OTB's John Duggan was joined by sportswriter Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times to discuss the best sports books of the year.

The lads chat about what makes a good sports book, which sports lend themselves to the best storytelling and which ones you need to drop into the Christmas stocking in 2022.

Some of the books discussed include:
- The Rodfather: Inside the Beautiful (Ugly, Ridiculous, Hilarious) Game by Roddy Collins and Paul Howard
- Two Brothers: The Life and Times of Bobby and Jackie Charlton by Jonathan Wilson
- Limerick: A Biography in Nine Lives by Arthur O'Dea
- The Gemma O'Connor Story: Why Not A Warrior? by Gemma O'Connor and Sinead Farrell
- Ian McKinley: Second Sight: Rugby and Redemption by Ian McKinley and Gerry Thornley

THE SATURDAY PANEL - Best Sports Books of the Year with Malachy Clerkin

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This week on The Saturday Panel we're delving into the area of off-pitch and online issues that face athletes. Joining John Duggan in studio: Leigh Nicol, an ex-professional footballer and victim of sextortion; Fraser Franks, also a former professional footballer who had football suddenly taken from him owing to a heart condition; and Matt Himsworth, a media lawyer who protects players from so many evils that lurk online.

Saturday Panel: Online abuse of athletes | Social media as 'a drug'

Ex Ireland internationals Mike Ross, Marcus Horan and Alison Miller join OTB's John Duggan to discuss the Rugby World Cup which starts on Friday this coming week!  It's with thanks to L’Oreal – Give your skin the power to age better with the Power Age range of Hyaluronic acid products

THE SATURDAY PANEL | Ireland will 'be out in the quarters, or win the whole thing!' | Weighing up Ireland's opponents

It is All-Ireland football final weekend and John Duggan is joined by Dublin All Ireland winners Ger Brennan and John O'Leary and Celtic Cross holders with Kerry Sean O'Sullivan and Fionn Fitzgerald to discuss the biggest game in the GAA calendar.

The panel will look at what makes this rivalry so special, why the Kingdom have struggled to retain their crown in the past and the mouthwatering clash of Mick Fitzsimons and David Clifford 

Gaelic football on Off The Ball is in partnership with AIB - Proud sponsors of the GAA senior football Championship. Check out #TheToughest for more.

Old rivals collide, stopping Clifford and the difficulty of going back to back

John Duggan was joined on the panel in studio by legendary golf journalist Dermot Gilleece & Irish golfer and T-4 finisher in the 1982 Open, Des Smyth. They discussed the 151st Open & some fond memories of previous Open Championships.

This Saturday Panel was brought to you with thanks to the all new Renault Austral E-Tech full hybrid- with 200 horsepower and up to 1,100km range.

THE SATURDAY PANEL - Best Sports Books of the Year with Malachy Clerkin

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