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re Gerry - think you totally missed the points I was making - never mentioned Ireland and Pakistan. I was referring to the English technique of getting their victories in sport - of which there haven't been too many - out of perspective. Also i really enjoy your spelling!

Andy,
Ha Ha Ha. This comes from someone who I have to assume, supports Ireland with all their 'Irish' Players like Regan West - Kiwi, Botha - South African, Cusack - Aussie, Johnston - Aussie. Never mid those players who aspire to play for England like Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien, etc.. Your team can't keep players that wish to play for England, so you have to resort to calling up 'immigrants' - as you put it. So am i right in saying that your supporting a bunch of immigrants tomorrow? 1-2 minutes for bringing gloves on hardly constitutes mentioning, and if your arguing that point, then I feel sorry for you.
Give up your whinging. I never said bring on the world. We are likely to get duffed in South Africa later this year, but hey, I will live with that. We beat the Aussie's fair and square - or maybe you will singlehandedly go through each individual umpires decision in Englands favour and find fault in them! It was a close series, and several Australians had better figures, but, when England got it together they did it well. It is obvious. "Australia performed better as individuals" - Andy, you cannot win anything as individuals, surely in the hills around Buckna you know that - thats why its called a team and the more runs you get as a team the better chance of winning you have and thats what we did. You can't argue with the scorebook. As an Englishman on Sunday, I was proud of what they did. Something you may never be able to experience. One more thing, Rory McIlroy can never become Britains top golfer because he is from Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland isn't part of Britain. Education is a wonderful thing Andy...

REF;Andy Kennedy
It doesn,t matter about averages or champagne moments the records will show in 2009 England [some team] won the Ashes, the convicts can go back to Van Demons land with there tail between there legs and as for world beaters was this not the same when Ireland beat Pakistan in the last world cup everyone knows that was a freak result !!!
lets face it Ireland are div.2 when it comes to international cricket.

re England contingent - here we go again - England win something and its "bring on the world"!! - they beat an emerging Australian side with a team of featuring a pile of "immigrants". Short memories after 2005 - went to Oz and lost the series narrowly 5-0! As for Ponting's "cold sores" - was that not an on-field injury? or is such mere detail lost in the euphoria of the moment. I'm surprised that the posting didn't also remind us about 1966 or the Rugby world cup! Australia performed better as individuals - look at the series averages and lost the Ashes narrowly -maybe the running on with gloves in one of the Tests to slow things down is forgotten. The series turned on 2 or 3 champagne moments and was a lot closer than the English press will admit. I wonder how many more wins "Northen Ireland's" Rory McIlroy has to achieve before he before he becomes "Britain's" top golfer?

Gerry,
Here Here, glad someone agrees with me! Apparrantly Rick Ponting didn't want to win the Ashes 'cos the pictures of his face spread all over the cricketing world with cold sores would shatter his hard man image....

REF:VIC JONS
Have to disagree with you England were brilliant in the last test and the Aussies did take one hell of a beating [they did,t like it !]
and they should beat Ireland quite easily on thursday , Broad is turning into the next Beefy Botham , Well done England

ok robin bet on + you will get unlike taito. + see you some wher on sat have too mark book but looking for early start + finish then pop over too see finish + instonians lift cup + my 20£, ps EDITOR with all the rain + more to come what happens if off sat ? possible switch comber or anywher? anyone for stormont thurs WAYNE think might have few tips so look out for me

Now Vic, there's no point in bringing back bad memories for us. We've just got over that 2007 tour. Anyway, next time you're visiting a ground in NCU where the teas and hospitality are so good, you may find something alien in your sarnies......lol. I hope Ireland do well against England for the sake of local cricket and show those North-Westers or is it (Sour)westers, with rain forecast, that we have real cricket grounds in this part of Norn Iron and not just bowling greens.

Ref English Contin'ent NCU
Yes it was good to see England win back the ashes,but I don't think it was a "hell of a beating" as you suggest!
Lets see if they can retain them when both teams meet in the return fixture out in Australia.
Reminds me of 2005 but the following year in Australia, poor old England did take a "hell of a beating" !

And with a bit of good luck, we will spoil their party on Thursday @ Stormount.
Hope the drainage is good down there as it gives a pile of rain for Tues.nite/Wed.morning,although Thursday is to be dry. Come on Ireland.

jeff

bet struck even 20 on ndcc see you on saturday hopefully

Andy - it is great to see nipper out playing and helping out the youngsters at Woodvale. They will learn a lot from him

re Wayne Horwood & Alan Rutherford - the wee man was still at it on Saturday i the Minor Cup final helping a very young Woodvale (apart from Les Irwin & himself!) to a fine win - a determined performance from the whole team. And Ballymena contributed to a really enjoyable game.

i think there is no doubt that the top 4 in the NCU and the nor west are fairly similar in standard. North west sides have a better record recently in the irish senior cup and donemana on their day can beat anyone especially at home. I have to think tough that the premier league in general in the NCU is stronger than the north west senior league. The bottom half on the north west league would be nowhere near as strong as the bottom half of the NCu premier league.

I would also like to say we were well beaten by cooke collegians yesterday, the better side on the day won, no excuses and i would like to wish them all the best for the rest of the season and next year. There certainly is some promise there and as a few of their guys said to me yesterday they finally got a bit of luck.

promotion isnt over yet but it would be nice to know just in case what the net run rates are in our league

Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Dennis Lillie, Donald Bradman, John Howard, Greg Norman, Ian Thorpe, Rolf Harris, Jason, Kylie, Ned Kelly and Crocodile Dundee - your boys took one hell of a beating....

Staffy I read your article on the other channel and I actually agree with most of it! It is hard in a one off cup comp to measure the relative strengths of respective leagues. What is clear though is the NCU is getting stronger albeit the only way that can truely be evidenced is performances in the Irish Cup and certainly there is more emphasis on that cup now.
Some form of new league needs formed incorporating a champions league type scenario so the top clubs in each union get a higher standard of cricket. This can only help Ireland albeit it does risk making strong clubs stronger and weakening other clubs. An 8 team league would facilitate the playing of another comp potentially in this sort of format. We do need a new climate though!!