's Childcare and not any overpriced, over-marketed, over hyped designer label. Overhyped, is just something we wouldn't do!

We've a warchest of stories and an infusion of intellectual capital in this weeks episode. Johnny introduces the Right shoe diaries to Damien Duff in between bouts of cat strangling orgasms and earth burning Gaza rants on short lived marriages. Dan ruminates on what a world would look like if football was golf, introduces Shelabrations to a new world lexicon and takes Louth Dad jokes to another level. A not quite sexagenarian Johnny McDonnell drops by our Oliver Studios to weigh in on the Stephen Kenny at St. Pat's story and why O'Donnell at Bohs is a logical move. There's the usual mailbag dissections and presidential ruminations and although none of our sponsors do custom made laptop bags, the good people at Collar & Cuff, Future Ticketing, Lilly's Childcare and Rascals Brewery do, to their utmost credit, make all of the chaos seem a little bit ordered. It's episode 16, it's nostalgic, it's giddy and, as always, it's striving for relevance.

It's Saint Stephens Day and he's back on the grass. Our unexpected Episode 15 captures the events of the last 24 hours with analysis of the Stephen Kenny appointment, his opening press conference and badly photoshopped send ups of a certain Independent sportswriter. There's old magazines, more Brian Kerr chat, Stephen O'Donnell not in the nip, the importance of big personalities and the pressure that extra attention brings. It's a hastily produced bitesize episode here to feed your news addiction with the help of Future Ticketing, Rascals Brewery, Collar & Cuff and Lilys Childcare. Hopefully it makes your Friday at work a little less difficult.

So where do we start? The lads reflect on the maddest week of League of Ireland news since last week, with the Stephen Kenny flirtation with a League of Ireland return prompting a review of our St Patrick's Athletic perceptions. Noel King's 25 day stint as Dundalk manager is over, but the legacy of the day may be a tweet that the internet will never forget. In another bulging mailbag, there's talk of political football and Dail visits, the saving of Tolka Park, a new spate of ten match bans and the mystery of Aurora Borealis - and no you won't find him on Wyscout. We then divert to a man who lit up the league before his departure last year with Jack Moylan dialling in to discuss Damien Duff, LOI watch parties in Lincoln & the truth about League One. As Collar & Cuff, Rascals Brewery, Lilly's Childcare and Future Ticketing scramble their lawyers to pore over the transcripts, our advice is to listen now before something else happens or everything is deleted!