Second Captains

Munster once again prove they're the best clutch team in Europe, while Leinster continue to struggle against more powerful opponents. We ask Bernard Jackman and Gerry Thornley if Munster have the squad depth to go all the way, if Ulster have been mortally wounded and whether Leinster need to re appraise their strategy. The Eisenhower tree is gone from Augusta, but all the other traditions remain, for better or worse. We ask Brian Murphy to wrestle with his capitalist side, and explain what its like to see a once in a generation genius do his stuff six feet away from you. All this plus Leinster's side entrance to the colosseum, joyless celebrations, Honky Tonk Ken, The Armstrong Lie, Coleman's volleys and David Feherty's joke kryptonite.

Eoin and Ken discuss further developments in Mourinho's management-by-sarcasm, and why Bayern Munich were like a thumbless man trying to solve a Rubik's cube. Simon Kuper describes the reaction in Paris to the home team's glorious win over Chelsea. And Raphael Honigstein on the Bavarian disappointment with Manchester United's handball-style defensive tactics.

The deal which will see Sky broadcast 14 GAA championship games exclusively live this season has prompted a huge reaction - and the less people know about it, the more outraged they appear to be. We pick through the more reasonable arguments with Karol Mannion and Anthony Moyles. With a big Heineken Cup weekend coming up, we speak to bona fide Munster legend David Wallace on Rob Penney's recent comments on Northern Hemisphere refereeing, and their major show-down with Toulouse. Joe Duffy, the grassroots, socialism, Toulon egalite, and bullish rugby predictions all in the mix too.

Eoin and Ken discuss Liverpool's destiny, kit tightness trends and Jose Mourinho's sarcastic provocation of some of his own players. Dion Fanning joins us to worship with fellow penitents at the feet of Brendan Rodgers. And Jonathan Wilson puts himself in the position of David Moyes and tries to figure out how Manchester United might be able to mess with Bayern's clockwork.

There was an interesting build up to Leinster Munster, but did Rob Penney's statements affect his own team more than the opposition? Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan look at the performances and how the game will impact on both teams' preparations for the Heineken Cup. Tiger Woods' body is letting him down once again - we ask Brian Murphy if his swing coach Sean Foley is to blame, and will Tiger ever win another major. All this plus Lawro's Harry Hill shirt, the eternal duality of Maverick and Ice Man, Ronaldinho and Kevin McManamon and why rugby is like a tense PE class.

Eoin and Ken talk about the surprising emergence of Paul Scholes as punditry's latest galactico, and Sam Allardyce's war on his own unappreciative fans. Tony Barrett joins us to discuss Liverpool's continued winning streak. And Emmet Malone assesses the impact of UEFA's Nations League initiative.

Eoin McDevitt has a dilemma – his beloved boys in blue are playing on Saturday evening, against their premier rivals. That’s right, Leinster… and Dublin. Should he travel to the Aviva, or Croke Park? Karol Mannion and Oisin McConville are on hand to try and convince him of the merits of the burgeoning Dublin Mayo rivalry. Steve James is one of the truly great sports movie directors. Hoop Dreams is a classic of the genre, and his new film “Head Games – the global concussion crisis” is a compelling look at how head trauma is a creeping disaster waiting to happen, and not just in the NFL. Some timely good news for An Garda Siochana, Mayo fans engraving crude messages on legal tender, and the Suarez variable also feature.

Eoin and Ken discuss Arsenal's delusional tactics against Chelsea, and wonder what it actually means to "take personal responsibility". Miguel Delaney was at Stamford Bridge to see Jose Mourinho's team display their frightening dominance. And Kieran Canning joins us to discuss Barcelona's 4-3 victory at Real Madrid.

On the face of it Leinster V Munster doesn't have a lot riding on it but its a sellout, its a top of the table clash and there a few Munster players stewing over missing out on a 6N winners medal. We ask Alan Quinlan and Gerry Thornley about Rob Penney's statements, and if there is any takent gap between the two. The final weekend of the hurling league was made all the more dramatic by Niall McMorrow, who didn't know what score his Dublin side needed against Tipp in order to avoid a relegation playoff. We welcome Malachy Clerkin to studio to discuss the form guide ahead of the Championship. All this plus Pellegrini and ROG, Ronaldo's moan, McDevitt's Joe Namath prediction and why Munster V Leinster deserves the hype.

Eoin and Ken discuss pearls of insight from Frank Lampard's autobiography, nearly eight years after it was published. Jonathan Wilson analyses what went right for Manchester United last night, and their prospects of doing a Chelsea '12 or Liverpool '05 and redeeming a poor league campaign with Champions League victory. And as Real Madrid prepare to face Barcelona this Sunday, Sid Lowe joins us to talk about the ever-improving form of Gareth Bale.

Ireland are the Six Nations champions, and although it was tight, the statistics released in the last few days brook no argument - we were first in scrum, lineout, ruck, and tackle success. But are we becoming slaves to stats? And is this good or bad news for the modern-day sportsperson? And a cursory glance at this year's Allianz Football League tables reveals that Ulster football could be back on a charge - we talk to the top scorer in the history of the Ulster championship Oisin McConville about what could be a vintage summer of northern football. All that plus the rise of the machines, new Irish Times columnist Shane Lowry, Murph's ol' fella, and why club gaelic footballers hate each other.

Eoin invites Ken to eat humble pie, and since there is a lot of it to go around this process occupies a large part of the first segment of the show. John Brewin joins us for reaction to Liverpool's win at Old Trafford. And Tim Vickery reflects on the career of Rivaldo, who announced his retirement over the weekend, aged 41.

Its a special St Patrick's day episode of Second Captains, as we celebrate all thats good about being Irish, including sporting prowess, luck and the smell of fried concession stand burger meat at 9am. We talk to Denis Hickie and Eddie O'Sullivan about the difference between luck and being lucky, coming close and winning and if this is just the end of the beginning for the Joe Schmidt era. Brian O'Driscoll's retirement was like a fairytale, but we talk to US Murph about 40 year old NBA star Steve Nash, who is getting it terribly wrong as he reaches the end of the road. Proud ulstermen, a Ken apology and sporting mercenaries also feature.

Eoin and Ken discuss John Delaney's views on excessive pay, Uli Hoeness' tax problems and Nicklas Bendtner's taxi cab travails. The world fears for Manchester United's prospects on Sunday as Brendan Rodgers reveals the sight of his Liverpool players tearing into each other in training terrifies him. Miguel Delaney joins us to preview the match at Old Trafford, and to discuss how Tim Sherwood has been shooting his Tottenham players from the hip. And Jonathan Wilson gives his verdict on the week's Champions League victories for the two FCBs.

Eoin is very anxious to tell people that Ireland are going to win handsomely in France this weekend… but he’s having trouble finding anyone with an alternative view to try and convince. All this confidence is good, right? Former Ireland players Reggie Corrigan and Victor Costello are in studio to tell us if we’ve anything to worry about. And in a week where ‘sure things’ are always at a premium, we talk about the greatest racehorse of them all, Arkle, who won his first Gold Cup 50 years ago this week. Cockerels are dinosaurs, Ken’s love affair with Sprinter Sacre, and people going to jail for tax evasion – no, really, ACTUAL jail – all on the menu as well.