Regardless of what happens at Sydney Parade on Sunday, 2014 has certainly been the summer that the North West Warriors announced themselves on the Interprovincial circuit.

Twelve months ago Bobby Rao's charges looked nervous and tentative and they never quite got to grips to what was required at this level. A totally unexpected but fully deserved win over an all-conquering Leinster Lightning on the final day of last season sent the Warriors into the winter recess on a high, but hibernation certainly wasn't on the menu.

Instead, Rao, Ian McGregor supported by Andrew Fleming and Peter McCartney as well as a host of energetic and emerging coaches set about establishing not just a Warriors camp but also an Academy for the next generation of representative players.

The transformation has been immense, albeit no-one is kidding themselves that it is anywhere close to being over- that has been patently clear this season as well.

Still, the difference that those 12 months have made has been truly remarkable. Probably correctly, those whose are responsible for the Interprovincial scheduling made it clear from the list they produced that they expected Lightning and the Knights to fight out all three trophies this summer.

Thankfully they may now have to spend a little longer on next year's schedule given the re-think required for this weekend- a decisive moral victory to go along with the proper ones.

It is worth repeating in case that there is any doubt outside the North West that the local cricket public stands four-square behind Bobby, Andy McBrine and the team, especially since this a squad of young men who have represented their province from schools cricket up.

They have been underdogs since this series began and they are huge underdogs on Sunday again against a team laced from top to bottom with International standard players.

It's a funny old game though and if the Warriors can find one more big effort in Dublin this weekend, what a stunning achievement it will be.