Hell for Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football

Brian Fenton fights back tears as he details his love of the game, while David Clifford's magical feet are revealed in slow motion and Shane Walsh kicks the paint off the gable wall at his family home. Episode One of Hell for Leather takes us from these modern magicians on a journey back in time, to the rough and tumble origins of Gaelic Football. Through rebellion and civil war, it exploded like a prairie fire to become the most played game in Ireland.

As Cork's Juliet Murphy and Dara Ó Cinnéide of Kerry describe the primal lure of a leather ball, Episode Two takes off through the halcyon days of radio, when Michael O'Hehir visualised scores and score-settling for those gathered around the wireless. A controversial overseas odyssey saw the All-Ireland final travel to New York while, back in Ireland, new visions from Northern Ireland sweep away the southern order and bring the Sam Maguire across the border for the very first time.

A phantom of Valentia Island, "The Fetch" would row ashore, dominate All Irelands and be on his currach home almost before the crowds had left Croke Park. The legend that is Mick O'Connell is alive and kicking and, in this episode, expounds on his own legacy and the future of Gaelic football. Women moved to the frontline in the 1970s and a pioneering nun, Sister Pauline Gibbons, helped to drive the charge that opened the gates for stars like Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Juliet Murphy & Noelle Healy. Another crafty Kerryman, Mick O'Dwyer, was meanwhile sharpening the tools that would lead his county to unprecedented success while the sleeping giants of Mayo finally reemerged on the national scene.

Cora Staunton, Jim McGuinness and Jack McCaffrey reveal the deep, personal sparks that ignited their passion for the game. Doing it for the community, and with the support of numerous mentors, it was the parish that first roared them all on. For many in the south, Gaelic Football was just a game but in Northern Ireland it went further, deeply enmeshed in identity and tribalism. This episode travels across the border to hear how the game and its players fared through a century of strife.

Some players are destined to be great. Eoin Liston, David Clifford & Shane Walsh reveal the pleasures and pain of success. But where does the magic come from? Kieran Donaghy believes in flow, time standing still, and after missing a career-defining penalty, Oisín McConville recovers his mojo to help Armagh win a first ever All-Ireland. Juliet Murphy believes teamwork triumphed for Cork's legendary women, who won 11 championships in 12 years. Tyrone required a talisman in Peter Canavan, while Meath massaged their power game with Seán Boylan's magic potions.