'Kings of September' tops sports books list

Kings of September, written by the Sunday Times GAA journalist Michael Foley, has been named the Boylesports Irish sports book of the year at a ceremony in the James Joyce Centre in Dublin yesterday.

Foley is the third recipient of the award following the footsteps of fellow Sunday Times writer Denis Walsh, for Hurling: The Revolution Years in 2005 and Vincent Hogan, from the Irish Independent, for writing Paul McGrath's autobiography Back From The Brink, last year.

Kings of September tells the story of the 1982 Offaly footballers who denied the great Kerry team a fifth All-Ireland title in a row. Foley outlines the story from the protagonists' viewpoint by providing first-hand accounts of the day and subsequent resonance to Gaelic football folklore. The match will be remembered for a last-minute goal from Offaly substitute Séamus Darby to put them a point ahead.

Twenty books were initially considered with five shortlisted by a 14-man selection committee comprising national print, radio and television sports editors. Each member was asked to name their books in order of preference, one to five. Ten points were awarded to first place, six for second, four for third, three for fourth and one for fifth.

The runners-up were both Irish Times journalists, Keys to the Kingdom by Jack O'Connor with Tom Humphries, and House of Pain by Keith Duggan.