The Goal mile as always dominates proceedings at Belfield on Christmas Day. In ways the event will naturally take the form of a memorial service for the late Noel Carroll, who died some weeks ago while running in UCD.
The former Olympic athlete was, for many years, the master of ceremonies, picking out the various celebrity runners who turn up on the day and gently urging those retired sportsmen and women to forget their hangovers and keep their legs moving. Carroll's absence is bound to be strongly felt for the hundreds of people who traditionally arrive on campus.
Former world champions in athletics, cycling and snooker - Eamon Coghlan, Stephen Roche and Ken Doherty - along with international rugby players and athletes have been promised at the Belfield venue which begins at 10.00 a.m. and finishes at 1.00 p.m.
The other GOAL venue at Santry (10.30 a.m. to lunch time) has Bertie Ahern on the run. What's new you ask? Well, this time it's on the track along with other politicians. Retired supper middleweight champion Steve Collins is also expected.
For those with stronger stomachs, the Flash Hill race in Bray, Co Wicklow, will take place on St Stephen's Day at noon. The run is about 2.4 km and involves a 191 metre climb. For more information contact Douglas Barry 012868180. On Sunday the Carraroe half marathon also takes place at Ostan, Carraroe, at 1.00 p.m.
Basketball: Superleague competition involves Killarney and the busy Notre Dame. A game in Killarney at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday followed by a match on Monday against Limerick on Monday at Scoil Carmel should restrict any festival excesses from Notre Dame.
Golf: Christmas Day seems to be the only time golf clubs lock up shop, although, many courses throughout the country remain open for members to play an appetite-building round if they so wish.
In Dublin, public course, Deerpark, will close on Christmas Day but opens on St Stephen's Day as normal. "On a dry day, it's very, very busy," said an official.
Connemara Golf Club swings into full action and St Stephen's Day when the first of five competitions begin. A single Stableford competition takes place on December 26th, 27th, 31st and January 1st with a four ball better ball scheduled for January 3rd.
"We've a lot of members from outside and who have holiday homes in the area," said a club official. "We'll be full to the top with a first tee time at 8.22 a.m. and the last at around 12.45 p.m. The course is playable all year around except after frost - and we don't usually get that in Connemara."
Racing: No shortage here. Leopardstown offers a four day festival beginning on St Stephen's Day at 12.25 p.m. for the first three days and 12.45 p.m. on the fourth. A series of big races are in store for the usually large turn out at the Dublin track. The most valuable race of the week takes place on Sunday in the Paddy Power Chase (2.40 p.m.) which offers a prize fund of £117,000. The Ericsson Chase on Monday (2.40 p.m.) involves the class acts of Florida Pearl, Doran's Pride and the current best chaser in Britain Suny Bay while on Tuesday at 1.45 p.m. Istabraq eyes the Festival Hurdle.
Further south Limerick goes the same four-day distance, also from the 26th while up North Down Royal provides a one-day meeting on St Stephen's Day In Britain the big racing is at Kempton on St Stephen's Day where Irish trainer Raymond Hurley has hopes for Imperial Call in the King George VI Chase (2.20 p.m.), the big race of the Day. If he is successful it will be the first Irish win since 1975 when Captain Christy, trained by Pat Taaffe took the prize. Last year's winner See More Business should offer the biggest challenge.
Cricket: If you've listened to and read about the England cricket team in the British media recently there are more turkeys on offer at midnight on Christmas night when England face Australia in the fourth Test in Melbourne. Sky naturally will be there (coverage from midnight) as England hope to come back from 2-0 down in the series, having already failed to win back the Ashes.
Soccer: The continued gluttony continues with a full English Premiership programme on offer on St Stephen's Day (kick-offs are staggered) making that Sky Sport subscription something the whole family can share.
But something more than the television zapper is needed to watch National League matches and on St Stephen's Day Finn Harps play Sligo at Finn Park, 5.00 p.m. and Shelbourne face Derry City at Tolka Park at 3.15 p.m.
On Sunday there are four matches, all of which begin at 3.15 p.m. except Waterford's game against Cork City at 2.30. Elsewhere Bohemians meet Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park, Dundalk face Bray at Oriel Park and UCD play St Patrick's Athletic at Belfield.
Tennis: The Irish Indoor Championships at Riverview, Dublin, run from December 27th to January 3rd and promise to be history making. No advantage and no let calls promise to make matches more appealing to the public. Why not judge yourselves? Play in the early rounds begins in the morning as early as 9.00 a.m. with the semi-finals and finals on January 2nd and 3rd beginning at 2.00 p.m.
Hockey: Pembroke might be a good place to get a pint on St Stephen's Day and that's good enough reason to turn up at Serpentine Avenue. But a testy match between Blackrock's Avoca and Tallaght's Glenanne in the Neville Cup final at 2.00 p.m. should also provide eye catching stuff from two talented sides. The Leinster under-21 final between Monkstown and Railway Union follows at 4.00 p.m.
At Blaris, Lisnagarvey meet Cookstown in the Kirk Cup final at 2.30 p.m. while in Cork Harlequin Park is the venue for the Peard Cup final between Harlequins and Cork C of I also at 2.30 p.m.
Motor Sport: St Stephen's Day sees the Fancy Dress Trial at the Slade, Cooksling, Co Dublin, at 11.30 a.m.
Swimming: A chance to throw yourself into the bitter cold sea at the Fortyfoot beside Joyce's Tower, Sandycove. A frenzied Christmas spirit over takes the place and locals offer hot glasses of port and whiskey to the hypothermic blow-ins who brave the Irish Sea. It begins at noon with the other Christmas swim, the Half Moon swim at The Battery paddling off at 2.00 p.m.
Rugby: Leinster, Munster and Ulster Senior Club matches have been arranged for St Stephen's Day at 2.30 pm. Greystones face Enniscorthy at Dr Hickey Park while Old Crescent play Young Munster for the Kelly Cup at Rosbrien. Cork Constitution are also involved in traditional fare against UCC at Temple Hill for the Crowley Cup. In Ulster Corinthian Presidents also face Corinthian Vice-Presidents in Corinthian Park at 2.00 p.m. in a match in aid of the Omagh Fund.
Ards and the Exiles meet at Hamilton Park, Collegians play Instonians at Deramore Park in the Kyle Cup and Ballymena face Dungannon at Eaton Park.
On Sunday Midleton face Sunday's Well at 2.30 p.m. in Musgrave Park with an All-Ireland League Division Two game scheduled for Monday. Dungannon, who suffered a surprise defeat to Portadown last Saturday face the unbeaten Malone at 2.30 p.m. in Stevenson Park.
Hunts: Plenty from which to chose on St Stephen's Day. Scarteen, Knockcarron 11.00 a.m.; Westmeath Foxhounds, Killare, noon; Bray Bellar Hotel, Ashford, 1.30 p.m.; Iveagh Foxhounds, Loughbrickland, noon, and Curragh Foot Beagles, Lumville House, 1.15 p.m.
GAA: A number of GAA matches take place over Saturday and Sunday in aid of the Omagh Fund. County Senior Champions Athenry play Athenry Intermediate Champions in Kenny Park, 1.00 p.m. while the Goodfellowship Cup football final in Ballhaunis involves Ballyhanuis (Mayo) and Michael Galveys (Roscommon).
On Sunday the Omagh Fund will benefit from the Morris Cup football match involving Kilmacud Crokes and Na Fianna. The match takes place at Mobhi Road at 2.30 p.m.
