by Joe O'Brien
‘What?’ Danny let out a laugh.
Mick clapped his hands and danced around in a circle.
‘He’s after telling me that the school caretaker is retiring, and he offered the job to me.’
‘SAVAGE!’ Danny cheered and danced in celebration with his father as Trinity laughed with joy.
Finally, the future was beginning to look good again for the Wilde boys of Littlestown.
About the Author
JOE O’BRIEN is an award-winning gardener who lives in Ballyfermot, Dublin. He is the author of the first two books about GAA player, Danny Wilde, Little Croker and Féile Fever. He is also the author of the popular Alfie Green series for younger readers.
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 2010
eBook ISBN: 978–1–84717–398–0
Text © copyright Joe O’Brien 2010
Copyright for typesetting, layout, editing, design
© The O’Brien Press Ltd
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Cover photo © copyright Sportsfile.
Have you read the first two books about GAA player Danny Wilde?
Turn the page to read an extract from Little Croker, the first book about Danny Wilde and his team, the Littlestown Crokes ...
The Match Against St Agnes’ Boys
Mick Wilde’s boys, in all-blue, lined up against the boys in red and green from St Agnes’ Boys. Each player, from Paddy Timmons at right corner full back to Danny in midfield, right up to Doyler in full forward, anxiously awaited the throw-in.
Mick tied Heffo’s lead to his bag and began his routine pacing up and down the line, while Jimmy just stood with his arms folded looking relaxed.
‘Here we go,’ announced Jimmy.
‘Come on the Crokes!’ shouted Mick.
‘Ready, lads?’ asked the ref.
Then he gave Danny and the St Agnes’ midfielder a nod. Danny and his opposite number raised their heads as the referee blew on his whistle and threw the ball high above them.
Danny was first in the air stretching his left hand above his opponent’s. He passed the ball down to Sean Dempsey, then turned his man and headed for goal, leaving the St Agnes’ number nine dazed with Danny’s pace. The battle had commenced!
Dempsey kicked straight up to Barry Sweeney in centre half forward, who knocked a perfect pass out to Splinter Murphy.
Splinter threw a shimmy around his man and spotted Danny running in behind the full forward line.
Danny raised his hand.
Doyler made a run wide and opened up a gap for Danny.
Splinter knocked a sweet pass in towards Danny, who caught it beautifully on the run.
Danny took a quick glance at goal and dropped the ball onto the side of his right boot.
The ball swerved past their keeper and into the top right corner.
GOAL!
‘Come on, lads!’ shouted Danny as he fisted the air in glorious celebration.
Mick and Jimmy were hopping around on the side line.
‘What a dream start!’ cheered Jimmy.
‘Come on lads, settle down and back into it!’ warned Mick.
Jimmy was right – Danny had given the Crokes the perfect dream start and it totally rattled the St Agnes’ boys.
Barry Sweeney caught the kick out and knocked a long, high ball over for a point.
Crokes kept the ball in St Agnes’ end of the field for the next twenty minutes, scoring four more points. Danny was playing a stormer in midfield, winning everything in the air and when they tried to break through, Danny relentlessly pulled off tackle after tackle.
When the ref blew for half time the Crokes were winning 1-5 to nil.
Little Croker by Joe O’Brien ISBN: 978–1–84717–0460
Little Croker & Féile Fever by Joe O’Brien
Available in all good bookshops or from
www.obrien.ie
