His one match for Ireland came - as a substitute - in 1947. That year Ireland undertook a three match tour of the north of England, playing two county sides, Yorkshire and Derbyshire, as well as a well-known amateur team, The Craven Gentlemen. Three of the originally selected team, Jack Bowden, Frank Quinn and Bill Haughton were unable to travel, as were two previously nominated replacements, Stan Bergin and Shane Jameson, the latter - who never actually played for Ireland but did play for MCC in the Lord's match of 1949 - being the son of TO Jameson of Hampshire and Ireland. Apart from Kevin, Pat Waldron and Charlie Posnett were also last minute choices, though replacing a spinner, a batsman and a batting all rounder, with three batsmen pure and simple, does seem to have been a rather strange decision unless others were also unavailable.

Kevin played only in the match against Craven Gentlemen, which, despite the presence of the great Herbert Sutcliffe in the hosts' ranks, was the only match which Ireland contested - indeed, thanks largely to the bowling of Jimmy Boucher, they had the better of a two day draw. Kevin, however, batting at No 3 was bowled by medium pacer Frank Metcalfe for 1, after an opening stand of 32 between Posnett and Stuart Pollock.

Kevin Coleman Dempsey remains one of Ireland's "one cap wonders", but those who saw him play for any or all of his three clubs recall a good batsman who played with an elegance and ease of style which marked him as a player of no little ability.

Edward Liddle, January 2011, updated Aguwst 2011