Gareth Delany: ‘I never thought I'd get the opportunity to play in a World Cup’

A powerful top-order hitter, Gareth Delany is learning from one of the game's best players, international teammate Paul Stirling

Left, Gareth Delany of Ireland during a T20 International against Zimbabwe in 2019; right, Ten-year-old Delany has his picture taken with West Indies' legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul during a 2007 match between the countries. Picture: Oliver McVeigh / Barry Chambers / Sportsfile

Three months after their breakthrough appearance at the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, Ireland hosted the West Indies in a tournament match played at Clontarf.

In the Sportsfile archive from that July clash, which ended in a no result due to consistent rain, is a picture of the legendary Guyanese batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul with a 10-year-old Gareth Delany.