IRISH cricket fans are in for a rare treat this week as eight teams battle it out in the T20 Women's World Cup qualifier.
Their coach is Jeremy Bray, who scored a famous World Cup century for Ireland against Zimbabwe in 2007.
His hopes got a boost just last week when ICC decided to up the number who would go through to the finals in Bangladesh next March from one to three.
"It's obviously fantastic there's three spots up for grabs," says Bray, "but I'd be wary that it would breed a little complacency.
"We're seen as the third best side in the competition which means we've more to lose than the likes of Holland, who are dangerous customers.
"But if someone can get a big score for us we can compete with Pakistan and Sri Lanka too.
"To get a total of 150-160 someone needs to go on and get 70, which they are more than capable of doing."
The newest of Bray's charges is 13-year-old Lucy O'Reilly, the second youngest ever to play a full international anywhere, male or female.
"We took her on a development trip to La Manga pre-season, playing against Division One English sides and she more than held her own as a bowler", says Bray. "She was outstanding in the field and batted really well."
"I said I'm going to give her a chance this year and she's been absolutely fantastic."
Lucy started playing aged 4, and joined Leinster. Her family later moved to Sandymount and she has been with YMCA since she was 9.
"Having dad around has been a huge help because he was a bowler himself," she says of former international Peter. "He's just been away for six weeks so it was hard not having him around to work with."
A 1st year at St Andrew's, Lucy starred on the team of mostly 6th years that won the Schools Senior Cup.
With her slight frame she found the recent 50 over games hard going, but Jeremy Bray is convinced she can be a star of the future.
"The sky's the limit if she keeps working hard," he says.
Ireland squad: Isobel Joyce (captain), Cecelia Joyce, Melissa Scott-Hayward, Elena Tice (all Merrion), Laura Delany, Amy Kenealy, Eimear Richardson (all Leinster), Kim Garth, Shauna Kavanagh, Louise McCarthy (all Pembroke), Lucy O'Reilly (YMCA), Una Raymond-Hoey (Clontarf), Clare Shillington, Mary Waldron (both Malahide).
SCHEDULE
Tuesday: at the Hills - IRELAND v Japan, 10am; Sri Lanka v Canada 2.00pm; at YMCA - Holland v Zimbabwe 10am; Pakistan v Thailand 2.00pm
Thursday: at the Hills - Thailand v Holland 10am, Japan v Sri Lanka 2.00pm; at Merrion - Canada v IRELAND 10am; Zimbabwe v Pakistan 2.00pm
Saturday: at the Hills - Thailand v Zimbabwe 10am, at Merrion - Pakistan v Holland 10am; at YMCA - Japan v Canada 2.00pm; at Malahide - IRELAND v Sri Lanka 2.00pm
Monday 29th: semi -finals at YMCA
Wednesday 31st: final at YMCA