JAMAICA, BANGALORE AND now Nelson – the incessant lengthening of Ireland’s colourful cricketing history knows no bounds.
But, as the ball flashed off John Mooney’s blade, skywards towards the boundary, to bring Ireland past their victory target and complete another victory that underlined their growing stature in world cricket, there was no frenzied pitch invasion or lap of honour.
If anything, the restrained celebrations told their own story.
This was a win just as, if not more, significant than those enduring days in 2007 and 2011 but times have changed. Such a result is no longer seen as the exception but needs to be, and is becoming, the norm.
The days of rubbing shoulders with the sport’s protagonists – and despite their recent struggles, two-time World Cup winners West Indies are very much one – is no longer seen as enough because Ireland are a side not content with sitting tight and accepting the established order.
In the build-up to the tournament, the players have used their media commitments as the platform to voice their collective displeasure at the International Cricket Council’s decision to contract the size of the next World Cup to just ten teams.
“I hate to say it, but this could be our last World Cup,” Ed Joyce conceded before the tournament began. It’s a distinct possibility that Ireland, by no fault of their own, won’t be part of the 2019 edition in England.
However, no words can speak louder than action.
This was not the acclaimed heist of four years ago when England were stunned into submission but a perfectly executed plan that had been months in the pipeline – one that brought a one-time cricketing powerhouse to its knees.
To many, the outcome wasn’t hugely surprising. West Indies cricket has been on a slippery slope for some time now and their preparation has been disrupted by internal disharmony but even when Darren Sammy and Lendl Simmons threatened to wrestle the game away from Ireland, William Porterfield and his team mates weren’t prepared to bow to the pressure.
If anything, they relish the challenge and the big stage but this was as clinical as it comes, regardless of whether it’s an ‘Associate’ nation against a Full Member.
It was only the fifth time a score of 300 or more was successfully chased down in a World Cup. Incredibly, three of them have been achieved by Ireland. How much more needs to be done in order to convince the top brass of the ICC that Ireland deserve to be placed on a level playing field?
Speaking to The42 before the squad left for Australia/New Zealand, Joyce said the defeat to the Windies four years ago, when they were in a promising position, still wrangled with the players.
Most notably though he said he knew if Ireland were to find themselves in a similar position now they would be sure to get across the line. They did that with remarkable conviction yesterday.
As much as anything, Ireland are driven by the determination to prove the doubters wrong and the frustration born out of being neglected by the organisation meant to be facilitating and encouraging their blossoming.
In no other sport is the ladder being pulled up on those trying to climb it and this World Cup offers Ireland, and the other three Associates, the opening to put further pressure on the ICC to rethink their narrow-minded, money-orientated decision.
Dave Richardson, the ICC Chief Executive, says the World Cup should be made up of competitive games between evenly matched sides. In their first Pool B match, Ireland have shown what they can bring, both on and off the field, to a tournament often criticised for being too mundane.
It is, however, a start that needs to be built upon. Naturally, much of the post-match narrative centered around the immediate impact of the win in Nelson and all of the Irish camp were quick to stress they are here to do more than just upset a few of the big boys but take this tournament by storm – they have teed themselves up perfectly to do just that.
As Paul Stirling bullied the West Indies attack in typically combative manner and Ed Joyce broke the back of the forlorn opposition, it was perhaps apt that Mooney was there at the end, to see the side over the line on another day made possible by the hard work and determination during the days in the cricketing wilderness.
The paucity of fixtures between World Cup means the intervening years can be a protracted period as Ireland crave for the type of exposure that will only aid their progression. In the last four years, Ireland have played just 11 ODIs. In comparison, Sri Lanka have played 118 in that same period.
But, Mooney embodies the type of resolve, tenacity and courage that has been the cornerstone of Ireland’s cricketing renaissance and it’s no coincidence that he’s finished the job in both Bangalore and now Nelson.
The squad make the five hour trip to Brisbane on Tuesday as they try and come back down to earth and start afresh against UAE on 25 February. You get the feeling with this side that refocusing the mind won’t be a problem, however.
Originally published at 16 February at 22.30
Pity to see him go. He was one of the best defenders to play the game
Ever !
That hook in the replay was pivotal.
And from a Tipp point of view – should a player of Callanan’s calibre and experience have allowed himself to be hooked? Remember how a young and inexperienced Shane O’Donnell batted the ball to the net in a similar situation in last years All Ireland.
Anyway JJ was quite simply a class defender – no arguments there!!
The sport has lost a lot of legends this summer. FairPlay JJ, an exceptional career from an exceptional player.
He’ll be the biggest loss of all the retirees. With the greatest of respect he was still first choice (and playing well) this summer while the other four were squad members and getting a few minutes off the bench here and there. Class player in fairness, he’ll leave a huge void on that defence. Phenomenal in the air and a fantastic reader of the game. Best wishes to him.
Jesus I was certain he would stay on and try get 10
One of the finest hurlers to ever grace the field
And toughest !
With all the 9 time winners retiring, Shefflin’s record may stand the test of time!
Some player. The most consistent hurler I’ve ever seen
Ah no. Please one more year. If he had been around in 1912 he would have blocked the hole in the titanic
One of the most complete defenders in the game, awesome talent, first on every team sheet. Thanks JJ for the fantastic memories. Gutted to see you go but every player must walk out to the sunset. Your Hook this year in the All Ireland is a fantastic final memory of a glittering career. You owe hurling nothing everything left on the pitch. Slan
Ah shite!
What a player, pity he didn’t go for his 10th all Ireland. Been a pleasure to watch over the years for both club and county.
Just a legend. Simple as that.
Have to say one of de greatest backs ever to Grace a hurling pitch, and that comes from a wexford man happy retirement jj
Best defender I ever saw and that’s from a Corkonian. Wing back was his best position. 2004 final, he was on one wing and Sean Og on the other. Both had blinders. Glad I was there to see it. No other player I ever saw can go from wing back to full back and be as good. I stayed quite on the other retirements but had to comment on this guy.
An awesome player Brian Cody called him the best defender he’s even seen !!! I think that says it all !!
Irreplaceable. Simple as that. As are tommy Walsh and Henry. Kilkenny will be strong next year but no one can fill these boots. And I’m a Tipp man.
Pity to see JJ retiring sad day!just hope jackie doesn’t follow suit now! Two rocks in the full back line for years!
Noel Hickey was replaced by JJ, Henery Shefflin filled the gap left by DJ… Don’t get too excited that KK will be a spent force… JJ was the best defender I ever seen play, plus a true gent
Great hurler great team, hopefully with alot of the old gaurd retiring they will be considerably weakened from a hopeful cork langer!!!
I say good. Great player but now that so many Kilkenny players are retiring maybe they will stop dominating every year and it will get more interesting.
Cian – sorry to tell you but, there are many more coming up this year – you may be (un)pleasantly surprised …
Haha. I know Dara. Unfortunately Kilkenny do have many more amazing players in their squad and coming through but I’d just love to see Limerick win one :)
Great hurler. Huge loss. Hard act to follow at fullback for Kilkenny.
Defending is an art form in itself. I doubt there has ever been a player who showcased it better. He was always on his mans shoulder, he had an intrinsic sense of where to hook or block, he knew how to shepard his man away from goal, he fouled inconspicuously, he fielded ball he had no right to, he was equally tough, brave and competitive. Not to mention his ability with the ball in hand. His hook on Callinan in the replay was a fitting final reminder to us all of his greatness.
There retiring before Cody gives them the cold shoulder!!!! As he would eventually !!
I suppose this means we can write them off now!
Haha, been written off before, but it’s a massive gap in defence to plug now.
Who was better, JJ or Tommy Walsh?
JJ.
JJ, only because he always keeps a cool head. Kilkenny wouldn’t have been so dominant without him in defence.