Tiger Boots (8 page)

A
fter lunch, everyone gathered on the first pitch. There was great excitement now, as all the teams who were knocked out in the first round became supporters, so there were good crowds at each of the two GAA pitches, and to add to this, the third year's soccer marathon was over so they joined in the support.

Mick and Jimmy were referees for the two fifth and sixth year league semi finals, and Mr Breen and Mr Gray were nominated by the other teachers to referee the first and second year semi finals.

Danny's team had made it to the semis. There were three other players from Danny's club in his class. Splinter, Doyler and Liam
Darcy, the Crokes' goalkeeper, which really helped them progress into the semis.

Danny's class was drawn against Sean ‘Dirty' Dempsey's class for the first semi.

Mick and Jimmy knew it and were both eager to see the match, but they had their own games to referee.

Mr Davis was in charge of Danny's team and he had followed Mick's instructions all morning as how to manage the team fairly. Because there were thirty boys in each class, it was only fair to give everyone a few minutes play in each game, so Mr Davis had to keep swapping things around. In one game earlier that morning, he put one set of fifteen players out in the first half and then changed the team entirely by playing the other fifteen boys in the second half.

Danny was disappointed to be left on the line for the start of his semi final.

Dempsey didn't waste any time in teasing Danny as he waited in the middle of the pitch for Mr Gray to throw the ball in. 

All watches ticked two o'clock and on Mick's earlier instructions, all whistles were blown together and all footballs were thrown in.

Danny watched enviously as Dempsey overpowered his opponent with ease to win the throw in for his class and stampede through not one, but three of Danny's class mates.

I wish I were out there! thought Danny. I'd stop him in his tracks. The state of him, showing off in front of everyone. He's only able to do that because Mr Davis put the weaker side out first.

Danny was right! Mr Davis had put the weaker side out first and that really made Dempsey look good as he scored three consecutive points in the first half, along with setting up a goal for his full forward after he caught Liam Darcy's fluffed kick out, just after Dempsey had scored his third point.

It was half-time, and Danny's class was behind by 1-3 to 0-1. The half-time turn arounds were quick, so Danny knew that if he had a chance of being played in the second half, then he better get himself right under the nose of Mr Davis.

The schoolteacher glanced over the waving hands of all the boys who desperately wanted to be picked. Danny had hoped that he would just do a complete swap around like earlier that morning and he didn't even care if that meant good players, such as Splinter and Liam Darcy, not playing in the second half.

Danny had one player on his mind – Dempsey.

Finally, Danny was picked, but to his disappointment, Dempsey wasn't playing in the second half.

Dempsey knew that he was only going to play in the first half and that was why he put on an outstanding display of talent. The Barnfield midfielder took full advantage of the middle of the field not having the super talented Danny Wilde on it. 

Danny almost burst a gut trying to get his class back in with a chance of progressing to the school marathon final, but it just wasn't enough and there just wasn't the time to do it. Danny had scored two brilliant points, but both Splinter and Doyler, his club forwards had been replaced with five minutes to go and that really depleted his chances of setting one of them up for a goal.

The match finished, 1- 5 to 0-4 in favour of Dempsey's class.

Danny was devastated!

Both Jimmy and Mick raced over to Danny's pitch to get the result of the game; when they saw Dempsey leaping in the air and making gestures at them, they knew that their son's class had been knocked out.

Danny and Splinter slowly walked over to their fathers.

Danny put his hands in the air. He had a face the length of the football pitch he'd just played on.

Splinter fussed.

‘It's not fair. That Davis eejit left Danny on the line for the whole of the first half.'

‘Be quiet!' Jimmy said. ‘Don't talk about your teacher like that.'

‘He's not my teacher.'

Jimmy scoured Splinter with a look that made sure his son's lips wouldn't open again for a while.

Mick patted Danny on the back.

‘Well done, son.'

‘But we lost, Da,' said Danny.

‘We didn't lose, Danny. Today was great and look what we've achieved. We've raised tons of money for Clara. That's all that matter.'

‘That's right, Danny,' Jimmy added. ‘Don't worry about that Dempsey fella. We'll wipe the smile off his face on Saturday.'

Danny looked over towards Dempsey who was still celebrating.

You can say that again, Jimmy! he thought.

Mick had to rush off to get ready for his 
interview. He thanked Principal Dunstan again for all the school's support, and then he left Jimmy to take charge of the fifth and sixth year final.

Danny waved to his dad and wished him good luck, then sat down to watch the older final, as he didn't want to see the final that he should have been playing in.

He'd seen enough of Sean Dempsey for one day.

It was the second half of the fifth and sixth year final. It was a good game and Danny and Splinter were enjoying the action when they heard a commotion coming from the first and second year final on the other pitch.

‘Come on,' said Splinter.

Danny and Splinter ran over to see what all the fuss was.

Sean Dempsey's class was losing to another second year class by two points and there was just a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Dempsey had fouled one of the other team's players and got himself into a tussle with him 
earlier in the game. The other player hadn't forgot Dempsey's dirty tackle and decided to get his own back when Dirty Dempsey taunted him behind the referee's back.

The other player snapped and a fight broke out.

Both Dempsey and the other player were sent off, but Dempsey had caused enough fuss to upset the game and the schoolteacher who was referee.

The teacher almost immediately blew the full time whistle.

Dempsey's class had won their final. 

P
rincipal Dunstan had bought small trophies for each of the winning classes, along with medals for each class that had collected the most money with their sponsor cards.

Danny and Splinter had to stay behind after the presentation to help Jimmy and one or two of the teachers to gather all of Mick’s gear and footballs.

Mick wasn’t home when Danny got back from school, but Danny’s Granny, Maureen, was waiting at the door.

‘There you are, Danny pet.’ Granny Maureen smiled. ‘Where’s your daddy? There’s no answer.’

Danny was exhausted. ‘He’s at a job
interview.’

‘Oh! God bless him. That’s right, pet. I hope he gets it. He sounded terrible worried on the phone last night.’

Danny had had a shower and was making his Granny a cup of tea when Mick finally arrived home.

‘Did you get the job?’ asked Granny Maureen. Mick had hardly closed the door behind him.

Mick’s head dropped and he shrugged.

‘Don’t worry, son. There’ll be other jobs.’

Danny rushed in from the kitchen, but he knew the second he saw Mick’s face that it was bad news.

Mick threw his coat on the armchair, but it slid off and fell onto the floor. Mick wasn’t even bothered to pick it up. Danny picked his father’s coat up and hung it up under the stairs

‘Do you want a cup of tea, Da?’ Danny asked.

He didn’t know how to react to his father’s disappointment. That job business was very 
confusing to Danny. It wasn’t like his football. Danny knew how to cope with disappointments with football and his da was usually the one who would say that everything would be okay, but not this time. This was a type of worrying that Danny hadn’t seen in his father since his mam died.

Even when Mick had his stroke last year, things didn’t seem so bad.

‘Thanks, son,’ said Mick.

‘Don’t worry, Da. Things will pick up. Maybe your own job will get busy again,’ Danny tried hard to lift his father’s spirits.

‘I don’t know, Danny. I think it’s only a matter of time before it’s gone altogether.’

‘What happened at the interview?’

‘Flamin’ waste of time,’ Mick said. ‘There wasn’t a job after all.’

‘But I thought Jimmy had put a good word in for you,’ said Danny.

‘He did. But there wasn’t a job going. The boss and Jimmy must have got their wires crossed. I think he must have just told Jimmy to 
ask me to come in for an interview just to shut Jimmy up. Apparently, Jimmy was raving on about me.’

‘Ah! Well, at least Jimmy tried, Da.’

‘I know, son,’ Mick said. ‘Jimmy’s a good mate. I just got my hopes up, though, and now I’m back to square one again. That’s all. I’ll get over it.’

Mick sipped his tea in the kitchen while Granny Maureen filled out Danny’s sponsor card.

‘There, pet! Two euro.’

‘Thanks, Gran.’ Danny gave her a grateful smile.

Granny Maureen put her hand on Danny’s arm as he took the sponsor card from her.

‘Don’t worry about your daddy,’ she said. ‘He’s solid as a rock. He’ll get yiz through these tough times – job or no job. You can be sure of that.’

Danny just nodded.

Granny Maureen stood up and put her coat on. 

‘I’m off now, Michael,’ she called out to the kitchen. ‘I have to go and visit Vera Burke.’

‘See you, Mam,’ Mick called back with a more upbeat lilt to his voice.

Danny didn’t want to bombard his dad with questions about the interview, so he left him to himself for a while and turned on the computer to see if there was an e-mail from Clara.

There was, which cheered up Danny. He loved the new friendship that he had found.

Hi Tiger Boots!

I hope you don’t mind me giving you this nickname? I think it really suits you. You’re just the best—

Just then, the doorbell rang.

‘I’ll get it,’ shouted Mick, who was upstairs.

Danny could hear voices from the hall. Then, he clearly heard,

‘Are you sure your mammy won’t come in?’

Suddenly, Danny jumped up.

TRINITY! 

He’d forgotten all about their date!

Danny jumped up and ran out to the kitchen.

‘Go on in to him,’ Mick said to Trinity. ‘He’s just on the computer. Another e-mail from Clara, no doubt.’

Mick closed the door behind him and went out to say hello to Trinity’s mother.

Danny came in from the kitchen to find Trinity standing in the sitting room.

‘How ya, Trinity?’ Danny smiled at her. ‘I was waiting for you to call around.’

Trinity smiled, but a worried look lingered on her face.

Danny asked Trinity to sit down while he ran up to get his jacket. She sat down on the couch opposite the computer.

Danny was a couple of minutes upstairs. He couldn’t find his hair gel! He wanted to look his best for Trinity. A soon as he was happy with his hair, he grabbed some money from his top drawer and threw his jacket on.

Trinity was sitting at the edge of the couch when Danny popped his head around the door 
of the sitting room.

He was all smiles as he walked toward her.

‘Are we off?’

Trinity smiled back. ‘We sure are!’

Danny could hardly get more than two words out of Trinity all night, and when they were heading back to the meeting point that they had arranged with Trinity’s mam after the film was over, Danny decided to confront Trinity.

‘Did you not like the film?’

Trinity just shrugged.

‘Did I do something wrong?’ was Danny’s second question.

Trinity shook her head and looked at Danny.

‘I don’t know. Did you?’

Danny was confused. What’s the matter with her? he thought.

Danny got the silent treatment in the car on the way home, too, and when he said goodbye to Trinity and asked her if she was coming to see his last game of the season against Barnfield, 
Trinity could only commit to a ‘maybe’. That’s if there was nothing else to do that day.

Mick was watching a film when Danny walked into the sitting room.

‘How was the flicks, son. Good film?’ Mick asked, clearly in a better mood than he was when Danny left.

Danny just looked at Mick, and turned around.

‘I’m going to bed, Da,’ he said and closed the door behind him.

First, my da is in the horrors over his job and now he’s in great form and Trinity is in the horrors! I can’t wait for Boston. I need a break from this place! Danny thought before he fell asleep that night.

I
t was Saturday, 21 November, the day of the last league game in the under fourteen’s division 1.

The Crokes had had a very poor start to the season, but they gained great confidence with their powerful run in the Féile during the summer.

They were going into the game on the back of a straight five-match winning streak, beating Terrystown both home and away, Rockmount away, Darnville at home and Fergally away.

To add to this super run, the Crokes were the only team in the season to take a point off Chapel Hall when they drew with them away.

Chapel Hall had already been announced as league victors and the game between the
Crokes and Barnfield would decide the runner up. Terrystown had been in the running, too, but they slipped out of contention in the previous game when they were beaten by Chapel Hall at home.

Mick had put all his job worries to one side to concentrate on the crucial game. Danny had woken up with the same attitude, and even though he had heard nothing from Trinity all week and was concerned about their
relationship
, just like his father, Danny switched into GAA mode to prepare himself for the match.

Danny was helping Mick carry out the team gear when Splinter came across the road.

‘All set captain,’ Splinter said and he stood to attention and saluted Danny.

Danny laughed.

‘You’re stone mad, Splinter.’

Jimmy closed the hall door behind him. His whole family was waiting in the garden.

In fact, neighbours spilled out from their houses. They zipped up coats. Put on hats and 
tied scarves. Littlestown Crokes were never short of support when it came to a big game, but whenever they played local adversaries Barnfield, it always sparked extra attention.

Mick took a look down the road, watching everyone head in the same direction – toward the playing fields, then he gave Jimmy a thumbs-up and the two coaches grabbed a bag each.

The match was scheduled for an early start at 11 am and Mick had arranged with all his players to meet at the dressing rooms at ten thirty.

The dressing rooms had been opened at a quarter past ten so when Mick, Jimmy, Danny and Splinter arrived, the rest of Mick’s team was already inside.

As Danny and Splinter were heading into the dressing rooms, they heard someone imitating the sound of a chicken.

Danny knew exactly who it was before he even spun around. Standing across the yard, outside the away team’s dressing room was 
Deco Savage. Deco was flapping his arms and making the chicken noise towards Danny.

Splinter grabbed Danny’s arm.

‘Leave it alone, Danny,’ advised Splinter. ‘He’s only a muppet!’

Then, to add to Danny’s humiliation, Sean and Tommy Dempsey, walked through the gates.

Dempsey burst out laughing and joined in the slagging.

‘Are ya getting your game today, Wilde?’ He teased. ‘Of course you are. Sure, don’t you play for your daddy’s team?’

That was the straw that broke the camels back as far as Danny was concerned. He had never been in a situation before where a player suggested that he only got his game because of his dad being coach. Everyone on Danny’s team knew that he was the best player on the team and that he worked harder than anyone to earn his place.

Danny snapped, ‘Is that right, Dempsey? I heard your da tried his hand at coaching 
himself. Didn’t do a great job against Darnville last week, did he?’

That wiped the smirk off Tommy Dempsey’s face.

As things were heating up outside and the noise carried on into the dressing rooms, both Mick and the Barnfield manager came out of their rooms to see what was going on.

Mick wasn’t surprised when he saw Danny and Dempsey face to face in the middle of the yard. Mick marched over to Danny and grabbed his arm.

‘Inside, now!’

The Barnfield manager did the same to Sean.

Tommy Dempsey’s smirk returned to his face, but only for the benefit of Mick Wilde.

Mick could hear Tommy titter as he marched Danny back over to the home dressing room. Mick turned around and scoured Tommy.

He didn’t say anything and he didn’t have to. He nodded to the Barnfield manager and received a nod back. Both coaches had equal respect for each other and both knew how 
much of a waster Tommy Dempsey was for allowing the two boys to wind each other up to the point of almost scrapping.

Danny sat down between little John Watson and Alan Whelan. He knew that Mick was furious with him so he kept his head down and just got on with getting changed for the game.

Mick was very quiet while the boys were getting themselves ready; there was a real possibility that he would put Danny on the line for his bad behaviour out in the yard.

Mick looked to Jimmy and gave him the nod.

‘Right, lads! Everyone listen up,’ Jimmy announced, and then he blew lightly on his whistle.

Danny’s heart beat rapid as he waited for his dad to speak. Danny knew more than anyone that Mick Wilde took his coaching more seriously than anyone else in the sport, and he knew that he might just have put his dad in an awkward position.

‘Right, lads!’ Mick spoke finally. That was 
something. ‘First of all, I just want to say a few words about a certain incident outside a few minutes ago.’

Here it comes! thought Danny.

Mick looked over towards Danny.

‘Under no circumstances do Jimmy or I condone any kind of fighting on or off the field. I know things can get a bit heated during a match, and that’s understandable, but there’s no excuse for getting into a scrap with another player before a game.’

Normally, Jimmy would jump in and make it heard that he was in total agreement with Mick; he kept quiet this time.

Danny bit on his lip. If I keep my mouth shut, maybe Da will leave it at that!

Unfortunately, Splinter couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

‘It wasn’t Danny’s fault, Mick.’

‘Damien!’ Jimmy chided, looking over to his son.

‘It wasn’t, Da,’ Splinter protested. ‘Deco Savage was winding Danny up, calling him a 
chicken ‘cos Danny wouldn’t show off in front of Trinity at the fair, and then Dempsey started slagging Danny over losing in the football marathon in school.’

Mick looked at Jimmy, then at Splinter, and finally fixed his eyes upon Danny, who was waiting for sentence.

‘Fair enough, Damien,’ said Mick. ‘But, you don’t play into their hands and get yourself into a fight. Danny, don’t you see that that’s exactly what they wanted from you? They probably planned it to get you into trouble before the game even started.’

Mick looked at Jimmy.

‘I think you could be right there, Mick,’ Jimmy said. ‘We don’t want to give them what they’re looking for, do we?’

Danny perked up.

Mick returned his eyes to Danny.

‘If that ever happens again, you’re dropped. Do you understand, Danny?’

Danny nodded, and then winked a Thanks, buddy! over at Splinter when he noticed Mick 
talking to Jimmy.

There was a knock on the door from the referee.

‘Right, boys,’ Mick said. He glanced all around the dressing room, executing the same pre-match routine, by making eye contact with each and every one of his players. ‘Who’d had thought boys that we would be back here on the Little Croker playing Barnfield in the last game of the season again.’

‘But we’re not playing for the league title,’ Doyler interrupted.

‘That doesn’t matter,’ Mick responded. ‘We have a chance to clinch the runner up spot and against Barnfield. There’s nothing wrong with second best, isn’t that right Jimmy?’

‘Spot on, Mick,’ Jimmy said with a nod.

‘Yiz have put in a superb second half to the season lads, and myself and Jimmy are dead proud of yiz, no matter the result of this game. But guess what, boys?’ Mick smiled at his team. ‘This could be the best game of your lives if you want it to be. Enjoy your football and 
you’ll always be a winner!’ Mick yelled. ‘Now, all on your feet.’

An army of lads stomped the dressing room floor.

‘When you go out onto that pitch, lads, where are you playing?’ asked Mick.

‘On the Little Croker!’ came the reply.

‘And how do we play every game?’

‘Like the all Ireland final!’