Hooked

Sean Moran from The Irish Times finds in Justin McCarthy's new book an absorbing, human story that parallels the evolution of the GAA. Justin McCarthy. Few names in hurling command as much respect. Babs Keating has said he and Frank Cummins would have formed the ultimate midfield pairing. Christy Ring's biographer, Val Dorgan, described him as having 'an unsurpassed technical knowledge of hurling'. Ger Loughnane gave him his jersey after McCarthy's last game as Clare coach, while Johnny Callinan claims he was the best coach he ever had. Elsewhere, the terms stylist, guru, enthusiast and pioneer have been routinely used to describe the second-youngest man to win Hurler of the Year and the youngest coach to win a national league title. So too though has the word 'traitor' by some within Cork after McCarthy became the first high-profile hurling figure to coach outside and against his native county. His individualistic and forthright manner was particularly unpopular among the county board which twice ousted him from the Cork coaching job even though he delivered an All-Ireland and remained unbeaten in Munster while in that role.
In this sometimes humorous, sometimes sad but always candid book, McCarthy recounts one of the most varied, fascinating and influential careers in hurling history. He tells of how he came from an unfashionable club to being Hurler of the Year at twenty-one; of how he bounced back from nearly losing his leg in a motorbike accident to playing in another All-Ireland final; of how his passion for his sport drove a then 25-year-old to coach Antrim to an All-Ireland title during the Troubles; of his time coaching the great Clare team of Loughnane, Stack and Hehir; of how he masterminded the Centenary All-Ireland win for Cork; of his coaching missions in the quiet fields of Ireland; and, for the first time, of his stormy relations with the Cork County Board. Quite simply, Hooked is a compelling read for every fan of the national game.
 
Sean Moran from The Irish Times finds in Justin McCarthy's new book an absorbing, human story that parallels the evolution of the GAA. Justin McCarthy. Few names in hurling command as much respect. Babs Keating has said he and Frank Cummins would have formed the ultimate midfield pairing. Christy Ring's biographer, Val Dorgan, described him as having 'an unsurpassed technical knowledge of hurling'. Ger Loughnane gave him his jersey after McCarthy's last game as Clare coach, while Johnny Callinan claims he was the best coach he ever had. Elsewhere, the terms stylist, guru, enthusiast and pioneer have been routinely used to describe the second-youngest man to win Hurler of the Year and the youngest coach to win a national league title. So too though has the word 'traitor' by some within Cork after McCarthy became the first high-profile hurling figure to coach outside and against his native county. His individualistic and forthright manner was particularly unpopular among the county board which twice ousted him from the Cork coaching job even though he delivered an All-Ireland and remained unbeaten in Munster while in that role.
In this sometimes humorous, sometimes sad but always candid book, McCarthy recounts one of the most varied, fascinating and influential careers in hurling history. He tells of how he came from an unfashionable club to being Hurler of the Year at twenty-one; of how he bounced back from nearly losing his leg in a motorbike accident to playing in another All-Ireland final; of how his passion for his sport drove a then 25-year-old to coach Antrim to an All-Ireland title during the Troubles; of his time coaching the great Clare team of Loughnane, Stack and Hehir; of how he masterminded the Centenary All-Ireland win for Cork; of his coaching missions in the quiet fields of Ireland; and, for the first time, of his stormy relations with the Cork County Board. Quite simply, Hooked is a compelling read for every fan of the national game.