danger?’
‘No, Dad,’ laughed Eoin. ‘I think it’s all a bit of ancient history.’
Eoin’s mother was even more concerned, but he soothed her worries and explained that the gardaí had taken everything away for examination.
He weekend in Ormondstown began quietly. Eating, sleeping and visiting his grandfather took up the bulkof his time, but he also helped his dad to paint the shed and washed the car too. After dinner he jumped up from the table to collect the dishes and rolled up his sleeves to start the washing-up.
‘What’s all this eagerness to do the chores?’ quizzed his mother.
‘No reason,’ smiled Eoin. ‘Always happy to help.’
‘Are you looking for a few euro for your cinema date tonight?’ laughed his dad.
Eoin blushed. ‘That’s very kind of you to offer Dad,’ he grinned. ‘A tenner? Perfect.’
His dad laughed. ‘A tenner’s about right for all the work you did. Leave those dishes and get yourself ready. I’ll drop you down to Dylan’s.’
Chapter 31
. . . . . . . . .
T HE movie was a bit of a disaster. Not a disaster movie, but a terrible film about stupid people doing unbelievable things. They laughed at all the serious bits and Eoin and Dylan took turns to make fake-vomiting noises when the actors were attempting to be funny. Caoimhe and her pal, Daniella, were very amused by their antics.
‘You could be a comedian, Eoin,’ Caoimhe laughed at one stage.
They were still laughing as they left the cinema, and wandered down the town together in great spirits.
‘Are you coming up for the game next week, Caoi?’ asked Eoin.
‘I don’t think so. Mam only goes to watch Dyl’s games,’ she replied.
‘Sure he might be playing yet. There’s a terrible dose of the winter bug in the school and they could need him.’
Caoimhe chuckled. ‘On the Junior Cup team? Little Dyl? That’d be hilarious to see. I suppose he could runthrough their legs …’
And with that she took off, laughing as went, avoiding her brother’s clutches.
They ran about fifty metres before both stopped, panting, outside the chip shop.
‘C’mon lads, anyone for a sausage and chips?’ asked Dylan.
‘Not for me,’ said Eoin. ‘I’ve been eating all weekend and the chips aren’t a good idea if you want to keep an athlete’s physique like mine.’
Dylan grinned and nodded. ‘Do you know what, I think you’re right. Now, race you to the supermarket, we’ll have an apple instead.’
The following afternoon Eoin walked down to see Dixie in his home. The old man had a cold and was sitting wrapped in a blanket when he called.
‘I’ve had this dose for a couple of days, but I’ll make sure I’m right for my annual trip to Lansdowne Road for the final,’ he smiled. ‘I hear from Andy that you’ve been impressing some people in the Leinster set-up.’
‘Really? I hadn’t heard that …’ replied Eoin, puzzled.
‘Oh, perhaps I’ve spoken out of turn. Or maybe I was mistaken,’ said Dixie.
‘Sure I’ve only played for a few minutes here and there this season,’ Eoin replied. ‘That game in Rostippwas the only time I got a full game.’
‘Well, I suppose it doesn’t take long to show your class,’ he chuckled. ‘But have you the stamina to last a full game next week?’
Eoin smiled. ‘To be honest I’m not sure. I’ve trained hard but it has been frustrating to get so little time in the middle. I hope I’m up to it.’
Dixie wagged his finger. ‘Eoin Madden, you’re a fantastic player, and I should know. You must ensure you have confidence in yourself because it will come out in the way you play. Playing at outside-half means being able to make quick decisions and acting on them instantly. If you lack self-belief you won’t play as well as you could. So don’t ever forget your previous great games and how you were able to set up scores for Castlerock.’
Eoin smiled. ‘Thanks, Grandad, I’m sure I’ll be fine. This will be my third time to play in the
‘No, Dad,’ laughed Eoin. ‘I think it’s all a bit of ancient history.’
Eoin’s mother was even more concerned, but he soothed her worries and explained that the gardaí had taken everything away for examination.
He weekend in Ormondstown began quietly. Eating, sleeping and visiting his grandfather took up the bulkof his time, but he also helped his dad to paint the shed and washed the car too. After dinner he jumped up from the table to collect the dishes and rolled up his sleeves to start the washing-up.
‘What’s all this eagerness to do the chores?’ quizzed his mother.
‘No reason,’ smiled Eoin. ‘Always happy to help.’
‘Are you looking for a few euro for your cinema date tonight?’ laughed his dad.
Eoin blushed. ‘That’s very kind of you to offer Dad,’ he grinned. ‘A tenner? Perfect.’
His dad laughed. ‘A tenner’s about right for all the work you did. Leave those dishes and get yourself ready. I’ll drop you down to Dylan’s.’
Chapter 31
. . . . . . . . .
T HE movie was a bit of a disaster. Not a disaster movie, but a terrible film about stupid people doing unbelievable things. They laughed at all the serious bits and Eoin and Dylan took turns to make fake-vomiting noises when the actors were attempting to be funny. Caoimhe and her pal, Daniella, were very amused by their antics.
‘You could be a comedian, Eoin,’ Caoimhe laughed at one stage.
They were still laughing as they left the cinema, and wandered down the town together in great spirits.
‘Are you coming up for the game next week, Caoi?’ asked Eoin.
‘I don’t think so. Mam only goes to watch Dyl’s games,’ she replied.
‘Sure he might be playing yet. There’s a terrible dose of the winter bug in the school and they could need him.’
Caoimhe chuckled. ‘On the Junior Cup team? Little Dyl? That’d be hilarious to see. I suppose he could runthrough their legs …’
And with that she took off, laughing as went, avoiding her brother’s clutches.
They ran about fifty metres before both stopped, panting, outside the chip shop.
‘C’mon lads, anyone for a sausage and chips?’ asked Dylan.
‘Not for me,’ said Eoin. ‘I’ve been eating all weekend and the chips aren’t a good idea if you want to keep an athlete’s physique like mine.’
Dylan grinned and nodded. ‘Do you know what, I think you’re right. Now, race you to the supermarket, we’ll have an apple instead.’
The following afternoon Eoin walked down to see Dixie in his home. The old man had a cold and was sitting wrapped in a blanket when he called.
‘I’ve had this dose for a couple of days, but I’ll make sure I’m right for my annual trip to Lansdowne Road for the final,’ he smiled. ‘I hear from Andy that you’ve been impressing some people in the Leinster set-up.’
‘Really? I hadn’t heard that …’ replied Eoin, puzzled.
‘Oh, perhaps I’ve spoken out of turn. Or maybe I was mistaken,’ said Dixie.
‘Sure I’ve only played for a few minutes here and there this season,’ Eoin replied. ‘That game in Rostippwas the only time I got a full game.’
‘Well, I suppose it doesn’t take long to show your class,’ he chuckled. ‘But have you the stamina to last a full game next week?’
Eoin smiled. ‘To be honest I’m not sure. I’ve trained hard but it has been frustrating to get so little time in the middle. I hope I’m up to it.’
Dixie wagged his finger. ‘Eoin Madden, you’re a fantastic player, and I should know. You must ensure you have confidence in yourself because it will come out in the way you play. Playing at outside-half means being able to make quick decisions and acting on them instantly. If you lack self-belief you won’t play as well as you could. So don’t ever forget your previous great games and how you were able to set up scores for Castlerock.’
Eoin smiled. ‘Thanks, Grandad, I’m sure I’ll be fine. This will be my third time to play in the
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