Episode 3355: McPhillips In The Final, Schar’s Concussion, Rashford’s Goals
Cian McPhillips was a brilliant underage athlete but at 23 years old his profile coming into these world champs was low, with all our 800m hopes pinned on proven veteran Mark English ; so to see McPhillips not only qualify for a final but to win his semi final with a new national record, looking confident and strong right to the line, was a brilliant surprise for all Irish people watching…. except for Mark English.

©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
We chat to Cathal Dennehy in Tokyo about where this form came from, how McPhillips’ academic studies slowed his athletics career for a while, if his personality is suited to the big stage, how he sees the final going and if the baking soda worked for Cathal in his media race.
“I had a feeling it was coming!”
Cian McPhillips reacts after propelling himself into the men’s 800m World final in an Irish record time | ?? @DavidGillick #Tokyo2025
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— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 18, 2025
It was a tough night for Newcastle in the Champions League.

Ken wonders where big Nick Woltemade was last night, looks at Fabian Schar’s concussion issues and how Rashford is doing over in Barca as Yamal’s stand in.

The special guest at our live show in London next week, Wednesday September 24th, will be Arsenal legend and one of our favourite people in football, Ian Wright. Last batch of tickets available at https://www.secondcaptains.com/live-events/

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Go to PatreonWe discuss military flyovers, planting the flag, Infantino moving into Trump Tower and why Trump’s relationship with the NFL has been so different to what it was during his 1st term.https://t.co/uxcODKp2Mc pic.twitter.com/749yPE6Zf2
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