Advertise on podcast: Arena with Maurice Brosnan

On this week’s episode of Arena, the Irish Examiner’s weekly sports podcast, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Galway boxer Kieran Molloy ahead of his November 14 bout against Steve Suppan at London’s OVO Arena Wembley. With a homecoming fight planned for 2027, Molloy discusses the challenges of making it in the professional ranks, the heartbreak of major fights falling through and the cancellation of a planned homecoming bout at Pease Stadium. The pair also look at the future of Irish boxing, the harsh realities of the professional game and the advice Molloy has for young fighters hoping to make their mark. You can contact Maurice at [email protected]. Read Maurice’s interview with Kieran from last year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Arena, the Irish Examiner’s weekly sports podcast, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Westmeath footballer Ray Connellan to examine the AFL’s recruitment of young Gaelic football talent. The lads discuss the news that Donegal star Finnbarr Roarty has signed a two-year contract with Collingwood. Drawing on his own experience of being recruited by St Kilda, Ray explains how the recruitment process works for Australian Rules clubs and what it takes to actually 'make it' Down Under. They also look at what the GAA can do in response. With the departures of Roarty and Kobe McDonald prompting understandable concern, is there a way to stem the flow of young talent to Australia? If not, what can the association ask for from the AFL? You can get in touch with Maurice at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Arena, a weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Eamon Devlin, founder of Minute9, who works with coaches, clubs and teams to help them maximise their half-time intervals. The Armagh native’s expertise in making the most of the interval has earned him clients across elite sport, from Real Madrid to Racing 92. He is also working with Cork GAA’s Gaelic football and hurling teams. Devlin discusses the common mistakes coaches make at half-time and how they can use the interval more effectively. They discuss Joe Kernan’s famous half-time speech in the 2002 final and what made it so effective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Arena, a podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan reports from Croke Park where the Expert Advisory Group held a media briefing about the upcoming rule trials. Gaelic football just enjoyed one of its greatest championships of all time. Why are we looking at further change? We hear from Kevin McStay, the head of the EAG, about what they are trying to do and why he is asking for people to be patient. There are nine suggested proposals that will be trialled in the college games next month. We run through all of them in detail on the show.# You can read the report from today’s press conference here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Arena, the weekly podcast for the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Diarmuid O’Flynn to discuss his new book, Not a Patch on the Oul’ Fella: The Life of a Club Hurler. Diarmuid speaks openly about his love for the sport and his deep sense of pride in his home place. They discuss his inner demons, domestic violence and why he felt the need to write about his father and mother. It is an important conversation that he hopes will prompt greater discussion and understanding of these issues in Irish society. Diarmuid’s remarkable life is explored in this episode. From still togging out at 50 in the Cork senior championship to his time living in Iran, New York and elsewhere. They also discuss his 20-year career with the Irish Examiner, some of the memorable interviews he has conducted and his frustration with the barriers created by modern-day access. You can get in touch with Maurice at [email protected] The column referenced about his big brother Donal can be read here: Diarmuid O'Flynn: Laughing with my dying brother. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Arena, the Irish Examiner’s weekly sports podcast, Maurice Brosnan is joined by the Examiner’s football correspondent John Fallon. The lads discuss the news that Ceadach O’Neill, who has attracted interest from the FAI, has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League games. They also look at Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill’s criticism of the FAI’s approach during his two spells in charge. While acknowledging the FAI’s right to approach eligible players, O’Neill has taken issue with the age at which some players are being targeted. What exactly happened with Liverpool’s Conor Bradley previously? Has that signalled a change of approach? Elsewhere, they discuss the news that all but two of Ireland’s 75 underage internationals in 2026 will be played outside the country. To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected]. You can read John’s column here: John Fallon: The grim reality of the lack of Irish underage games on home soil Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Arena, a weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Brendan O’Brien at Doonbeg’s Trump International ahead of the Amgen Irish Open. The lads discuss the atmosphere at the tournament and what this week means for Irish golf. It’s been a busy buildup as we learned about Rory McIlroy’s role in securing this venue, Shane Lowry’s psychological state after some recent tough outings and Pádraig Harrington’s unrelenting enthusiasm. To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected] You can read Brendan’s column here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Tim Percival, author of On the Record & On the Ball: How Elite Coaches Master the Media. The lads discuss Tim’s book and the lessons it offers for coaches and journalists alike. They reflect on how figures like Andy Moran and Eddie Jones have leveraged the media to their advantage and explore what the new age of media means for everyone concerned.    You can get in touch with Maurice at [email protected].  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Ballincollig basketball coach Ciarán O'Sullivan. The lads discuss Charleville manager Dominic Foley’s recent comments in which he called on the Cork County Board to “wake up” and ensure they retain the county’s top coaching talent. But what actually makes a team well-coached? Is being well-drilled always a good thing? What separates good coaching from simply having good players? They also discuss Cian O’Neill’s move to the Cork hurlers and examine how the two-pointer has impacted Gaelic football so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by award-winning ESPN senior writer Wright Thompson.   The lads discuss the uncertain state of sports journalism, why it is important to separate the business behind the industry from the craft itself and what great sports writing can still offer in a rapidly changing media landscape.   Wright recalls the extraordinary reaction to his infamous 2017 profile of Conor McGregor, explains why being there still matters and discusses how long a profile really takes.   To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected].   You can read Wright’s Steve Kerr profile here: The Warrior Still Remains   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Denise Martin, a leading member of the Gaelic Games Performance Analysis sub-group. A lecturer in Sports Performance Analysis at ATU Galway, Martin explains how performance analysis actually matters. She discusses the biggest mistakes coaches make, how to run team meetings that actually engage players and what to do when players switch off or struggle to understand the message. The pair also explore practical ways to improve feedback, structure effective review sessions and how the ACE model can help coaches communicate more effectively. To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected]. The Gaelic Games Performance Analysis Guide for Good Practice is available here. . The Games Intelligence Unit final report of 2025 is available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, sports journalist Cathal Dennehy joins Maurice Brosnan to preview the National Senior Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium and assess the current state of Irish athletics. The lads discuss the potential blockbuster clashes on the track, the Irish rivalries that are developing and what to look out for this weekend. They also examine the challenges Rhasidat Adeleke has faced since the 2024 Olympics after her candid Instagram post last week, in which she opened up about her struggles with injury and confidence. Arena is a weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner. You can get in touch with Maurice at [email protected]. The article the lads discussed is available here: The Irish running rivalry fuelled by hate: 'I needed that f****** resentment and bitterness. I love it. I get off on it' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's extra episode of Arena, the weekly sports podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Joe Callaghan, who was at Atlanta Stadium to witness Argentina's remarkable victory over England. The pair break down both semi-finals, discuss what stood out to Joe from inside the stadium and examine the reaction to England's defeat. They also look ahead to a blockbuster final, asking whether the tournament's two best teams have made it to the showpiece. You can read Joe's reports here and here. To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Kevin Conlan from Seoul Gaels to discuss the GAA abroad and this week’s World Games. Hundreds of players from across the world are in Waterford this week as part of the GAA World Games competition. Over 100 teams are taking part, with over 30 countries represented. It is being held for the fifth time and is now a triennial event. The lads discuss how the GAA could grow abroad and whether it needs to. They also examine the challenge of creating training sessions that work for everyone, from former intercounty stars to complete beginners, as well as why the social side of the GAA is often just as important as the sport itself. To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Arena, the weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner, Maurice Brosnan is joined by columnist Kieran Shannon to examine Cork's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway and what comes next. Kieran's analysis this week argued that Cork's performance exposed technical, tactical and mental shortcomings and that the county now needs a comprehensive forensic review, one that, in his view, should have taken place after last year's All-Ireland final defeat. So where do Cork go from here? How should the management team respond? What changes are needed within the coaching setup? And how will the players regroup ahead of next season? To get in touch with Maurice, email [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.