Only a stunning innings of 111 by Kevin O'Brien took the game away from the Northern Knights in a thrilling opener to the RSA Inter-Provincial Series at Skerries.

The NCU selection had shown great discipline in bowling full and straight to restrict the Leinster Lightning batsmen and had moved into a dominant position with five overs left.

But then, with 54 needed, the Leinster Lightning captain opened his shoulders and hit the first six of the innings. He bludgeoned three more as he added 71 for the ninth wicket with Fintan McAllister.

With five needed off the final over Nigel Jones bowled a wild full toss which O'Brien overhead smashed to the boundary.

It was a battling performance by the Knights who deserved more for a fine team effort.

Jones had opened the batting with Chris Dougherty and smashed three sixes in a quickfire 38.

The CIYMS man was smartly stumped for 46 and there were useful contributions from captain Andrew White, James Hall and particularly from Lee Nelson who made a sparkling 54 before Moleon raised the target to 260 with some late hitting.

And it was the player coach who made the breakthrough with a sharp reaction in his follow-through to turn the ball onto Andy Balbirnie's stumps. The Leinster batsmen took the score to 119-2 at half-way, well ahead of the Knights 100-2 at that stage.

But Andrew White proved difficult to score off and David Simpson was economical as well as incisive. The Lisburn man snapped up Ireland stars Trent Johnston and Max Sorensen for ducks in a three ball burst which silenced the 750-strong crowd at the picturesque Hills club.

Eugene Moleon, who held a brilliant catch to dismiss Sorensen, kept it tight until O'Brien hit 15 off his last over.

The target was thus reduced to 17 off 12 balls, and when a run out shy hit the stumps, O'Brien used the ricochet to bring up his century - and celebrated next ball with a six into the car park.

The exciting finish was a great way to start the Inter-Provincials, which returned after a ten year gap. And with a team of this talent and spirit, the Northern Knights will rise again.