Underdog wins Sports Book of the Year

The story of a small hurling club's ups and downs has been named as Sports Book of the Year, beating the autobiography of one of Ireland's greatest footballers.

Christy O'Connor's "The Club" relates a year in the life of grassroots GAA at St Joseph's Doora-Barefield in Co Clare, including tragic deaths and the harsh truths facing rural teams.

The book won the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year, ahead of former Irish international, now TV pundit John Giles for his life story, 'A Football Man'.

Christy O’Connor, author of 'The Club', said: "I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have won this award, particularly when you look at all the excellent sports books written this year.

"It is also a privilege when you consider some of the outstanding books to have won the William Hill award in the past and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the judges and public for their votes.

"When I decided to write this book, I wanted to pay tribute to my daughter Róisín and former team-mate Ger Hoey, both of whom passed away in the space of a week.

"I also wanted to portray the essence of what defines us in the St Joseph's Doora-Barefield club, which required me to be as honest as I possibly could be.

"I would like to thank my family, the Hoey family and everyone in the Doora-Barefield club, especially my team-mates."