Ireland lost by two runs in their rain-affected match with England

Cricket Ireland have turned down the England and Wales Cricket Board's invitation to continue playing in a county competition in 2010.

Ireland, who won one of their eight fixtures in this year's FP Trophy, will be replaced by the Netherlands.

"I want to primarily focus on the 15 or 16 players who will represent us at the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent," said coach Phil Simmons.

"I feel that the 12 additional games would be a step too far for the guys."

Last month the ECB announced changes to the domestic calendar for 2010 with a 40-over competition of 21 teams replacing the FP Trophy.

But Ireland, who will play in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and attempt to secure a place in the ICC World Twenty20 finals through February's qualifiers next year, have decided to concentrate on international competition rather than take part.

606: DEBATE If Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan were in the current Irish team, they could probably compete at test-match level C-Bass18

"We are now playing more and more cricket out of season. It's approaching an all-year round game for Irish cricket, therefore the timing doesn't work as well as in past years," said Simmons.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom paid tribute to the ECB's support for the game in Ireland, highlighting England's visit to Belfast for a one-day international in August, four days after Andrew Strauss's men had clinched the Ashes against Australia.

"Given the heavy expansion of cricket at International level for this group we can understand why Ireland have focused their resources on international events," said Deutrom's opposite number at Lord's, David Collier.

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