Sports Stadium

The centrepiece of the afternoon for many years was a live 3pm English First Division game, which would be followed by the classified football results read by Brendan Delany, who worked on the show throughout its entire run.The FA Cup was also featured annually on RTÉ until 1998, when live rights to the final were secured by Sky Sports.On 15 April 1989, Sports Stadium aired live coverage of the FA Cup semi-final tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, and the unfolding disaster when 97 Liverpool fans were killed as the pens in the terraces became overcrowded and fans began to spill onto the pitch.The first, a catchy brass-led theme composed by Brian Bennett called "Thrilling Spectacle", ran from 1973 to 1987, replaced for one year by a heavy rock intro.Another significant musical aspect was an instrumental clip from Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer which was used to accompany the introductory part of the show.
Brendan O'ReillyLiam NolanFred CogleyBill O'HerlihyGeorge HamiltonMichael LysterTracy PiggottPeter CollinsJim SherwinThe Final CountdownEuropeJoey TempestRTÉ Television CentreDonnybrookDublin 4IrelandMulti-cameraRaidió Teilefís ÉireannRTÉ 1Network TwoRaidió Teilifís ÉireannGrandstandWorld of SportracingFirst DivisionPremier LeagueFA CupLiverpoolNottingham ForestHillsborough StadiumSheffieldunfolding disasterFive Nations ChampionshipLeague of IrelandMick DunneCircuit of Ireland RallyRally of the LakesIAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsCork City SportsBrian Bennett"The Final Countdown"Don Henley