When David Scanlon boards a flight to Southampton this week, it will not simply be another cricket trip.

For the head coach of senior women's cricket in the North West, it will be a chance to witness a moment he could scarcely have imagined when a young Alana Dalzell first arrived at Bready Cricket Club.

The 25-year-old has already made history as the first female cricketer from the North West to earn a professional contract with Cricket Ireland. Now she is representing her country on the biggest stage of all after being selected in Ireland's squad for the Women's T20 World Cup.

Scanlon admits he could not be prouder.

"Definitely," he said. "On a personal side, it's because I know her so well, obviously playing at the same club together. Then at union level it's really nice to see her doing what she's doing because of all the hard work she has put in.

"I'm 100 per cent proud of her and excited to see where she can go with this batting."

Dalzell has already made a strong impression during the tournament after being promoted to open the batting shortly before the World Cup.

"It's been good," said Scanlon. "She's been promoted up to open the batting just before the World Cup and I think she's dealing with that really well.

"Obviously the runs are coming as the games go on, so our fingers are crossed for Friday that she can build on what she did against England."

Scanlon will be among those cheering her on when Ireland face New Zealand in Southampton.

"We fly over on Friday to watch the New Zealand game," he said. "That should be interesting. New Zealand's start to the competition hasn't been as good as they probably expected, so it should be a good encounter."

For Dalzell, the World Cup represents the latest chapter in a remarkable journey that began in Bready. Like many girls of her generation, opportunities were limited when she first started playing, often featuring alongside boys before progressing through the representative ranks.

Her rise to the international stage has coincided with a transformation in women's cricket across the North West, and Scanlon believes her success is already having a significant impact on participation levels.

"I think it's massive," he said. "Alana has played before and represented Ireland, but now she's on television at a World Cup and opening the batting.

"It really opens the eyes of a lot of the younger girls within the union and throughout the clubs."

Dalzell's influence stretches well beyond what happens on the field.

A regular coach during the winter programme, she works closely with many of the region's most promising young players and has become a role model for aspiring cricketers.

"Alana is just a really good role model for these girls," Scanlon explained. "She's involved with coaching the younger ones and it's fantastic that they get up close and personal with her during cricket sessions.

"She leads them well. They're watching her play cricket for Ireland and then they're being coached by her too."

That visibility, Scanlon believes, is crucial.

The phrase often used in women's sport is that "you can't be what you can't see". Dalzell's presence on the global stage has changed that for girls growing up in the North West.

"One hundred per cent," said Scanlon. "Alana would probably be the first to say that.

"The help she has got from the union has really helped her get to this position. What we're trying to do is make sure our players are getting the same opportunities and exposure as girls throughout the rest of Ireland.

"Alana is showing that it can be done."

The numbers certainly support his optimism. Participation in girls' cricket has increased steadily in recent years, with more clubs fielding female teams and more youngsters entering pathway programmes.

"All the time," Scanlon said when asked if numbers are growing. "Participation has increased over the last number of years and I think a lot of that comes from what Alana has done over the last five, six or seven years.

"People have seen the sacrifices she made, travelling to Dublin every week for training and putting in all that hard work.

"Now she's reaping the rewards and showing girls that there is a pathway if they're prepared to work for it."

For Scanlon, Dalzell's achievements rank alongside some of the region's greatest cricketing success stories.

The North West has produced Ireland internationals before, including Boyd Rankin, Craig Young and David Rankin, but Dalzell's World Cup appearance carries a special significance.

"We've had cricketers from the North West play for Ireland before and that's always been fantastic," he said.

"But to have Alana sitting there opening the batting for Ireland in a World Cup is huge.

"We are immensely proud of her."

As Dalzell prepares for another opportunity on the world stage, she does so carrying the hopes of an entire cricketing region.

More importantly, she is inspiring a new generation of girls who now know that a journey from Bready to the World Cup is not just possible – it has already been achieved.