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Martin Gough

Ireland provide the clincher

Martin GoughBarbados - The World Cup has been a lengthy journey for Ireland and I have been around for just a small part of it, witnessing their three Super 8 games in Guyana and two here at the Kensington Oval.

Their manhandling by Australia apart, they have earned extra respect for each game they have played and I’ll be sorry to miss the final game of their Odyssey as they move to Grenada to face Sri Lanka.

Whereas critics have already put the group-stage victory over Pakistan down to luck at winning the toss on a Sabina Park pitch that was very helpful to their bowlers early on, there were no such advantages come the second round.

But committed, workmanlike performances against England and South Africa in particular put them in positions from which they could have pushed for victory.

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Martin Gough

Ireland Zindabad?

Martin GoughBarbados - Had the World Cup gone to seeding, Ireland’s match against Bangladesh would have been a clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

The absence of the subcontinental big boys has meant a rather surreal atmosphere to the game but, as with every match here at the Kensington Oval, a medium-sized crowd has made plenty of noise.

In the new Greenidge & Haynes Stand, a Bangladesh chant was followed by one for Ireland by the next block of supporters, then by one for India by the next group on.

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