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 maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

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A bonus episode. We're joined by Joe Callaghan from Texas to discuss the World Cup so far, England's unconvincing performances, the supporters on the ground and the enduring fascination with Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro.

You can read Joe's article, which we discuss during the episode, here

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On this week's episode of Arena, the Irish Examiner podcast, Maurice is joined by Monaghan boxer Aaron McKenna.

McKenna has the chance to become Ireland's newest world champion when he takes on Italy's Etinosa Oliha at Zuffa Boxing 10 in Dublin's 3Arena on August 8, live on Sky Sports.

With three blockbuster cards coming to Dublin across August and September, Irish boxing is preparing for one of its biggest periods in recent memory. But beyond the action in the ring, the sport itself is undergoing major change.

The lads discuss Aaron's world title opportunity, the resurgence of Irish boxing and the shifting landscape of the professional game, from rival promoters to the influence of Saudi investment. What does it all mean for boxing's future?

Get in touch with Maurice at maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

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On this week's episode of Arena, the Irish Examiner podcast, Maurice is joined by Paul Rouse, professor of history at University College Dublin.

Together, they discuss why sport matters, why we care so deeply about it, and how its place in society has evolved over time. What purpose does sport serve in the modern world? Why should the government invest in it? And what sporting events still sit on their bucket lists?

Arena, from the Irish Examiner, is a weekly feature-style reflection on Irish sport. Listen for free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts.

Get in touch with Maurice at Maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

You can read Paul’s most recent column here:

This is a wonderful article on what sport can do to us, by the great Keith Duggan.

Another article that is well worth revisiting. It's hard to say what makes it so brilliant. Shea Serrano on his dad and basketball legend Tim Duncan.

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Arena:

Arena is the weekly sports podcast from the Irish Examiner.

On this week's episode, sportswriter Joe Callaghan joins the show fresh from MetLife Stadium, where he witnessed France's victory over Senegal.

Joe and Maurice discuss France's impressive start to the tournament, the evolving style of play on display and the atmosphere on the ground. What impact have the Tartan Army had so far? How would it have felt if Ireland were there?

They also examine the early performances of the tournament's biggest stars and what we can read into results so far.

Get in touch with Maurice at maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie.

You can follow Joe's World Cup coverage on X at @JoeCallaghan84.

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On this week's episode of Arena, we are joined by sportswriter Joe Callaghan, who is in Canada ahead of their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this Friday.

104 matches, 48 teams and 16 host cities, what does a successful tournament look like, both on and off the pitch?

Joe joins Maurice and the team to discuss the atmosphere on the ground and whether the controversies that have surrounded the tournament in recent months will affect its reception. He also provides a detailed breakdown of Fifa's approach to this expanded World Cup, from soaring ticket prices to political concerns.

On the field, they discuss the teams capable of springing a surprise, the tactical trends that could define the tournament and what the World Cup means to them.

Arena is a weekly podcast from the Irish Examiner. Get in touch with Maurice at Maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie. You can follow Joe's World Cup coverage on X at @JoeCallaghan84.

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This week on Arena, we preview the NBA finals and talk about how basketball is influencing other sports with Ballincollig coach Ciaran O’Sullivan.

Ciaran was recently awarded coach of the year after a super season where Ballincollig won the National Cup and Super League title. They discuss how the NBA finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs should have something for everyone, how to defend the 7-foot-4 alien that is Victor Wembanyama and the coaching concepts likely to shape the series.

The conversation also delves into the challenges of coaching modern athletes and the importance of effective communication. How does a coach deal with the constant tension between idealism and pragmatism in high-performance sport?

Arena, from the Irish Examiner, is a weekly feature-style reflection on Irish sport. Listen free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read some of Ciaran’s recent columns here:

Ciarán O'Sullivan on coaching: Sport thrives in turbulence, where problems solve themselves through movement

Coaching's quiet theft: every time we name the threat, we pickpocket tomorrow's intuition

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On this week’s show, we’re joined by Galway footballer Robert Finnerty, Kildare Sports Performance coach Neil Welch, and Monaghan Sports Performance coach Paul Talty to discuss how the two-pointer has changed Gaelic football.

What has the two-pointer done to the way teams attack or defend? How will it evolve? Can Rob kick a two-pointer with his right foot? We answer these questions and more during a roundtable discussion.

Arena, from the Irish Examiner, is a weekly feature-style reflection on Irish sport. Listen for free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts.

The lads were talking on behalf of RYPT, the official player management software partner of the GAA.

RYPT is an Irish athletic development platform built to solve the problems sports coaches experience on a daily basis. Its user base includes All-Ireland Champions Kerry GAA, Munster Rugby, Kilkenny GAA, Shelbourne FC and many more.

From June 2026, coaches and players can sign up to RYPT and access the Two Point Club training programme via the RYPT library, developed by intercounty performance coaches to help athletes build the physical qualities needed to score two pointers.

Get in touch with Maurice on Maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie

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