We all recognise that it takes stamina, perseverance and dedication to make it to the top in sport and in business. This weekend the same attributes will be needed to get through what promises to be one of the most button changing, sports devouring weekends of the year.
Here is our guide to getting the best out of a Saturday that is packed with the best that sport has to offer.
Much of what is listed below will require a subscription to Sky Sports, Setanta, BT Sport or a TV license to watch on RTÉ. There are those who bemoan the need for subscription TV but we have calculated what it would cost to travel to watch these events using scheduled air transport, staying in four star hotels, paying face value for tickets and eating every now and again. The sum total, were it even remotely possible would come to €8,475. That would pay for a fair few TV packages and this way you don’t even have to leave the house.
Now if we are sitting comfortably, let us begin…
0400 You know it’s going to be tough so start strong with the Grand Final, the biggest game of the year in Aussie Rules. The Hawthorn Hawks take on the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
0700 Coverage of Day two of the Ryder Cup gets underway as the sun is coming up. This will be a constant to either stick with or flick back and forwards to as the day progresses.
1200 Liverpool Vs Everton. Brendan Rogers is missing Suarez and Sturridge but Everton seems to be missing a whole defence as the two rivals stumble rather than soar into one of the biggest derby games of the year.
1230 St Mirren Vs Celtic if you are a fan obviously.
1430 Coverage kicks off on Setanta Ireland of Man United against West Ham. Louis Van Gaal’s reign as the latest saviour at Old Trafford has hit a few speed bumps, not least with conceding five at Leicester last week. We wonder are Paddy Power dusting down the Grim Reaper outfit they used for David Moyes last year. Surely not…
1500 Oval Ball time as coverage of the Aviva Premiership in England gets underway with Northampton Saints against Bath. Both sides are in the European Rugby Champions’s Cup and could be waiting in the wings for the Irish teams.
1545 The small matter of South Africa taking on Australia in Rugby Union. What shape will the November visitors to Dublin be in?
1700 Throw in for the replay of what has been hailed as the Greatest ever All Ireland Hurling Final. Can Kilkenny and Tipperary live up to what they achieved three weeks ago? Wouldn’t you like to have been at the Kilkenny training sessions that made Brian Cody make three changes to the starting line up but still leave out Henry Shefflin?
1730 The day of derby’s in the Premier League continues with Arsenal and Spurs going head to head in North London
1800 In case all the adrenaline of the live action is proving too much you can take a time out by checking out ‘We Got Game’ a documentary about Irish Basketball’s huge popularity in the 1980’s.
1830 Tipperary fans are excused but the rest of Munster will be keeping an eye on Axel Foley’s troops as they host the Ospreys.
2200 Get ready to rumble later as Setanta sets of the MMA Mayhem with an hour long interview with Conor McGregor.
2300 To keep you going in between catching up with replays of what you might have missed you can check out live coverage of Argentina against the All Blacks.
0100 The action from Las Vegas gets underway with McGregor scheduled to be entering the ring sometime between 0300 and 0400.
And them on Sunday it all begins again. Enjoy.
