There was little joy for the local supporters at the final of the European T20 Premier League in Malahide yesterday, bar the Delany family of Rathmines and half the Adairs of Holywood.

The Edinburgh Castle Rockers collected the trophy in the inaugural tournament, chasing down the Belfast Wolves target with 1.2 overs and seven wickets to spare.

The warmest day of the Dublin leg saw the highest attendance, with over 1,500 enjoying the last of summer.

And while the final was a little anti-climactic, there were plenty of side dramas.

Irish fans have started to contemplate life without Paul Stirling, which they haven’t had to do since 2008. In those 18 years he has played 431 times for Ireland, more than any other sportsman or woman in any sport.

He had a modest ETPL, a run of six 20s was followed by 12, 3, 0, 8 and 8 again yesterday, victim of a stunning Jack Jarvis catch at cover.

Yesterday could be seen as a high profile audition for his slot, with the leading pretenders on opposing teams.

And the battle was a resounding win for Tim Tector, whose 84 occupied the entire 20 overs and saw Wolves to 150/5. He faced 62 balls, hitting nine 4s and two 6s, making the highest score by an Irish batter in the ETPL.

The last over was the biggest of the innings, Tector smashing Tom Curran into the Lady’s Acre before he was bowled by a leg stump yorker.

In response, Ross Adair’s innings was a microcosm of his tournament, belligerent and hard-hitting but over too soon. He smashed 13 off the first over, bowled by his brother, including a straight six, but Mark had his revenge in the third, with Ross going for 23 off 14. The elder Adair’s strike rate of 175 was the third best in the ETPL.

In came Andries Gous, a South African born USA international, and he played a well/paced innings of 90 off 61 balls to see his team home.

As the only other Irishman on the winning side, Gareth Delany had a quiet day, but he did pull off a stunning catch to dismiss Devon Conway, relaying with himself in front of a delighted hospitality tent.

As a late season cheeseboard, the ETPL went down very well and the organisers will be happy enough with how it went. The late rush to confirm matters probably put a dent in media interest and attendance, but they have a good product to dangle before sponsors and broadcasters before next year’s tournament.

By coincidence, next season’s ETPL will likely be played in the home cities of both this year’s finalists, with a midsummer slot being sought by the organisers.