But that was just the latest reward for the team in a week they arrived home after more than seven weeks away.

The Late Late appearance wasn't half as embarrassing as these things can be. The text messages sent in by the public were positive, although one from 'Mike' thought that Parnell would be spinning in his grave at the suggestion cricket be played in Croke Park. Besides the fact that no-one has actually seriously suggested this, Charles Stewart Parnell was a keen cricketer and played alongside his father for many years for his own team, Avondale.

Saying a "nal farewell on Friday was Adi Birrell, rightly described by ICU president Tom Prior as "the best thing to happen to Irish cricket in years". The ICU acknowledged Birrell's enormous contribution with a five-figure golden handshake, a gesture that none can quibble with.

The Bank of Ireland also presented the departing coach with a Robert Ballagh print to mark his achievements.

An early indicator of the new standing of the team that Birrell built came with the approach to the ICU from New Zealand last week. The possibility of Ireland filling the third place in a tri-series tournament with the Kiwis and another top nation next winter has been suggested.

One lasting souvenir of the Caribbean adventure is sure to be the documentary produced by Sligoman Paul Davey. Out jogging in a Sydney park 15 months ago, he saw an Irish jersey and stopped to chat with its wearer. That it happened to be Niall O'Brien was one of those little flukes that change lives.

Davey was unaware of Ireland's cricket team and was even more surprised to hear they were in the forthcoming World Cup. A plan hatched in his head and the young filmmaker headed for Jamaica for what he thought would be a fortnight.

Instead his short film turned into an epic sevenweek tale of Daithi beating . . .

and tieing with . . . Goliaths.

With unprecedented access to the team . . . and physio Iain Knox taking the camera into places where film-makers aren't allowed . . . he recorded the highs and lows of the whole trip. When Ireland were due to fly to Guyana for the Super Eights he was tearing his hair out because he simply didn't have the cash to get there. Denis O'Brien, whose Digicel firm have big interests in the region, heard of his plight and offered him funding for flights and accommodation for the rest of the adventure, allowing him to complete his project.

Davey returns to Ireland in July, when he will complete the film and tie up deals to have it shown. With RTE's Ed Leahy working on a widerranging documentary on the sport, there could well be a couple of fine DVDs in cricketers' Christmas stockings this year . . . if there's any room left after Trent Johnston's book has fitted in of course!