Last week, Michael Foley, author of 'Kings of September' and 'The Bloodied Field' joined us to talk about his favourite GAA books of all time. Listen here.
2014 has been a stunning year for books about Gaelic football and hurling
With the season for buying things upon us, here is a poll of the greatest GAA books ever written - vote for your favourite.
Hurling: The Revolution Years
Denis Walsh (2005)
Denis Walsh's account of the most thrilling and democratic era in hurling history.
Kings of September: The Day Offaly Denied Kerry The Five In A Row
Michael Foley (2007)
Exhaustively in-depth account of possibly the most famous game in the history of Gaelic football. Charts Offaly's rise in the late 70s and early 80s under Eugene McGee and it captures both Kerry's aura on the pitch and their exuberance when it came to All-Ireland winning tours.
House Of Pain: Through The Rooms Of Mayo Football
Keith Duggan (2007)
James Horan might hate it, but the phrase 'House of Pain' has now become part of the lexicon when talking about Mayo. It wasn't before 2007.
The Bloodied Field: Croke Park, 21 November 1920
Michael Foley (2014)
About far more than just sport, a masterful and moving account of the events leading up to Bloody Sunday, the day itself and the sad aftermath. It also shows that the Dubs (pre-independence, they were regarded as tricksy, glamour players who never had to play outside Croke Park) were always the Dubs.
The Club
Christy O'Connor (2009)
Brilliant and universal depiction of life as a club player, St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield goalkeeper Christy O'Connor has written a book for the ages.
Dublin v Kerry: The Story Of The Epic Rivalry That Changed Irish Sport
Tom Humphries (2006)
A well worn almost cliched subject matter, Humphries, with his usual wit and light touch, manages to make you feel wistful and appreciative even if you didn't experience the era in question.
Over The Bar: A Personal Relationship With The GAA
Brendan O'hEithir (1984)
The forerunner of the modern post-Humphries, concept GAA books, Brendan O'hEithir's book was released during the centenary year of 1984. It details the torture of following the Galway hurlers (a truly timeless subject) and contains an iconoclastic volley at Micheal O'Hehir among many other things.
The Keys To The Kingdom
Jack O'Connor with Tom Humphries (2007)
The self-declared 'truculent bollocks' gives a startling honest account of the 2006 season, guiding Kerry to a second All-Ireland in three years.
Come What May: The Autobiography
Donal Og Cusack with Tom Humphries (2009)
Caused a storm of publicity on the back of Donal Og Cusack coming out in it's pages, the book also explores hurling in Cloyne, the Cork strike period and the author's relationship with the Mr. Big of Cork GAA, Frank Murphy.
Dalo: The Autobiography
Anthony Daly with Christy O'Connor (2014)
Daly is such an engaging character that this book was only ever going to be brilliant. The book explores in great depth the lengths Daly and his team went to to inject life into their 2014 season. It didn't happen for them.
Green Fields
Tom Humphries (1996)
Yet another Tom Humphries entry, this book is in fact a collection of columns, amounting to a love letter to the association. The book is written during the famous 1995 season, but the results are only mentioned in passing, and are used as an avenue through which Humphries can talk about what really interests him.
Out Of Our Skins
Liam Hayes (1992)
Written just a year after his retirement, Hayes gives an intimate portrayal of the dressing room and paints a vivid picture of that most divisive and yet strangely appealing of great teams, the Meath side of the late 80s.
The Road to Croker: A GAA Fanatic On The Championship Trail
Eamon Sweeney (2004)
Sweeney, without an automobile to call his own, took in a game a week in 2003. The book inevitably throws up many tales from stays in B & B's, chats in pubs and the like. Also contains a furious defence of Tyrone's controversial style of football.
