Sportsfile book captures magic of GAA season

OVER the Christmas holidays Dublin’s senior GAA stars, both men and women, will no doubt take some time to reflect on a superb 2019.

Dublin’s men, of course, defeated Kerry to land the ‘Drive For Five’, while the ladies made it three-in-a-row with victory over Galway in a rain-sodden Croke Park.

And what better way to relive those memories than through the fantastic Sportsfile publication, titled ‘A Season of Sundays’.

This year’s book captures the highs and lows of the GAA season with another captivating and colourful look back on the year.

We were treated to what was one of the best football championships in recent memory. Fourteen-man Dublin held off Kerry in a thrilling final, a difficult free for Dean Rock in the last play of the game – set us up for an incredible replay.

In the hurling, 2019 was a year that saw some remarkable matches. In the semi-finals, Limerick were looking to defend their title but narrowly missed out by one point against Kilkenny, while Tipperary pulled off a heroic win over Wexford in their semi-final.

In what was a highly anticipated match up, Tipperary defeated 14-man Kilkenny to claim the Liam MacCarthy Cup, winning their third All Ireland title of the decade.

North Dubliner Sinéad Aherne lifted the Brendan Martin Cup as Dublin secured another historic third All Ireland senior title in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Ladies Gaelic Football Final. In the camogie, Galway overcame Kilkenny to reclaim the O’Duffy Cup for the first time since 2013.

GAA President, John Horan and a host of GAA stars were in attendance in the Croke Park Hotel for the official launch.

Over the past 23 years, ‘A Season of Sundays’ has become an Irish annual sporting tradition, marking the end of each season with a stunning collection of images. The book looks back at all the memories throughout the year and is supported by Carroll’s of Tullamore.

The book’s creator Ray McManus said: “At Sportsfile I have a great team of photographers and as The Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) catch-phrase goes: Capturing History is our main aim every year. “Various parts of the country will have their own piece of history to remember this year – be that Mullinalaghta’s run in the All-Ireland club football championship or Leitrim’s promotion to Division Three or Laois’s first appearance in an All-Ireland hurling quarter-final since 1979. 

“But the biggest piece of history will be remembered by Dubliners all over the GAA world for the capture of the Sam Maguire for the fifth time in a row.”

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Seán Ó hÓráin said: “I warmly congratulate Ray McManus and the whole Sportsfile team on this the 23rd edition of ‘A Season of Sundays’. That statistic in itself is a remarkable feat and a credit to all involved in producing a publication that illuminates the latter end of our year, reminding us of the highs of another memorable season but also of some of the lesser spotted treasures.”