CRICKET:The Ireland team's World Cup journey ended with an emotional homecoming at Dublin airport yesterday afternoon. As captain Trent Johnston and coach Adrian Birrell led the squad through the arrivals hall they were met by cheers of support from 300 well-wishers as family and friends competed for room with politicians, the media and some of the Blarney Army, recognisable by faces unseasonably tanned.

The Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, waited next to green-haired bishops, a Las Vegas cowgirl and a man carrying a "Welcome home, Big Boyd" poster. Passengers bustled past, barely noting the incongruity: the Minister is pulling out all stops for this election.

"It's been a dream come true," said Johnston, his young son clinging to his shoulder. "It's just reward for the 15 guys who gave their all over the past few months.

"My wife and kids have been waiting a long time for me to come home and I just want to go and talk and play with them, and just see how high the grass has grown in the garden."

For coach Birrell, there was a particular poignancy, as he takes his leave from Ireland cricket.

"To be on the road for such a long time and then get a welcome like this is amazing," he said.

The South African is to combine family commitments and coach-education programmes within the ECB with a new career as a motivational speaker.

"I want to support Susan my wife's career here in Ireland. She has been fantastic in helping me fulfil my dreams," he said.

Dressed in smart new beige suits, the team looked remarkably fresh after a journey that started in the early hours of yesterday morning. They were not helped by the refusal of the airline Flybmi, ironically a former sponsor of Ireland cricket, to allow them use the VIP lounge at Heathrow, where they stopped for five hours in transit.

The story is set to continue for a while yet. Tonight they attend a welcome-home function for sponsors Bank of Ireland at the Shelbourne Hotel. Pat Kenny and the Late Late Show loom on Friday.

"Just to be on that show means that cricket has made it," said Johnston, who announced his move from Clontarf to Railway Union over the last few days.

"I had three good years at Clontarf, but it was time to move on. It's a bit more relaxed, it's a bit closer to home, and I just want to go out and enjoy my cricket."

Johnston is not the only one looking forward to a new start; the World Cup has raised the profile of cricket in Ireland. Minister O'Donoghue told The Irish Times the Government was keen to help the game develop - in particular by providing it with a new home.

"The stage is set for cricket to expand participation levels in this country. We are lacking an international cricket ground," he said.

"I'd be prepared to talk to the officials of the Irish Cricket Union about providing an international ground.

"The profile of cricket before the World Cup was extremely low. It was important they made the World Cup and when they beat Pakistan it made a huge difference. The country had arrived at the cricket table."

But before any building plans can come to fruition the team will head back to the training ground with new coach Phil Simmons, ahead of Sunday's first Friends Provident match, against Kent at Stormont Castle.

"It's great for Irish cricket that the players are in demand from the media," said Simmons, who is on the verge of signing a second overseas professional to bolster the team. "And they need a few days off. But we will get a training session in on Saturday."

For Kyle McCallan, after the media scrum it will be back to earth on Monday, as the PE teacher from Belfast looks to get his life back to some order,

"I'm going home, putting my feet up on the sofa and look forward to some lovely home cooking," he laughed. "I want to go back to school on Monday if they'll let me. We're all up here," - raising a hand above his head - "We need to get back to reality."

And as the crowds began to disperse, reality made a reappearance. A smiling Jeremy Bray, the centurion of Sabina Park, wandered off, nappy in hand, children Corey and Dean in tow, looking for the baby-changing room.

Home at last.