The Score NI

Northern Ireland internationals Isaac Price, Dion Charles and Jamal Lewis reflect on a positive end to a challenging Euro Qualifying campaign.

Danny Wallace discusses Glenavon's upturn in form under new boss Stephen McDonnell, Cliftonville's Stephen Mallon opens up about bouncing back from injury hell and Institute boss Kevin Deery chats about what has been a happy return to 'Stute.

The latest round of the League Cup had one of the longest ever penalty shootouts, upsets and extra-time drama so we've rounded up some of the key protagonists to share an insight into what went on.

We speak to Coleraine 'keeper Gareth Deane, Larne striker Andy Ryan and Portadown midfielder Ryan Mayse.

Plus we are joined by David Kerr from NIFL to discuss his new documentary 'Inside Cliftonville'.

On this week's show journalist Mark McIntosh gives his honest assessment on all 12 Premiership clubs and offers his predictions for the weekend and the season as a whole. We also catch up with former Newry City boss Darren Mullen who has helped the club set up a Past Players Association and interim Ballinamallard boss Mark Stafford shares his thoughts on a winning start in the hotseat.

Cliftonville's Rory Hale, Daniel Larmour of Crusaders and new Dergview boss Emmet Friars join Michael on this week's episode, which kicks off with some big breaking news.

The Euros are coming to Belfast in 2028 after the UK and Ireland won the right to host the tournament. We speak to Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson and journalist Keith Bailie about what this news means for the country, for funding prospects, qualification hopes and we discuss the decision to play games at Casement Park.

We preview Northern Ireland's next two Euro Qualifiers with the help of internationals Dan Ballard and Isaac Price, whilst Paul O'Neill of Larne and Chris Shields of Linfield help to provide a perspective on the latest round of Premiership fixtures.

Goals change games and they can also change seasons. Our guests this week reflect on winning their last two matches and hoping that trend can continue, in the form of Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin and Carrick Rangers forward Danny Purkis.

We also speak to Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill after he named his squad to face San Marino and Slovenia.

Our guests this week are all on the move. Stephen McDonnell is Lurgan-bound having landed the job as new Glenavon boss, Premiership new-boys Loughgall are represented by their captain Ben Murdock who is hoping their upward trajectory can continue and Niall Currie is in a happier place after a recent run of wins has seen his promotion-favourites Portadown climb up the Championship table.

NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor discusses the league's new 5 year strategy which could see a change to the league calendar introduced, Coleraine striker Andrew Mitchell opens up about why he was out of the game for so long and the relief to be back amongst the goals and Linfield striker Chris McKee reflects on his own excellent start to the season.

Michael is joined by Ballymena United captain Colin Coates, Jordan Jenkins talks about hoping to make a positive impression at Dundela, journalist Keith Bailie discusses some of the big stories of the week and manager Paul Owens reflects on an impressive start to the season with Limavady United.

Glentoran winger Daire O'Connor, Larne 'keeper Rohan Ferguson and Ballymacash Rangers boss Lee Forsythe join Michael on this week's episode.

It's the beginning of a new Premiership season and Michael helps get you ready for all of the action by speaking to representatives from each of the 12 top flight teams.

Jonny Frazer and Chris Ramsey join Michael to preview H&W Welders and Ballyclare Comrades ties in the Irish Cup respectively as they prepare to welcome Premiership opposition in the quarter finals of the competition.

Then we turn attention to next weekend and the League Cup final between Linfield and Coleraine. From the Blues we chat to manager David Healy, defender Daniel Finlayson and midfielder Chris Shields whilst the Bannsiders are represented by their boss Oran Kearney, Lee Lynch and top scorer Matthew Shevlin.

It's our final show of 2022 and on it we preview the Steel and Sons Cup final with Dunmurry Rec manager Dan Thornton and Bangor boss Lee Feeney, we find out about how a club called Borussia Newtownabbey are using football to help people open up about their mental health and journalist Mark McIntosh joins us to assess the Premiership season at the half-way stage and make some big predictions for the football yet to come.

With the weather playing havoc with the fixture list we decided to turn our attention to a misunderstood bunch in the football world - goalkeepers. Joining us to discuss their craft and shed a light on the highs and lows between the posts is Bam Neeson (Ballymacash Rangers), Conor Mitchell (Warrenpoint Town) and Dwayne Nelson (Dungannon Swifts).

Plus we kick off the show by revealing who has won our big Christmas competition with Connected Fitness!

Michael O'Neill joins us to discuss his decision to return as Northern Ireland manager, Keith Bailie offers a journalist's perspective on the news plus we talk to Ballymena Utd skipper Josh Kelly and Ards boss Matthew Tipton about their seasons so far.

Football is a numbers game and our guests this week, like us, are weighing them up. Jonny Addis is part of a Cliftonville team that are re-building defensive foundations as they accumulate clean sheets, Declan Caddell came out of retirement to make his 511th career appearance for Crusaders and Tony Gorman is a happier man after 3 points last weekend moved Dungannon Swifts 6 points clear of relegation rivals Portadown. 

In a week where we learned we are ranked in the top 10% of podcasts globally based on both follows and shares, we are on the happy side of the number-crunching and pay tribute to you, our listeners, in this episode for your amazing support.

Michael is joined by guests from all 3 tiers of the NI Football League, as he chats to returning Limavady Utd boss Paul Owens, Dundela ace Tony Kane and Carrick Rangers forward Emmett McGuckin.

NI international Sarah McFadden reflects on a remarkable year for women's football, which ended in victory for the Green and White Army against Italy in Belfast on Tuesday night and we chat Irish League with Linfield's Chris Shields and Larne boss Tiernan Lynch. 

Sean Ward reflects on 20 years in the Irish League as Glenavon prepare to face another of his former clubs, Daniel Hughes discusses Newry City's mission for Premiership survival after winning the Championship last season and Cliftonville assistant manager Declan O'Hara assesses their quest for silverware in this campaign and opens up about his relationship with Paddy McLaughlin.

The Premiership's top scorer Matthew Shevlin reflects on his blistering start to the season, Northern Ireland international Julie Nelson shares her thoughts on the introduction of the Nations League to the women's game and Bobby Burns discusses Glentoran's bid to stay grounded as everyone guns for them and pays tribute to his former coach Frankie Wilson, who passed away last week.

Michael heads to North Belfast for an exclusive hour-long interview with Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter.

The Premiership's current top 3 clubs are represented on this week's show with Lee Bonis (Larne), Aidan Wilson (Glentoran) and Jarlath O'Rourke (Crusaders) keeping Michael company on the programme.

Larne FC fans' favourite Tomas Cosgrove discusses the table-toppers start to the season ahead of their game against his former club Cliftonville, Linfield and Glentoran legends Michael Gault and Elliott Morris assess Friday night's derby match at Windsor Park and sports journalist Keith Bailie joins us to talk about the BetMcLean Cup draw, a change to the Irish Cup schedule and his thoughts on Northern Ireland's qualifying group for Euro 2024.

This week's show reflects the contrasting fortunes between youth and senior football in Northern Ireland. We discuss the success of Coleraine Youth, recording the first UEFA Youth League victory recorded by an Irish League side, with their manager Martin Smith and are also joined by Gerard Lyttle who this week guided Northern Ireland's U19s to the elite round of Euros qualifiers. We also reflect on Northern Ireland's struggles in the Nations League with journalist Mark McIntosh before getting his predictions for this weekend's Irish Premiership action.

On this week's show we have an in-depth chat with Ballymacash Rangers boss Lee Forsythe ahead of their PIL clash with Bangor, who have also enjoyed three wins from three. Queen's Park manager Owen Coyle helps us preview their SPFL Trust Trophy match with Cliftonville this weekend and we hear from Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis and manager Ian Baraclough as they prepare to face Kosovo and Greece in the Nations League.

On this week's show we're joined by Dundela boss Niall Currie, Portadown shot-stopper Jethren Barr and midfielders Leroy Millar and James Singleton of Larne and Glentoran, respectively. 

Andy Mitchell and John McGovern of Carrick Rangers and Newry City join us to reflect on big wins in recent days and Aaron Traynor opens up about his move to Cliftonville and pays tribute to Coleraine for the past 5 years.