Ireland's InterContinental Cup final win over Canada at Leicester in 2007 is the favourite match of Robin Walsh.

Robin, amongst many other prominent positions in the media, is a former controller of BBC NI, and was President of Cricket Ireland during their all-conquering period of 2012/13.

He is still a keen supporter of Irish cricket and was part of a dedicated group who followed the team during their recent tour of the West Indies.

It was all because of an old friend that I shall never forget Ireland winning the Intercontinental Cup at the Grace Road County Ground in Leicester.

It may have been back in May 2007 when Ireland defeated Canada for a hat trick of titles yet it remains vivid in my memory.

The Belfast-born actor James Ellis was 75 years old at the time: a legend of the theatre and television not least through Z-Cars, the weekly police drama that enriched the schedule of black and white BBC Television.

Jimmy's love and knowledge of cricket was all too apparent as he sat in the middle of the small Irish contingent, clapping every run and wicket as Ireland powered their way to an innings victory.

And, of course, there were the stories: from a boy in short trousers crossing the bridge from East Belfast to the old North of Ireland ground to watch the indigenous talents of EDR Shearer and Stuart Pollock take on the Tourists of the day; to his time as a school cricketer at Methodist College.

Roll the clock forward and there were tales of his friendship with Denis Compton and Bill Edrich when he took his acting to London.

And most memorable of it, a Lord's Taverners charity match with the scorecard reading Denis Compton c Jim Parks b James Ellis.

No-one was more delighted than Jimmy when the last Canadian wicket fell that day in Leicester. And more so when he met the Irish captain Trent Johnston immediately after the match.

The talk was of another match: Ireland's famous victory over Pakistan in the World Cup in Jamaica just two months earlier on St Patrick's Day.

Jimmy died in March 2014 at the age of 82.

He was to rejoice in another famous Ireland World Cup victory this time over England in India in 2011.

He watched every ball on television.