“THOSE were as wet as conditions as I have ever fielded in,” said the visiting captain last week. “It was probably not fit to play to be honest with standing water at mid-off but it was nice to see everyone get on with it.”

No, that wasn’t what Angelo Mathews said after Thursday’s ODI in Clontarf – because, of course, that game never took place. They were in fact spoken by Alastair Cook, whose England team braved the elements and put on a 20-over show for Scotland fans in Aberdeen 24 hours later.

Last Thursday the umpires abandoned the Ireland v Sri Lanka game at 2.15pm, more than two hours before they needed to. Naturally enough the sun came out almost immediately and stayed for the rest of the day, as anyone with access to the Met Eireann online radar could have told them it would.

It was a terrible waste of time and money for everyone concerned. Supporters got their money back, but not compensation for the day taken off work or the travel costs.

“I know conditions were important but there was the opportunity to start a 20-over game,” said fan Turlough Donoghue from Longford. “Refunds are one thing, but there’s no compensation for days off work. Time is money yet these decisions seem to be taken so easily.

“I’m not affiliated to any club but am eager to see cricket. This poses a big problem to my long-term interest in attending games.”

Cricket Ireland, too, faced huge bills for seating and everything else that goes into staging a big game.

Cricket can’t be played when the ground underfoot is dangerous, but wet conditions are perfectly acceptable if everyone is agreeable to play.

There was no great enthusiasm on the part of the visitors, or the umpires, match referee and groundstaff. Phil Simmons and William Porterfield stomped around trying to persuade all that there was time for a 20, maybe 25 over game, but in the end they were beaten down.

Ironically, it was an Irish umpire in Aberdeen – Mark Hawthorne – that helped ensure the paying punters got what they came for.

Sport is part of the entertainment industry, and those who forget that do so at their peril.

***

THERE is a disappointing shortage of quality home fixtures this summer. Only three 50-over games are scheduled, against Sri Lanka “A” and Scotland, none of which will see the full set of county-based players available.

This is frustrating with the World Cup around the corner, but also means fans get very little chance to see their favourites.

The tournament Down Under is expected to provide a natural end-point to some Ireland careers, and it would be sad if Thursday’s debacle was the last time someone like Ed Joyce was to be seen in his native city.

Joyce’s influence on the sport here is arguably greater than even that of another sportsman who bows out in the coming weeks with cheers ringing in his ears. It would be a travesty if the Irish public didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.


***

CORK County’s stunning 15 run win over Donemana was surely the biggest shock of the 32-year history of the Irish Senior Cup. Although much of the round was decimated by rain – only five of the 16 games were finished – the Mardyke was largely spared.

Captained by Ross Durity, County racked up 171-8 thanks to Morne Bauer’s 68, setting Donemana a D/L target of 190 off 36 overs. Despite Andy McBrine’s 63, Donemana were bowled out 15 runs short thanks to Siddartha Joshi’s 5-37.

Since the competition began in 1982, 59 Munster sides have taken part, and Saturday’s was only the second time that one had won.

County have played 30 games, losing 28, while all games were lost by Limerick (10), Cork Harlequins (9), Waterford (5), UCC (3), Church of Ireland (2) and Limerick Raiders (1).

Their only previous win by County was over another north-west side, in 2003. Then Bruce Koch’s 63 accounted for Ardmore, whose side included future CI media manager Barry Chambers.

***

FIXTURES:

Thursday

RSA Division 2: Trinity v Pembroke, 6pm

RSA Women’s Division 1: Leinster v Malahide, North Kildare v Merrion, Pembroke v YMCA, The Hills v Clontarf

Saturday

RSA Division 1: Pembroke v YMCA, Terenure v The Hills, North County v Merrion, Railway v Clontarf

RSA Division 2: Rush v Pembroke 2, Trinity v Phoenix, Merrion 2 v Cork County, Balbriggan v Malahide

Tuesday

Newstalk 3-day Interpro: NW Warriors v Northern Knights, Bready