For Dave Langford-Smith it has been almost 40 weeks of cricket. From 2 January to the end of April he was a full-time member of the heroic Irish squad. Since then he has been driving his van for Dublin Grass Machinery and spending his weekends playing for Phoenix.

And in between he has managed to fit in another 11 caps for Ireland and an Intercontinental Cup medal.

"It was a very long year", he told Inside Edge this weekend. "Last Saturday was a blessing in disguise."

Lanky was heartened by the Irish performances after the World Cup.

"We struggled a bit against the counties, but they are playing day in, day out. Against Canada, Scotland, Bermuda, we showed that we were the best team in associate cricket."

Despite his relief at the end of the season, Langford-Smith (pictured right) is still enjoying the top-level game. "At one stage my back, arms and legs were a bit average. But in the last game I got seven wickets and I felt much better."

Because of his relentless year running in to bowl for Ireland, his holiday allowance was used up long before he even got back to work. "I'm a little bit scared to ask Stan (Mitchell) for a day off", he admitted.

He spent yesterday with his fingers crossed that Malahide would not escape from Cork with sufficient points to deny Phoenix promotion.

The day was spent watching the video of the St Patrick's Day match when Ireland beat Pakistan. "Maebhy was dancing in the stands and I was dancing on the pitch.

How good is history!"

Langford-Smith's new ball partner is in demand too.

Last week Yorkshire coach Martyn Moxon spoke about how he is keen to lure out-of-contract Boyd Rankin from Derbyshire. While Derbyshire gave him a break when he was let go by Middlesex, Rankin's ambitions might be best realised by a move to a test ground. He has also attracted the interest of Warwickshire.

Rankin, who captured 12 wickets during the World Cup at an average of 27, is weighing up whether to accept Derbyshire's offer of a new deal and guarantee of first-team cricket, or to further his ambition of representing England.

"Boyd is someone that we've asked to speak with and someone that we've heard good reports about, " said Moxon. "He had a good World Cup in the West Indies, where he picked up a decent number of wickets and bowled really well, and we think he's a player with talent and potential."

One of the last rites of summer takes place at Saintfield today when the Leinster umpires take on their northern counterparts for the fabled White Stick Trophy. The 35 overs match start at 1pm.

Winter work begins soon for many young cricketers, and LCU development officer Briain O'Rourke is bringing six promising players to India in December. Among those confirmed attendees are Ireland U19 squad members Ben Ackland, Graham McDonnell and Theo Lawson. The Ireland U19s travel to Malaysia in February for the World Cup. Three transition year students, George Dockrell (Leinster), Robin Russell (Pembroke) and Niall Delany (Clontarf) will travel to Muir College in South Africa for a month, while three U13s will train with Warwickshire at Easter.

The county season finishes today with Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien appearing on Sky Sports TV in the Pro40 league playoff (11.45am). O'Brien made his 50th first class appearance last week, becoming only the 11th Irish-born player to do so, behind Freddie Fane (417 matches), Tim O'Brien (266), Martin McCague (135), Tom Jameson (124), Ed Joyce (108), Tom Horan (106), Arthur Paul (96), Maurice Robinson (83), Justin Benson (57) and Reggie Poore (55).

There was another notable win for an Irish side in a representative fixture at the end of August. The Irish naval service took on the Royal Navy and ran out victorious by 21 runs. The game at the Mardyke saw Ireland all out for 91 with the main damage done by Matt Ellicott, a useful bowler who dismissed Sachin Tendulkar in a Lashings game last year. The Irish sailors' bowling, spearheaded by Eamon Dolan and Eoin Smyth, dismissed the visitors for 70.

The Ireland players have organised another Kukri Golf Day at Ardglass on 30 November. A fourball costs �400 or 600 with prizes, an auction, raffle, meal with wine and guest speaker. More details from tjohnston@archhard. com