Cricket Column/James Fitzgerald: When Kyle McCallan hit the winning runs for Ireland to complete a wonderful win over Surrey at Castle Avenue last month, the first reaction for most people at the ground was unbridled delight at having put one over on our full-time neighbours across the water.

However, once the initial euphoria subsided, those within the Irish Cricket Union would have been left with the warm glow that comes with knowing an unplanned payday is just around the corner. The chance to host two Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy matches against first-class county opposition in one season does not come around every year.

Mind you, the ICU sure could do with the cash, as it has a €60,000 "trading deficit" (that's debt to you and me).

This is largely due to the loss of projected income from the 2003 World Cup in Africa. Apparently, as an associate member of the ICC, the ICU were expecting in the order of a 40,000 share of the World Cup profits but with the dispute arising out of the fact that England refused to play in Zimbabwe and New Zealand wouldn't turn out in Kenya, the funds have been frozen.

In any event, this third round game against Northants on Sunday is a great chance for the ICU to boost their coffers.

Or so you might think. The reality, however, is going to be somewhat different.

Firstly, the ICU are unable to sell the match to a corporate sponsor as C&G hold the exclusive rights. ICU chief executive Peter Thompson says they are permitted to sell advertisement space around the ground provided it does not conflict with C&G. Fair enough. To this end, they will take in less than 1,000 from hoarding space for the game.

Of the cash taken through ticket sales (hopefully in the region of 20,000), the ICU will see just 25 per cent. Half will go to the England and Wales Cricket Board and the remaining 25 per cent to Northants.

With host club Clontarf rightly getting the takings from the bar and catering at the ground, the ICU's earnings on the day will mean they will not be appearing in any of those Sunday newspaper rich lists.

What is perhaps a shame is the ICU chose not to take the calculated gamble of providing tables for businesses to wine and dine clients through corporate entertainment.

"We took a decision that we would not actually sell the hospitality in the three weeks we had to prepare for the game so we decided instead to focus on the general public in promoting this match," said Thompson.

"Space is limited at Clontarf - marquees would encroach into the seating area," he added.

But with the sort of bonus feel a game like this has and with the excellent portfolio of supporting businesses that Thompson has been building up, with new names like Bank of Ireland, Bosch and British Midland coming on board, selling 40 or so tables at 1,000 a pop would not have been beyond them.

Space has never been a problem at Clontarf before either - they have successfully sold corporate hospitality for games in the past and will probably do so again.

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