CHRISTMAS SPORTS EVENTS: If you can drag yourself away from the television over the Christmas, and the soon to be sickening sight of cold turkey, there are plenty of traditional sporting activities taking place to revive the taste buds.
The main crowd puller of course is a day at the races, with Leopardstown's annual four-day event taking centre stage. About 70,000 are expected to make their way to the leafy suburb of Foxrock over the four days. The feature race is undoubtedly the showdown between Best Mate, who misses the King George VI Chase at Kempton to race in Ireland, and Beef or Salmon in the Ericsson Chase on Sunday.
Racing also takes place on Stephen's Day at Limerick and Down Royal. Like Leopardstown, the Limerick races continue through to Monday.
The Goal mile run continues this year with new venues in Carlow and Limerick. Weather permitting, the Belfield track in UCD normally sees a turnout in excess of 2,000 runners. The celebrity run is scheduled for 11 a.m.; the general start time is 10 a.m. Most years Eamonn Coghlan lends his support to the charity, while Padraig Harrington is no stranger either. The run takes place at 12 separate venues around the country.
Elsewhere, the Munster rugby scene will see plenty of age-old rivalry on St Stephen's Day when the Crowley Cup (Cork Constitution v UCC) and the Kelly Cup (Young Munster v Old Cresent) take place in Cork and Limerick, respectively.
The Irish under-21s begin their campaign against an Irish Colleges XV at Blackrock College RFC grounds, Stradbrook, on Sunday, December 28th. The following day sees this year's potential Irish Schools internationals play two games against the Irish under-19s and Youths at Lakelands, Terenure.
Finally, there are two fixtures in the Basketball Superleague as Tralee Tigers entertain Shamrock Rovers, while in an all-southern conference affair Waterford play the UCC Demons.
CHRISTMAS DAY: GOAL Miles: UCD Belfield (10.0 - 1.0), Morton Stadium, Santry (10.0 - noon), Lucan Harriers (10.0 - noon), St Anne's Park, Raheny (11.0 a.m.), Dangan, Galway (10.30 - 12.30 p.m.), Cork IT (10.0 - 12.30 p.m.), Tullamore Harriers (10.0 - noon), Mullingar Harriers (11.0 - 12.30 p.m.), Limerick UL (10.0 - 11.15 a.m.) Connolly Barracks, Longford (noon), Castleisland AC (11.30 - 1.0 p.m.), Laurence O'Toole AC Carlow (11.30 - 1.0 p.m).
ST STEPHEN'S DAY: Rugby: Crowley Cup: Cork Constitution v UCC, Temple Hill, 2.30 Kelly Cup: Young Munster v Old Crescent, Clifford Park, 2.30. Racing: Leopardstown 12.25 pm; Limerick 12.20 p.m.; Down Royal 12.30 p.m.
SATURDAY: Racing: Leopardstown 12.25 p.m.; Limerick 12.20 p.m.
SUNDAY: Rugby: Kelly Cup Final: Bandon v Crosshaven, Musgrave Park, 2.0. Ireland under-21 v Ireland Colleges, Stradbrook, 12.30 p.m. Racing: Leopardstown 12.25 p.m. Limerick 12.20 p.m. Basketball: Men's Superleague: Tralee Tigers v Shamrock Rovers, Tralee SC, 3.0 p.m.; UCC Demons v Waterford Crystal, Mardyke, 3.15 p.m.
MONDAY: Racing: Leopardstown 1 p.m.; Limerick 1 p.m. Rugby: Ireland Schools v Ireland under-19, Lakelands, noon; Ireland Schools v Irish Youths, Lakelands.
