A full-day preview of Saturday 23rd May’s live sports offerings, highlighting the biggest matches and where to watch them
Saturday 23rd May promises one of the busiest television days of the sporting calendar, with uninterrupted live action stretching from midday right through to late-night boxing. Viewers should expect coverage of the Champions Cup Final, the Women’s Champions League Final, numerous GAA fixtures, Formula One qualifying, golf tournaments and premier horse racing at The Curragh.
This guide pulls together the key matchups, broadcast windows and essential viewing details so fans can plan their day around the most compelling events.
The schedule blends international club rugby with domestic Gaelic games and elite club football, creating overlapping choices for sports fans.
Broadcasters include Premier Sport, RTÉ, TG4, Sky Sports and DAZN, while free streams and subscription platforms are available in different territories. Expect marquee audience numbers around the afternoon kick-offs, particularly the showdown between Leinster and Bordeaux, and the evening’s top-tier football between Barcelona and OL Lyonnais.
Champions Cup final: rugby’s afternoon highlight
The afternoon centerpiece is the Champions Cup Final, with Leinster v Bordeaux kicking off at 2:45pm live on Premier Sport 1. Leinster arrive chasing another European crown while Bordeaux bring an attacking line-up that can unsettle any defence. Weather is expected to be a factor at the venue in Bilbao, so conditioning and rotation may shape tactical choices. This fixture is likely to command the bulk of Irish viewing figures in the mid-afternoon slot and occupies the main narratives for club rugby followers on the day.
GAA: minors to senior championship showdowns
GAA coverage spans both juvenile and senior levels, giving supporters of county football and hurling plenty to watch. Coverage begins at midday with minor fixtures and continues into the evening with senior championship clashes that have important provincial and national implications. Fans can follow the action across TG4, GAA+ and RTÉ, with several games airing back-to-back to fill the afternoon and early evening schedule.
Key GAA matchups and viewing
- 12pm — Derry v Donegal (Ulster MFC) on TG4 YouTube
- 12pm — Tyrone v Cavan (Ulster MFC) on TG4 YouTube
- 1pm — Dublin v Clare (All-Ireland MHC)
- 1:45pm — Racing from The Curragh (2000 Guineas) on RTÉ2
- 2:45pm — Leinster v Bordeaux (Champions Cup Final) on Premier Sport 1
- 3pm — Cork v Wexford (All-Ireland MHC)
- 3pm — Kerry v Donegal (All-Ireland SFC) on GAA+
- 3pm — Celtic v Dunfermline (SPL Cup Final)
- 3:30pm — Hull v Middlesbrough (EFL Championship)
- 4pm — Canadian GP qualifying on Sky Sports F1
- 5pm — Barcelona v OL Lyonnais (Women’s Champions League Final) on RTÉ2
- 5pm — The CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sky Sports Golf
- 5:30pm — Cork v Meath (All-Ireland SFC)
- 7pm — Bayern Munich v Stuttgart (German Cup Final)
- 7:30pm — Galway v Kildare (All-Ireland SFC) on RTÉ
- 7:45pm — Galway United v Athlone Town (Women’s LOI) on TG4
- 9:30pm — The Saturday Game
- 10pm — Usyk v Verhoeven (heavyweight boxing) on DAZN
Football, motorsport and late-night boxing
The evening features the Women’s Champions League Final between Barcelona and OL Lyonnais at 5pm, a fixture that will attract viewers across Europe. Barcelona have been a dominant force in recent seasons, while Lyon bring historical pedigree and big-game experience. Motorsport fans can watch Canadian Grand Prix qualifying at 4pm, and golf followers have two televised options: the Soudal Open earlier in the afternoon and The CJ Cup Byron Nelson from the evening. The day closes with the high-profile heavyweight contest featuring Oleksandr Usyk at 10pm on DAZN.
How to watch and streaming notes
Broadcast rights vary by country: in the UK the Women’s Champions League Final is available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two, while in the US the match streams on Paramount+. Motorsport airs on Sky Sports F1 and golf on Sky Sports Golf. If you plan to use a VPN to access services from another territory, ensure you comply with the broadcaster’s terms and conditions; VPN is a tool that can change your apparent location for streaming or privacy purposes but should be used responsibly. Free and subscription options are both in play depending on where you are watching from.
For anyone planning a full day of sport on Saturday 23rd May, the menu offers something for every fan: top-tier rugby in the afternoon, a major women’s football final, a busy slate of GAA matches, motorsport and golf, and a premium boxing main event to finish the night. Use the schedule above to map out your viewing windows and choose the broadcasts that matter most to you.
