CRICKET: Never mind all that dewy-eyed bar-room reminiscence stuff about the West Indies at Sion Mills in 1969 - with every respect to the achievements of skipper Dougie Goodwin and his gallant Band of Brothers - nothing short of a miracle or the hand of God, or both, would give Ireland anything other than a very subdued shout of defeating another major Test nation (South African) in Castle Avenue next Wednesday.
The last time the South Africans were here, they won by just 63 runs, it is true; still, there was never the slightest doubt but that the Irish were going to lose.
Which is arguably the best a team of weekend amateurs can expect against a Test country, after all, right?
Well, maybe not, in fact, when the opposing Test country just happens to be Zimbabwe, Ireland's opponents today at Stormont, and at Eglinton next Sunday.
Under their captain Heath Streak, Zimbabwe have suffered two Test match batterings by England (losing in three days in each case) and will now concentrate on the triangular one-day series later this month.
No matter how notable and historic the occasion, that win over the West Indies 34 years ago is not going to make any difference to the standing of Irish cricket. But a victory - or better still, two - against Zimbabwe would be a different matter entirely.
And there is something of a precedent. Just a year or so before they played the West Indies in a 1999 World Cup match at Castle Avenue, Bangladesh toured Ireland and were well beaten at Waringstown. Admittedly, the tourists (and the rest of us) had to endure three days at Eglinton when the incessant rain ensured that not a ball could be bowled.
But now Bangladesh is a Test country, of recent vintage. Likewise Zimbabwe, a fact that must give Ireland's coach Adi Birrell and captain Jason Molins plenty of encouragement.
It is true that Ireland have hardly set the international cricket world alight these recent years; still, Ireland's failure by just one run to win the European Championship was a near miss indeed, and the best of encouragement for the future.
The bulk of last year's 12 has been named for the matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa. And Jason Molins and his men simply have to be in with a shout against Zimbabwe.
Tickets for next Wednesday's match against South Africa will be on sale tomorrow at Castle Avenue, where Clontarf play Phoenix in the LHW Leinster Senior League Section B match. Tickets cost €18 for adults and €5 for kids. Credit card facilities will not be available.
Phoenix have already won a semi-final place, but this a vital game for Clontarf who could still win the section.
In Section A, the semi-final qualifiers are North County and Rush; but an away victory over Old Belvedere on Sunday would give Rush the section honours and a home semi-final place.
