Ronan O'Gara - Hardcover

O'Gara, Ronan

3.7

215 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1848270089 ISBN 13: 9781848270084

Publisher: Transworld Ireland, 2008

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Ronan O'Gara is quite simply one of the greatest sportsmen Ireland has ever produced. A brilliant kicker both from the hand and at penalty goals, a sublime orchestrator of play from the out-half position he has made his own, and a cool head in the pressure-cooker of club and international rugby, the list of the Cork man's achievements goes on and on. He was the leading points scorer in Irish rugby history, and one of the top ten in the world. He was the leading points scorer in the history of the Heineken Cup. He was the first ever points and try scorer at the home of Gaelic sports, Croke Park. In his candid, illuminating autobiography, O'Gara tells the story of those many on-field successes, including the glorious year of 2006, when his tactical prowess and will to win first helped guide Ireland to the Triple Crown in the Six Nations championship, then Munster to a memorable Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.O'Gara kicked a perfect five out of five in the 23-19 win that glorious May day, as Munster lifted the coveted trophy for the first time, sparking wild celebrations heard all the way back in Limerick and Cork. Two years later, he was no less instrumental as Munster won the cup for a second time, beating Toulouse. Yet in any sporting career there are setbacks as well, and O'Gara does not shy away from addressing the darker days, most notably at the 2007 World Cup. He tells the inside story of Ireland's disappointments in France, and responds to the allegations about his personal life that made front-page news that autumn. "Ronan O'Gara: My Autobiography" is the story of an Irish rugby hero, of a life lived to the full, and of a passionate and proud representative of the people of Cork and Ireland.

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Review:

"Munster's recent story is compelling and O'Gara has been a central figure. With the assistance of Denis Walsh, this is a sweetly struck penalty of a book: revealing and hard-nosed" (Robert Kitson Guardian)

"Perhaps the finest sports book of the year and among the best Irish sports biographies ever written... a deeply rewarding portrait of a great sportsman" (Michael Foley Sunday Times (Ireland))

"O'Gara is fascinating on both the mental and physical mechanics of the rugby kick... His candour means that he does not avoid discussing the darker aspects of his personal life" (Leo McKinstry Sunday Telegraph)

"Candour is a defining characteristic of O'Gara's and pervades his autobiography... a compelling read" (Hugh Farrelly Irish Independent)

"Basically it's the book O'Gara hoped it would be and that's the genius of it. Nothing is off limits, his world is laid bare and people are left to make up their own minds about the subject... He is brutally honest in his observations, is very hard and unforgiving on himself and tells it like it is. It is a hallmark of the man... It's all O'Gara" (Conor George Evening Echo)

Book Description:

The colourful and dramatic life story of the record points scorer in Irish rugby history.

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