TV sport round-up: Boys in Green set for World Cup crunch

Four months after Troy Parrott sent Irish hearts pounding with a dramatic late winner in Hungary, Ireland finally play their World Cup qualifying crunch match next week.

Heimir Hallgrímsson takes his Boys in Green to Prague to face Czechia in a FIFA World Cup 2026 play-off, in the biggest match for Ireland’s men in years.

It’s live on RTÉ2 on Thursday at 7.45pm.

The winners will face either Denmark or North Macedonia in a play-off final at home on March 31.

On the GAA front, Cork’s Allianz Hurling League clash at home to Offaly is livestreamed on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel at 7pm on Saturday.

On Sunday, Cork’s Allianz Football League match away to Tyrone is also on that YouTube channel at 1.15pm.

In rugby, Munster are back in action in the URC on Saturday and play Hollywoodbet Sharks in South Africa at 3pm. It’s live on TG4.

The all-Irish clash between Ulster and Connacht is on Premier Sports on Friday at 7pm.

In club soccer, the first silverware of the English soccer season will be decided this weekend, when Arsenal play Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. That is live on ITV and Sky at 4.30pm.

The live UK Premier League action kicks off with Bournemouth v Manchester United on Sky on Friday at 8pm.

Saturday’s action begins with Brighton v Liverpool on TNT Sports at 12.30pm, followed by Fulham v Burnley on Premier Sports at 3pm.

Then, Sky shows Everton v Chelsea at 5.30pm, and Leeds United v Brentford at 8pm.

The live double header on Sky on Sunday is the north-east derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland at noon, then a relegation crunch match between Spurs and Nottingham Forest at 2.15pm. The loser of that could be in dire straits.