SO ARE Ireland on the slide, as some international observers were quick to write at the weekend?

Well, the main thing to note is that the job was done and they are off to India in March 2016.

But defeats to Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and the Netherlands would only have been part of a nightmare scenario before the Qualifier.

Remember Ireland had only lost three out of 31 previous games in the event, and home turf meant they were the hottest favourites for a clean sweep.

But home turf was the problem, according to the captain, and the slow Irish pitches stopped our batsmen playing their usual game after years on English roads.

It’s a seductive theory, but one that ignores the ease with which the batsmen from the South Seas and Far East adapted to green Irish surfaces.

It was a tournament that exposed some serious flaws – and also demolished the myth that Irish fielding is as good as any Test nation.

And while there are calls for a changing of the old guard, it wasn’t the senior players that let themselves down.
Ireland’s finest player was John Mooney, his bowling right on the money and his 14 wickets the joint best in the tournament. Had he batted higher in the order the two earlier defeats might have been avoided.

Kevin O’Brien and Alex Cusack, too, showed their value at this format.

The real problem lay in the top order where Ireland has too many run-a-ball plodders.

It’s hard to know how much influence John Bracewell had on picking the squad, but if not then his selectors and advisers let him down badly in leaving out two men.

Max Sorensen had a poor World Cup, but in the four-over game he has the best economy rate of any Irish seamer – and is a truly destructive batsman.

Andrew Poynter made three good scores in four interpros this year, at a strike rate over 140, but was omitted despite having that rare ability to clear the ropes.

Both must be in the team for India.

TOURNAMENT RATINGS

Porterfield: The one consistent batsman but struggled to up tempo. Still unassailable as captain – 7.
Stirling: One of only two Irish batters above 120 strike rate, but failed in semi when clearly unfit – 6.
Balbirnie: Only failed twice but more runs were needed, and faster – 6.
Wilson: Not enough runs for a No4 and scored far too slowly at 82 per 100 balls – 5.
O’Brien K: Runs and wickets in front of 2,500 people in semi but batting didn’t click in early games. Bowling his best suit now – 7.
O’Brien N: Promoted to open and made 45 followed by three failures. Returned from injury but stupidly left out for semi – 6.
Mooney: One of the best bowlers in tournament and scored 47 runs despite being allowed face just 25 balls – 9.
Poynter S: Got three games but struggled with bat. Held four good catches but too many mistakes ground-fielding – 3.
Thompson: Failed in all four innings and after 3-10 v Nepal given only six overs in last four games – 4.
Dockrell: Confidence low and bowling has slipped: six wickets this time against 13 and 10 in previous tournaments – 5.
Cusack: Ten wickets at a 6.4 economy is a job well done. Batting far too low at 11 – 8.
Young: In and out but preferred to Kane by end. Exciting bowler with great future – 6.
Kane: Rookie took 3-19 v PNG and then dropped. At current rate of progress will be in India – 5.
McCarter/McBrine: Neither got a game but McBrine should be on first XI in India.

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TOP marks to Malahide and Cricket Ireland for a mostly well-run tournament which must have hugely stretched resources. A 2,500 crowd for Holland in some ways is a more impressive sight than 11,000 for England.

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WILL there be as many for the big Leinster day out on Saturday? YMCA v Clontarf is an attractive final and Claremont Road a good spot to watch it. Tarf are strong favourites but YM have had to throw youth in at the deep end this season and it has paid off somewhat.
Play starts 11am and admission is free.
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FIXTURES
Thursday: Alan Murray: Rush v Hills, North Co v Balbriggan 6.0
Saturday: LHW Cup final: YMCA v Clontarf, Claremont Road, 11.0
Sunday: Hanley Energy IP50: Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights, Anglesea Road 10.45; Women’s County Championship: Ireland v Notts, Ireland v Sussex
Monday: Leinster Div1: Railway v Clontarf, Pembroke v Merrion, Malahide v North Co, YMCA v Cork Co; Div2: Balbriggan v Leinster, Hills v Terenure, Phoenix v Rush