Up for the Match
| Up for the Match | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | 'The Final Prospects Up for the Final' |
| Genre | Light entertainment |
| Directed by | Niamh White |
| Presented by |
Gráinne Seoige (2008-) Des Cahill (2005-) Mary Kennedy (1999-2007) Liam Ó Murchú (1991-1996) Michael Lyster (1988-1990) |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Seán Ó Méalóid |
| Location(s) | Studio 4, RTÉ Television Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 60-100 minutes |
| Distributor | RTÉ |
| Release | |
| Original network | RTÉ One |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Sunday Game (1979-present) |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Up for the Match is an Irish Gaelic games-themed variety show currently hosted by Des Cahill and Gráinne Seoige. The show is broadcast live in two editions each year on RTÉ One on the eve of the respective All-Ireland hurling and football finals. Up for the Match features a mixture of music and chat with special guests and experts from the world of Gaelic games. Despite the theme, Up for the Match is not part of RTÉ Sport, rather their entertainment division.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s RTÉ's previews of the respective All-Ireland finals consisted of short reports on the main news programmes. In 1973 a new show called Sports Stadium, which itself was modeled on the BBC show Grandstand, went on the air. A special segment called Gaelic Stadium lasted for thirty minutes and previewed the big games of the weekend.
In 1974 RTÉ aired a special programme simply called The Hurling Show. It was the first ever eve-of-final non-sporting production by RTÉ Sport. Rather than just preview the teams and discuss their chances of success the live show was described as "an hour of entertainment, fun and nostalgia". Two weeks later Football Final Fanfare was broadcast in a similar vein. These were one-off specials as no eve-of-final shows were broadcast in 1975 and 1976.
From 1977 the chat show Trom agus Éadrom broadcast two special editions of the show every September in tribute to the following day's All-Ireland finals. The bi-lingual show, presented by Liam Ó Murchú, was broadcast live after the Nine O'Clock News and lasted for up to two hours. It featured discussion with former greats and current players as well as music. This format lasted until 1982.
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