A never to be forgotten St Patrick's Day win over Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup is the favourite game of Man of the Match that day Niall O'Brien.

Niall O'Brien won 216 caps between 2002 and 2018. He scored 6097 runs at an average of 31.59 scoring 8 hundreds and 33 half-centuries. One of Ireland's greatest glovemen he took 225 catches, made 38 stumpings and also claimed 34 run outs. Following a distinguished county and international career, he has become a fine commentator as well as being a very accomplished agent.

A wet grey morning greeted me as I opened my curtains at the Pegasus Hotel on Paddy's day 2007.

If I got two hours sleep that night that was it as I tossed and turned in hope or maybe anticipation of a day to remember for my beloved team mates and I.

I had no form to speak of and didn't bother batting the day before at practice as I told the coach Adi Birrell there is no point I am batting so badly that I will just wind myself up more and more by batting badly in the nets.

Adi knew me inside out and knew I would be ok on the day so left me to do my keeping and visualisation in the middle with bat in hand. I imagined facing Pakistan's best bowlers and figured out how I would try and combat their threats.

The sun broke through and T-Bird (Trent Johnston) won a huge toss. There is no point pretending otherwise as that was crucial. If Pakistan won the toss and bowled the entire landscape of Irish Cricket would not be the same today.

Amongst a plethora of extras there was sharp catching on the slips by Morgan and Botha brilliant fielding in the ring by Porty and the skipper and we bundled the star-studded side out cheaply.

It's been well documented the mid-innings speeches by Trent and Adi and both touched the players and gave us the confidence to go and win the match and give our supporters the best day of their lives.

I was in the middle early which and got into my groove straight away with the bat. All my troubles and woes forgetten about with one straight drive down the ground a shot I didn't necessarily play that well and all of a sudden I was in my element playing to the crowd.

I lost a few partners along the way Porty played a good hand and Andre got the worst decision I've ever seen by the umpire. It was so bad he apologised after and threatened to retire.

I hit the ball as well as I had ever done and got us within touching distance only to play a truly shocking shot to leave us with 20 to win.

I cursed myself all the way off and as I sat down effing and blinding whilst Adi's kid Christopher slept on a towel beside me I thought it's only 20 to win we will be fine.... boom boom and we're in deep trouble.

But two big pillars of Irish cricket Kevin and Trent saw us home.

We rejoiced and drank , partied and then drank some more...

It was a wonderful time spent with best friends for life and memories made that set many of us along the way.

Long live Paddy's Day 2007...