Christmas is the one time of year you don’t need a TV guide, such is the ubiquity of good shows, but simultaneously it is the one time you find yourself ruefully realising you’ve missed some great end of year themed shows amid the storm of entertainment flying around for the final week of December.
So, we’ll meet you half way. No comprehensive guide from us, but what we can offer is a selection of the best of Christmas sport TV.
There’s almost no live action here because it feels a little redundant when there is so much high quality work being shown away from the normal coverage. And, anyway, if you don’t know they like to show football on St. Stephen’s Day this list probably isn’t your first priority. So, instead, we have spotted a few shows that will look back at the moments of 2012 in various sports and there should be something here for everyone.
We start off by breaking our only rule, and talking about some live sport-
Friday December 21st, 7.00 pm, RTE 2 – Ulster V Leinster, RaboDirect Pro 12
Last weekend was a miserable one for Irish rugby but on Friday night there is chance for some small consolation for at least one province as Leinster travel to Ravenhill to face Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12. Coverage of the game starts at 7 o’clock on RTE 2.
Sunday 23rd, 5.55 pm, TG4 - Rugbaí Súil Siar
Notwithstanding last weekend’s misery it was, overall, another good year in Irish rugby, with Leinster winning the Heineken Cup in May. You can take a reflective look at the year’s action on TG4 on Sunday evening with Rugby Súil Siar, a review of the rugby year, starting at 5.55.
Sunday 23rd, 9.00 pm, RTE 1 - RTE Sport Awards
Later on Sunday evening we have the RTE Sport Awards, where the team of the eyar, sportsperson of the year and manager of the year will all be announced, along with an induction to the hall of fame.
Christmas Eve, 9.30 pm, Sky Sports 1- Kings of Europe:The Chelsea Story
On Christmas Eve Sky Sports relive Chelsea’s Champions League win with “Kings of Europe – The Chelsea Story”. If you’re a Chelsea fan you can look back with fondness at the most unlikely of triumphs, and if you’re a non-Chelsea fan you can watch content in the knowledge that the Blues’ early exit from this year’s competition means we won’t have to go through it again in 2013.
Christmas Day, 4.30 pm, TG4 - Cúil na Bliana
If you finish dinner early enough on Christmas day you can sit down to watch the best goals of the GAA year at 4.30 on TG4 when “Cúil na Bliana” runs through the best of the year’s goals from various levels of GAA competition.
Thursday 27th, RTE 1, 7.00pm – First: The official film of the 2012 London Olympic Games
The official documentary of the Olympic Games follows 12 athletes around the world as they prepare for the 2012 games. Katie Taylor is one of the subjects of the film, as is David Rudisha- the Kenyan double gold medal winner who is trained by Cork’s Brother Colm O’Connell. If you’re looking for some inspiration to get off the couch after Christmas then this is probably a good spot to start. Or it could just make you feel horribly guilty and inadequate. Best of luck.
Look, we have a trailer for it and everything.
Thursday 27th, RTE 1, 9.00 pm – Rory McIlroy: The Interview
Greg Allen talks to Rory McIlroy at the end of what has been a truly remarkable year for the young man from Northern Ireland. With McIlroy’s recent success and growing profile there are more questions than ever to put to the two time major winner.
26-28th, RTE 2, various times - Leopardstown Christmas Festival
The Christmas festival at Leopardstown runs from St. Stephen’s day until the 29th and each of the first three days' racing will be live on RTE 2 shortly after 1pm. While there might be nothing quite like being at the races, there’s also nothing like watching the races, and the sodden hordes attending, from the comfort of your own front room.
