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SHANNON WAS TOO convincing. I realized this when I sat down in the stands of a Tommen rugby game. How did I end up here? Truth be told I was too high to remember it. So now I sat next to Shannon and her friends Claire, and Lizzie.
I was wearing jeans and a hoodie, it was late February so I was freezing but would never admit that.
Apparently this one of the last home games of the season, I didn't get the fuss about rugby. As a camogie player I was extremely bias. I preferred camogie, hurling, even football was better than rugby.
The School Boys Shield trophy would be given to the winners team today. It was clear that Tommen ran around rugby. The amount of people here was insane, not only students and staff. Aside from families there were news reporters and scouts.
The game finally started and I started recognizing people I met at Biddies. First being Hugh, Katie's boyfriend and Claire's brother. Then I saw the handsome one, Paul? Parker? Something like that.
I saw the birthday boy, his name definitely started with a 'g' I knew that. Gussie? That's what I settled on.
Then I saw a bolt of lightning. Briefly I saw the number 13 on the back of his jersey. This was Johnny Kavanagh, I remembered him instantly. Johnny with the dark hair and hot hands.
I soon realized why scouts were staring at him. Why he was recruited by the academy and why everyone knew his name. Johnny Kavanagh was a god. You didn't have to understand rugby to know that he was the best player on the field.
He was incredibly fast and he always had the ball. I watched as he zoomed through the field. It was magical. Every time he got the ball you feel the power radiating off of him. Everyone else could to as they would start screaming when he got possession.
Compared to the other players Johnny was huge. He was extremely tall and muscular. He had broad shoulders and you could see his biceps flex every time he moved.
I watched Johnnys mind run as he looked across field. He was calculating what to do, his eyes never left the ball and he was constantly in motion.
Every time a ball hit him he got up within seconds. It was unbelievable.
Hughie scored and Claire was cheering. Shannon was so confused it was hilarious. I watched as players from the rival team started tackling Johnny.
"Of course they're targeting him," Claire said before continuing, "Johnny is Tommen's best player. Take him out and the game is freed up," she continued to say. "They'd be fools not to try."
