There was much delight around the grounds this weekend at the breakthrough achieved by Ed Joyce in Middlesex's game against Warwickshire at Lord's. Ed's hundred was hailed in some UK papers as the first scored by an Irishman in the county championship, which is nonsense. As recent an example as Justin Benson disproves that, but there were several others including Tom Jameson (Hampshire in the 1920s), Sir Timothy O'Brien (Middlesex in the 1890s) both of whom also played for Ireland. What IS the case is that Ed was the first Irish-born who also learnt his game here to score a championship ton.

In the wake of that century, and not for the first time, there was some speculation in the London press as to whether - even when - Ed would play for England. While some papers stated baldly that he was ready to "declare" for England, an internet site carried the press conference in full and Ed's words are a lot less bald than that:"You never know. It's a four-year wait to qualify. A big decision." After performing magnificently but failing to qualify for the next World Cup with Ireland, few would begrudge the Trinity graduate a stab at the big time.

The estimable Jack McConnell of Merrion writes to admonish my failing memory. In last week's column I mentioned how Stewy Taylor had been smacked for 27 off CY's Bryn Thomas and Byron Esterhuzen, and speculated that it might be a Leinster record. Jack writes to remind us that Joey "Big Bird" Murphy hit Old Belvedere's Kirby Tarrant for 29 off an over in Cabra a few years back. And to make it worse, that I wrote about it in the next day's Sunday Tribune. All other suggestions or mega-overs are welcomed...

There are many in Leinster who will be glad to see that the Irish selectors have acknowledged the talents of André Botha of North County. The Griqualand West all-rounder has been the leading bat in Dublin for several seasons, and his controversial transfer from Clontarf this summer has not seen any slackening of totals (907 runs at 90). It had been expected that Pakistani Wajahatullah Wasti - pro-ing up north and with two test hundreds under his belt - would be selected, but Botha's superior bowling (27 LSL wickets at 18) won him the nod to prop up our ailing attack.

That C&G Trophy game against Wiltshire could spell the end of Ken Rutherford (if we lose - he definitely goes after the next round against the Hampshire Board XI) and it's sad to say that there will be few to mourn his departure around the grounds of Dublin. Not that he would be recognised there of course, unless there was a rugby match on the television in the bar.

Still, there is much to celebrate in the Irish game. The consistently magnificent displays and results of our underage sides continued once again, and their benefit to the national team has been seen with the bedding down in the national side of recent colts Dom Joyce, Scooby McCoubrey (right) and Jordy McGonigle. There are even some who reckon that 16 year old William Porterfield is ready for the Ireland colours already.

There was more good news from the Irish women, who won the European Championship in England earlier in the month, the first time any country besides England have claimed the title. A fine team performance, marshalled by new coach Richard Davies, was the key, but there were some individual performances of note. Isobel Joyce (the third of that ilk to get a mention this week) was the tournament's leading wicket-taker, while veteran Saibh Young took a hat-trick in the decider against England. It was only the fifth ever in women's internationals. Caitriona Beggs ended the tournament with a batting average of 41.