A Presidential Diary Part 16 - Champions!

December 2nd 2013 by Robin Walsh | International

On the plane from Abu Dhabi, having difficulty thinking of anything other than the events which reached their climax at the Zayed Stadium less than 12 hours ago.

This very fine bunch of players - not to talk of the quite excellent backroom staff - have gone on an earlier flight and should now have arrived in Dublin with their little piece of extra luggage: the World Twenty20 Qualifying trophy.

Memories will live long of a final against Afghanistan that thrilled the hundreds of thousands watching on television and, since they were mostly Afghans, stunned thousands actually in the stadium.

Foremost, there was the Ireland innings of huge purpose that saw a remarkable 166 runs in the first hour’s play on the way to an invincible total of 225 for 7 and ultimate victory by 68 runs. There were the hugs as chairman Ross McCollum and I emotionally greeted the players off the field …….. the invitation to join the team huddle in the dressing room, trophy in the middle, “Ireland’s Call” receiving a tumultuous rendition.  And when it comes to camaraderie this squad doesn’t miss a trick - listening on the other end of Gary Wilson’s mobile call was one Ed Joyce who never made it to the tournament for the rather good reason of the later than expected arrival of second son Sebastian William. But Ed’s time will come within the next 10 days when Ireland return to the Emirates to again do battle with Afghanistan in the five day final of the Intercontinental Cup.

I’ve written before of Ireland’s biggest supporter in Abu Dhabi, Pauline Hennessy, the wife of the Irish Ambassador to the UAE.  She was at the game, of course, but on this occasion the diplomatic diary allowed Ambassador Pat to join in the fun. An official dinner restricted time for only half of the match and, deservedly, they were treated to the Ireland innings. The ambassador left, victory assured and proudly wearing his newly acquired Cricket Ireland tie. I doubt he will wear it on his first visit to another country which is about to fall within his Foreign Office remit. Afghanistan!

Not too much time to toast victory with only a couple of hours between coming off the field and leaving the hotel for the flight home.  But after the strict regime of almost five weeks on tour, time was made for a final get together.

There was no concealing the sense of a job well done. No cockiness, just a realisation that to come through a series of eight Twenty20 games unbeaten - added to the 10 in a row in the last tournament - was something really special. 

It’s been 14 on the trot in Abu Dhabi and again Ireland have sent a message to the ICC that the pursuit of greater things is soundly based.  Good then that the ICC’s Chief Executive, Dave Richardson, was there to see one of the grand 20-over international innings and good that Sky’s cameras were there to give it an international audience.

And what a stage for Trent Johnston in his last T20 international.  He’d come near the “man of the match” award in two previous games - now it was his with perfect timing as he hit 62 off 32 balls and claimed three wickets. The swansong will come at the Intercontinental Cup final, more of which in due course.

For now, time for the blazer to visit the dry cleaners before its return to the desert.