Vincent Hogan is an Irish sports journalist, memoirist, and collaborative biographer. A native of Nenagh, County Tipperary, he attended Nenagh CBS and began his newspaper career at the Irish Press, working alongside Con Houlihan. He later became chief sportswriter at the Irish Independent, covering major events across several sports before retiring from the newspaper in 2023.
Hogan’s books include memoirs written with Paul McGrath, Eddie O’Sullivan, Joe Canning, and leading Gaelic games players. His early collaboration with Nicky English, Beyond the Tunnel, appeared in 1996. His own 2026 memoir, The Lost Sportswriter, reflects on forty-three years of reporting, connecting the people he encountered with changes in the relationship between journalists and the athletes they cover.
Vincent Hogan Books
| Book | Year | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Back From the Brink | 2006 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Eddie O'Sullivan | 2009 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Henry Shefflin | 2015 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Gooch - The Autobiography | 2017 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| At All Costs | 2018 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Joe Canning | 2025 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Lost Sportswriter | 2026 | Description / Buy at Amazon |
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Soccer Books
Back from the Brink: The Autobiography: Paul McGrath, writing with Hogan, recounts a life that combined exceptional soccer ability with profound personal difficulty. Childhood in Dublin institutions precedes professional success with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Ireland. The memoir follows alcoholism, damaged relationships, and the struggle to adjust after playing, examining experiences concealed behind the reputation of a widely admired international defender. Published in 2006.
Multi-sport Books
The Lost Sportswriter: A Life Up Close With Irish Sporting Greatness: Hogan looks back on forty-three years reporting Irish sport, from newspaper deadlines and open dressing rooms to increasingly managed public access. Encounters with leading athletes accompany memories of his early career and the people who influenced him. The memoir considers what changed in sportswriting, connecting personal experiences with a shift from intimate storytelling toward more restricted exchanges shaped by publicity and media management. Published in 2026.
Hurling Books
Joe Canning: My Story: Joe Canning, writing with Hogan, traces his hurling life from a Portumna family to success with Galway. Early recognition as an exceptional talent brought expectations that preceded a long wait for an All-Ireland championship. The memoir connects sporting ambition with family, community, and personal struggles, examining the pressure of becoming a player whose performances seemed to carry the hopes of an entire county. Published in 2024.
Henry Shefflin: The Autobiography: Henry Shefflin reflects on a career at the center of Kilkenny’s hurling success. Major honors accompany accounts of injury, disappointment, and rivalries that complicated the impression of effortless achievement. Written with Hogan, the autobiography connects an exceptional competitive record with the personal demands of sustaining performance, giving the player’s perspective on a team and period that became dominant in the sport. Published in 2015.
At All Costs: Davy Fitzgerald examines his life as a hurler and manager in this collaboration with Hogan. His determination and work ethic accompany an account of controversies, arguments, and the personal costs of pursuing victory. The memoir considers the relationship between a successful sporting record and a confrontational reputation, allowing Fitzgerald to reflect on the effects of his approach on himself and those closest to him. Published in 2018.
Rugby Books
Eddie O'Sullivan: Never Die Wondering: The Autobiography: Eddie O’Sullivan recounts his unconventional route into rugby coaching and his years leading Ireland. Achievements including Triple Crowns sit beside the collapse of expectations at the 2007 World Cup. The memoir examines professional relationships, criticism, and the difficulty of establishing authority without a traditional rugby background, giving the coach’s account of both the rise and the end of his national-team tenure. Published in 2009.
Gaelic Football Books
Gooch: The Autobiography: Colm Cooper, writing with Hogan, recounts his development within a Gaelic-football family, Dr Crokes, and the Kerry senior team. Championship achievements accompany injury and personal tragedy during a career spanning major changes in the game. The memoir opens a private life behind a familiar sporting nickname, connecting the demands of elite competition with the experiences of the person carrying that public reputation. Published in 2017.