The Last Ditch

The Last Ditch [is] penned with Sweeney’s trademark wit and innate understanding of the game and the culture * RTÉ Guide *The Last Ditch becomes so much more than a book about following a championship season. It’s that, surely, but it’s crammed with layers, poignancy, love, hatred, certainty, vulnerability … It has the potential to become an instant classic. After reading it, we had to speak to him, even after he threw that shade several years back … brings us through modern Ireland’s struggles in sport, machismo, racial tensions and culture … A book that enters the GAA canon * The 42 *Eamonn Sweeney reveals how he got back on track after a travel phobia made it difficult to watch the sport he loves … A magical-mystery tour of the 2024 GAA season * Irish Independent *One of the most compelling sports books of 2025 … The gradual, quiet process of Sweeney reclaiming his life for himself * Irish Times *

Eamonn Sweeney writes the “Hold The Back Page” column for the Sunday Independent and a Monday sports column for the Irish Independent. He is a former Irish Sports Columnist of the Year and has written seven books, including the novels Waiting for the Healer and The Photograph, and the sports books There’s Only One Red Army and The Road to Croker.

Born in Sligo in 1968, he lives in Skibbereen and is the father of three daughters. He is the owner of a dog and a bearded dragon and headed three goals during his otherwise undistinguished under-age Gaelic football career. All the other personal stuff is in the book.

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