The 42FM

Gav rides the Rorycoaster at Augusta

Sinead is joined by Gavin from Augusta National. It is the morning after another epic night for Rory McIlroy. But did it need to be epic? Does it always have to be so fraught, so tortuous? Yes, it seems. “Nobody,” as Gav says, “this good needs to be this interesting.” Some people just can’t help themselves. We discuss the moments it seemed to be slipping away from McIlroy, from his wayward tee shots, his off-key round on Saturday to his slow start on Sunday before a steely recovery that eventually helped him to get over the line - as his rivals could not muster the kind of round Justin Rose produced last year to heap pressure on the Northern Irishman. What next for a man who can now be described as Europe’s greatest ever golfer? And how will Shane Lowry reflect on a week where a final-day 68 would have brought the green jacket back to Offaly? As he tries to make sense of how three good days gave way to a final, poor round, we assess what are heady days for Irish golf. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

An unusual Masters: Tiger absent and Rory back as champion

Gavin Cooney dials in from Augusta to look ahead to the 2026 Masters with Sinéad O'Carroll. Despite finally getting his hands on a green jacket last year, Rory McIlroy is still the talk of the town. How is he embracing his champion status? How will he perform this year with the pressure finally off to complete the Grand Slam? Will journalists ask him about The Daily Mail’s coverage of Alan Shipnuck's new McIlroy biography? Elsewhere, is Shane Lowry in with a chance of success? Is it Scottie Scheffler’s competition to lose? And what are the players and US journalists saying about Tiger Woods, LIV and Donald Trump? Also, Sinéad is slowly converting Irish football fans into figure skating enthusiasts.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The tragedy of Tiger Woods

Sinead O’Carroll and Gavin Cooney discuss the rise and prolonged downfall of golf’s greatest ever player. From prodigious talent levels in childhood to dominating the sport in his 20s and 30s, to the slow and scandal-riven decline, Tiger Woods has rarely been away from the headlines. Is the near-constant scrutiny, overwhelming fame and atypical childhood enough to engender sympathy for Woods, despite his continued driving offences which put others as well as himself in grave danger? Or has perhaps the most recognisable athletes of the 20th century run out of chances with the public? ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

SNAP REACTION: Ireland’s World Cup dream ends in penalty shootout heartbreak

Gavin Cooney and David Sneyd provide immediate reaction from the Fortuna Arena in Prague as Ireland fall to the cruelest of defeats in the World Cup semi-final play-off. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

One win. Then one more win

Gavin Cooney dials in from Prague to chat to Sinead O’Carroll during a defining week for Irish football. Gav is optimistic but daunted on Ireland’s behalf, as they need five competitive wins in a row to make the World Cup finals in America. Sinead, informed by her data analyst sister, says, no - Ireland just need to win one game. And then win more. A more optimistic interpretation again suggests two draws and two penalty shootout victories will suffice, but neither can entertain the cardiac stress of such a turn of events. The pair also discuss why the men’s national football team moves the needle to the extent it does in the media as a consequence of the hold they have over the general population. Is it because the game is so widely played and easy to understand? Or is it, as Sinead suggests, because younger generations are desperate for their own Italy '90 or USA '94 moments? The bounty of those competitions was not spent well here. Can this be different? Do we now have a stronger foundation upon which to build a robust football edifice in Ireland? The odds will be enhanced with one win on Thursday, and then another on Tuesday. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.