Rugby, Gaelic football, golf, soccer and, of course, horse racing might be the sports most readily associated with Ireland, but there?s a growing belief that cricket isn?t too far away from being bracketed in that same company.

And should the host nation, as many expect, secure a top five finish in the upcoming ICC Trophy and a place in the 2007 World Cup, the popularity of the game on the Emerald Isle is expected to reach an all-time high.

Such is the anticipation, local cricket officials believe one of the largest crowds ever to watch a match on these shores will gather at the Civil Service ground in Stormont on Friday when the Irish take on Bermuda in both teams? opening tournament fixture ? perhaps an even bigger show of support than when, on the same ground, the host nation pulled off one of the game?s biggest upsets a year ago with victory over Brian Lara?s West Indians.

It was at the same venue a year earlier that the Irish claimed another prized one-day scalp ? that of Heath Streak?s Zimbabweans on whom they inflicted a crushing ten-wicket defeat.

Needless to say, Ireland have come an awful long way since they steamrollered over Bermuda at the last ICC Trophy in Canada four years ago ? an eight wicket victory at the Maple Leaf CC where Bermuda were bundled out for 115 and their opponents replied with 118 for two.

Bermuda?s players have been well aware for some time that their opening group match just might be their toughest.

And Ireland manager Roy Torrance was doing nothing this week to dispel those fears.

A larger than life character, deeply passionate about the game, Torrance is convinced that as a cricketing nation Ireland is about to come of age.

?We?re a very much stronger side than four years ago,? he says.

?Two or three other nationalities, who are now eligible, have come into the side. We have two Australians and a South African, all batsmen and all of a very high calibre, batting in the first four or five.

?Then, of course, we have Ed Joyce who has developed into one of the best county cricketers in England and we?ve sort of reluctantly realised he?s going to play his last tournament for us here because this week, actually, he qualifies to play for England. And the word on the street is that Ed will get his English cap sooner rather than later.

?But new players apart, I think our preparation has gone much better this time.

?Our national coach, Adrian Burrell, is probably recognised as one of the best 12 coaches in the world now. He?s done a fantastic job for us.

?Our strength is in our batting. We?re a much stronger batting side. Our bowling maybe not as strong but we bat well down to number nine and ten. An example of that is that our vice-captain in Canada (Kyle McCallan) opened the batting and he now bats at nine.?

As confident as he is, Torrance is well aware that nothing will be handed to his side on a silver platter and he fully expects a number of teams, Bermuda included, to put up a fighting performance.

With only three players in the Irish team attached to English counties in a professional capacity, the rest being weekend amateurs who play their club cricket in Ireland, Torrance says they won?t be taking any side for granted.

?Are we strong favourites? I?m not sure,? he adds.

?Obviously things are in our favour, we?re playing at home, we?re playing in our season and we would be disappointed not to make the top five.

?But we realise all other countries have improved during the last four years, they?ve all put in a lot of work, so it?ll be interesting to see what happens. Let?s say we?re confident without being over-confident.

?I would say Scotland should be there or thereabouts and Holland are always a threat in these tournaments and, of course, Namibia came up out of the blue in Toronto and will also be in mix.

?And then there?s a side such as UAE, and you can never tell what their make-up?s going to be.?

Torrance, meanwhile, is convinced that perceptions of Ireland as a cricketing nation are about to change.

?Well, recently we?ve beaten Zimbabwe, we?ve beaten the West Indies and we?ve beaten Surrey, so I think although we?ve been playing cricket in Ireland for 150 years, it?s only been in the last five years that people have sat up and taken notice of us.

?Hopefully after this tournament they?ll take a lot more notice.?