IT’S A DOG’S LIFE

My daughter Caitlin is desperate to get a puppy for Christmas. I’m holding out. “Santa doesn’t bring pets” is my defence at the minute. It won’t cut much ice as I expect this will be the last Christmas that she will be a believer.

The 20th anniversary of my father’s death is in a few weeks. He was a wise man. I’m turning into him more by the day in terms of habits, but without the wisdom. I tortured him for a dog many moons ago. He held out for years but eventually we wore him down. Boot Chambers duly appeared and was the centre of my attention for a good wee while before the novelty wore off. The walks became shorter and my focus turned to other things.

As he knew would happen, the onus of responsibility went onto his shoulders, and lucky for me, he enjoyed long walks.

I enjoy a few nightcaps, as does the wife. We don’t really watch tv, but listen to a lot of music. Given the 20-year age gap, you would think there would be a lot of arguments about what to listen to. But, not really. We get two songs each, and have a few challenges similar to jury selection if a song comes on that neither can stand.

One of her favourites is ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC. I smile every time it comes on. I’m transported back to May 6th 2013, and the first game of the revamped, relaunched Interprovincial Series between Leinster Lightning and Northern Knights at The Hills. As the hosts took to the field on a gloriously sunny Bank Holiday Monday, the DJ blasted out Thunderstruck. There was an excellent crowd, well in the hundreds and they were treated to a game to remember. There were 18 internationals on view – 11 for the hosts and 7 for the NCU. 

Runs for Lee Nelson, Chris Dougherty, Nigel Jones, Andy White and James Hall helped the visitors to 259 for 7, and when Leinster slipped from 136 for 3 to 189 for 8, it seemed like a shock was on the cards. Kevin O’Brien though scored an unbeaten 111 in a game that lived long in the memory.

The competition was overseen by Richard Holdsworth and was heavily promoted, marketed and enjoyed in the first few years. The new puppy though quickly became a tiresome pet.

Fast forward to 2024, and the current interpros are in a pitiful state. Unloved and unwanted by all. Crowds are in the single figures. There were six at the last game I went to, and I read Jim Bennett’s diary entry from a game at Stormont that talked of a similar number – nine. In addition, Jim stated what has long become apparent. ‘it is blatantly obvious that a re-think is necessary because in its present format the Interprovincial series is a failure from practically every perspective.’

There is a new High Perfomance Director starting/started? this month in the shape of Graham West. Hopefully he brings new energy and focus that includes the resurgence of an interpro competition that had clearly fallen down the pecking order of CI priorities. I didn’t see many of the hierarchy at games. If they didn’t care, how do they expect others to?

YOU SAY IT BEST WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL

Barry’s first law of press releases. 

What isn’t in a press release is sometimes more important than what is.

Laura Delany was this week sacked as Ireland Women’s captain. There was a very well written press release saying all manner of nice things including new captain Gaby Lewis, Head Coach Ed Joyce, and Selector Ciara O’Brien. 

But there was one very obvious and glaring omission – Laura Delany herself.

Eight years in the job and then the tap on the shoulder. Not nice. I still can’t work out the timing of it. 

I’m sure there would have been pressure to go down the route of making it appear it was her decision, which would have been easiest for PR sake. That she hasn’t says a lot about her strength and character. Her silence too says volumes about her wisdom. It would have been all too easy to vent when hurt, but she has chosen to keep her powder dry for now.

It won’t be an easy transition for either her or Gaby Lewis. It will be a funny one for a time at least. Bangladesh and India aren’t easy places to tour. If results and things don’t go well then it will be an interesting dynamic.

Ireland Women have been one of the good news stories this past few months despite the failure to qualify for the ongoing T20 World Cup.

It’s lifted the hearts and the spirits – that’s why this week’s ousting came as a such a shock. Not quite ‘a night of the long knives’ but Irish cricket hasn’t seen the like of it in almost 20 years when Trent Johnston succeeded Jason Molins. That turned out to be a generation defining switch – will this have the same impact?

MONEY FOR NOTHING

I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the UAE over the years, and when I’m asked about the place, the word that comes to mind is ‘soulless’. 

Watching the recent games against South Africa in an empty stadium, it made me think is this really the best place to be playing matches?

Cricket Ireland should be embarrassed by the pathetic number of matches that Ireland Men will play in 2024. 21 matches, of which just four took place really at home. One in Belfast, three at Clontarf, while none at Malahide or Bready. They will now have no games for four months. At least we are saved from their descriptions of a ‘busy’ year. 

I haven’t seen any figures for the statement that it’s cheaper to host games in Abu Dhabi rather than at home. Having watched Scotland’s games against Australia, and of course Ireland’s Test against Zimbabwe at Stormont, I don’t see the savings if the temporary stands costs are taken out of the equation and use the existing pavilions.

There were quite a few of the CI staff out there, many of whom were obviously needed, some however I couldn’t work out why their presence was required. To be fair, most of the heavy hitters didn’t travel.

Was money really saved? I suppose figures can be manipulated in whatever way you want them to be. Let us hope that the UAE doesn’t become our home. We deserve better.