Dermott was 22 when first picked, as a batsman, for Ireland. He made 54, becoming the first Irish debutant to make a first-innings fifty at Lord’s.

He took 326 wickets – still the most taken by an Ireland bowler – his best of 8-44 also came at Lord’s, against MCC, but he had a phenomenal 27 five-wicket hauls. He played for Middlesex during two seasons – winning a championship title. In so doing he showed Irish club players that they were capable of playing in England and a new wave of youngsters won trials and contracts in the years following.

Dermott became an Ireland selector and was President of the Irish Cricket Union in 1999.