By Martin Gough

With victory in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, which makes them arguably the 11th-best team in world cricket, Ireland are arguably stronger than they have ever been.

Ed Joyce starred for Ireland but could be lost to England

But as they celebrated in Namibia, the side must have been aware that success could pose problems as they prepare for the 2007 World Cup.

They look set to lose their biggest star, batsman Ed Joyce, to England next year, and more young stars could follow.

With Joyce hitting 399 runs in five matches, Ireland reached the final of the ICC Trophy one-day tournament in July to book meetings with Pakistan and West Indies the Caribbean.

But Joyce, who has qualified by residency, is widely seen as one of the top three batsmen in line for a place in the England Test side.

As an Academy player he in line for the A-team tour of West Indies in March.

"If I go on the England A tour, that counts so I can't play for Ireland," he told BBC Sport.

"I've made my decision now. It was great to go back and play for Ireland but that was a one-off."

In general youth cricket in Ireland is quite strong but after that there's nowhere for players to go Ed Joyce

English county sides have already taken notice of the young talent in the Ireland side.

And their scouting nous was proven as Ireland shone in the ICC Intercontinental Cup - three-day cricket for teams below Test level.

Nineteen-year-old Eoin Morgan, who spends his summers with Middlesex but has yet to break into the first team, hit 151 against United Arab Emirates in the semi-final.

And Niall O'Brien, Kent's regular wicket-keeper since Geraint Jones became England's first choice, followed his 176 in that match with an unbeaten 106 against Kenya in the final.

But the paradox for Ireland is that the more successful their young players are, the more likely they are to be picked off by counties, and by England.

Stars from Scotland and Ireland do not count against county overseas quotas, but a new funding system is about to pressurise counties to field England-qualified players.

IRISH PLAYERS AT COUNTIES Ed Joyce 27, batsman, Middlesex Eoin Morgan 19, batsman, Middlesex Niall O'Brien (above) 23, wktkpr/batsman, Kent Andrew White 25, batsman/off-spinner, Northants

O'Brien's loyalties have already been divided as Kent denied him permission to miss matches this summer to play in the ICC Trophy.

"The guys who come over to play county cricket will be the guys who think they're very good," said Joyce.

"It is always going to be the case that if they come over they are going to try and qualify for England so a lot of them will be lost to Irish cricket."

Nevertheless, Joyce believes the carrot of a county career has encouraged far more young Irish talents to work towards forging a professional cricket career.

He explained: "[Irish cricket is] a lot stronger than it was and a lot of it is because English counties are actually interested in young Irish players coming up now.

"In general youth cricket in Ireland is quite strong but after that there's nowhere for players to go.

"They either make it into the Ireland team - and they've got to get jobs then - get into counties or fall by the wayside."

As long as they are not called up by England, Morgan and O'Brien should at least be able to play in the World Cup because it falls outside the county season.

Even if a generation of stars like Joyce are lost to the game in Ireland, he believes closer ties with county cricket can only be a good thing.

"They will get more exposure and maybe when their England careers are over they will go back and play or encourage youngsters," he said.

"In the long term it's going to strengthen Irish cricket."