LEINSTER CONQUERING EUROPE BY PETER BREEN
Reviewed By Nessa Jennings
©2009 €18.99

Gordon Darcy and Leo Cullen, Leinster and Ireland, signed books for almost two hours for rugby fans at the Dundrum Town Centre in October. Instead of joining the long queue, I talked to author, Peter Breen, whose first book it is. From Swords and schooled at Belvedere, Peter has previously been a sports journalist. But it is from his position as Media/Communications manager for the Leinster side since 2003 that he has written about the 2008 – 2009 season.

If you think Popey and Hook bantering in the studio is the most interesting thing about the game, try Leinster winning the Heineken Cup as recounted from Peter Breen's unique vantage point along with outstanding images by Inpho Photography, Billy Stickland's company, and official photographers to the Lions Tour. The book is great value for the sports photography alone, taking us from the training sessions right through to the final against Leicester at Murrayfield, where it was close, 19-16, the final score.

The writing itself is an eye witness account of a team trying to make its mark on the European competition among heavyweights like Clermont and Perpignon, and of course, the English sides. But the rivalry was closer to home, with Munster winning in 2006 and 2008. I remember being in Ballsbridge after a bloody encounter when the stands in Lansdowne Road were drowned in a sea of red, and the style of rugby played by a victorious Munster was intimidating. And I was actually upset about it and the manner in which the fans were celebrating. Rugby, it seemed to me, had gone to a new level.

In the intervening years, Leinster had to regroup and adopt a new strategy, and years of hard training followed. The drafting in of foreign players like Phillippe Contepomi and Rocky Elsom, having to be integrated to comprise a more competitive Leinster side. Many matches were hotly contested.

When it came to last season, they were primed and ready. The book tells in close detail how it all unfolded. The 'Boys in Blue' posters, the time when Rob Kearney, recovering from illness, acted as 'waterboy' for one of the matches just to be part of the 22, and the 'bloodgate' controversy during the match against Harlequins, when they tried to make an illegal substitution by faking a blood injury, simulated by a player smashing open a blood pellet over his face. Leinster narrowly scraped justice for themselves by winning the match anyway.

The semi-final v Munster was an absolute thriller where justice was also served. All the talk was of another Munster victory. However, Leinster took the game with a lot of grace and skill. Remember also, that Ireland historically won the Grand Slam this year, with a lot of the players doubly committed. This book by Peter Breen is also the culmination of a lot of hard work, and makes a great souvenir for anyone interested in the game.

Can I just add that, in rugby, the forwards act like backs or defenders, and the backs are more like forwards who score points and tries, a fact that greatly helped me in my understanding of the game!

The new Lansdowne Road will be re-opening next August 7th with the mixed interprovincial game of Leinster/Ulster v Munster/Connaught.

THE RUNNERS BY FIACHRA SHERIDAN
Reviewed By Nessa Jennings
©2009 RRP €9.99

The cover of 'The Runners' is the enduring image of Bobby and Jays' summer in Dublin during the 1980's as depicted in this, Fiachra Sheridan's debut novel. Growing up in the shadow of Croke Park, the two lads are immersed in all kinds of sport, primarily boxing, as they are members of a local club where they are being trained for The National Championships by their friend and mentor Anto.

Bobby nodded his head. He had never fought Jay like it was an All-Ireland final. Sparring was different to competition. You never went flat out in sparring, or threw your hardest punches. Especially at your best friend.

They spend the rest of their time doing circuits around the Croker and running up and down the stairwells of the flats in Ballybough, where the author is from, and where he now works as a maths teacher.

The book is a vivid memory of those times as seen through the eyes of the children. It is also a lesson in using short sentences. The story stays with you long after you've put it down. Extremely visual about sport and the area. It concerns friendship and an innocence about to be lost to the social problems of Dublin's North Inner City.