Seven Scottish batsmen were bowled, two lost out to LBW decisions and one was caught as Dwayne McGerrigle took 4-24 and debutant Adrian McCoubrey 3-38, John Davy 2-38 and Gordon Cooke 1-25. The Scots could have been out even more cheaply had two catches been held at third slip. Their top scorer George Salmond, 46, was only on seven when he was spilled by McGerrigle and John Brinkley, 34, had only two to his name when Carson failed to hold him.

Ireland had a tentative start to their reply losing Barry Archer for two as he skied to mid-off and Peter Davy, suffering from a heavy cold, chased a slower ball that was moving away and was caught in the gully with only three on the board. Neil Carson was the other loss, scoring 24 before departing with the total on 56 in the 24th over. The recalled Peter Gillespie constructed a workmanlike 36 not out and skipper Angus Dunlop was in his element at the close on 45 not out, 12 of which came from two mighty sixes.

Days 1/2
Report by Keith Graham for the Daily Telegraph.
A sparkling century by Angus Dunlop took Ireland to the brink of victory in the three-day game against Scotland in Belfast yesterday. The Irish captain reached his third international century when he lifted Asim Butt almost into the nearby Ormeau Road, his fifth such blow in an innings of aggression which stood head and shoulders above anything else on offer on either side.

Scotland had taken first use of a dry wicket on Saturday but were soon regretting their decision as they subsided to 156 all out, Dwayne McGerrigle taking 4-24. Ireland too made a poor start, losing their first two wickets for 16. But on a wicket getting progressively easier, the crucial stand of the game was put together by the Irish skipper and Peter Gillespie who came together at 54-3 and were only separated shortly after the start of the second day's play, when Gillespie was LBW to Andy Tennant's third ball of the day for 40 with the score on 134-4.

With assistance from his tail Dunlop cruised to a century in 171 balls which included five sixes and seven fours, the first instance of a home batsmen reaching this landmark on a ground hosting its 43rd and last international, before the North of Ireland club relocates. He was last out for 112 out of a total of 270, a lead for the Irish of 114 with Nick Dyer taking 4-45.

Scotland made another bad start when they began their second innings and collapsed to 155 all out. Needing 42 to win, the Irish quickly lost the wicket of Neil Carson, bowled by James Brinkley, when they began their second innings and they resume this morning needing just 37 to achieve a well-deserved victory.

Day 2
Report by Philip Boylan of the Irish Independent.
Angus Dunlop celebrated his 101st cap in some style in notching up 112 and is in the happy position of being virtually certain to lead Ireland to victory in the three-day match against Scotland which ends at Ormeau today.

When Ireland dismissed Scotland for 155 in their second innings, it meant that they only had to score 42 for a first victory over their fellow Celts in any form of the game for six years, and, although there are 37 runs required today, it should be a formality with nine wickets in hand. Credit for this must go to John Davy and Paul Mooney for the way in which they worked out the Scots late yesterday. Mooney was not brought on until the 35th over, but it was worth the wait as he produced an inspired spell of tight bowling. He finished with 4-12 and Davy with 3-33 but the earlier efforts of Dwayne McGerrigle, Adrian McCoubrey and Gordon Cooke must not be overlooked.

Dunlop had resumed on 45 yesterday and the only worries en-route to his third century for Ireland were two loud and lengthy enquiries for caught behind off the bowling of Asim Butt when he was on 90. The book shows that he faced 176 balls, hitting six sixes and eight fours before he got the notion of reverse sweeping off-spinner Nick Dyer, but only gloved it in the year to enhance wicket-keeper's Stubbs career catches.

This was Dunlop's maiden first class ton, and his other two Irish scorers in the three figure column were 101 against South Africa at Castle Avenue last year, and his best of 148 against the MCC at Malahide three years ago.

With such a long day (104 overs) in prospect, it was surprising that Peter Gillespie and Dunlop tried to force the pace from the off yesterday. The Strabane all-rounder perished LBW attempting a sweep after adding just four to his overnight 36, and the skipper could have quite easily also departed under a couple of laws in the early morning sun. However, I'm sure the coach Bobby Rao, who has fostered a very good spirit in the squad in so little time, will have slept soundly last night concerned only that a threatened break in the weather could rob him of victory in his first match in charge of Ireland.

Report from Irish Times.
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 5-1 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 they 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 4-12 from 11 overs and 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 Dwayne 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 Irish man 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 3 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.

Day 3
Report by Philip Boylan of the Irish Independent.
Ireland's international season finished with a flourish at Ormeau yesterday when Paul Mooney drilled a four to long off to secure victory over Scotland by four wickets. The 69 minutes required to knock off the 37 runs needed on the third day were anything but enjoyable as five more wickets fell due as much to the tension of the occasion as to some very fine bowling by the experienced Asim Butt and James Brinkley.

When the score was six runs for three wickets down after only seven deliveries it became clear that every lesson passed on by Mike Hendrick and Bobby Rao, the man in charge for this match, at least would be drawn on.

The day started with Barry Archer turning Butt in front of square but three balls later Peter Davy misread the line and was out LBW with Archer caught behind off Brinkley three balls later. Skipper Angus Dunlop, however, got us back on track with a swift 15 before he was caught at long leg. The score was then 29-4 and there were further hiccups when Peter Gillespie fell to a brilliant catch at second slip with the score at 31 and Peter Shields losing an LBW decision first ball.

Gordon Cooke had, by this stage, sensibly dropped anchor allowing Mooney the freedom to end the season in style with the statistics showing that Ireland had won five, drawn three and lost six in the sporting match season.

Report from Irish Times.
After six years of waiting, it was never going to be easy, but Ireland, at the 14th attempt, have finally defeated Scotland. The final margin at Ormeau was only four wickets as the excitement of beating the World Cup finalists proved too much for most of the Irish batsmen.

It was number eight, Paul Mooney, who had the coolest head and hit the winning boundary, only the fourth of the innings, as Ireland limped to their victory target of 42 in the 21st over, 70 minutes into the third and final day.

It capped a tremendous comeback to the side for The Hills all-rounder who was instrumental in putting Ireland into such a commanding position on Sunday night with a spell of 4-12 in 11 overs as the Scots lost their last seven second innings wickets for 30. But the team that dismissed Ireland for 141 in Malaysia to deny them a place in this year's World Cup finals and started the whitewash of defeats in this summer's Triple Crown, started yesterday as if going to produce the most remarkable victory yet.

Resuming at 5-1, Peter Davy was LBW to the fourth ball of the day and Barry Archer followed three balls later to put Worcestershire's James Brinkley on a hat-trick. Angus Dunlop kept it out and along with Peter Gillespie restored some order to proceedings. Dunlop, who had become the first Irishman to score a century in an Ormeau International in the first innings, had hit three fours and was probably just too confident when he pulled Asim Butt straight to long leg. That made it 29-4 and it was 31-5 when Peter Shields, the debutant wicket-keeper, was trapped in front off his first ball.

Gordon Cooke joined Gillespie to eke out six vital runs in the next five overs, but when Gillespie was caught at second slip, the alarm bells were ringing again in the Irish dressing-room. Another wicket and the Scots would have been favourites, but Mooney produced the shot of the day to finally bury the Scottish hoodoo. Afterwards, Dunlop was quick to remember Mike Hendrick, the national coach sacked just two weeks ago and who failed 11 times to beat the Scots. "It's ironic that Mike's gone, we use five seamers and bowled Scotland out twice. Apart from Gordon Cooke, not one of the other bowlers was around when Mike Hendrick arrived."

Considering that Ryan Eagleson, Richard McDaid, Mark Patterson and even Owen Butler were not available, the legacy of Hendrick is set to live on through to Ireland's next attempt to qualify for the World Cup finals, in Toronto in July 2001. The batting, especially with Stephen Smyth having ruled himself out of contention for a place in the next few years, looks more vulnerable, but with players such as Ed Joyce, Kyle McCallan, Jason Molins and, hopefully, Decker Curry, still to come in, the strength should not be judged in this match when Dunlop proved once and for all that Hendrick's legacy is not solely confined to the bowlers. In the six seasons after his debut in 1990, Dunlop played 39 matches, but missed 26. In the last four years, since Hendrick came on board, Dunlop has been dropped only once in 72 matches. He seems certain to be captain again next year.