Loi Weekly

Gary McCabe from Bray Wanderers gives us a frank and honest opinion about the situation at the club from a players perspective in one of the most revealing interviews we've broadcast thus far. Also as it's make or break time for LOI clubs in Europe, Dan McDonnell is in Rosenborg and joins Johnny and Aidan Fitzmaurice from The Herald on the line from Norway to discuss if "it's over now?". Oh and there might be a little 90's Nordic pop theme too..

We kick off the next week of European games Dan-less as he's in Louth for the big game in Dundalk but does manage to secure a telephone line to discuss the Rosenberg choice of accommodation as well as the big game. Johnny is joined by Alan Keane formerly of Dundalk and Sligo Rovers who's well used to European Football. Also dropping by is Shamrock Rover's goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski, the first Hebrew speaking guest on the pod. Tomer looks back on his career to date, his first brush with girls at eight years old, and life in Ireland. Oh, and he pushes Johnny's spelling prowess to it's limits! All this and the usual news and views on everything League of Ireland.

This milestone episode unfortunately concentrates on the current border town of despair just a few miles south. Bray Wanderers' current predicaments prompt Johnny and Dan to phone former Cork City footballer and author Neal Horgan for a detailed discussion on the latest crisis to hit the league. On a more optimistic note the current round of European games provide good news stories. We round up the weekends action with usual predictions and ask who will be the next addition to Sénor Ward's photo album? Answers on a postcard to....

This week’s bumper LOI Weekly is a truly trans global affair. Regular schemers Johnny and Dan are joined in studio by James Chambers, the star of Bethlehem who plays his soccerball stateside these days. There’s also European giddiness and a telephone chat with Derry Manager Kenny Shiels on their prospects in Hamlet’s old stomping ground. Plus for good measure we head north with The Herald’s Aidan Fitzmaurice going all "Bjork meets Sigur Ros” in Iceland. If you add to that, Johnny’s visa debacles via Iran and Dan’s attempts to bring Guinness etiquette to Russian visitors, all we would need is another 'Home and Away’ bit and we’d have covered more air miles than a FIFA delegate in the off season. Oh, and Cork will still win it though…The league that is.

Johnny's pronunciation skills are pushed to the limits as we look at the European draws and how they affected the clubs in the league. After eating poorly last week he is joined in studio by his regular eight dollar an hour co-host Dan McDonnell and regular studio loiterer Damien Lynch (37). Gary Rogers gives us the Oriel view on the phone, as well as the usual news, views and roundups from around the country. Oh, and love is in the air yet again!

In studio for this weeks episode, all the way from Inchicore is, "The Boy Towell", Richie that is, as he reflects on his LOI career with the Dundalk team he didn’t even want to sign for but ended up winning the league with anyway. On the agenda as well are his experiences with Brighton in England and the differences between Chris Hughton and Stephen Kenny while Johnny tries to talk him out of his favourite goal choice. Outside of football, he displays a distinct lack of knowledge of Damon Albarn led Brit Pop outfits, and after our 6 question quiz we don’t expect Johnny to be hosting Mastermind anytime soon. But staying with quizzes and this week’s burning question is, ‘Will Bray have Johnny eating pigs feet next week?' Intrigued? I’ve started so I’ll finish…

Dan and Johnny are stood up by Damien Lynch as they present their half term report on the League. The original odd couple present their mid term awards and deal with topics as haughty as Damo's jumpers, Brian Kerr's orange, Cunningham's goalscoring drought, and lots more. All this, plus, eloping to Italy, Ollie Horgan as an alarm tone, pizzas and Hamlet. To Jalepeno or not to Jalapeno? Shazam!

"Just the two of us....", Dan's in New York for the Ireland game this week so Damien Lynch anchors the show with Johnny as we welcome Owen Garvan to the pod. Once of Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town, Owen talks about his plans for the future and how the league might figure in them. On the phone from Cork we have John Caulfield who's not in the least bit complacent about his position in the league and all the way from a hotel in Manhattan we eventually make contact with Dan McDonnell who wasn't in Tiffany's and has little or no jukebox skills. Oh, and Johnny gets an "All righty!"

A quick Luas ride from Tallaght brought Shamrock Rovers' Sporting Director Stephen McPhail face to face with Dan and Johnny to discuss the Shamrock Rovers Project. As well as enlightening us on Damien Duff's exuberance for five a side games and Rovers' new Roadstone development, Stephen also told us about how well the league is doing compared to our European counterparts. On the line from Limerick, taking a break from house hunting was new manager Neil McDonald to give us his first impressions of the league and a brief overview of his career to date....Oh, and there may have been a "Home and Away" bit just for old times sake!

This week we break the new Limerick manager news as Neil McDonald takes the helm at Markets Field. The inimitable Ollie Horgan from Finn Harps joins studio guest Ger O'Brien from Saint Pat's to discuss all the latest news and results from the LOI.

Damien Lynch complete with man flu renews his tour of duty aboard the good ship LOIWeekly with regular swashbucklers Dan and Johnny. Athlone Town is again the big news and Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson is on the phone to talk about the impact on the first division and how Cobh is navigating the choppy waters of second tier football. Also on the line we have Cork City captain Johnny Dunleavy on their spectacular start to the campaign and his adventures with the fillies both equine and hominine. there’s the usual managerial escapades, controversial predictions and even a critique of premier league grounds for good measure. Football Ahoy! Sort of...

Dundalk's Brian Gartland drops in on the pod and Stephen Elliott returns to survey the first round of games as we reach week 11. Johnny and Dan also touch on the Athlone Town situation as well as the usual tweets and previews. Oh, and there's a pretty good Mick McCarthy impression as well...

Johnny McDonnell joins Dan and Johnny in studio to reveal his best elevens, his scars from playing centre half and fantasy taxi driver five a side teams. Also on hand is Gerard Lyttle, the new manager of Sligo Rovers to talk about his new job in the northwest. Plus a full preview of all the weekend action.

This week: Things Kenny Cunningham didn’t do! Score goals, form an iron clad defensive partnership with John Scales and eat the expensive crisps we bought for him! Our regular sunshine band are joined by KC as they weigh in on Stephen Kenny’s penalty gripes, Dalymount memories, the Ireland Under 19s and his hopes for the future of Irish football. Plus Bray’s Gary McCabe looks forward to his date with his old club Shamrock Rovers.

This week we talk LOI best elevens, preview the week ahead, Cork City's Alan Bennett joins Dan and Johnny and as it's 30 years since Rovers left Milltown and 'I' left Withnail we have Dermot Keely on hand to discuss. What else could you want in a podcast? The finest wines in all humanity? I want them here and I want them now...

Dundalk captain Stephen O'Donnell joins Johnny, Dan & Damo to explain how he turned his career around and engage in a lively debate about the battle to win respect for the League of Ireland. Martin Russell also joins the lads to discuss his departure from Limerick.

This week an offer you can't refuse as Brian Kerr, the godfather of Irish football takes his place alongside Dan and Johnny to profess his love for the podcast and get to grips with your tweets. Badda Bing!

Johnny and Dan discuss the late, great Ryan McBride with Derry fan and broadcaster Kevin McDaid, Simon Madden, Kevin McHugh and John Caulfield.

Dan and Damian are joined by Aidan Fitzmaurice and Bohemians' Shane Supple to discuss the double round of fixtures, manager interviews and the future of Dalymount Park. Derry's Nathan Boyle and Preston's Andy Boyle also join the lads, and Johnny gives us a Gold Cup tip live from Cheltenham.

Stephen Elliott and Damian Lynch join Dan and Johnny for this weeks pod, and fresh from FA cup exploits, Shaun Williams is on the phone from Millwall.