God, it’s great to be alive.
There’s a lot of live sport on during this bank holiday weekend. And we mean a lot.
Here’s your schedule as best as we could arrange. There’s loads missing – there was far too many. If you follow this line-up, you’ll do alright.
THURSDAY
6pm
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Sky Sports 4
Rory McIlroy is chasing glory in Florida three weeks out from the Masters in what will be a poignant event, this being the first invitational since the legendary Arnold Palmer passed away.
7.30pm – 10.30pm
Manchester United v FC Rostov
Europa League last 16
BT Sport 2
A goalless draw will see United through. But that won’t affect Jose Mourinho’s approach.
FRIDAY
3pm – 4.30pm
Cuala (Dublin) v Ballyea (Clare)
AIB GAA All-Ireland senior club hurling final
TG4
The first of the double header at Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day.
3.30pm
Gold Cup
Cheltenham
ITV
Gather around. Lose your money.
4pm – 4.30am
March Madness
NCAA College Basketball
BT Sport/ESPN
Over 12 hours of wall-to-wall live basketball. Americans do things better.
5pm – 6.30pm
Slaughtneil (Derry) v Dr Crokes (Kerry)
AIB GAA All-Ireland senior club football final
TG4
Chrissy McKaigue, slayer of Diarmuid Connolly, against Colm Cooper. Derry against Kerry. The very pinnacle of local GAA. Where else would you be?
6pm
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Sky Sports 4
Day two.
7.45pm – 10pm
Bristol City v Huddersfield
The Championship
Sky Sports 1
If you’re really desperate.
11pm
Michael Conlan v Tim Ibarra
If you can find a stream for the Belfast boxer’s pro debut, the event at Madison Square Garden starts at 7pm New York time. Alternatively, RTÉ are showing deferred coverage of the fight on Saturday after the Irish rugby match.
SATURDAY
12.30pm – 2.30pm
West Brom v Arsenal
Premier League
Sky Sports 1
Tony Pulis v Arsene Wenger. This isn’t a football contest – this is poetry.
12.30 – 2.30pm
Scotland v Italy
Six Nations
RTÉ
The big one.
2.45pm – 4.45pm
France v Wales
Six Nations
RTÉ
Watch these two giant outfits knock lumps out of one another ahead of the Ireland game – the last of the tournament.
5pm – 7pm
Ireland v England
Six Nations
RTÉ
England going for the Grand Slam. In Dublin. On St. Patrick’s weekend. This cannot be allowed.
5.30pm – 7.30pm
Bournemouth v Swansea City
Premier League
BT Sport 1
Just because football…
6pm
Women’s singles final
Indian Wells
Sky Sports 2
If there wasn’t enough variety already.
7pm – 9pm
Kerry v Dublin
National Football League
eir Sport 2
The two most successful counties in Ireland, two of the biggest rivals in football going head to head in Austin Stack Park.
9pm – 11.30pm
UFC London
BT Sport 2
Featuring Donegal man Joe Duffy* and Conor McGregor’s training partner Gunnar Nelson. Headlined by Jimi Manuwa vs Corey Anderson (Light Heavyweight).
Joe Duffy fighting Reza Madadi is the last bout on the preliminary card and requires a UFC fight pass to watch.
SUNDAY
2am
Andy Lee v KeAndrae Leatherwood
Gennady Golovkin v Daniel Jacobs
BoxNation
All on the line again for GGG with Andy Lee’s long-awaited return on the undercard.
12pm – 2pm
Middelsbrough v Manchester United
Premier League
BT Sport 1
A chance for Mourinho to extend the unbeaten record – whatever way unbeaten will be twisted now.
12.30pm – 2.30pm
Dundee v Celtic
Scottish Premier League
Sky Sports 2
The Celts are here.
2pm – 4pm
Mayo v Cavan
National Football League
TG4
The GAA is hotting up now.
2.15pm – 4.15pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton
Premier League
Sky Sports 1
Chance for Liverpool to see who they’re signing in the summer.
4pm – 6pm
Monaghan v Roscommon
National Football League
TG4
Deferred coverage.
4.30pm – 6.30pm
Manchester City v Liverpool
Premier League
Sky Sports 1
As big games go, this is bigger.
4.30pm
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Sky Sports 4
The final day.
7.45pm – 9.45pm
Barcelona v Valencia
La Liga
Sky Sports 2
Jesus, there’s no end to it.
8pm
Men’s singles final
Indian Wells
Sky Sports 1
Another decider in the ATP Masters.
