Ireland put up a creditable performance in their debut One-Day international match going down to England by 38 runs at Stormont.
England relied on their established players rather than their newcomers to ensure success.
Aiming for a dominant performance prior to the start of their one-day series against Sri Lanka, England were hoping their new-look side would respond to the historic first meeting between the two sides.
But instead of debutants Ed Joyce, Jamie Dalrymple and Glen Chapple seizing their opportunity, it was the more experienced members of England's line-up who were the main contributors to their 38-run victory at Stormont.
Marcus Trescothick, playing his first one-day international in six months, took the lead role in the absence of the rested Kevin Pietersen and guided England to 301 for seven after dominating the innings with a superb 113 off 114 balls.
Having recorded a competitive total, England then relied on the experience of Steve Harmison to overcome a rocky start on his return to international cricket and end Ireland's unlikely hopes of claiming a shock triumph.
Without key men like captain Michael Vaughan (knee), Simon Jones (knee), Ashley Giles (hip) and Andrew Flintoff (ankle) the newcomers had a real chance to step up and seize their opportunity.
But instead it was a day of missed opportunities as England completed their triumph with overs remaining despite a ragged display full of mis-fields and mistakes.
Dublin-born Joyce was given the first opportunity to impress on an emotional debut against an Ireland side who included brother Dominick.
But having got away with one mis-timed pull which flew over mid on for four, he attempted another and top-edged to midwicket for 10 to disappoint his watching family.
His was the first of three wickets to fall in eight overs as Ireland, aiming to gain match practice ahead of their first entry into this winter's World Cup finals, surprised their illustrious opponents.
Stand-in captain Andrew Strauss also pulled straight to a fielder for four and Paul Collingwood fell for 10 driving to diving Ireland captain Trent Johnston at extra cover.
It took the experience of Trescothick, teaming up with Ian Bell in a 142-run stand spanning 28 overs, to ensure England did not collapse to an embarrassing defeat in a match they had pencilled in as a warm-up for their forthcoming one-day series with Sri Lanka.
Naturally aggressive at the start of his innings - he hit nine boundaries to reach his half-century off only 42 balls - Trescothick adapted his game to suit the situation and was content to temper his approach to ensure a competitive total.
In tandem with Bell, whose 80 off 101 balls was his best score for England at one-day international level, the pair were content to build a total through ones and twos rather than look for boundaries.
Neither batsman broke the boundary ropes for over 100 balls, a sequence which was only ended once Trescothick reached his 11th century at this level and looked to accelerate after reaching the milestone.
Trescothick scored only two more boundaries in progressing from 50 to 100 and then holed out attempting to hit seamer John Mooney over the top, only succeeding in picking out his brother Pete at long on.
Bell, who had been patient in the extreme followed him back to the dressing room four overs later as England lost four wickets in seven overs chasing quick runs in the final overs.
Chasing a competitive total, Ireland suffered a dismal start with Harmison inducing Dominick Joyce into playing on during an opening over which included 10 wides.
Struggling to find the right line and length on his first England appearance since the second Test against India at Mohali last March, Harmison conceded 29 runs in his opening four-over burst.
But after Sajid Mahmood had opener Jeremy Bray caught at backward point, Harmison returned for a second burst to claim wickets in successive overs and virtually end Ireland's challenge.
Kyle McCallan edged Harmison behind in his first over back in the attack and then Johnston was surprised by a lifting delivery which he guided tamely to backward point.
Harmison's burst was all the more important after Chapple, who had delivered a promising opening spell of 4-0-14-0 but left the field shortly after with an abdominal strain and never returned.
At 127 for five with over half of their overs gone, Ireland never looked like overhauling England's total but a determined stand of 74 from 15 overs between Andrew White and Kevin O'Brien at least took them closer to the target.
Their defiance was ended in the same over from Bell, who forced into the attack through Chapple's absence, who dismissed both batsmen and filled in successfully enough to claim two for 39 as Ireland finished on 263 for nine.
