CRICKET:This week the politicians sought to bask in the reflected glory of the Ireland cricket team. First it was Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue, who on Tuesday promised to fund a new ground for cricket. Twenty four hours later An Taoiseach was working the room at the Shelbourne Hotel, schmoozing Trent Johnston's men in front of the cameras.

The Irish Times asked him for his favourite World Cup moment: "I went down to my local for the last hour of the St Patrick's Day game (against Pakistan)," he began. "There's normally a battle for the TV remote control between football and horse or dog racing.

"That night all four sets were on the cricket. The entire pub was in silence - a unique experience in an area where there would be very little cricket played.

"How the country took to the team and to the game. They have taught a whole generation of young people about the game. This is fantastic as we have to be honest and say the vast majority of the Irish people wouldn't have a clue about the rules.

"One day cricket is so much easier - I always watch the Test matches and I like them but still find it difficult because I never played the game.

"It is far easier to keep the tension up (with one day cricket).

"Cricket's been played in Ireland for generations; in north county Dublin farmers played it. There have always been patches around the country. This group of players have got it to a new level and heightened awareness. Hopefully, sponsorship will follow."

Asked about O'Donoghue's desire to see a new cricket ground south of the Border, Ahern moved into more familiar territory.

"In my revised Abbotstown proposal we got it down to a smaller stadium size, which was also to hold athletics. These things can be combined. We are a sports loving country and the Government should assist in having a state of the art sports facilities. If people are involved in sport they are not involved in other things."

Before he took his leave, he then offered a misty-eyed vision of the playing fields of England.

"When you go to our neighbours across the water, from now until September, in every park you'll see fathers with their kids out playing cricket. Whenever I travel in England I'm struck by the huge participation there is in cricket, whether it is boys, girls, or down to small kids. There's no reason why we can't have that here."