Review
Yet another thoroughbred from the stable of GAA books by Brendan Fullam has arrived on the bookshelves this autumn. Widely known as a top GAA historian, Fullam creates an intriguing feel for the past by recreating each decade for both hurling and Gaelic football in the form of a key game, key personalities and team of each decade. Some great personalities from the past have been profiled, such as Dr Dick Stokes, Denis Coughlan, Paddy Doherty, Paddy Cullen and Martin Furlong. In modern times, Henry Shefflin, Ken McGrath, and Maurice Fitzgerald offer their insights.

As with all team selections pertaining to every era, such as the team of the Millennium, Fullam’s personal choices from each decade will provoke debate. For instance, in the 1990s, Brian Corcoran was accommodated as a right corner back when arguably Stephen McDonagh had stronger claims in this position. That said, Brian Whelahan, Seanie McMahon and Anthony Daly are as deserving a half back line as one could find in that decade, and the claims of Brian Corcoran were simply too strong to ignore. Given the dominance of the Kilkenny hurlers in this decade, two selections are offered, one for Kilkenny only, and one excluding Kilkenny players.

A range of games are profiled in hurling including the 1931 All-Ireland final series between Cork and Kilkenny and the All-Ireland finals of 1963, 1973 and 1987. The football games profiled include the never-to-be-forgotten game between Offaly and Kerry in 1982, Donegal’s superb All-Ireland final victory in 1992 and the day Jimmy Barry Murphy won his first All-Ireland medal in 1973. Arguably the most fascinating game profiled is the tournament final between Ahane (Limerick) and Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) in 1947, which demonstrated the strength of club hurling at that time.

Overall it’s an excellent publication, laden with insightful information and bearing the signatures of the personalities profiled – a Fullam trademark. Importantly, the book is user friendly for those wishing to research from and reference it in the future. The index is top notch and a detailed content listing assists navigation greatly. An ideal stocking filler, it is a must for every GAA reader.



Lest We Forget – Gems of Gaelic Games and Those Who Made Them by Brendan Fullam (€19.95) is published by The Collins Press and is now available in all bookshops and can be ordered online from www.collinspress.ie