‘Oi, mind me ribs,’ he cried out, as the delighted teammates hugged him and each other in victory.
The boys ran around like lunatics for five minutes, before a delighted Mr Carey called them together. ‘OK lads, that was fantastic. I’m so proud of you all. Now go over and shake hands with every one of the St Osgur’s lads and let’s collect this cup. Jonny Sexton wants to get out here to play and we’re holding him up!’
Richie Duffy came onto the field, his arm strapped up in a sling. ‘Well done lads,’ he said, ‘… even The Bogger.’ Eoin looked at him, and suddenly felt a bit sorry for him.
‘Yeah, thanks, Duffy, we missed you today.’
The players looked around at each other, no one daring to be the one to laugh first.
‘Ha, ha, ha,’ roared Rory, ‘good one, Eoin.’
‘Yeah, good one,’ grinned Duffy. ‘Thanks for keeping my position warm, Madden, and well done today. But I’ll be back in No.10 next season.’
Eoin smiled, and pointed at the enormous silver cup sitting on a table in front of the West Stand, ‘Well then, I hope you can carry that with one arm. Give me a shout if you need a hand.’
The team collected their medals, and Eoin clutched his tight in his hand as he waved towards his family. Dixie lifted his hand and waved back. Eoin could see his grin from fifty yards away.
The Leinster branch president presented the cup to Duffy, who did struggle to hold it up without help. The team took turns to lift it over their heads, and jogged over to the Castlerock fans where they received an enormous cheer.
‘Right, lads,’ said Mr Carey when they got back to the dressing room. ‘You can stay to watch the Leinster game if you like, and then we’ll all meet back at the school at 7.30pm for a party. Nothing too fancy now, but bring your families along too.’
Eoin left his playing shirt on, but got changed quickly and took the steps three at a time up to the hospitality level. He didn’t have a ticket, but the steward recognised him from his starring performance out on the pitch.
‘Eoin, you were fantastic,’ said Dixie, looking happier than Eoin ever remembered seeing him.
‘Thanks, Grandad, I actually enjoyed playing out-half after a while.’
‘And what possessed you to make that long pass at the end? That was truly brilliant.’
‘Well …’ Eoin hesitated, ‘I suppose you’re right. I must have been possessed.’
‘Do you know, Dixie,’ said Andy Finn, ‘I don’t think I’ve seen a better display for the school in the No.10 shirt since the last time it was worn by a boy called Madden.’
Eoin bent to hug his Grandad, and saw he was clutching a large book.
‘It’s an album of photographs of every team I ever played on,’ Dixie said. ‘Andy here had them all, of course, and he arranged to have copies made. Look at that – two handsome fellows weren’t we?’
Eoin grinned.
He turned to look out on the arena below, and watched as the Leinster stars ran out onto the field. This was a great game, and a magical place. He looked over at the posts where he had kicked the winning points, and where he had last seen Brian, and he smiled.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The character of Brian in Rugby Spirit is based on a real rugby player, Brian Hanrahan, who died in 1927. All the references to his life and death are based on real events. His story is told in the chapter ‘The Fatal Scrum’ in Lansdowne Road: the Stadium, the Matches, the Greatest Days by Gerard Siggins & Malachy Clerkin (O’Brien Press 2010). All other references to people, alive or dead, are fictional.
About the Author
GERARD SIGGINS was born in Dublin and has lived almost all his life in the shadow of Lansdowne Road; he’s been attending rugby matches there since he was small enough for his dad to lift him over the turnstiles. He is a sports journalist and worked for the Sunday Tribune for many years. This is his first book for children.
Copyright
This eBook edition first published 2012
by The O’Brien Press Ltd,
12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 4923333; Fax: +353 1 4922777
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.obrien.ie
First published 2012
eBook ISBN: 978–1–84717–403–1
Text © copyright Gerard Siggins 2012
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© The O’Brien Press Ltd
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