The story of Kerry's footballing feats told by those gathered at the crossroads in Finuge filled the mind of a young Jimmy Deenihan with dreams of one day playing for Kerry in Croke Park and of maybe lifting the Sam Maguire Cup himself. In tandem with this dream grew a belief that sport is, as described by Hippocrates, 'the preserver of health'. My Sporting Liferecounts how his dreams became a reality, culminating when he lifted the Sam Maguire as captain of the four-in-a-row winning Kerry team. Sport didn't end with retirement from competitive football. Jimmy describes his life as a P.E. teacher, coach and trainer of all age groups. When he entered political life, he embraced the concept of sport for the many and not just for the few, undertaking extensive examination of the role of sport in the lives of Irish people. He also detais his organisation of sporting events involving his Dáil colleagues and their counterparts in other countries. Jimmy's commitment to sport, not just as a participant at the highest level, but at all levels ands at all ages in life, is evident throughout My Sporting Life.
