RTÉ GAA Podcast

Neil McManus joins Cathal Mullaney for the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, where the Leinster Championship - and its proposed reforms - are up for debate.McManus is a fan of the proposals as it will give the aspiring counties the chance to see progress.But how can hurling become a truly national sport, like football? The panel discuss ways to move it beyond the traditional counties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nigel Dunne and Rory O'Neill join Cathal Mullaney for a live recording of the podcast at the RTÉ tent at the National Ploughing Championships near Tullamore in County Offaly0.00 - 1.45 - Introduction and welcome1.45 - 3.00 - Nigel on his decision to join the Offaly management team ahead of the new season3.00 - 5.00 - Reflecting on this year’s football championship which ended with Mayo’s historic triumph5.00 - 7.35 - Will the way in which Mayo won the All-Ireland inspire other teams to adopt a similar brand of football?7.35 - 8.55 - Will the fact that Mayo won the All-Ireland give a greater sense of belief to other counties currently awaiting a major breakthrough?8.55 - 12.10 - Padraic Joyce’s decision to leave the Galway job and who might be next - might they go for someone from outside the county?12.10 - 16.50 - Potential further changes to the football rules to be trialled this winter; but is there an appetite for this right now?16.50 - 21.00 - Hurling is also exploring some potential changes, including increasing the number of permitted steps with possession to six. The panel discuss21.00 - 24.15 - The managerial merry-go round in hurling is in full swing, with Henry Shefflin’s appointment in Kilkenny one of the major talking points. Limerick, meanwhile, will have John Kiely back at the helm24.15 - 27.15 - The integration debate: Rory and Nigel weigh in on where the process is at right now and what message the recent controversy has sent out to the wider GAA population27.15 - 31.15 - Will integration happen and can dual counties lead the way?31.15 - 34.00 - Club championship action - is the split season working?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Shanes, McGrath and Dowling, join Cathal Mullaney to preview the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals this weekend.How do they see Limerick getting on against neighbours Clare, and does Galway's gameplan stand up to the test of Cork?While the lads also share a few ideas on how to improve the sport.0:30 - Minor hurling final review as Limerick overcame Tipperary at the death.08:10 - Limerick-Clare preview semi-final preview. Dowling reckons Clare were so poor in the round robin game against Limerick. After 13 years on the road are the Banner beginning to tire. Despite convincing scoreline, Dublin had lots of goal chances in quarter-final..12:30 - McGrath believes Limerick are as good as they've been in last few years. Competition to even make panel is pushing performances to another level this year.18:00 - McGrath describes Shane O’Donnell as unmarkable at times. Central to gameplan, but Clare need time and space out the field to deliver quality ball. Dowling says Limerick don’t worry about match-ups - defenders will play where selected and mark whoever they have to.22:50 - Galway-Cork semi-final preview. That Leinster final performance is irrelevant. How good are Galway - was Leinster that bad or are they the real deal?25:20 - Galway to stick with their blanket defence, trust their system. Cork to bring intensity and long distance shooters that Galway have not seen this year.29:16 - Dowling describes Galway as not nice to watch. But fair play if Micheal Donoghue if he gets them to a final playing this way.33:50 - Dowling insists something needs to be done with game of hurling. Keep three players inside the 45 and puck-outs go outside the 45. Try and solve the handpass problems. Increase goals to four points. McGrath talks about refereeing changes… more money to make the job more attaractive?40:50 - Dowling would love to see players trying to buy frees this weekend have frees given against them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane McGrath joins Cathal Mullaney to rake over the coals of two very disappointing hurling quarter-finals and give his own input on the debate about how to improve the standard of hurling across the country and reduce the perceived gap between Leinster and Munster.TIMESTAMPS00:20- Shane McGrath holidaying in Costa del Centerparcs02:30 - The step up for Offaly in terms of fitnes and physicality. Bigger picture is stronger counties will always be stronger07:00 - How can Cork get the best out of Alan Connolly?12:00 - How will Cork deal with Galway’s packed defence? Will Mark Coleman hold the line?14:45 - David Reidy injury. Duty of care that players must have. 19:10 - Limerick bring out the best in Clare but too many bodies missing in Banner defence?22:15 - Dublin don’t travel well. Reliance on Donal Burke. Man-on-man system doesn’t work, but they do have the personnel.25:45 - Munster just way ahead of Leinster at the minute. Jarlath Burns' comments on time needed to fix hurling nationwide.28:45 - Is hurling stronger than ever? Takes a long time to improve. Antrim example… too few clubs.31:45 - Need strong culture as hurling is so hard and improvement takes a long time.33:23 - How to improve hurling in short term? Start championship in May and look at structure of Joe McDonagh and Christy Ring. 36:20 - Looking forward to All-Ireland minor hurling final.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cathal Mullaney and the RTÉ Sport team take a look at all the biggest issues in football and hurling, plus preview and review the weekend's action with RTÉ's top GAA analysts.This week, Nigel Dunne holds his hands up over his Cork prediction following their massive win and Ballybofey. And Dessie Dolan wonders if players too often take the easy way out in front of goal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Fenton and Dessie Dolan join Cathal Mullaney to preview a bumper weekend of All-Ireland SFC Round 2 action.Attention starts in Salthill as high-flying Westmeath look to return to the quarter-finals after a 20-year hiatus.Can Donegal book their place in the next round as they host Cork?There's a repeat of the 2021 All Ireland Final as Mayo and Tyrone battle it out.Brian dissects the Dublin disciplinary dilemmas and form ahead of their crunch Cavan clash.Finally, Jack O'Connor brings Kerry to his old county Kildare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Éamonn Fitzmaurice and Nigel Dunne join Cathal Mullaney to cast an eye over the All-Ireland SFC draw.Can Cavan put Dublin out of their misery and have Louth set their ambitions too low?Cork face a nightmare journey to Donegal but our panel disagree on whether that's a game to go after.Teams who are targeting Sam Maguire will need to produce their best at Croke Park, and it's a challenge to bring provincial football to the game's biggest stage.Seán Fitzgerald has made his Love Island debut, but what would Éamonn tell a player of his who wanted to appear on the show?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Fenton and Mike Quirke join Cathal Mullaney as the fallout from Kerry v Donegal Part III continues.Has justice been served for Jim McGuinness, and was David Clifford lucky to escape punishment in Killarney, and what can done to avoid similar scenes in the future?Cork and Tyrone came good last weekend, but what of Meath and Roscommon?Westmeath are back in action after their Leinster triumph, but which version of them will show up, and is this the weekend where we finally see a performance from Mayo and Dublin?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.