Low point in Ireland's fairytale
Barbados - Paul Davey set out to make a documentary charting Ireland’s experiences at the World Cup and it has turned into an epic. What could have been a two-week stay in Jamaica is now entering its fifth week.
The Irish amateur filmmaker is putting together a narrative covering the team’s fairytale tournament. There have been highs, like the victory over Pakistan on St Patrick’s Day.
And there have been lows, like being bowled out by Australia for the lowest total ever at the Kensington Oval in a match that was over by lunchtime.
Any disappointment Paul and Ireland’s band of supporters felt on Friday was tempered by the knowledge the side had already far exceeded pre-tournament predictions.
“Beating Pakistan was the high point. We were there with zero expectations – just there for the party,” says Paul. “And the tie against Zimbabwe was fantastic as well, although it has been forgotten with everything that’s followed it.”
Paul’s own story is the best place to start the tale. While running near his current home in Sydney he came across an Irish cricketer coaching Australian youngsters. It turned out to be wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien.
“I came up with the idea of a documentary, approached the Irish Cricket Union and they have been fantastic,” he says. “I’ve been allowed to go anywhere to film.”
He stops short at trying to interview captain Trent Johnston from behind his cap and sunglasses on the morning of a match, though. That might require extra danger money.
Cash looked like it could be a problem when Ireland made it to the Super 8. In fact, on the morning the team was due to move to Guyana, Paul didn’t have the cash for the flight.
However, telecoms multi-millionaire Denis O’Brien, who also gave a reported 100,000 pounds to the players as a reward for reaching the second round, stepped in to fund flights and accommodation to make sure the project is completed.
Along the way there have been some outstanding tales, and they keep coming.
Adrian Rafferty, the 6ft leprechaun who led the Irish conga at Sabina Park, is now back home in Australia and reports that he has built a party stand in his house. At 4am on Friday night he and a neighbour were dancing the conga around his living room.
Paul is proud of the footage he shot of burly Ireland team manager Roy Torrens’ desperate, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to fish a practice ball out of a roadside storm drain in Georgetown, using a borrowed net and pole.
More poignantly, opening bowler David Langford-Smith, who has a speech impediment, overcame nervousness about being interviewed because he felt he could prove to any Irish child in a similar situation that it is no barrier to achievement.
Paul hopes to have the project finished in the next three months, including some interviews with players once they are back at home, looking back on an amazing experience.
Meanwhile he had his camera in the post-match news conference, which began at the time the second innings was supposed to.
Ireland skipper Johnston refused to be downbeat, joking that he still hadn’t seen the four 90mph deliveries he face from Shaun Tait.
Coach Adrian Birrell did admit, though, that there has been some mental “bruising” inflicted with successive defeats to New Zealand and now Australia, which he hopes won’t have an effect on the side ahead of Sunday’s seventh-place decider against Bangladesh.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting was glowing in his appreciation of what Ireland have achieved so far but tried his best not to be drawn on whether they should be at this stage of the competition.
Whatever the arguments, the last month has been a great story, and it is not finished yet.
Have Australia ever beaten Ireland at Hurling?
Complain about this postGood grief, Ricky Ponting must be hard up for approval to need to tell us all how brilliant Australia's form is against Ireland. Is there any limit to the man's arrogance?
Makes me think of Glenn McGrath telling the world that his wicket-take against Scotland (mixed amateurs, part-time professionals with a couple of professionals added in) was 'the best of his career'. Yeah, right, pull the other one.
Give me a break. Let's compare like with like, shall we?
I totally question the whole structure of this interminable World Cup. Why have Australia played no seriously international team apart from England? Why have England already played 3 (NZ, SL and Aus)? There ain't no logic.
Why is this thing not structured like a football league - e.g. 1st layer, 2nd layer, 3rd layer, with the top people from each layer getting the chance to move up? It would make far more sense. Also, how about, the World Cup, the World Vase, the World Plate for whichever team in their respective layer wins?
For crying out loud can they sort it out for next time (and the pricing, and the musical instruments!!!!)
Complain about this postI think the Ireland team have been superb, they bring with them an amazingly high spirit, and a wonderful crowd. I think the movie will show everyone who thinks they are a waste of time just how much they feel for the sport. Well done to the producers, and well done to the team for doing so well in the tournament. Losing to Australia that bad may hurt them but they need not be disheartened as if anybody saw the way they slaughtered other teams e.g. South Africa, then they will understand the Aussies show no mercy.
Complain about this postTo make up for the lack of BBC television coverage at this world cup they should get hold of this documentary and show it on what used to be Grandstand. An inspirational story of what's great about cricket.
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