Staten Island was the best ground the Irishmen had played on - as evidenced by the 700 runs scored in the match. Ireland scored 328 in their 1st innings of which Dunn made 126, the second century ever made for Ireland (FG Kempster made the first in 1877). Tobin did not play for Ireland and FW Kennedy, the normal 12th man, played. New York had two professionals, Tyers and Grundy - the latter being the Warwickshire Professional, and also CA Absolom (Cambridge University and Kent). Absolom was most unorthodox and tried to hit everything to leg. He never wore pads or gloves. In the following summer Absolom was accidentally killed in Port of Spain, Trinidad. JH Lambkin was a well-known Cork cricketer before coming to America.

There was a large attendance in fine weather to watch New York bat well on the first day. Wilson and Barton put on 77, both players making 36. Absolom at no. 5 also made 36 but 6 were down for 158. Then Mart and Kessler put on 42 for the seventh wicket so that at one stage the score was 200 for 6. Ireland had tried 9 bowlers - all except Gillman and Cronin - and it was one of the most unlikely ones, Maxwell, who broke the stand by having Mart caught for 34. Hynes then stepped in with 3 wickets and New York were all out for 202.

Grundy got both openers, E Fitzgerald and Maxwell, with only 17 scored. Tyers had JP Fitzgerald lbw for 0 at 24 but Dunn and Gillman had taken the score to 66 for 3 by the close. The second day was cold and miserable yet a good crowd gathered. At 11 00 Dunn and Gillman resumed and the two professionals bowled. Both batsmen played well and soon Dunn began to hit boundaries. 100 soon came up and then Dunn cut one into Grundy's hands off Tyers but it was too hot to hold, 120 came up and the bowling was changed. 70 were scored in the first hour and with the score at 136 Dunn was 93 not out. He steadied as he neared 100 and it arrived at 12.20 - made in about 2 hours. At 186 Dunn was finally out for 126, caught off Tyers. He and the patient Gillman had added 162 for the fourth wicket - a figure that was not passed until 1976. Meldon at no. 7 made 69 and got great support from the tail. The final total was 328 - a lead of 126.

In New York's second innings Wilson unfortunately sprained himself when well set and Fitzgerald bowled Barton for 10 at 14. Another wicket fell at 19 but a stand of 80 followed between Mart and Davis. But from 99 for 2 New York collapsed and were all out for 148. JP Fitzgerald bowled remarkably steadily and in 34 overs took 3 for 33. Hynes did not bowl very much and Synnott also took 3 for 33, he in 20 overs. 23 were required to win and these were knocked off for the loss of Kennedy's wicket (he had batted no. 11 in the first innings).

New York's fine start was partly attributable to the fact that four Irish players were delayed in arriving and the unusual combination of Dunn and Gillman had to open the bowling.