Ireland's first win against the West Indies came way back in 1928 at College Park. It wouldn't be the last as Sion Mills 1969, Belfast 2004 and Nelson 2015 amongst others followed.

It's the favourite game of journalist and author Ger Siggins who has been writing about and following the fortunes of Ireland for over 35 years. A keen historian of the game, Ger has been a regular contributor to CricketEurope. His latest book,100 not out, a celebration of the Leinster Cricket Union centenary is available now.

MY FAVOURITE GAME: No 125. Ireland v West Indies, College Park, Trinity Dublin

THE game I would most have loved to have seen took place in 1928, at College Park, when Ireland beat the West Indies in a three-day game with four minutes to spare.

Irish cricket wasn't in a great place at the time, having seen over a decade of turmoil on the island.

But at least the sport was getting organised, with the formation of the ICU, LCU and the start of senior leagues in Leinster and the North-West.

The Ireland team had been confined to a diet of MCC, Scotland and Wales, with only a visit to play Oxford University breaking up the monotony between the South African tour in 1912 and the arrival of the West Indies sixteen years later.

The Windies had been elected as full members of ICC alongside India and New Zealand in 1926 and they became the first to play a Test in June 1928.

Earlier that month they arrived in Dublin unbeaten on the tour, having beaten Derbyshire and Cambridge and drawing several other games.

Their star player was Learie Constantine, who became a major figure in Caribbean politics and legal affairs, as well as cricket, but he missed the Ireland game, as did the captain Karl Nunes.

There was a large crowd there for the first day who saw Ireland bowled out in three hours. Railway Union's Louis Bookman -- who played soccer for West Brom, Luton and Bradford - was out second ball to Herman Griffith who later became the first man to dismiss Don Bradman for a duck.

That was the first of his 4-65, and with fellow opener Joe Small taking 5-67, Ireland were all out for 173, with Tom Jameson's 45no and Jim Ganly's 43 the best scores.

The West Indies had a similar stab at batting, with only Jamaican Freddie Martin (56) and stand-in captain Vibert Wright (26) getting more than 20. At the close on day one they were 100-6, Martin being 39 not out, and next morning collapsed to 142 all out.

The Irish bowlers shared around the wickets, with Tom Dixon's 3-34 and Jameson's 3-17 the pick. Ireland stretched their lead to 70 before they lost their first wicket second time around. Bookman made 31, as did Ganly, but a collapse left them on 92-6 and in danger of letting the tourists off the hook.

At this critical stage two local heroes, recent graduate Jacko Heaslip and second year student George McVeagh came together and went on the attack. They added 81 runs quickly before Heaslip played across a ball from Small and was bowled for 44. Another student, PA Thornton came in and put on 106 for the eighth wicket with McVeagh. After 90 minutes Thornton was caught behind for 37, just before the close with McVeagh sleeping on 85 not out with Ireland 280-8.

On the last morning Seymour went quickly but Dixon, a decent bat at number 11 (he later went in No3 for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy), not only kept his end up while No8 McVeagh completed his century, but also scored 19 of the 40 runs added for the last wicket.

According to Derek Scott, 'McVeagh had given a great display of sound safe batting and, apart from one or two shots played dangerously through the slips, this display was quite free from blemish.' He hit 10 fours and batted for 3½ hours for his 102no.

The West Indians had just over five hours to get 352 and, at one stage, were 213-2. But McVeagh took a brilliant catch on the leg-side boundary which removed the danger man. At tea the West Indians had seven wickets standing with 139 to get.

But in half an hour after the interval they lost four wickets for 14 runs. The late order defended stubbornly but there was still 40 minutes to bat out the draw when the last pair game together. But try as they might the wicket would not come until, with just four minutes to go, Griffith mishit Dixon (4-76) and was caught at cover, giving McVeagh his fourth catch of the innings.

I would have loved to been there to watch such a game - a packed house at the greatest venue, a historic win, brilliant Irish performances, and a student defying the odds to become the unlikely hero.

I'd love to have got the post-match quotes from young George, sent the report off by carrier pigeon, and then taken George and Learie Constantine around to the Lincoln Inn for a pint.

Ed's Postscript. The ball used in the match was presented to George McVeagh and is still in the possession of his son who lives in Dublin.