Got a new smartphone? Here are 15 essential sports apps you need to download

No self-respecting sports fan should be without this lot. You’re a self-respecting sports fan, right?

IF YOU’VE BEEN a good little sports fan this year, chances are that the big man in red (Santa, not Paul O’Connell) might have left you a shiny smartphone under the Christmas tree this morning.

Once you’ve polished off the first selection box or two of the day, you’ll need to start filling up your favourite new plaything with the best sports apps out there.

We want you to be the coolest kid at the dinner table so here’s our list of 15 essential downloads to get you started. Take special care with #15 — any right-minded person will mock you to tears if you don’t have it.

Got a new smartphone? Here are 15 essential sports apps you need to download

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Fantasy Premier League (€1.79)
There's no panic like the panic at 11.25 on a Saturday morning when you realise that you've forgotten to change your Fantasy Premier League team. The official app makes those last-minute transfers and substitutions nice and easy.
Strava (Free)
The perfect app to help you stick to that New Year's resolution to get out and do a bit more exercise. Strava comes in two varieties, Run and Cycle, so you can track every calorie as it disappears forever.
FourFourTwo StatsZone (Free*)
FourFourTwo have teamed up with stats guru Opta to create the holy grail of apps for football nerds. Create your own mini-chalkboards to show your uncle why Darron Gibson is a better footballer than Michael Carrick. Live 2012/2013 stats are available to buy for €2.69.
Official GAA (Free)
A one-stop shop for GAA news, fixtures and results, courtesy of the official app. Next time someone in the pub asks you for a result from the first round of the Nicky Rackard Cup, you'll know.
MLB.com At Bat (Free)
Once the baseball season swings back into action, you'll need an app to tell you if everyone still hates the Yankees (yes) and if the Red Sox still suck (also yes). The official MLB app is the best place to start.
F1 2013 Timing App (€22.99)
Expensive? Yes. Worth it? If you are an F1 fan that simply must have the latest split times at your finger tips, it certainly is.
Today FM Premier League Live (Free)
Today FM's specialised Premier League app has live commentary every Saturday afternoon as well as pre-match build-up and post-match comment. Makes shopping for curtain fabric slightly more bearable.
Heineken Rugby (Free)
Heineken Cup updates AND a blog from Donal Lenihan? Yes please.
Teamer (Free*)
A fantastic tool for helping to organise your teams, schedule training sessions and finalise numbers for matches -- it even works for five-a-side. Try it for free for a month and see if it's worth the price of an annual subscription.
New Star Soccer (Free)
The Sims meets Football Manager? On a smartphone? Hold all of our calls for the next few weeks while we try this bad boy out.
ESPN Fantasy Football (Free)
More and more Irish NFL fans are dipping their toe in the incredibly addictive waters of Fantasy Football. You too can be like the 11-3 Revis Island Islanders if you download the ESPN app.
Golfshot: Golf GPS (€26.99)
At €26.99 it's pricey, but for course regulars, Golfshot is an excellent little tool. With over 40,000 course maps, it uses GPS to tell you your range on every shot. No more excuses so.
FIFA 13 (€4.49)
The world's leading football game comes to the iPhone. What's that they say? "Life is what happens while you're busy playing FIFA?"
ESS Gaelic Football Coaching (Free*)
The ESS app is a welcome addition to the market with a range of gaelic football traning drills. Perfect if you decide to organise a small session. Extra drills available for a €5.99 upgrade.
TheScore.ie (Free)
You already have Ireland's best sports app, right? Of course you do. If not, kindly have a word with yourself and get it sorted.