Leinster v Munster Build-up Tread

Cullen slumped back in his chair, his exhaustion satiated only by his sense of anticipation.

His great burden weighed heavily upon him, yet in a moment of subdued clarity he reflected upon his labour. His unfolding masterpiece, his magnum opus.

A full year had passed since a rush of blood handed Leo his impossible task, his Everest. A year of scheming, manipulating, lies, vindictiveness and ... hope.

But the time had come, the day was near and tomorrow - Leo would finally, finally be able to text back.

Goodman and Lancaster entered Cullen's chamber and took their seats at the near curve of the ornate round table in the head coaches office.

"Is it done?" said Leo?

The pair looked at each other sombrely and nodded. "It's done" they uttered collectively.

Leo leaned back in his chair and shifted his gaze to the ceiling where a giant letter 'B' was painted in a maroon red.

He sat like that for a while before shifting forward once more in a tired, reluctant fashion.

"Let's go over it all one more time" said Cullen.

Lancaster and Goodman sighed. They each reached down and picked up the identical folders they had brought into the office with them, and setting them open on the table turned to page 5 with a familiar cohesion.

"Alright" said Cullen, "leave nothing out, this can never be linked back to us".

Lancaster begun.

"So, we entered the Supermac's competition 355 times, all anonymously. No one can trace the lifetime supply award Zebo won back to us".

"Good", said Cullen, "Ryan?"

"We've wired the money to the Chief's through 3 shell accounts, Munster actually think it was there own complete mis-management of the situation that lost them John Ryan... twice" All three laughed.

"How about O'Mahony?" asked Leo?

"As planned" said Goodman, "He didn't leave South Dublin for almost an entire 8 days after the six nations. The subtle change in his accent has undermined his leadership credentials at Munster, they actually played better last week after he went off".

"And he never copped all the lads were talking D4 to him every time he passed out?" Asked Leo

"Not a clue" replied Goodman "lads in Munster are going spare with him calling them the 'goys'".

"Perfect.." said Leo.

"And the ref situation?"

Lancaster turned a number of pages on his folder

"Ah yes" he said as his finger traced down the page, "we rejected all the options bar Murphy".

"Excellent" exclaimed Leo,

"Does anyone know I'm his kids godparent?"

"No" replied Lancaster

"Do they know we own those properties together?"

"Definitely not" said Lancaster

"How about the wife swapping?"

"The what??" asked Lancaster

"Never mind" said Leo, "Forget I said anything"

"Now" he said in a hushed fashion.... "what about Carbery?"

Lancaster supressing laughter said "The sound devices have all been removed and we managed to get Seany back out of the attic" he said triumphantly.

Goodman shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.

"what is it Andrew?" asked Leo.

Goodman hesitated. "I..." "I don't know how I feel about what we did to Joey..."

Cullen's silence compelled Goodman to continue.

"I think operation paranormal activity went a bit too far" he said.

No one spoke for a few moments, which Goodman mistook for quiet contemplation.

Lancaster sniggered. Leo couldn't hold back and he too broke into laughter.

"He really is terrified of Ghosts" said Lancaster.

"Was it Sexton who had to walk him home after the Exorcist?" asked Leo

"No that was Poltergeist, the second one I think" chuckled Lancaster "and Sexton had to check the entire house before he left"

The discomfort was still etched on Goodman's face

"He had a priest in and everything, he hasn't played in months"

"He'll be grand" said Leo, "If he's that bad maybe uncle Joe and Mr. Nucifora can take him for another coffee..."

The sharpness in his tone hastened the brief levity from the room.

Leo sat back in his chair once more and again fixed his gaze on the red 'B' which he had painted just a year earlier. With his pride on the line he thought back to the moment that got him into this situation.

1 year earlier

Leo sat in his office, aghast at Leinster's season collapsing in the home straight.

His phone pinged. He unlocked the screen and saw a new message from Graham Rowntree.

"Howya Odo, out in the semi's, what happened to the conveyor belt LOL" read the message.

Enraged, Leo texted back "AT LEAST WE MADE THE SEMI'S"

He stared intently at his phone, his face flush with anger. He didn't need to wait long as his phone pinged again.

"I bet you TWO euros we beat you in the playoff's next year" chided Rowntree

Without thinking Leo replied "I BET OUR FECKIN B TEAM BEATS YOU IN THE PLAY OFFS"