The Punchestown Festival signifies the conclusion of the jump racing season in Ireland and begins this Tuesday in Co Kildare, extending through to Saturday. The week’s pinnacle racing events at Punchestown Racecourse encompass the Champion Chase (Tuesday), the Champion Stayers Hurdle (Wednesday), and the Champion Hurdle (Thursday), all of which are Grade One races.
Switching to football, an anticipatory atmosphere swells as we approach the inaugural Irish Cup final between Cliftonville and Linfield since 1934, set to be held at Windsor Park this weekend. Despite the arena not being filled to its utmost capacity due to the need for fan segregation, approximately 15,000 enthusiasts have secured their spots to witness the contest. With expectation of rigid security measures for the face-off between the Reds and Blues, the IFA remains optimistic that the event will serve as a beneficial portrayal of Northern Ireland’s football scene, both within the confines of the pitch and beyond it.
In the realm of cycling, the 107th Giro d’Italia commences this weekend at Venaria Reale near Turin, with the finish line set at Rome on May 26th. The event, which is part of the illustrious three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race trilogy (with the other two constituting the Tour de France and Vuelta a España), has sparked widespread chatter about Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar. Having victoriously claimed two Tour de France titles, Pogacar is perceived as a soaring frontrunner for the Giro title.
On a final note, sporting activities scheduled for Monday (Apr 29th) range from tennis action in the Madrid Open, snooker’s World Championship, the second stage of Women’s La Vuelta a España in cycling, and several football matches in Serie A, La Liga, and the Championship. The events will be broadcasted across various sports channels including Sky Sports Tennis, BBC, Eurosport, TNT Sports 1, LaLigaTV & Premier Sports 1, and Sky Sports Football.
This is a revised schedule of various sport events, all times being displayed are in standard time.
Monday features GAA on TG4, with the Leinster U-20 Football match between Meath and Louth at 7:30 pm. Also, rugby plays on RTÉ 2, ‘Against the Head’ takes place from 8 pm to 9 pm.
Tuesday, scheduled for 30th April, begins with tennis on Sky Sports Tennis: Day 8 of the Madrid Open from 10 am until 11 pm. Snooker fans can watch the World Championship on BBC 2 at 10 am until 12:15 pm, 1 pm to 6 pm and again 7 pm to 8 pm. Continuing on BBC Four from 8 pm to 10 pm, and on Eurosport 1 from 10 am to 10 pm. Eurosport 2 features cycling, with the Women’s La Vuelta a España’s Stage 3 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. RTÉ 2 broadcasts the racing event, Punchestown Festival from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. In the world of football, Champions League Semi-final is set at 8 pm on RTÉ 2 & TNT Sports 1, featuring Bayern Munich versus Real Madrid. Additionally, Coventry City faces Ipswich Town at the Championship on Sky Sports Football, at 8 pm.
Moving on to Wednesday, the first day of May, snooker’s World Championship continues similarly, along with Day 9 of the Madrid Open in tennis on Sky Sports Tennis from 11 am to 11 pm. Stage 4 of the Women’s La Vuelta a España is on at the same time as before on Eurosport 2, as is the Punchestown Festival on RTÉ 2. Women’s Super League football match kicks off at 7 pm, showcased by Sky Sports Football & Showcase, featuring Liverpool against Chelsea. The Munster U-20 Football Final, Kerry against Cork, is on TG4 under GAA at 7:30 pm. Virgin Media Two & TNT Sports 1 will showcase the Champions League Semi-final, Borussia Dortmund playing against PSG, at 8 pm.
Thursday, the second day of May, is reserved for the China Open in Golf, airing from 6 am to 11 am on Sky Sports Golf.
The 10th day of the Madrid Open tennis tournament can be viewed on Sky Sports Tennis from 11am to 11pm. Fans of golf can catch Byron Nelson’s play on Sky Sports Golf beginning at 12.45pm, going on until midnight. Snooker enthusiasts can enjoy the World Championship, which is scheduled on BBC 2 from 1pm to 4:15pm and again at 7pm to 8pm while Eurosport 1 broadcasts it from 12.45pm to 4pm and 5pm to 10pm. Meanwhile, BBC Four also airs it from 8pm to 10pm. Stage 5 of the women’s La Vuelta a España cycling event is scheduled for broadcast on Eurosport 2, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
For horse racing fans, RTÉ 2 is broadcasting the Punchestown Festival from 4pm to 7pm. The Aberdeen Premier League Darts event will be aired on Sky Sports Action from 7pm to 11pm. Football followers have multiple options. The Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham can be watched on Sky Sports Premier League at 7.30pm. Later at 8pm, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen will lock horns in the Europa League Semi-final on TNT Sports 2 and Virgin Media More. TNT Sports 1 and Virgin Media Two will host the Europa Conference League Semi-final match between Aston Villa and Olympiakos Piraeus whereas Marseille versus Atalanta is scheduled for broadcast on TNT Sports 3.
All these matches are on Thursday. Moving forward to Friday, the China Open golf tournament begins at 6am on Sky Sports Golf and lasts until 11am. For rugby fans, Sky Sports Action is broadcasting Super Rugby matches starting with Hurricanes versus Waratahs at 8.05am followed by Melbourne Rebels against Blues at 10.35am. The World Snooker Championship’s broadcast continues on BBC 2 and Eurosport 1, with additional coverage on BBC Four in the evening. Sky Sports Tennis will air the 11th day of the Madrid Open from noon till 11pm. Sky Sports Golf will also resume the broadcast of Byron Nelson from 12.45pm. Racing at Newmarket will be broadcast on UTV and Virgin Media One from 2pm to 4.30pm.
Here’s your one-stop guide for sporting events. Let’s start off with CYCLING, tune into Eurosport 2 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm for the 6th stage of Women’s La Vuelta a España. For fans of RACING, catch the Punchestown Festival on RTÉ 2, from 4pm to 7pm. Looking for some high octane action? Sky Sports F1 has your back with Practice & Sprint of Miami Grand Prix, it starts at 5pm.
If you’re up for some SOCCER, Torino and Bologna clash in the Serie A, watch it on TNT Sports 1 at 7.45pm, also there’s plenty more football action to come, like Getafe vs Athletic Club in La Liga at 8pm on LaLigaTV & Premier Sports 1, Lens playing against Lorient in Ligue 1 on TNT Sports 2 at 8pm, Luton Town vs Everton on Sky Sports Premier League at 8pm.
RUGBY LEAGUE fan? Catch Super League matches on Sky Sports Channels, with Huddersfield Giants lock horns with Salford Red Devils on Arena, Leeds Rhinos vs London Broncos on Mix, Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC on Action, all at 8pm.
Tomorrow’s (May 4th) treats laden with RUGBY. With different matches starting from 3.05am on Sky Sports Action featuring Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders, Crusaders vs Reds at 5.35am, Chiefs vs Western Force at 8.05am, Brumbies vs Fijian Drua at 10.35am.
For the golfing folks, China Open unfolds starting 6.30am thru 11am on Sky Sports Golf. Replace your cereal with some CYCLING as it’s Women’s one-day Grand Prix du Morbihan on Eurosport 1, 9.15am-10.30am.
Great action also in store with SNOOKER’s World Championship, BBC 2 will broadcast it from 10am-12pm, 4.30pm-5.30pm, 7pm-10pm; BBC 1 from 1.15pm – 4.30pm and Eurosport 2, covering it from 10am – 10pm.
In more SOCCER, Everton face off against Tottenham in the Women’s Super League at Noon on Sky Sports Premier League & Showcase. Lastly, there’s more CYCLING with Stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia, from 12.30pm to 4.45pm on Eurosport 1. Enjoy!
In a revised structure and using alternative words:
At 12.30pm, Arsenal faces off against Bournemouth in a Premier League match on TNT Sports 1, while the Championship final day is broadcasted on Sky Sports Football. Simultaneously, the Challenge Cup Semi-finals in Rugby takes place, with Sharks playing against ASM Clermont Auvergne, followed by Gloucester against Benetton at 3pm on TNT Sports 2. An extensive coverage of the Byron Nelson Golfing event will start from 1pm till 11pm on Sky Sports Golf. In La Liga Soccer, Real Sociedad competes with Las Palmas at 1pm, and Real Madrid versus Cádiz at 3.15pm on both LaLigaTV & Premier Sports 2. Track the horse races at Newmarket, Thirsk & Goodwood on Virgin Media One and UTV from 1:10pm till 4pm. The WTA Madrid Open Tennis final on Sky Sports Tennis begins at 2.30pm and ends at 7.30pm. Fans of Irish Soccer will not want to miss the Irish Cup Final between Cliftonville and Linfield at 2.30pm on BBC 2. The Bundesliga Soccer has Stuttgart vying with Bayern Munich at 2.30pm, followed by Cologne playing against SC Freiburg at 5.30pm on Sky Sports Arena. Premier Sports 1 airs the Premier League battle of Burnley against Newcastle Utd at 3pm. The Punchestown Festival is broadcasted live on RTÉ 2 from 3pm till 5.45pm. Hull KR comes head to head with St Helens at 3pm and Leigh Leopards challenges Castleford Tigers at 5.30pm in the Super League Rugby League on Sky Sports Arena. The Miami Grand Prix Spring & Qualifying stage is available on Sky Sports F1 from 4pm, while Eurosport 1 showcases Stage 7 of the Women’s La Vuelta a España Cycling event at 4.45pm. Serie A Soccer has Monza pitted against Lazio at 5pm on TNT Sports 3. Manchester City competes with Wolverhampton in the Premier League at 5.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League. Finally, the Champions Cup Semi-final Rugby game between Leinster and Northampton begins at 5.30pm on both RTÉ 2 & TNT Sports 2.
The upcoming sports programme includes:
For Saturday, we have La Liga football matches on LaLigaTV, ITV4 and Premier Sports 1, with Girona taking on Barcelona at 5.30pm. Later at 7.35pm, the Women’s Premier Division game will kick-off between Cork City and Treaty United on TG4. Serie A enthusiasts can catch the match between Sassuolo and Inter Milan at 7.45pm on TNT Sports 1. Wrapping up football for the day, Mallorca and Atlético Madrid will compete in yet another La Liga game at 8pm, viewable on both LaLigaTV and Premier Sports 1. Horse-racing lovers can switch to Virgin Media Two at 8pm to enjoy the Kentucky Derby until 0.30am. BBC 1 will broadcast the Match of the Day from 10.30pm to 11.50pm.
On Sunday (5th May), UFC fans can watch Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg’s fight in Rio de Janeiro from 3am on TNT Sports 1. Sky Sports Golf will cover the China Open from 5am till 10am. Ample sports activities will follow. Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia will take place from 11.30am to 4.45pm on Eurosport 1. Sky Sports Golf channel will then switch to Byron Nelson from 1pm until 11pm. Snooker lovers can watch the World Championship on BBC 2 and Eurosport 2.
Football continues with the Rangers vs Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership match on Sky Sports Football at 1pm. More La Liga games are on offer on LaLigaTV and Premier Sports 1, including matches between Osasuna and Real Betis at 1pm, Celta de Vigo and Villarreal at 3.15pm, Valencia and Deportivo Alavés at 5.30pm, and finally Sevilla and Granada at 8pm. The GAA Munster SFC will be on RTÉ 2, with Clare vs Kerry at 1.45pm and Connacht SFC’s Galway vs Mayo at 4pm. Women’s Super League has a match line-up between Manchester City and Arsenal at 2.15pm on BBC 1. Finally, the ATP Madrid Open Final will be happening on Sky Sports Tennis from 2.30pm to 7.30pm.
Check out the following sports events on UK television:
Sky Sports Arena will be broadcasting Bundesliga football matches at 2:30 pm with Union Berlin taking on Bochum, while at 4:30 pm Eintracht Frankfurt face Bayer Leverkusen, followed by Heidenheim 1846 v Mainz at 6:30 pm.
At 3 pm on TNT Sports 1, switch over to rugby for the Champions Cup Semi-final between Toulouse and Harlequins.
Sky Sports Premier League is the spot for the big match between Liverpool and Tottenham at 4:30 pm.
Mode of transport will then switch to bicycles with Stage 8 of the Women’s La Vuelta a España being broadcast on Eurosport 1 between 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm.
At 5 pm, relish the Serie A football match between Milan and Genoa on TNT Sports 3.
Women’s football enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Bristol City at 6:45 pm on Sky Sports Premier League & Showcase.
Motor racing fans, tune to Sky Sports F1 from 7.30 pm onwards for the exciting Miami Grand Prix.
As the evening progresses, TNT Sports 1 is airing another Serie A football match, Roma v Juventus, at 7:45 pm.
Spanish football fans can head to LaLigaTV & Premier Sports 2 for the La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and Almería at 8pm.
Later in the evening, RTÉ 2 will be hosting League Sunday GAA action from 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
The day wraps up with BBC 1’s Match of the Day 2 focusing on the highlights of the day, from 10:30 pm to 11:40 pm.