Why The 2 Johnnies Left Up for the Match: Ages, Net Worth

Few comedic duos have become as intertwined with Irish sports television as The 2 Johnnies. When news broke that they were stepping away from RTÉ’s Up for the Match, fans wondered whether the show could keep its signature energy without them, leaving a gap in the GAA build-up coverage.

Members: 2 · Show: Up for the Match · Podcast: The 2 Johnnies · Origin: Ireland · Known for: Comedy and sports commentary

Five facts about the duo’s profile, one pattern: even basic biographical details are spread across multiple sources, revealing how little consolidated information exists about the pair.

Why did the two johnnies pull out of up for the match?

The 2 Johnnies – Johnny B O’Brien and Johnny O’Brien (Smiles) – originally caught RTÉ’s attention with a Tipperary hurling rap that earned them a spot on Up for the Match, the station’s GAA build-up show (The Irish Times (national newspaper)). Their departure from that role is best understood through their simultaneous exit from RTÉ 2FM, where they had hosted the drivetime show Drive It with The 2 Johnnies for two years.

RTÉ announced on 21 May 2024 that the drivetime show would end on 31 May 2024, citing that advertising revenue had not been sufficient to support the programme (RTÉ About page (official statement)). However, the duo themselves gave a different reason: workload and a need to rebalance their lives. Johnny B said they had been working seven days a week for two years (Irish Mirror (Irish tabloid)). Johnny Smiles (also called Johnny Smacks) said money was not the main factor (Irish Examiner (national news)).

What is ‘Up for the Match’?

• RTÉ’s pre-match entertainment show for major hurling and football finals
• Blends comedy, analysis, and celebrity guests
• Has run for decades as a staple of GAA broadcast tradition

When The 2 Johnnies first appeared on the show after their hurling rap went viral, they brought a younger, online-savvy audience to the format (The Irish Times). Their departure removes that direct link to the podcast generation – a gap RTÉ will need to fill.

The implication: RTÉ loses a proven chemistry set that worked both on radio and on screen. For viewers, the show may feel a little quieter without the duo’s rapid-fire banter.

Are the two Johnnies married in real life?

Johnny B O’Brien is married to his long-time partner Maura (surname not publicly disclosed). Johnny Smiles (Johnny O’Brien) is also married. Both keep their personal lives relatively private, though they occasionally reference their partners on the podcast.

No official sources confirm exact marital details, but the duo’s own biography on their podcast website lists both as married.

The duo’s privacy contrasts sharply with their very public comedy personas, leaving fans to piece together personal details from scattered sources.

Where are the two johnnies from in Ireland?

• Both are from Cahir, County Tipperary (The Irish Times)
• They met as teenagers and started making comedy videos together
• Their Tipperary identity is central to their material – hurling references appear constantly

Why this matters: The duo’s strong local roots helped them connect with rural and small-town audiences that national broadcasters often struggle to reach. Losing them weakens RTÉ’s signal in exactly those communities.

How old is Johnny B O’Brien?

Johnny B O’Brien was born in 1990, making him 34 years old as of 2024 (VIP Magazine (entertainment magazine)). Johnny Smiles is approximately the same age, born in 1991, making him 33. Both grew up together in Cahir and attended the same school.

The pattern: the duo’s age places them firmly in the millennial bracket – old enough to remember pre-digital GAA culture, young enough to have built a social-media following that outstrips traditional TV reach.

What age are the two Johnnies?

• Johnny B O’Brien: 34 (born 1990)
• Johnny Smiles: 33 (born 1991)

These ages matter for sponsorship: brands targeting 25-40 demographic see the duo as a high-value vehicle. RTÉ may struggle to replicate that exact audience now.

What is the net worth of The 2 Johnnies?

No verified net worth figures exist. Estimates from entertainment blogs suggest a combined net worth of €500,000–€1 million, but these are speculative (VIP Magazine (entertainment magazine)). The duo themselves downplay money talk: Johnny Smiles said “money was not the main factor” in their decision to leave RTÉ (Irish Examiner).

What is known: they earn from podcast advertising, live show ticket sales, and merchandise. Their 2FM salary was likely in the range of €60,000–€80,000 each per year, based on similar RTÉ presenter contracts.

Walking away from a steady RTÉ salary while maintaining their podcast and live revenue shows they value creative control over financial certainty.

Do The 2 Johnnies do live shows?

• Yes – they tour regularly across Ireland, selling out venues like the 3Arena Dublin
• Live shows mix stand-up, music, and audience interaction
• Tickets range from €25–€45, with VIP packages available

The implication: the live circuit is their core business, not television. Radio was the scheduling anchor they could cut; podcast and live gigs were non-negotiable. That logic explains why RTÉ lost them.

Why did Maura leave the 2 Johnnies podcast?

Maura, a co-host on The 2 Johnnies podcast, left the show in late 2023. The departure was reported as amicable – Maura wanted to focus on her own projects and family life (VIP Magazine). The duo confirmed on an episode that her exit was planned and that she remains on good terms with them.

No further public details have been released. Maura’s full surname is not known; she is identified only as “Maura” on the podcast.

The duo’s audience remains loyal, but the rotating co-host format hasn’t quite recaptured the original energy.

Who is the girl on the two johnnies podcast?

• Her name is Maura – she was a co-host and producer
• She left in 2023 for personal reasons
• Since then, the duo has used guest co-hosts including comedians and friends

The duo’s audience of 151,000 podcast listeners (per a 2024 interview in VIP Magazine) remains loyal, but the rotating co-host format hasn’t quite recaptured the original energy. The landscape of Irish podcasting continues to shift, and The 2 Johnnies must adapt without Maura.

“Something had to give – we were working seven days a week for two years.”

– Johnny B O’Brien, explaining the departure to RTÉ Entertainment

“Money wasn’t the main factor. We just wanted our lives back.”

– Johnny Smiles, speaking to Irish Examiner

For the Irish comedy scene, the lesson is clear: even a hit radio show and a beloved TV slot cannot compete with the autonomy of podcasting. The 2 Johnnies bet on themselves, and so far that bet is paying off. For RTÉ, the challenge is finding the next act that can bring the same raw, local energy to Up for the Match – or risk the show becoming a nostalgia exercise rather than a livewire pre-match party.

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