John Kenny's World Cup Diary
Entry Ten - 24 March
If Irish cricket supporters had been told that Ireland's destiny in the group stages of the World Cup would be a tie against Zimbabwe, a win against Pakistan, defeat to the West Indies and qualification for the Super Eight, they would have been more than happy.
Ireland's eight wicket defeat to the hosts was a pleasure to watch as Irish fans got to see one of the greats carry his bat.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul produced an innings of genuine class, his 102 not out guiding his side to a deserved win.
The West Indies, like Ireland, go onto the Super Eight and along with Sri Lanka are my two favourites for this tournament. They look like the class of the World Cup.
Remember Ireland are through, Pakistan and Zimbabwe go home.
Our visit to Jamaica will be coming to an end soon. The Irish team head to Guyana with some of the Irish press corps immediately. For me, it is back to Ocho Rios for some rest and relaxation before I head to Georgetown on Monday.
There is no direct flight from Kingston so I have to go to Miami first and then head to South America.
The plan is to stay for at least the first two games in Guyana to bring RTÉ listeners updates and reaction to Ireland's opening salvos in the next stage, and then decide whether or not to stay on for the rest of this extraordinarily long tournament.
Guyana, by all accounts, is also a relatively poor country but is not as threatening as parts of Jamaica. Having said that, I found the people here on the island to be kind, giving and generous.
Some have taken the opportunity to make a quick buck from the World Cup, but what of it? My companions and I never got the sense of being ripped off by anybody.
I will look back on this as an adventure. It has been tough going at times, especially with the amount of travelling we have had to endure for the past two weeks, but I would rather be doing this than almost anything else in the world.
Credit goes to the Irish team and supporters. Access to players has been second to none and other Irish national teams should take notice. From the journalists' point of view, we hope it will continue.
I actually think it will. The euphoria surrounding Ireland's win over Pakistan will abate back home and Irish cricket may well slip back to being a minority sport.
It may not, but the upcoming performances in the Super Eight will demonstrate exactly where Ireland stand in world cricket. I do not think we have enough players coming up to keep the momentum going.
For now, it is goodbye to Jamaica. It has been an incredible stay, but now it is upwards and onwards to Guyana.
