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Authors: Gerard Siggins
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21
. . . . . . . . .
W HEN they got back to Castlerock there were just three more days before the Junior Cup semi-final, and Eoin was getting very nervous. Nobody wanted to talk about anything else around the school, even the teachers. It had been more than ten years since Castlerock had even been in the final, so none of the pupils had ever experienced that thrill.
‘I wish it was over,’ he told Alan as they walked between classes. ‘I don’t even know if I’m on the bench. Mr Carey is being very quiet about that. We have a run-out today and hopefully he’ll let us know afterwards. I suppose if I’m not in the squad then at least I’ll get a good night’s sleep. At the moment I’m not even getting that.’
Alan paused. ‘Look, it would be great if you get in the team, but it’s no insult not to be picked. These guys are a year or more older than you. Even the small amount that you’ve done will be so useful for our year next season.’
‘That’s funny,’ said Eoin. ‘Dixie told me somethingsimilar. Are you guys comparing notes?’
Alan laughed. ‘C’mon we have History next, hope you have some progress to report on for the project.’
Eoin shrugged his shoulders and grinned.
In the classroom he was required to give a bit more detail however, and he told Mr Dunne that his researches had gone well and he had lots of information about the short life of Kevin Barry.
‘That’s fine, but you need to find out some more about what drove him to join the rebels and to give up his life in the way he did,’ the teacher said.
Mr Dunne told the boys they had one week to finish their research work and they would have to have the project completed after the Easter holidays.
Alan groaned, and whispered to Eoin that he ‘hadn’t done a tap’ on his project yet.
‘How’s yours coming along?’ he asked after class. ‘Any chance you could give me a hand?’
Eoin shrugged and laughed.
‘OK, Alan, I’m training every day, studying the rest of the time and sleeping when I get a chance. I have a huge match coming up, maybe two. And I have my own project to do! If you have any ideas for when I can find the time to help you then I’d love to hear them. Because if you do then I intend to use that timeto sleep some more.’
Alan smiled. ‘Ah yes, I suppose when you put it like that …’
The training session was brief, just a run around and a few key moves repeated to make sure everyone knew their role. St Benedict’s were a powerful force in schools rugby and the outside world was starting to pay attention to the game, with regular articles appearing in the newspapers.
‘Right, men,’ announced Mr Carey as the players completed their warm-down. ‘Gather around.’
More than thirty boys each took one step forward. At this stage in the season the starting fifteen pretty much picked itself, but there were four or five other players in the same boat as Eoin, waiting to see if they’d make the match-day squad. Eoin was so nervous that his tummy felt very wobbly indeed.
‘We have the most talented bunch of Js in all the time I’ve been here, but this week’s game will be the first real test you will face. Benedict’s are a tough bunch, very physical, and they will try to win the battle in the first ten minutes when they will go in hard for every tackle. We need to be cleverer than them, and try to withstand the pressure and tire them out. And then we need to play to our strengths, which means fast ball from thehalf-backs and letting our back-line run when the time is right.
‘I’ve talked to Devin about our selection, and we’ve made plans for a livelier bench than the St Ultan’s game. We’ve got Eoin back and I’m bringing back Darren McGrath as well to cover the wingers. They’ll come in for Paudie and Keelan. Any questions?’
Eoin lowered his head, desperate to ensure he didn’t catch Paudie’s eye. Devin came forward and said a few words too, but none of the boys felt any need to
. . . . . . . . .
W HEN they got back to Castlerock there were just three more days before the Junior Cup semi-final, and Eoin was getting very nervous. Nobody wanted to talk about anything else around the school, even the teachers. It had been more than ten years since Castlerock had even been in the final, so none of the pupils had ever experienced that thrill.
‘I wish it was over,’ he told Alan as they walked between classes. ‘I don’t even know if I’m on the bench. Mr Carey is being very quiet about that. We have a run-out today and hopefully he’ll let us know afterwards. I suppose if I’m not in the squad then at least I’ll get a good night’s sleep. At the moment I’m not even getting that.’
Alan paused. ‘Look, it would be great if you get in the team, but it’s no insult not to be picked. These guys are a year or more older than you. Even the small amount that you’ve done will be so useful for our year next season.’
‘That’s funny,’ said Eoin. ‘Dixie told me somethingsimilar. Are you guys comparing notes?’
Alan laughed. ‘C’mon we have History next, hope you have some progress to report on for the project.’
Eoin shrugged his shoulders and grinned.
In the classroom he was required to give a bit more detail however, and he told Mr Dunne that his researches had gone well and he had lots of information about the short life of Kevin Barry.
‘That’s fine, but you need to find out some more about what drove him to join the rebels and to give up his life in the way he did,’ the teacher said.
Mr Dunne told the boys they had one week to finish their research work and they would have to have the project completed after the Easter holidays.
Alan groaned, and whispered to Eoin that he ‘hadn’t done a tap’ on his project yet.
‘How’s yours coming along?’ he asked after class. ‘Any chance you could give me a hand?’
Eoin shrugged and laughed.
‘OK, Alan, I’m training every day, studying the rest of the time and sleeping when I get a chance. I have a huge match coming up, maybe two. And I have my own project to do! If you have any ideas for when I can find the time to help you then I’d love to hear them. Because if you do then I intend to use that timeto sleep some more.’
Alan smiled. ‘Ah yes, I suppose when you put it like that …’
The training session was brief, just a run around and a few key moves repeated to make sure everyone knew their role. St Benedict’s were a powerful force in schools rugby and the outside world was starting to pay attention to the game, with regular articles appearing in the newspapers.
‘Right, men,’ announced Mr Carey as the players completed their warm-down. ‘Gather around.’
More than thirty boys each took one step forward. At this stage in the season the starting fifteen pretty much picked itself, but there were four or five other players in the same boat as Eoin, waiting to see if they’d make the match-day squad. Eoin was so nervous that his tummy felt very wobbly indeed.
‘We have the most talented bunch of Js in all the time I’ve been here, but this week’s game will be the first real test you will face. Benedict’s are a tough bunch, very physical, and they will try to win the battle in the first ten minutes when they will go in hard for every tackle. We need to be cleverer than them, and try to withstand the pressure and tire them out. And then we need to play to our strengths, which means fast ball from thehalf-backs and letting our back-line run when the time is right.
‘I’ve talked to Devin about our selection, and we’ve made plans for a livelier bench than the St Ultan’s game. We’ve got Eoin back and I’m bringing back Darren McGrath as well to cover the wingers. They’ll come in for Paudie and Keelan. Any questions?’
Eoin lowered his head, desperate to ensure he didn’t catch Paudie’s eye. Devin came forward and said a few words too, but none of the boys felt any need to
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