Cricket: Adrian Birrell bids farewell to Ireland in the knowledge his four-year tenure as national coach has been to the huge benefit of a developing cricket nation.
That much can hardly be open to debate, despite the eight-wicket trouncing Ireland suffered in their final World Cup assignment at the hands of semi-finalists Sri Lanka.
It was a disappointing end to a Caribbean campaign headlined by Ireland's victory over Pakistan and then last weekend's Super Eight success against Bangladesh.
Birrell and captain Trent Johnston explained after yesterday's defeat that audacious plans are being hatched - or at least considered - to safeguard Ireland's cricketing future.
But irrespective of how far down the line they go with the intention of playing their international fixtures outside the British summer the contribution made by Birrell has been significant.
"We'd have hoped to put up a better show - but we lost wickets and came unstuck against Murali," he said of the reverse against Sri Lanka at Queen's Park, in which Ireland were bowled out for the lowest 2007 Cup score of just 77.
"But I'm looking at five years, not just one match and I'm very satisfied I'm passing the baton on in better shape than I received it," he added. "There are a bunch of players well placed to take the game even further."
As former West Indies Test batsman Phil Simmons prepares to replace Birrell in time for a summer of Friends Provident Trophy cricket - as well as an Intercontinental Cup final against Canada at Leicester next month - the South Africa-born coach is in no danger of contradiction from Johnston.
On yesterday's humbling, captain echoed coach as he admitted: "They are a quality outfit and they showed us up. We started quite well, then lost three wickets in one over and never really recovered from that."
But none of that will rob Johnston of the proud memories of beating Pakistan and Bangladesh - or his association with Birrell.
"It has been fantastic," said the Austrlia-born all-rounder. I hope people don't remember us for that last game. We've had a hell of a tournament, played nine great games and been in a fight to a certain degree for all nine of those games.
"I'm proud of all 14 guys for the way we've stuck at it. If someone had said to me we'd be beaten by eight wickets by Sri Lanka in last game of Super Eights, we'd have taken that."
Ireland had to recover from a similar defeat by Australia before they beat Bangladesh.
"It was a great effort to turn that defeat around against Australia and play like we did against Bangladesh - potentially that's the way we should have played the whole tournament," said Johnston.
The captain's most golden moment came on St Patrick's Day, though, when Ireland inflicted that famous defeat on Pakistan in Jamaica.
"We hopped off the bus after the Pakistan game and went to visit family and friends. That was the highlight for me," he recalled.
"The reception we got there was amazing. I probably walked about two metres in 50 minutes. There were people wanting to talk to you, sign things - that's never been seen before in Irish cricket."
As for the future, Johnston is adamant Ireland's success in this World Cup will not be a one-off.
"There is a lot of strength in our depth in Irish cricket," he said of a country who are European champions at all age groups from under-13s to senior level.
"The programmes that Ady's put in place will help us to hang on to those kids and not let them go off to county cricket - which is something down the track we've got to look to do.
"The majority of this squad will be around for the next World Cup and they have had a massive experience and learning curve. We hope we will qualify again and make the Super Eights again too. That is a realistic goal." PA