To say that the 2001 ICC Trophy in Toronto was a disappointment would be an understatement.

The fact that it was in Toronto at all was only the start of it. Ireland had been ‘encouraged’ to make a bid to host the tournament - John Wright getting one of those “I think Ireland should bid for that,” hints from a darkened room in Dubai. In the end we weren’t even close, managing to collect only Scotland’s vote in addition to our own. Lesson learned!

The squad selected included a couple of players ‘in recovery’ and was not universally well received as evidenced by reports at the time.

When things got under way they did not start well and although Ireland progressed to the Super League by finishing third in their group, defeats against USA and Denmark had raised warning flags.

I arrived for a two week stay on the morning of the the Super League match against Canada to be met by Treasurer Ian Gourley who announced that if we didn’t win this match we were on the plane home that night - just what I wanted to hear!

Thankfully an undefeated century from MOM Peter Davy ensured that I didn’t need my ‘What to do for 2-weeks in Toronto’ guide book, just yet.

A Twelfth of July meeting with the Dutch was in the schedule and the prospect of a trip to ‘The Field’ at King City was all the excuse that some supporters needed.

The sight of the parade was too much for the Dutch Coach Bajan Emmerson Trotman whose knowledge of Irish and indeed Dutch history was obviously lacking as he took great offence and let everyone know it, thinking that this was somehow an intended insult to the Oranje.

He had the last laugh however as Ireland slipped from 164 for 4 to 215 all out and a 2 run defeat with one ball left!

Injuries had taken their toll as had the return home of vice-captain Dekker Curry following a disagreement with the Coach regarding the batting order.

But for one of the travelling media this manpower shortage was to provide him with an unexpected bonus, this was the game where journalist James Fitzgerald (Irish Independent and YMCA) took the field as a substitute fielder!

Toronto 2001 was a low point in Ireland’s fortunes.

It had started badly and got no better. Coach Ken Rutherford would pay with his job and the Adi Birrell era was about to begin.

Things could only get better.