A long day for sports fans as Ireland bid for glory
And after the dust has settled from the crunch ties in Australia and Switzerland, the only real winners will be the publicans.
More than 8,000 Irish supporters have travelled to see the Euro 2004 showdown between Ireland and Switzerland, while 12,000 more are in Australia for the Rugby World Cup opener against Romania.
At home, rugby fans will be on duty from 8am, with the selection of David Humphreys ahead of Ronan O'Gara at out-half likely to dominate the early arguments.
Humphreys needs to convert just a single penalty to become the 14th player in the game's history to reach the 100-point-mark.
Coach Eddie O'Sullivan is sure about one thing he wants good weather against the Romanians.
"Romania are a very physical team and they believe they have a big enough pack to upset a number of teams in our pool.
"If we get really wet conditions it could turn the game into a bit of a lottery, just a slugging match up front and that certainly wouldn't suit us," he said.
If the rugby team are expected to beat Romania, the same cannot be said of the soccer boys against group leaders Switzerland, which kicks off at 4.30pm.
Ireland, under Brian Kerr, have performed heroics to recover from two early qualifier defeats, but they haven't pulled off a major away victory since beating Scotland 1-0 in Hampden Park in 1987.
Brian Kerr though is confident and delighted so many fans have travelled to support the team.
"The fans who travel away tend be that little bit more mad about the team and they understand the intricacies of the game and when the team need them," he said.
"It makes a big difference to the team to know they have a passionate crowd behind them.
"The Swiss police should have no fears that our people will be well behaved. Any suggestion that if they haven't got tickets for the Irish end they shouldn't be allowed in is bunkum let them in," he added.
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