The News Letter's Richard Bullick talks to Ireland captain William Porterfield and reflects on how the former Donemana opener's status makes him an important umbilical cord between the national team and this country's cricketing heartland, the North West.

William Porterfield will be otherwise occupied at Lords tomorrow when Donemana do battle with Dublin kingpins North County in the Irish Cup cricket final at Strabane.

Although many locals would probably prefer he was free for the decider, the Ireland skipper is undoubtedly doing Donemana proud on faraway fields as he makes his way in the wider world, wearing the green gear with distinction and carving out a county career with Gloucestershire.

But, even though he has gone on to bigger and better things in the form of captaining his country and playing professionally, Porterfield will spare some thoughts for his home club as he lines out at the home of cricket in a County Championship match against Middlesex. 

In black and white terms, Porty has outgrown the weekend world of Irish club cricket and this fiercely-focused young man moved away as a teenager to further his development in the game.

That single-minded ambition has been rewarded with a two-year county contract, an appearance in last year's World Cup and his country's captaincy at the tender age of 23.

Yet in spite of his impressive personal progress, Porterfield still has huge respect - as well as a natural soft spot - for where he learned the game and his heart will be with Donemana tomorrow.

Although attached to Dublin club Rush before moving across the water full-time, William's re-registered with Donemana and would have happily made an appearance against North County tomorrow had there not been a clash of fixtures.  He's still very interested in how Donemana do and was home to watch their quarter-final.

Having joined the village set-up at age 12, the former Killyclooney kid is well aware that, to the diehard supporters, there'd be no higher honour in the game than taking the field for Donemana in a final such is the incredible passion for the summer sport thereabouts.

That statement smacks of one's outsider perception of pretty parochial attitudes in some sections of North West cricket but Porterfield loyally rejects suggestions that the locals would wish he'd done a little less well for himself and was hence available for club cricket here ever weekend.

And, while many may wish he was still turning out there on a regular basis, William insists that "they're very supportive of me as an individual and I think pretty proud that a local lad has broken into full-time cricket even if it's taken me away. 

"When I come home, plenty of people can tell me how I've been doing for both Gloucestershire and Ireland."

To the rest of us, the North West sometimes seems a little detached from the sport at a national level with its wonderfully competitive club cricket taking priority over the representative game but Porterfield argues the two aren't mutually exclusive.

"I think that plenty of North West people ARE actually interested in Ireland's fortunes and certainly would want local lads like myself and Boyd Rankin to do well when we play."

That's reassuring to hear because Irish cricket certainly needs its North West hotbed of the game to be a fully-fledged part of the family moving forward.

"I know that, personally, I've always wanted to play for Ireland and was prepared to do what it took to realise that ambition and the same goes for others like Peter Gillespie in the recent past.

"I can't comment on others individually but perhaps some simply didn't want it enough - which was their choice - and also the travelling to squad sessions would have been greater than for players in the NCU or Dublin. 

"It's important that the public in general and also young cricketers can see some players from the North West involved in the Irish set-up and although I wouldn't want to over-play it, me being captain at the moment maybe strengthens that link - it certainly doesn't do any harm. 

"It isn't about flying a flag for the North West as such but I'm certainly proud of where I come from," says William, agreeing that his own story proves to the kids coming through that fellas from his part of the world can make it.

"Although I've always aspired to a county career and playing at international level, it's been a privilege to play for Donemana and am grateful for all I learned at the club as a young cricketer."

It was frustrating for some North West folk when, at the behest of the then national coach Adi Birrell, Porterfield played his later Irish club cricket for Rush in the Leinster League before breaking through across the water.

That seemed to suggest the North West wasn't considered capable of bringing on players for Ireland and would have been rightly resented given that the region boasts the best-supported and most competitive cricket in the country.

"Yeah, I suppose maybe some saw that as a slap in the face.  The background was that I'd sat down with Adi and asked what I needed to do to break into the Ireland set-up and he felt that move might benefit me at that stage."

Although it possibly helped his cause at the time - not least playing his club cricket closer to the national coach - the good news is that Porterfield doesn't consider the Leinster league a routine stepping stone to a county career or international honours.

In terms of his development, going to Dublin doesn't really rate - the big thing has been getting the chance to go full-time in England and play on better pitches.

"I think North West club cricket is a great learning curve and I'll gladly return there some day if I'm no longer playing professionally across the water.  We've got a great cricketing culture and young lads are brought up in it - Donemana's a fantastic place to play.

"I remember one week we successfully chased 300 against Limavady yet had been nine down to get about 120 to beat Brigade the week before.  I learned a lot about myself and the game in those early years."

Donemana was where the qualities which would earn Porterfield the tag of Future Ireland Captain as young as age 15 were honed.  Like an Atherton or Vaughan with England, he had something about him in that regard, and his leadership potential was first recognised by Brian O'Rourke the ICU Development Officer.

He's had a hard act to follow in Ireland's World Cup captain Trent Johnston and only turns 24 this Saturday, but Porterfield is a strong and confident character who "likes being in charge.

"I've taken a real interest in captaincy since the Irish Under 15s played in Scotland the best part of a decade ago and I do relish the responsibility but of course it's good to have experienced guys around me to call upon like Kyle McCallan and Andre Botha.

"Trent's been brilliant too, not only when he came back in for the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers but also available if I ever want advice.  His team talks were inspirational and I'd be a bit different but each to their own style."

As someone who has skippered Ireland at every age group level, the opening batsman was being groomed to lead the senior side from well back and his textbook emergence both as a player and a captain is a ringing endorsement of the Irish system.

"There are plenty of Irish cricketers coming through and I think we've proved we can compete well at age-group level.  The gap generally widened because the English guys got the chance to play professionally but in recent years we have benefited from having more players breaking into county cricket.

"If Ireland was able to go down the route of even semi-professional status with contracts for players we could close the gap further and it might also address some of the availability issues," reflects William, while admitting that a county career would remain an attraction to ambitious individuals.

"It isn't just about the money but testing yourself and, although it's tricky at times, I feel there should still be room to pursue both a county career and playing for Ireland."

He's had that difficult dilemma this year, occasionally opting to turn out for his employers Gloucestershire rather than captaining his country.  That doesn't do much for Ireland's self-esteem yet you can understand the pragmatic position of a young player trying to establish himself in the professional game.

Porterfield picked up the two-year contract with Gloucestershire on the back of last spring's World Cup - a wonderful shop window for his fielding in particular but also an amazing experience.

"I don't think there'll ever be another seven weeks like it," he admits.  "Beating Pakistan is what will stand out of course though beating Bangladesh in the second phase was particularly pleasing as all three disciplines came together on the day and it was a win we had targeted.

"From a personal point of view, I had the privilege of facing the very first ball in Ireland's first ever World Cup match and, I have to say, the emotions were running everywhere, especially with so many family and friends there not to mention the world watching.  The game ended in a tie which was pretty dramatic too.

"The World Cup opened a lot of eyes as to what we are capable of but also what is required at this level.  I think the fact we were together, training and playing full-time for a few months coming into and during the tournament undoubtedly helped us and showed the benefits which would come if we could contract players."

He appreciates that will take a lot of finance but believes if Ireland can consistently challenge and beat teams like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh then the onus will be on the ICC to offer the same sort of support those countries currently get.

"I'm not telling the ICC what to do and we need to prove ourselves over a period to be at the top table but at present there's no comparison between what we receive and what, say, Zimbabwe do.  Just imagine what Irish cricket could do with �11million."

Unfortunately the wonderful World Cup campaign hasn't been translated into big crowds for fixtures back home in the intervening period though Porterfield feels that there's been some spin-off.

"The World Cup's definitely done a lot for Irish cricket - not only in terms of respect in the global game and wider cricketing circles, but when you get in a taxi now at the airport and say why you're home, the driver can chat to you about it. 

"It isn't that you're looking for attention or personal profile as such but it's good to hear people talking about Irish cricket and also see some shirts around the place.  That's the legacy of the World Cup.

"I've also come across Limerick lads attending Irish internationals at Clontarf who wouldn't have had any real interest in cricket before.  I'm sure it's increased interest in playing too in some less traditional areas and hopefully that will follow through but it takes time.

"We were never going to get thousands suddenly starting to come to every match and, more often than not, the weather's hardly helped either.

"Like, that first match when we came back, against Kent at Stormont in the Friends Provident Trophy, was one of the coldest days you could have for cricket.  Even a bad forecast could put people off coming especially if they've a bit to travel.  All we can do is try to keep winning and try to get as much good exposure as possible."

The Ireland captain admits that attendances at Stormont in particular have been disappointing to say the least but has high hopes that his native North West will come up trumps if and when the new Bready ground starts staging international cricket.

"I think that will be brilliant, both for the North West as a region and Irish cricket because we must make the most of the talent and passion for the game which there undoubtedly is in the area.

"I can't wait for an Irish international there and I'm sure it will demonstrate the fantastic fan-base we have in the North West.  We got great support from there out at the World Cup and I know people will want to get behind us."

As well as their proven prowess in ODIs and, more recently, the fast food form of the game - qualifying for next year's Twenty20 World Cup - Ireland are the strongest side below Test level in timed cricket as double InterContinental Cup champions.

A bizarre points-scoring system has left them with ground to make up ahead of their final two group games in Africa next month, against Namibia and Kenya, but that's a challenge which Porterfield says they'll tackle head-on. 

"The conditions will be very different to what we're used to but going away for games like this not only broadens our cricketing experience - you learn about life as well and other cultures.

"We know it won't be easy but I think we react well to pressure and everyone enjoys the different challenges of four-day cricket.  It isn't something I'm experienced in as a captain but I've been paying close attention when playing that form of the game for Gloucestershire this season."

Gloucestershire's gone better than Porterfield could have hoped and, coming to the end of his first season, the left-hander is probably ahead of schedule in terms of first team appearances.

"It's gone really quickly and been generally good.  I started slowly for the Seconds but then got a couple of 60s for Ireland in the Friends Provident Trophy, found myself next in line for the first team and then got in thanks to an injury or two.

"Before the season started, I wouldn't really have been seen as a contender for a regular place, rather a longer-term replacement for Craig Spearman probably, who would gain good experience with Ireland mean-time.

"I think the county recognises that we can all benefit from me playing for Ireland and they would want me to do that in preference to playing for the second team. 

"The dilemma arises when it's a County Championship match as I'm trying to establish myself here yet am aware of the honour it is to represent my country never mind being captain.  We work our way through it as best we can.

"Since Ed Joyce led the way with Middlesex back when I was in my mid-teens I thought about county cricket and getting a chance with the MCC Young Cricketers was a big help in me trying to turn that dream into a reality.

"As far as playing for Ireland is concerned, I went to Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie university in 2003 after my first summer with the Young Cricketers.

"I got a scholarship and when I sat down with my mentor to talk about goals, I told him I wanted to play for Ireland at the World Cup.  It seemed a bit bold at the time for it was a long way off but as the years went by and I progressed, it felt achievable."

Porterfield played his part in Ireland's amazing adventure and has quickly risen to the honour of captaining his country at 23.  William's done Donemana proud alright - though they'd still love to have him tomorrow!