AS THE FIXTURE list for that conspicuous patch of time in our immediate future remains clear, the annals of the past will continue to be the best source of your sporting fix for quite a while yet.
And for that reason, we are indebted to TG4 for rummaging through the archives of class GAA matches to keep us ticking over with a little taste of what summer Sundays ought to feel like.
Over the past six weeks, the broadcaster has served up classics like the 2004 Munster hurling final, the 2012 All-Ireland football final and this Sunday the magic of the 1994 Ulster SFC first round will be back on our screens.
There’s plenty more to come as TG4 today unveiled their plans for May, with 1968′s All-Ireland hurling final between Tipperary and Wexford, the 1977 football semi-final between Dublin and Kerry and also an U21 hurling Championship clash from 2009 featuring Joe Canning’s Galway against Clare.
No bother staying at home on Sunday afternoons.
Sunday 3 May.
14.25: 1997 Leinster Senior Football Semi-Final Kildare v Meath
16:20: 1996 All Ireland Ladies Football Final Monaghan v Laois
Sunday 10 May.
14:40: 2002 All Ireland Football Semi Final Dublin v Armagh
16:10: 1988 All Ireland Hurling Final Galway v Tipperary
Sunday 17 May.
14:40: Viewer’s Choice 2013 All Ireland Football Final Dubin v Mayo
16:10: 2009 All Ireland Hurling Final Kilkenny v Tipperary
Sunday 24 May.
14:40: Viewer’s Choice – 1968 All Ireland Hurling Final Tipperary v Wexford
16:05: Viewer’s Choice – 1977 All Ireland Semi Final Dublin v Kerry
14:25: 2009 U21 Hurling Semi Final Clare v Galway
16:10: 2005 All Ireland Football Final Tyrone v Kerry
God bless TG4, what a service they provide.
No games involving Cork, the usual anti-Cork bias from the national media
@Frank Scanlon: yeah agreed, they should show 93 football final ! I’m a Derry man btw :)
@Frank Scanlon: wel have to go back to the black and white stuff shortly for cork footage at the rate they are going
@Frank Scanlon: 3 viewers choice games in there Frank. You should have got the rebels to vote.
@Seamus O’Caolaidhé: what a Derry team that was. Henry Downey was some leader of men. Mugged off Cork in the final, mugged them off good and proper.
@Frank Scanlon: Your shoulder surely must be getting too small for that chip
@Barry Tallon: Don’t worry Barry I have big shoulders
There’s more to the GAA than Cork…
Would love to see the Derry v Down game in 1994…fantastic game of the best two teams in the country right then
@jay bernard: one of the greatest games ever played
Ye, was hoping they’d show the 1983 Semi. Best day out in Cork ever.
The Tyrone Kerry final was some game of football in 2005. Some of the scores were unreal. Wasn’t very enjoyable at the time though. Caravans goal that day was something else
@Mel Roberts: Great to see you’re happy with something Melanie
@Mel Roberts: I’d like to see the Tyrone v Armagh semi final in 2005. Such a tense game. That was a great Armagh side, being brutal they probably underachieved not winning that second All-Ireland.
Mickey Harte is the GOAT.
@Robb Stark: Armagh winning ulster in 2005 probably cost them that all Ireland. The drawn ulster final and replay both at Croke park that year were titanic tussles as well. I’ve never felt as tense an atmosphere as that semi final as you say though. Was poetic Canavan getting the winner after what happened with the sending off in the ulster replay
@Robb Stark: GOAT as football manager or politician?
@Mel Roberts: Stevie McDonnell was one of the best forwards of the last 30 years. It’s just that often he didn’t have enough firepower to aid him. Ronan Clarke’s injuries were a killer.
@Mel Roberts: Cracker alright, but would give the nod to the 08 final.
@Mel Roberts: super final as was 2008
88 hurling final wasn’t a classic but was probably the toughest game of hurling of all times.
@Seamus McSpud: did you watch it in super savers with Síle Mc spud
@Seamus McSpud: did you watch it in super savers with Síle Mc spud