‘THE CHOICE’ — THE autobiography of Dublin footballer Philly McMahon — has been named winner of the Bord Gais Energy Sports Book of the Year at a ceremony in Dublin tonight.
Written with sports journalist Niall Kelly, Deputy Editor of The42, the book focuses on McMahon’s childhood growing up in Ballymun to his development into a GAA star who was part of the Dublin side’s historic three All-Ireland triumphs in succession recently.
The book overcame stiff competition from five other nominees — ‘Any Given Saturday’ by Shay Given, ‘The Warriors Code’ by Jackie Tyrell with Christy O’Connor, ‘The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish cycling’s golden generation’ by Barry Ryan, ‘Gooch: The Autobiography’ by Colm Cooper with Vincent Hogan and ‘Form: My autobiography’ by Kieren Fallon with Oliver Holt.
Congratulations to ‘The Choice’ By Philly McMahon with Niall Kelly, WINNER of the @BordGaisEnergy Sports Book of the Year 2017 #BGEIBA @PhillyMcMahon @Gill_Books @niallkelly pic.twitter.com/jssLJW9ixp
— BGEIrish Book Awards (@BGEIBAS) November 28, 2017
Previous winners of the award include ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ by David Walsh, ‘The Test’ by Brian O’Driscoll and ‘Until Victory Always: A Memoir’ by Jim McGuinness.
According to the awards’ official site, the winners are “decided by an online web-poll divided into two constituencies, a public vote and a specialist Academy vote, weighted equally and combined to produce the winners”.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Lots of common sense as normal from Baxter. Didn’t think they’d let Jones go so late in the process. Not sure anyone else can make an impact before the WC. So can’t see England, as they currently stand, being in the top 2 positions of the Six Nations. Most likely fighting it out with Wales for 3 & 4 positions.
@Con Cussed: Baxter’s definitely one of the good guys. Deserves a lot of respect. But you have to wonder whether he’s achieved all he can at Exeter; that they are a bit past their peak; and he needs a different challenge
Borthwick has a really good thing going with Leicester, would you really want to take on the English job as a youngish coach a year out from the world cup? I hope the RFU have a plan b…
@David Lawlor: Scott Robertson. Disaster for the rest of the world if it is.
@David Lawlor: You would think Mark McCall would be considered being one of the most successful coachers in the premiership.
@Con Cussed: it’s always odd never to see his name popping up around this kinda scenario.