O'Brien century drives Ireland to victory

CRICKET/Representative Match: Niall O'Brien, the Railway Union batsman, heads to Bristol on Monday for a week's trial with Gloucestershire established as an Ireland player.

The 20-year-old completed his fourth century of the season - more significantly, his first for Ireland - as they beat MCC by five wickets in their international in Cork.

O'Brien scored 111 and shared a first wicket partnership of 182 with Andrew White to lay the foundations for Ireland's biggest run chase.

After MCC declared their first innings on 294 for seven, and Ireland agreed to forfeit their first innings and the visitors their second, Ireland were left with what proved to be 74 overs to knock off the runs.

O'Brien, with shots all round the wicket, faced just 151 balls and hit 11 boundaries, while White scored 76 from 102, with six fours.

Both were dismissed in the space of four overs, but the strength of this Ireland batting squad was there for all to see.

Peter Gillespie kept up the momentum with 20 of 22 balls, and Kyle McCallam looked good for his 20. But it was John Mooney, in only his third game, and David Kennedy, from Ballymena, in his first, who saw Ireland home.

MCC First Innings: (Overnight) 223-4. D Ward 97, M Cowell 55, T Harrison 46)

M Hartley c O'Brien b Neely 20

R Lynch c McGonigle b Armstrong 15

L Bouter c Kennedy b McCallan 16

A Frazer not out 30

P Such not out 8

Extras 7

Total (for 7 wickets declared) ... 294

Fall of wickets 1-74, 2-172, 3-211, 4-223, 5-231, 6-254, 7-268,

Bowling P Mooney 13,-3-70-0. G Neely 15-2-54-1. C Armstrong 13-4-34-2. J McGonigle 12-3-37-2. K McCallam 22.3-5-72-2. A White 3-1-6-0. D Joyce 4-0-18-0.

Second Innings forfeited

Ireland First Innings forfeited.

IRELAND Second Innings

N O'Brien c Fraser b Prince 111

A White c Waugh b Prince 76

D Joyce c Harrison b Such 6

P Gillespie c Ward b Waugh 20

J Mooney not out 28

K McCallan c Ward b Bouter 20

D Kennedy not out 13

Extras 21

Total (for 5 wickets) ... 297

Fall of wickets: 1-182, 2-200, 3-225, 4-227, 5-254.

Bowling: G Prince 15-2-70-2; M Harrison 4-0-22-0. P Such 26-4-78-1. A Fraser 5-0-24-0. D Waugh 12-0-50-1. L Bouter 7.4-0-36-1.

Ireland won by 5 wickets.