Ireland are on the verge of beating Scotland for the first time in six years. Needing only 42 in the fourth innings, they ended the second day on 5 for 1 in the annual first class fixture at Ormeau, Belfast.

With two new caps, and only Barry Archer offering a slow bowling option, Ireland have rarely fielded a more inexperienced or unbalanced side. The visitors, in comparison, included five players who played in the World Cup this year and yet trailed by 114 on the first innings.

Scotland were bowled out for 155 second time around with Paul Mooney producing the bowling spell of his life. The Hills all-rounder finished with 4 for 12 from 11 overs and he started the Scottish collapse which saw their last seven wickets fall for 30 runs.

Mooney received splendid support from John Davy, the left-armer from Pembroke, who found the edge of Neil MacRae's bat to give Peter Shields his first international victim. The Scottish opener made 47 but apart from George Salmond with 34, there was minimal resistance from a side which looked to have played a game too many. But nothing can be taken away from this Irish performance so far. From Dwyane McGerrigle's four wickets in the first innings on Saturday, to Adrian McCoubrey's promising debut and Davy and Mooney's heroics last evening, there hasn't been a failure in the home attack.

The batting hero without question has been captain Angus Dunlop. In 43 internationals at Ormeau no Irishman had scored a century - until yesterday. With a magnificent six, his fifth, Dunlop went to his century in 254 minutes with seven other boundaries. His innings of 112 was almost three times higher than the next best batsman and all he needs now to cap his third century is that long awaited Irish victory against the Scots. He should not be disappointed.