The 42 GAA Weekly

Osad

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  Cork hold on in bruising battle: Camogie final review 10.08.2026 23min

  Emma Duffy and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to chat about yesterday’s decider at Croke Park.Has there been an overcorrection in camogie? Where a few short years ago everything seemed to be a free, and now physicality is off the scale - with sometimes dangerous consequences?Does the officiating of head high challenges and collisions need to be more strict? And is there far too much cynical fouling when players have a sniff of goal? Is it time for a black card rule to be introduced?How did Cork gain the impetus in the third quarter after Galway shaded the first half? And how did they let Galway get such a run on them in the closing straight, having led by six points towards the end of normal time? Was Cork’s running game counterproductive at times, especially when they profited with goals by going direct?With these two outstanding sides having contested a third final in a row, is any other team primed to break the duopoly?Either way, these teams have elevated the standards and appeal of the sport, judging by scoring totals, levels of athleticism reached and record crowds paying through the gates in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Farewell Kobe | Camogie final preview | The south-east will rise again 06.08.2026 51min

  Fintan O’Toole joins Ronan Early to chat about the big GAA matters of the week.It’s farewell to Kobe McDonald, who has touched down in Melbourne. What position will he play? And can we expect to see him in first team action soon?There is a trio of new managers in the south-east. Henry Shefflin in Kilkenny, Derek McGrath in Wexford and Stephen Molumphy in Waterford. Who is best placed to succeed? And where exactly does the south-east begin and end?Cork and Galway meet for the third year in a row in the camogie decider, with one win apiece. Who can seize the initiative on Sunday? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Late drama as Galway secure second All-Ireland title 02.08.2026 11min

  Fintan O'Toole is joined by Emma Duffy, who was in Croke Park to witness Galway's dramatic one-point victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland ladies football final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trying to make sense of the greatest story ever told 28.07.2026 58min

  Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to grapple with the meaning and emotion so abundant in Mayo’s stunning All-Ireland victory. Has there ever been a more seismic moment in the GAA? Or in Irish sport full stop? While being aware of recency bias, we are scratching our heads. Also, Mayo people’s delight is obvious and palpable, but why has nearly everyone else been so deeply affected by Sam going west? We get into theories ranging from the Seven Universal Plots, and how Mayo fulfilled most of them, to Steve McQueen’s Papillion, who was brutalised but never broken. What will be the lasting repercussions of this victory for the human spirit? Will we see other teams take inspiration and make the breakthrough. And stylistically, are we set for an era of heavy metal football - with younger, lighter, faster, high-pressing players taking prominence as the true possibilities of new Gaelic football become ever more clear?    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mayo stun Kerry to win the Sam Maguire 26.07.2026 17min

  Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue convene at Croke Park to analyse Mayo's emotional All-Ireland final victory over Kerry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mayo v Kerry, the Trigger’s Broom All-Ireland final 22.07.2026 56min

  Declan Bogue, Fintan O’Toole and Ronan Early convene for a philosophical football final preview.At least it starts out that way, before getting down to the brass tacks of who is going to win this game and why.But first the lads grapple with the question of whether Triggers brush, with 17 new heads and 14 new handles over a 20-year span, is still the same brush? Parallels are drawn to the Ship of Theseus Paradox which has exercised thinkers for centuries: If a boat has every component replaced over time, is it the same ship or a new one? And are Mayo still Mayo, and Kerry still Kerry, in their essence, despite the passage of time and changing cast of characters?Also, should Kobe McDonald defer his move to Australia? Ronan thinks he should, Declan thinks he will, while Fintan tells them why it’s an opportunity too good to pass up.Predictions are given, complete with winning margins, to be used in evidence against us should the game take on a different and unforeseen, on this podcast at least, course. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Awesome Limerick far too strong for Galway 19.07.2026 15min

  Declan Bogue and Fintan O'Toole dial in from Croke Park in the immediate aftermath of the hurling decider, where the Munster champions dominated proceedings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Speed, youth, experience, grit: Limerick-Galway All-Ireland hurling final preview 15.07.2026 1t

  Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to chat about Galway and Limerick’s showdown at Croke Park on Sunday.Can the Tribesmen gain belated revenge for 2018, a seismic final that set both teams in wildly different directions?Can Galway frustrate Limerick like they did Cork on Sunday, or have the Munster champions got too many long-range shooters for the same plan to be effective?At what point do Galway push out and crank up the pressure on Limerick? Who marks Jason Rabbitte and what happens if that Limerick defender gets a yellow card?How does Paul Kinnerk keep innovating with Limerick, and what do we know about the chemistry in Galway’s backroom team?Also, do counties and players sell themselves short by staying quiet before a big game? Or is it unrealistic to expect amateur players to engage freely with the media?Also, do counties and players sell themselves short by staying quiet before a big game? Or is it unrealistic to expect amateur players to engage freely with the media? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Time for VAR at Croke Park? All-Ireland semi-finals reaction 12.07.2026 26min

  Fintan O'Toole and Paul Keane give their immediate reaction from Croke Park, after Kerry's narrow win over Dublin. The pair also look back at Mayo's emphatic victory over Louth, and Wicklow's incredible comeback against Down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fever pitch: Sold-out All-Ireland football semi-finals previewed 09.07.2026 32min

  Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to discuss the seismic clashes of Mayo-Louth and Dublin-Kerry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Agony and regret for Cork and Clare | Shefflin gets Kilkenny job 07.07.2026 48min

  Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to assess the two losing hurling semi-finalists. The victorious Galway and Limerick sides will be discussed in detail ahead of the All-Ireland final. For now we are looking at the Rebels and the Banner, who both seem to have reached the end of the road with their current teams, albeit in different moods and circumstance. For Cork it is yet another galling collapse in Croke Park, when they were favourites for the game and in a strong position in the first half. Where do they go in 2027? Is major surgery required? How can they begin to heal the accumulating mental scars? Clare earned plaudits for the ferocity of the challenge they brought to Limerick. But did they suffer from white line fever, failing to score after Tony Kelly’s penalty in the 57th minute? And by being one correct decision away from the final - in Nickie Quaid managing to stay on the field for the penalty - have Clare exposed the folly of a championship format which had them on the brink after only two really good performances?   Meanwhile, Henry Shefflin gets the Kilkenny job. How did this come about? And what are his chances of success?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Limerick defeat Clare in thriller, Galway take big step, what next for Cork? 05.07.2026 25min

  Fintan O'Toole and Declan Bogue reflect on All-Ireland hurling semi-final weekend at Croke Park. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Four to the floor: The big All-Ireland hurling semi-finals preview 01.07.2026 59min

  Fintan O’Toole joins Ronan Early to look ahead to Cork-Galway and Clare-Limerick in Croke Park this weekend.From bookies paying out early, to fellas getting tattoos and pundits criticising their rivals - there is always a stick with which to beat the Cork hurlers. This week it comes in the form of Ringmahon Rangers and the FAI Cup fixtures impasse.The lads did not expect one of Cork city’s premier soccer nurseries to feature in the build-up to the Rebels’ showdown with Galway - but they knew it would be something. Cork hurling has long since become a soap opera with wild storylines entirely beyond the control of anyone actually involved in the operation. So how do they handle the noise? Block it out or have a brief laugh as you focus on the substantial job at hand: beating Galway.Fintan breaks down areas where Glaway can hurt Cork, and how Cork can temper their threats and build a winning total themselves.Also, can Clare rise from an indifferent campaign and produce one of their best displays ever, which is what will be needed to beat Championship favourites Limerick? We assess their chances.To get in touch with the pod, please email Fintan@the42.ie or Ronan@the42.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Quarter-final drama: Dublin, Louth, Kerry and Mayo advance 28.06.2026 23min

  Fintan O'Toole is joined by Paul Keane in Croke Park to look back on a brilliant and dramatic weekend of football action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  ‘Sometimes the Championship can get a bit wild’ - All-Ireland quarter-finals preview 24.06.2026 1t 11min

  Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to look ahead to a packed weekend of football, as the Championship is down to the last eight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  More GAA+ aggro and the most exciting football weekend of the year 17.06.2026 1t 8min

  Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to look ahead to a truly exciting round of knockout football.But first they talk about the promotional own-goal of putting the Kerry-Armagh clash on their streaming service instead of free-to-air TV. Why are the GAA hiding their jewels while interest in the World Cup booms? Or is there a counterargument, and does GAA+ really need the biggest games to be a viable service?On the field of play, we look ahead to the blockbuster ties of Dublin-Donegal as well as Kerry-Armagh and call Mayo-Meath and Monaghan-Westmeath.And for all the hurling snobs about there, fast-forward to 58.47 for some chat about Clare-Dublin and Cork-Offaly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Cork-Limerick fallout | Can Galway topple the big two? | Football previews 11.06.2026 1t 3min

  Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue join Ronan Early to debate the Munster final.Is the discussion over the final whistle contrived controversy. Did the stop-start game need a dramatic talking point at the end to elevate the spectacle?Why were Limerick so excited to win? What makes for a great hurling dynasty? To rack up All-Irelands do you need to be strong when others are weak? And with Cork now at Limerick’s level will their GOAT credentials be put to the ultimate stress test?Declan, meanwhile, assesses Galway’s chances of beating both.Also, we run through the knockout football games for the weekend ahead and, as ever, call it. There is even a World Cup prediction at the end if you want to ruin your accumulators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Limerick-Cork and Galway-Dublin provincial hurling finals review 07.06.2026 19min

  Fintan O'Toole is joined by Paul Dollery of The Sun in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to reflect on Limerick edging out Cork in a tense Munster decider today, and Galway cruising past Dublin in last night's Leinster final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Ger Brennan hits back, Derek Lyng leaves Kilkenny, Munster-Leinster final previews 04.06.2026 53min

  Declan Bogue joins Fintan O'Toole to look at a week when GAA bosses have dominated the agenda.First Jarlath Burns had his say, then Ger Brennan hit back, as the controversy over managerial bans continues. What impact is this all having on Dublin's season?Derek Lyng has stepped down in Kilkenny, the lads reflect on his time in charge and wonder is Henry Shefflin set to take charge.And they look ahead to this weekend's big hurling finals... why this is a season-defining game for Dublin and Galway, and can Limerick change their record against Cork? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is the GAA’s disciplinary system fit for purpose? | Why Davy did not work out at Antrim 28.05.2026 50min

  Declan Bogue joins Ronan Early to discuss the fallout from the Kerry-Donegal clash.Jim McGuinness and David Clifford have avoided bans for their part in the fracas at Fitzgerald stadium, just months after Ger Brennan, the Dublin manager, received a 12-week ban for an offence not dissimilar to McGuinness’.Is the GAA disciplinary system - with its myriad committees and ruling bodies who administer justice in private and do not comment publicly - fit for purpose nowadays? What needs to happen for greater consistency and transparency?Also on today’s pod, Declan details why the marriage of Davy Fitzgerald and Antrim hurling failed to produce the kind of results both parties would have liked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.