Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Has this been a good season for Irish rugby?

Arena: NBA finals, basketball’s influence on other sports, coaching in the future

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 [https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-41719869.html] Coaching's quiet theft: every time we name the threat, we pickpocket tomorrow's intuition [https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-41790089.html ] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: How the two-pointer is changing Gaelic football

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 [Maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Inside Irish AFL scouting and the prospect of an AFLW team

This week on Arena, we explore the growing influence of Irish players in the AFLW and ask whether the rise of Irish talent could one day lead to an Irish-based AFLW team.   From the league’s early years, when Irish women helped fill a relatively shallow talent pool, to today’s competition where they are among the standout performers in a fully professional environment, the Irish impact on the AFLW has been remarkable.   Talent ID and skills coach Mike Currane joins the podcast to discuss the future of Irish players Down Under, why they have adapted so successfully to the game and what their success means for the GAA and LGFA at home.   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. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Has this been a good season for Irish rugby?

On this week’s episode, we are joined by Leinster Schools Head Coach, MSc Sports Performance Analysis lecturer, and The Currency columnist Brett Igoe to preview the final round of the United Rugby Championship regular season and assess the current state of Irish rugby. Maurice and Brett discuss Ireland’s depth chart, Leinster’s Champions Cup ambitions, Munster’s ongoing issues, the job Stuart Lancaster is doing at Connacht, and the next step for Ulster under Richie Murphy. Arena, a new podcast from the Irish Examiner, offers weekly deep dives into 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 Follow Brett on X @brettruganalyst. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett on GAA TV rights, Champions League coverage and punditry

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett to discuss the recent announcement that the broadcaster will remain in the Irish market for Champions League coverage. He explains why free-to-air television remains vital for sport, how decisions are made around which events are broadcast, and the challenges of balancing audience demand with commercial realities. We also examine RTÉ’s coverage of Gaelic games, including a defence of its punditry and the role analysis plays in shaping the viewing experience. Finally, we look to the future of live sport: should the priority be the in-stadium experience or the needs of the television audience? Arena, a new podcast from the Irish Examiner, offers weekly deep dives into 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 [maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.