GAA sporting biographies are a regular sight, particularly coming towards the end of the year, when Santa Claus – a renowned sporting fan, particularly fond Waterford hurlers I’m told – is wondering what he should stock in his sack.

There seems to be a lack of content out there when it comes to the Waterford hurling heroes.  I know that a relative of the late John Keane is currently writing a book on the life of the man who is considered by many to have been the greatest Waterford hurler of all time.  He was on the team that won the senior All-Ireland in 1948 and was also the official trainer of the team that won the All-Ireland in 1959.

Apart from that, I have not yet come across any others.  Both that and the one on Ned Power have not yet been published so there is something of a vacuum of information when it comes to Waterford sports stars and books about them.

Perhaps nobody wants to read about them and people want, instead to read about hurling stars of the present, such as Donal Og or Brian Cody or Henry Shefflin.  Or, people want to read about great stars of the past such as Christy Ring, about whom Tim Horgan wrote a good biography.

Given Waterford’s success over the last 10 years (and it has been the longest period of success since the 57-63 era, despite the lack of an All-Ireland crown), there is a growing band of admirers of Waterford hurlers.  Everyone loves a game underdog, which is Waterford has been in the AI championship up to now, and everyone loves a bit of nostalgia.  Many commentators would say that we are in a bit of a golden era of hurling at the moment and that the 1950s and 1960s was another such era.

“My Father: A Hurling Revolutionary, the life and times of Ned Power” is out on paperback at the end of November 2009.  Click here for further information, pre-order and excerpt.