Free Rugby Warrior by Gerard Siggins Page A

him.
    Eoin was a bit surprised at the rigmarole involved incalling to Dylan, but slowly realised it might have been something to do with what his father had learned.
    He did as the shop assistant had said, and the door was opened by a girl a little bit younger than him with red hair. She looked him up and down and asked him his name.
    ‘Eoin Madden,’ he replied. ‘I’m in school with Dylan.’
    ‘Ah, I’ve heard a bit about you. He’s upstairs on the computer. I’m Caoimhe.’
    She called up to her brother, and shrugged her shoulders when he grunted his reply.
    ‘Have you any sisters?’ Caoimhe asked Eoin.
    Eoin was a bit taken aback. ‘Eh, no,’ he spluttered. ‘No brothers either.’
    ‘I was just wondering,’ she replied. ‘I know nearly all the girls in the convent school and there’s none called Madden.’
    ‘How do you like the school?’ he asked.
    ‘Ah, it’s all right,’ Caoimhe replied. ‘I’d talk to anyone, but some of them are a bit snooty. There’s a good library there though. I prefer books to kids most of the time.’
    They chatted for a couple of minutes more before Dylan finally came down stairs.
    ‘All right, Eoin, what’s up?’ he asked.
    ‘Howya, Dylan, you want to go for a run?’ asked Eoin.
    ‘Nah, I’m busy,’ said Dylan.
    A woman came into the hallway. ‘Come on now, Dyl, you’ve been up there for hours. A bit of air will do you good. I need milk and bread, too.’
    She handed Dylan a five euro note and held open the front door. ‘OK, Mum,’ he growled.
    The boys wandered down the street silently, before Eoin eventually broke the ice.
    ‘Look, Dyl, I had nothing to do with you not being picked, but you can choose not to believe that if you want. I’m not your enemy, and I even thought I was your friend. That school can be a rough place for a new boy – I had a few problems myself there last year – but it’s a lot easier if you’re hanging around with a good bunch of lads.’
    ‘I am,’ said Dylan. ‘Richie and his crew are decent enough.’
    ‘Yeah, well, I didn’t see much of that myself, but even so it’s pointless to keep blanking the rest of us in the dorm.’
    Dylan stayed silent for another minute, before he stopped and turned to look at Eoin.
    ‘OK, I’ve been a bit of a brat, I suppose, but it’s hard to fit in there,’ Dylan started. ‘You’re such a legend already in Castlerock. I know I’m a good scrum-half – and I’mprobably better than Rory – but because I’m new I have to be twice as good as everyone else to get a look in.’
    Eoin nodded. ‘I know, and I had a bit of that myself last year. But acting like a spoilt brat only reduces your chances of getting in. You need to work at it, maybe even switch positions – there might be a slot on the wing now Shane has a dodgy ankle.’
    ‘Do you reckon?’ asked Dylan. ‘Would McRae allow me to switch to the wing?’
    ‘Well, on the Bs to start with, I suppose,’ suggested Eoin. ‘But you have the pace and you’re a tough one when you need to be. I think you’d make a cracking wing.’ Eoin put his arm on Dylan’s shoulder. ‘Look, let’s start this year off again on a better foot. I don’t have any other Ormondstown Gaels with me up in Dublin, so I’m relying on you to be my buddy. You know I don’t get on with Richie, but fair play to you if you do. I’m not going to say anything to put you off him, but just be careful there.’
    ‘Ah, I know,’ replied Dylan, ‘He was decent enough when I was fighting with you, but I suspect he won’t want to know me now we’re mates again.’

CHAPTER 26
    T hey had a good kick-about that day in the Gaels, with Eoin suggesting a few moves that Dylan might add to his game to make him a potential Castlerock winger. By the end of the day they were laughing and joking like best buddies.
    Dylan was happy to take a lift back to Dublin too, and it was a happy, pleasant group that pulled up the drive to Castlerock College at the end