RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport will again present the most comprehensive sports coverage in Ireland to the Irish viewing public. In addition to all the premier national events and many of the major international events, sports such as Moto GP, Greyhound Racing and Boxing will not be forgotten.
THE SUNDAY GAME
Michael Lyster and the best Gaelic Games analysts prepare the nation for the GAA centrepieces of the season with the All-Ireland Hurling and Football semi-finals and Finals shown live and exclusive on RTÉ Television.
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
RTÉ will have live coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s vital final three World Cup Qualifiers as the boys in green battle it out against France (September 7th), Cyprus (October 8th) and Switzerland (October 12th) for qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
One of the highlights of the past sporting year was the triumph of Liverpool in what was probably the best Champions League final screened on RTÉ. Once again Bill O’Herlihy returns with the best action live on Wednesday nights throughout the competition, plus the final, with RTÉ’s A-list panel of John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady return with the best possible analysis and discussion.
PREMIERSHIP
RTÉ’s “The Premiership Live” returns with 15 more live Saturday matches throughout the season. With kick-off time at 3 o’clock, RTÉ’s studio coverage will start at 2.45pm. Anchored by Bill O’Herlihy or Peter Collins, match insights will be provided with the help of an expert panel in the shape of Ray Houghton, John Giles, Liam Brady and Trevor Steven. The Premiership highlights will now move to 7.15pm each Saturday with 34 shows in the season in a new 90-minute format programme.
AUTUMN RUGBY INTERNATIONALS
Irish rugby fans can look forward to more games this Autumn, with live coverage of Ireland’s clashes against New Zealand, Australia and Romania.
INTERNATIONAL RULES
Following on from a great victory in Croke Park the cream of the GAA footballers take on the best of the Aussie Rules Stars in the International Championship, but the Australians will certainly seek revenge on home soil.
HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY
The Heineken Cup 2005/2006 sees the men of Munster and Leinster back in action and RTÉ Two will screen all of their home matches live. As with last year the six Pool stages will run in three blocks of two rounds starting in October and completing in early January 2006, whilst the final stage takes place post Six Nations.
HORSE RACING
RTÉ Television once again brings the sport of kings to the screen with all the major action in the horse racing season including the post-Christmas Leopardstown Festival, the St. Patrick’s Week Cheltenham Festival, the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse and the social highlight of the summer that is the Galway races. RTÉ Television will again be covering some of the world’s most exciting horse racing events in the shape of the Grand National and the Epsom and Irish Derby’s.
MOTO GP
RTÉ’s extensive coverage of the 2005 Moto GP season continues into the autumn, with live coverage of the race for each of seven remaining Grand Prix of the year. Commentary is provided by Peter Collins and Eddie Laycock and coverage will include highlights of each round later that night.
GREYHOUND RACING
This September RTÉ will once again provide live coverage of the Paddy Power Irish Greyhound Derby from Shelbourne Park in Dublin.
FAI SOCCER
In domestic soccer, RTÉ will screen three live FAI Cup games and four Eircom League clash.
BASKETBALL
In September, RTÉ will screen our first ever live international basketball match.
BOXING
This autumn RTÉ will broadcast more live pro boxing following the fortunes of some of Ireland’s young professional hopefuls.
GAA ALL STARS
The Hurling and football stars of the season are honoured in an hour-long programme in November.
2005 THE SPORTING YEAR
This live special chronicles the year in sport with some of the most memorable moments from a year which will have featured World Cup Qualifiers, Ireland’s Six Nations campaign and the All Ireland Championships.
AGAINST THE HEAD
The fourth series of the ever popular weekly rugby magazine programme returns to Two, this season presented again by Con Murphy.
OB SPORT
The magazine series continues with a fast-moving mix of live action, sports highlights, personality features and stories showcasing the wider world of Irish sport.
FOR 2006 …
SIX NATIONS February and March
Following on from last year’s exciting Six Nations Championship, RTÉ television will again cover this exciting tournament throughout February and March 2006. Presented by Tom McGurk, game predictions and insights are provided by George Hook and Brent Pope.