Here are the answers:
1. “Right from the start, I loved United and I loved an argument. So it was always going to be a volatile mix when I went to a school full of Liverpool fans.”
Red: My Autobiography — Gary Neville
2. “I was born in Cork — to the Cork supporters who’d be abusing me in Thurles or Páirc Uí Chaoimh I’d say that’s a bit of a surprise — and I live in Dungarvan now.”
If you don’t know me, don’t judge me — Dan Shanahan
3. “I’m not sure if I was born a perfectionist, or if I just decided subconsciously that was the way it was going to have to be.”
Jonny: My Autobiography — Jonny Wilkinson
4. “Strange the things that wake you up from the shallow haze of a drunken sleep.”
My Story — Kenny Egan
5. “I was a twelve-year-old boy listening on the wireless to the 1947 All Ireland final between Kerry and Cavan in New York – the only one ever to be played outside Ireland – when I first dreamt about becoming a sports commentator.”
Memory Man — Jimmy Magee
6. “‘I can’t believe I lost my fucking ear; bang bang!’ Now I’m not a big proponent of the “F” word — in fact I went from age six to age 21 without saying it once — but this was a special occasion and it cried out for a strong expletive.”
Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks — Mick Foley
7. “As a young lad I was all over the place, a disaster in school and lackadaisical about sport. In a county where hurling is king it was great pucking the ball around but when it came to playing games I wasn’t much bothered.
All in My Head — Lar Corbett
8. “The game of rugby has given me so much. I can say with hand on heart that it changed my life. But the first thing it gave me was the fine set of cauliflower ears I have to this day.”
The Bull — John Hayes
9. “I am crying. I am a Sheffield schoolgirl writing in her diary about the bullies awaiting me tomorrow.”
Unbelievable — Jessica Ennis
10. “Long before I tested myself against the aristocrats of schools rugby, long before I started dividing opinion and long before I was made to feel an outsider in the game I loved, sport consumed my childhood.”
The Outsider — Geordan Murphy
11. “Pat Cleary’s name flashed up on my phone. A former Offaly teammate, he was calling me purely as a friend, though not without first coldly analysing my misdemeanours like the good detective that he is.”
Life, Death and Hurling — Michael Duignan
12. “I guess I should should start with the name. It comes from my grandfather…”
Ruby: The Autobiography — Ruby Walsh
13. “Hey, what is that? Not necessarily what you expect to hear from your wife during an affectionate hug.”
My Story — Jim Stynes
14. “I knew it would be hard this morning. In a race that lasts three weeks there are good days and bad days and survival is all about morale.”
Rough Ride — Paul Kimmage
15. “18 June 1994. Down to the last stubborn seconds in New Jersey and it sounded as if the earth itself had begun to whistle.”
Back from the Brink — Paul McGrath
16. “No matter what kind of journey we make of life, where we started out will always be part of us.”
Managing My Life — Alex Ferguson
