BILL COGHLAN and Fintan McAllister shared a Inter-Provincial record stand of 196 to bring Leinster Lightning right back into contention on the second day of their Championship match at Clontarf.

Coghlan top scored with 130 as Lightning finished the day on 367-5, an overall lead of 208 - an amazing turnaround in fortune for the Dubliners after their batting horror show of the first day, which saw them forced to follow-on.

The Clontarf batsman thumped 12 fours and four sixes in his knock, making the most of a reprieve on 27, when he was dropped at second slip off the bowling of McCarter.

Fintan McAllister proved the perfect foil for Coghlan, content to anchor the innings and put away loose deliveries.

The Malahide keeper faced 245 balls in his marathon effort, hitting 13 fours in his 90.

The pair batted for a combined total of 385 balls, taking the score from 66 for 1 to 262 for 2. They had come together after Max Sorensen had been run out for 36 (48 balls, 5 fours).

Skipper Andrew McBrine tried no fewer than nine different bowlers in the day, but all came alike to the belligernet Coghlan and the obdurate McAllister.

The new ball, taken just after tea, accounted for both Coghlan and McAllister - Craig Young (2-65) short balls dismissing both, but it was too little, too late for the Warriors.

Andrew Poynter was bowled by Gary McClintock for 16, while the other wicket to fall was John Anderson, who struck 8 fours in a breezy 47 before being dismissed just before the close of play.

Going into the final day, all results are still possible, but you feel the momentum of the match has shifted rather decisively in Lightning's favour.

Inter-Provincial Championship,

Day Two close of play

At Castle Avenue, North West Warriors 260 (65.2 overs, M Marais 66, A McBrine 42, S Thompson 41; S Singh 3-18, T Kane 3-54)

Leinster Lightning 101 (32.4 overs, J Anderson 37; S Thompson 3-24, C Young 3-29) and 367-5 (107 overs, B Coghlan 130, F McAllister 90, J Anderson 47, M Sorensen 36; C Young 2-65).