It was something of a 'septima memorabilis' for the Irish in England, with a plethora of noteworthy performances.

Pride of place goes to Ed Joyce for yet another century - his fourth of the season, three of which have come in the county championship.

He sits proudly on top of the first-class averages, his 564 runs for Sussex coming at an incredible 112.80.

The Bray native scored an unbeaten 164 from 289 balls, which included 20 boundaries to enable his team to salvage a draw against Notts at Hove.

Paul Stirling was finally given a Championship game at Middlesex and responded by scoring a patient 55 from 111 balls - showing he has the versatility, and perhaps more importantly technique and patience to play in the longer format.

Tim Murtagh blasted 42 from just 30 balls (7 fours, 1 six), passing 3000 first-class runs in the process. He and Stirling also took a wicket apiece as Durham amassed 568/9 - the rain coming to Middlesex's rescue allowing them to escape with a draw.

Speaking to Kevin Hand of BBC Radio London after the game Stirling said: "It was nice to get a chance and spend a little bit of time at the crease. It is another opportunity for myself to prove I can play at this level."

"It is the second County Championship game I have played and I wanted to show I can go out there and play in it. I felt more comfortable as the innings went on," continued the 23 year-old.

"I've played a lot of one-day cricket and know what I need to do. Hopefully that comes across in performances," he said.

"I've been trying to work quite hard on my four-day game. Sometimes it is going in with different mindsets in the different forms. Hopefully I can get that right."

"It's a bonus when it comes out well with the ball," he said. "Hopefully that is something I can work on now and try and become that all-rounder role, batting at six or seven.

"The challenge now is consistency and scoring runs most of the time. I need to get my head down, perform and not take anything for granted."

George Dockrell was among the wickets for Somerset who got the better of Lancashire in their rain affected draw. The left-armer, thankfully back in form after being omitted from the Somerset team in the early part of the season, claimed 3 for 44 as Lancashire were dismissed for 203 in reply to Somerset's 420. Following on they had reached 95-3 when the rains came down.

Gary Wilson made 1 and 18 not out as Surrey held on thanks to the weather in their game with Worcestershire who had run up a mammoth 576 - Moeen Ali making 162 - which earned him an England call-up.

Niall O'Brien was also among the runs, making an excellent 88 as Leicestershire lost to Glamorgan, who chased 255 to win by 9 wickets thanks to Michael Klinger's brilliant unbeaten 129.

In T20 action, William Porterfield scored a Man of the Match 67 from just 46 balls as Warwickshire got the better of Leicestershire - Niall O'Brien making four.

The news wasn't so good for thye Brummie Bears as they lost by 15 runs to Lancashire. Boyd Rankin took 2 for 15, but chasing just 126, they were dismissed for 111 - Porterfield making 14.

Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien got the bragging rights for Surrey as they beat Middlesex by 6 wickets in the London Derby at the Kia Oval. 'Stirlo' was caught by Wilson first ball - one of two catches for both the Surrey skipper and Kevin O'Brien. The Dubliner's effort to dismiss Simpson off his own bowling described as 'outstanding' by the SKY commentary team.

Chasing 117, Surrey won in the 19th over, with Wilson making 25, and O'Brien 4 not out.

Ed Joyce made 39 in a losing cause as Sussex were beaten by five wickets against Glamorgan. The oft forgotten man of Irish cricket - Graeme McCarter - was among the wickets for Gloucestershire, taking 3 for 26 as his team lost to Kent by 21 runs.