Setanta Sports Book of the Year - new Irish sports book award

Dub Sub Confidential by John Leonard has won the inaugural Setanta Sports Book of the Year award. The book is an honest retelling of Leonard’s experience as Stephen Cluxton's understudy on the Dublin football team and deals with the aftermath of abuse and battles with drug and alcohol addiction.

Two other GAA books made the shortlist. Until Victory Always, Donegal football manager Jim McGuinness’ memoir was presented with the Sports Book of the Year award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2015. Relentless, Mary White’s account of the Cork Ladies Footballers and their remarkable dominance, also made the shortlist.

The other shortlisted titles for the Setanta Sports Book of the Year were No Borders: Playing Rugby for Ireland, by Tom English, and historian Paul Rouse’s study, Sport and Ireland.

Leonard received a €1,500 cash prize, a specially commissioned trophy, and €10,000 worth of TV advertising on Setanta Sports.