The GAA Social Folgen

In one of the most powerful GAA Social podcasts to date, former Armagh manager Brian Canavan joins Thomas and Oisin. He talks football, one of the most high profile shootings in his bar during the Troubles- weeks before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Brian also talks living with Cancer, refereeing and perhaps unusually, there's plenty of laughs too.In 1998, best friends Damien Trainor and Phillip Allen were killed in a shooting in Poyntzpass. The LVF burst into the Railway Bar and shot dead the life-long friends. Brian Canavan owns the Railway Bar. Both Damien and Phillip were innocent locals, discussing the upcoming wedding of Phillip. Damien was due to be best man.It's one of the most high profile shootings during the troubles. It occurred weeks before the Good Friday Agreement was signed and notable because of David Trimble and Seamus Mallon, together visiting the homes of both victims. Canavan brings us back to that day. It's a remarkable moment in time.Canavan along with Brian McAlinden managed Armagh to back-to-back Ulster championships in 1999 & 2000. It's 23 years since Armagh beat Derry on that famous day at Clones. Oisin McConville scored the winning point after a dubious free was awarded.This week marks a special occasion for Brian. For the first time, he discusses his cancer treatment and on Wednesday May 4th will receive his final radiotherapy treatment. That's the plan!Brian was BBC co-commentator for almost 30 years, we reflect on those days, the battles when in charge of Armagh and a refreshing outlook on life. Brian and his wife Geraldine go away for a night once a week, date night and still the best of friends. Life lessons.It's an absorbing story of love, loss, football and life. It's the brilliant Brian Canavan on the GAA Social

Greg McCabe is growing in the famous number 6 shirt that Kieran McGeeney made his own. An immense performance in the Ulster semi-final over Down, McCabe talks about the lure of an Ulster title, taking on Derry and brings us on the Armagh journey. He’s a player on top form.The podcast also talks Dublin, their escape from the clutches of Kildare and we ask a question- that doesn't seem as rhetorical as it once did'Could Louth win the Leinster championship’Mickey Harte hopes so. The Sligo express is going the right way- but is Galway a bridge too far?Thomas & Oisin disagree over hurling & football and Harry Redknapp even gets a mention on the podcast.It's the GAA Social Extra. Lovely

Barry O’Hagan is a week out of career threatening surgery. A Triple reconstruction of knee ligaments, a procedure that was dramatically changed 30 minutes before operation. The Hilltown man is the marquee Down forward- until a Saturday night against Antrim in February! In this podcast we examine and dig into living with injury, processing it and beginning the long road to recovery. It’s a fascinating insight into the trauma of missing out. Football really is life. Barry is from Clonduff, rival parish of Kilcoo. So how did he feel when Conor Laverty became manager? His response is brutally honest! What O’Hagan does provide is an insight into a new manager- how he’s galvanised a young squad and move them in the right direction. It’s absorbing and a rare insight. Oisin predicts his Ulster final and we also dig into the role of Jim McGuinness with Down. Interesting…. Barry is married with two young children. We look at the challenges of family life with sporting performance. It's becoming uncommon in a modern inter-county changing room. Plenty of laughs, insights and a brutually honest assessment of life as an intercounty GAA player. Barry O'Hagan on the GAA Social