This was the first of four games in which Ireland did well on the first day, only to fall away subsequently and three of the games were lost, including this one. On the first day Ireland scored 146 after being 81-3, but then held Lancashire to 105-4. The ultimate Lancashire lead was 58 but Ireland collapsed in their second innings for 75 and Lancashire won easily. For Ireland O'Riordan and Cantwell returned instead of Bodell and Corry and Colhoun replaced Fawcett as wicket-keeper. Lancashire were without opening bowlers Statham, who was injured, and their captain, Cyril Washbrook, who was resting. Bergin, McCloy and Warke all played in the 1953 match against Lancashire at Belfast.

The wicket for this match was softer than that for the Scottish match - in fact, it was a slow turner. The weather was again fine and sunny but the crowd was disappointingly small. McCloy and Bergin opened against C Hilton and Higgs. Bergin was in fine form and hit a no-ball from Hilton for four. Two overs later he hit Hilton for three off-side fours and Collins, an off-spinner came on. In his third over he bowled McCloy who had made 4 out of 26 in 75 minutes. MJ Hilton, the former England slow left-armer, replaced Higgs and he had Martin caught at the wicket. 33-2-6. The spinners greatly reduced Bergin's scoring rate and he was eventually caught by Bond at second slip off Collins. He batted 105 minutes for 34, scored out of 47. Warke joined Cantwell and in 15 minutes before lunch 18 were added. In all the fourth wicket stand added 45 in only 34 minutes before Cantwell was bowled by MJ Hilton. 93-3 quickly became 111-9. MJ Hilton took four wickets and Collins two. Two of the decisions were doubtful - an LBW against Warke who made 22 and a catch at the wicket against Hope. Huey joined Duffy and 35 were added in the same number of minutes. Duffy waited for the short ball, particularly from MJ Hilton, and hit well to leg. Higgs was eventually recalled and with his first ball bowled Huey.

The Lancashire innings began at 4 PM with two left-handers, Wharton and Barber. Hunter bowled eight overs for only 13 runs but O'Riordan conceded 39 runs in 11 overs and 50 were scored in 45 minutes. Huey came on after tea - his introduction being too long delayed - and in his third over bowled Barber who had made 43 out of 73 in an hour. It was revenge for Huey because Barber had hit for a six and two fours in his second over. In his fourth over Huey bowled Wharton and, after a short break for rain, had Grieves caught at the wicket. 92-3-11. At 97 Marner played a dreadful shot to Huey and was stumped. Bond and Dyson played most defensively for the next half-hour and, when rain finished play for the day, Lancashire had added only a further eight runs and Dyson had not yet scored. Bond was five not out and the score was 105-4. Huey had taken all four wickets for 28 in 12 overs.

Next morning Bond and Dyson continued their rather dreary way against Huey and Hope. Huey had a catch dropped early on but, eventually, after 85 minutes, in which 51 were scored, he had Bond stumped for 45. Collins and Cayton did not last long but MJ Hilton hit 28 not out in only 15 minutes before lunch, mostly off Huey. Dyson was out for 25, scored in 140 minutes, and, at lunch, Lancashire declared at 204-8, a lead of 58. Huey took seven of the eight wickets for 84 runs in 24 overs. Hope was very economical taking one for 28 in 19 overs.

There is very little to be said about Ireland's second innings which only totalled 75. It lasted the two hours between lunch and tea and Hunter's 29 was the top score. Dyson shared the new ball with Higgs and, except for changing ends, bowled through the innings. Dyson is an off spinner and took 7-25, including the hat-trick. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth wickets all fell with the total at 41. Martin was bowled by Dyson with the last ball of one over and, off the first ball of his next over, Warke "shouldered arms" for the second time in the match but this time could have no complaint. O'Riordan faced a hat-trick and "a pair" and avoided neither being completely beaten and bowled. This was the first hat-trick against Ireland since 1947 when Rhodes of Derbyshire accomplished the feat at Buxton. Hunter kept the bowling as much as possible and hit a fine six off Collins but the innings closed at 75. Dyson took his last six wickets for only seven runs.

Lancashire needed only 18 to win. They opened with Collins and wicket-keeper Clayton. O'Riordan had Collins caught at the wicket on the leg side before a run was scored - another doubtful decision. Clayton hit Hunter for two fours and O'Riordan for a six and Lancashire won shortly after 4:30 PM by nine wickets.

Derek Scott