C'mon ye Greens!

Thank you for the memories Ireland

Paresh Soni
18 Apr 07, 05:37 PM

Grenada - This was not the way it was supposed to end.


My two happiest memories of this tournament were the unforgettable days on which Ireland and their incredible supporters introduced themselves to a curious Jamaican public and the cricketing world with an astonishing tie against Zimbabwe and an even more remarkable win over Pakistan.
So to arrive at the National Stadium for their World Cup farewell against Sri Lanka and not see a line-up of leprechauns in the Party Stand was just not right.
In fact, try as I did, it was hard to find many folk from the Emerald Isle. When I spoke to those wearing Ireland replica shirts, the replies came in thick South African, Australian or Surrey accents. There appeared to be more Irishmen out on the field than in the stands.
This was no surprise because their incredible journey has been a costly one and ended for most in Guyana or Barbados. I counted on one hand the number of Irish media representatives here for the final hurrah.
Sympathy was plentiful in supply. Even maverick DJ Negus refrained from asking his usual question: “Who is going to win this one?”
While Farveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan were running through Ireland I came across Leo Garbutt, whose family hail from the west of Ireland.
He has been the owner of a hotel here for 20 years, an establishment which is home to a Gary Rhodes restaurant.
Leo told me ICC president Percy Sonn and chief executive Malcolm Speed were staying with him, while the Sri Lankan team celebrated Muralitharan’s 35th birthday there last night. He is hosting a party for the Ireland team and backroom staff on Thursday evening and I will be going along too to thank them.
Coach Adrian Birrell will be bidding adieu to his charges and has handwritten letters to each of them, which prompted a tear or two.
Plenty more will be shed in the hours leading up to their departure on Sunday, but most of them should be of joy.
For while they lost heavily in their final game, Birrell and his men have been among the biggest winners in this competition.