Longford Sports Journalist Gavin Cooney a writer for major book award winner

The book, written by Lanesboro native Cooney (son of Longford GAA Chairperson Albert Cooney) in association with Niland, charts the story of pro tennis' 99%: the players who roam the globe in the hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments.

Niland said he was "somewhat shellshocked" after winning the prestigious award worth €30,000 in prize money. It marks the first time a tennis book has claimed the World's longest established literary sports-writing prize.

Speaking from London, where the awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, Conor said it was humbling to have won in a shortlist of six nominees that included British athlete Kelly Holmes.

The 43-year-old described many "sliding doors moments" in his tennis career and that he was inspired to write about it after he was approached to tell his "interesting story" that goes beyond the Grand Slams.

Niland retired from the professional ranks in 2012 due to a persistent hip injury.

The Limerick native, who in December 2010 reached a career high ranking of 129, began his professional career in 2005 after completing a tennis scholarship at the University of California in Berkeley.

He had a distinguished career for the Irish Davis Cup team winning 17 of the 29 matches he played since making his debut in 2000 and won three events on the ATP Challenger Tour, the most recent being the Salzburg Indoor Championships in November 2010 and won five ITF Futures events.

In 2011 he made history by becoming the first Irishman in more than a quarter of a century to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon.