If you have any brownie points to cash in, now’s the time.
And if not, you better turn on the charm this evening if you want to make the most of what has the potential to go down as one of the all-time sporting weekend.
Having Ireland’s rugby and football teams both in action would be enough in itself, and that’s before you consider the All-Ireland hurling final, the replay of Sunday’s epic football semi-final draw between Dublin and Mayo and UFC 191 from Las Vegas.
Add a little Formula One, golf, cycling and a dash of tennis and the scale of the days ahead becomes fully apparent.
Even better, every bit of it is on television for your viewing pleasure.
But, have no fear, SportsJOE is here to guide you through the sporting onslaught in one piece, ensuring you and your personal and professional relationships remain intact come next week.
Friday
1:00pm to 2:00pm A hearty lunch
Forget the usual prepacked supermarket sandwich – a proper square meal is required to get you ahead of the game. Sleep and good food will be at a premium.
7:45pm – 10:00pm Gibraltar vs Rep of Ireland (RTE Two)
A gentle kick-off to the weekend as the Boys in Green stroll to an expected three points against the Group D whipping boys in Faro. Anything other than a resounding win here would be a massive buzz kill and a very bad omen indeed for the remainder of the weekend.
7:35pm – 9:30pm Pro12 rugby (TG4/BBC2)
If watching Ireland toil their way to a 2-0 win doesn’t get the pulses racing, maybe the opening round of the Pro12 will be more to your taste. Leinster travel to Edinburgh, while Ulster get their season underway by hosting the Ospreys. Expect to see players on standby for Ireland’s World Cup squad, such as Andrew Trimble and Fergus McFadden, putting in big performances to stay at the forefront of Joe Schmidt’s thoughts.
9:30pm Preparing for an early night?
With the opening round of the Deutsche Bank Championships and US Open tennis on the box you could easily burn the midnight oil but we recommend restraint. You have a couple of long days ahead of you.
Saturday
Champion sports fans need a breakfast of champions. A lie-in followed by a mid-morning trip to the greasy spoon for the jumboest of Jumbo Breakfasts will set you up nicely for the rigours of the most taxing day of this sporting marathon.
2:30pm – 4:15pm England vs Ireland (Sky Sports 1)
Joe Schmidt has named his squad for the World Cup and this final hit-out should offer some indication as to the form of his frontline players going into the tournament. England are putting out a formidable outfit of their own and the hosts will be loathe to go into the World Cup on the back of a home defeat. Aside from a decent performance, look out for clues to Schmidt’s preferred options on the wing and in the second row, where further big games for Dave Kearney and Iain Henderson could push them into the starting XV.
4:15pm – 5:00pm Vuelta a Espana Stage 14
The end of the rugby dovetails nicely with the conclusion of Stage 14 of the Tour of Spain and yet another mountain-top finish. Several of the race’s big names, including Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome, are already either out of contention or out completely, but that hasn’t prevented some thrilling action in the mountains.
5:00pm – 7:00pm All-Ireland football semi-final replay – Mayo v Dublin (RTE Two)
It was always going to be a busy few days, but last Sunday’s drawn game between these sides at Croke Park gave us the cherry on top. Both sides will probably be kicking themselves that they failed to put the other away at the first time of asking, particularly Dublin, and the refereeing controversies that followed are sure to add a little spice, if any was needed, to the replay.
7:00pm – 7:45pm Decision time
You’ve probably been at the pub since lunchtime, and this is the window of opportunity to hold on to some level of respectability.
7:45pm – 9:45pm Pro12 rugby – Munster vs Treviso
Whether you are at home or settling in for the evening at the local watering hole, the day’s second dose of rugby action is on tap to keep you going.
9:45pm – 1:00am Golf, tennis and a kebab
Hopefully Rory McIlroy won’t be sweating the cut at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, while the action is beginning to pick up at Flushing Meadow as players battle to reach the second week. Make sure you take some time to step away for some sustenance though, as we’re far from done.
1:00am – 6:00am UFC 191 (BT Sport 1)
Congratulations if you’ve made it this far!!! It’s gonna be a late one as the main event sees flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson put his belt on the line against power-punching John Dodson in Las Vegas. You’ll have to wait until 5am for those two to throw down but there’s plenty to like about the undercard, which starts at 1am and includes highly-touted strawweight Paige VanZant opening the main card at 3am.
Sunday
11:30am – 1:00pm Brunch
You are probably not in the best fettle but if you can manage it, spend some time with your family. They miss you.
1:00pm – 3:00pm Formula One – Italian Grand Prix (BBC1)
Then it’s straight back into the thick of things with one of the biggest events on the Formula One calendar. F1 has lost some of its lustre in recent years, but there remain several must-see dates on the schedule and Monza is certainly one of those. The Mercedes of champion Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Nico Rosberg are battling it out for the title, but Ferrari’s improved form this season has increased the potential for a home victory.
1:15pm – 3:15pm All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final (TG4)
If F1 doesn’t suit your tastes, have no fear, you won’t be kicking your heels. Galway and Tipperary face off in a minor hurling final with the men from the west hoping to upset a potentially historic minor double for the Premier County.
3:30pm – 5:30pm All-Ireland Hurling Final (RTE Two)
The centrepiece of the weekend, as Galway’s senior side look to possibly complete a double of their own and dethrone perennial hurling kingpins Kilkenny.
5:30pm – 6:00pm Check in at home
Take a moment in between congratulating/commiserating with everyone you know from Galway to say hello to your loved ones. We suggest something along the lines of ‘The All-Ireland’s just finished, JP and the lads are hanging on here to watch the golf but I could come home and watch it there”. That should do the trick.
6:00pm – 11:00pm Deutsche Bank Championship (Sky Sports 4)
It’s moving day in the second event of the FedEx Cup play-offs, so Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day will all hopefully be travelling up the leaderboard. We’ll forgive anyone for tapping out at any point, though, what with work the next day and all.
Monday
Or….. if you just can’t shake that cough you developed outside the takeaway on Saturday night and simply have to call in sick, then saddle up for another day in front of the telly.
3:00pm – 4:45pm Vuelta Espana Stage 16 (Eurosport)
Another epic day in the mountains beckons, as the peloton crosses a total of seven Asturian peaks on route to a summit finish at Ermita de Alba, where the gradients on the road reach a back-breaking 21 per cent.
4:30pm – 6:30pm Deutsche Bank Championship (Sky Sports 4)
The leaders should be getting ready to go out for their final rounds as the action hots up in Boston.
6:30pm – 7:30pm Make dinner
The golf is still on, but the time has finally come for a healthy meal. Step away from the box and cook some proper food, whether just for yourself or for those who have been forced to put up with the demands of your weekend.
7:45pm – 10:00pm Rep of Ireland vs Georgia (RTE Two)
Your restful day, combined with a solid meal, has cleared your cough right up, and you’ve left just enough time to head out for Ireland’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia.
10:00pm – 11:00pm Deutsche Bank Championship (Sky Sports 4)
Nip home in time to catch the final holes of the golf as McIlroy, Spieth and Day hopefully slogging it out in their battle over the world No.1 spot.
11:00pm Sleep
You’ve earned it.
