Jordan McGonigle took 2 for 17 in an impressive international debut at Horsham in Sussex yesterday but was unable to turn Ireland's fortunes as they lost to Wales by two wickets on the opening day of the annual Triple Crown series.
The tall Donemana spinner, seen as the long-term successor to left-armer Matt Dwyer, bowled 10 testing overs and was clearly delighted when a leading edge from opener Alan Jones was taken at cover to give him a first international wicket.
Captain Kyle McCallan then blew open the breach with two victims in an over and at 85 for 5 a modest Ireland total of 149 seemed a long way off.
McGonigle followed up with a second wicket - Kristian Bell lbw for 11 - and after a panicky run-out Wales were made to battle for every run.
Veteran wicketkeeper Colin Metson perished after slapping a catch to cover but with McGonigle's overs used up, and leg-spinner Mark Gillespie strangely overlooked, captain McCallan ran out of ideas as Wales ultimately ran out the winners with seven overs to spare.
If the Welsh had wobbled in mid-innings it was nothing compared to the collapse Ireland contrived having reached 87 for 1 with no apparent traumas.
Peter Davy started the rot skying a ball almost straight above his head, Dom Joyce was stumped second ball by Metson and two more wickets fell on 90 as Andy Patterson played across the line and McCallan was caught behind by Metson.
Peter Gillespie sensibly held the innings together for a while but when he was caught on the boundary for 12 Ireland committed the elementary error of not completing their allotted 50 overs.
After losing to the tournament's weakest team, Ireland will be hard pressed to make amends today against a strong England XI who beat Scotland by 33 runs in the other opening round match.
IRELAND
A Patterson lbw P Jenkins 39
A White c S Jenkins b P Jenkins 27
P Davy c Sylvester b Bell 11
D Joyce st Metson b Bell 0
K McCallan c Metson b Bell 0
P Gillespie c Gage b Sylvester 12
M Gillespie b P Jenkins 6
C Armstrong c P Jenkins b Sylvester 14
R McDaid run out 10
J McGonigle lbw Jones 4
A McCoubrey not out 5
Extras (6lb, 4nb, 11w) 21
Total (44.5 overs, all out) 149
Fall of wicket: 1/66, 2/87, 3/90, 4/90, 5/90, 6/98, 7/124, 8/130, 9/138. Bowling: Gage 6-0-35-0, Davies 7-2-15-0, P Jenkins 10-5-24-3, Bell 10-2-29-3, Jones 6.5-1-27-1, Sylvester 5-1-13-2
WALES A
Jones C M Gillespie b McGonigle 45
J Sylvester bowled McCoubrey 0
S Jenkins c Patterson b Armstrong 2
R Sylvester c McGonigle b McCallan 23
D Lovell c Davy b McCallan 0
K Bell lbw McGonigle 11
L Jones run out 17
N Gage not out 18
C Metson c P Gillespie b Armstrong 2
J Davies not out 7
Extras (4b, 9lb, 2nb, 10w) 25
Total (43 overs, eight for) 150
Did not bowl: P Jenkins
Fall of Wicket: 1/7, 2/16, 3/80, 4/84, 5/85, 6/110, 7/123, 8/134 Bowling: Armstrong 9-0-27-2, McCoubrey 9-2-25-1, White 2-0-10-0, McDaid 3-0-17-0, McGonigle 10-1-17-2, McCallan 10-2-41-2
Wales won by two wickets
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