Tim Murtagh was in dreamland after taking five English wickets on day one of the Test at Lord's and seeing his name go up on the honours board at the home of cricket.
Ireland dominated the first day of their one off test as they powered through the host batting line up and bowled England out for 85 before lunch.
Reflecting on his side's impressive bowling, Murtagh who got the ball rolling in the fifth over, said: "We set out to try and make as many breakthroughs as possible really. We knew if we bowled at our best we could do some damage.
"The aim was to knock over three or four by lunch and I guess everything went our way, reviews, we took all our catches and the rest of our bowling attack did a really good job today".
Ireland soon had a second when Joe Denly who came in at three tried to steady the ship with a few impressive boundaries but was soon heading towards the pavilion after being trapped LBW by Mark Adair.
Murtagh’s second victim was Rory Burns who was caught behind by Ireland Wicket Keeper Gary Wilson and when captain Joe Root went for a measly two England were in big trouble.
This was the signal that the England batting line-up had started to collapse, Jonny Bairstow was one of the big names to falter at the crease, going for a duck.
Alongside Murtagh were Adair and Boyd Rankin, who got in the action and helped hasten the end of Joe Root and Stuart Broad's innings.
Middlesex man Murtagh was playing at his home ground.
"I'm a bit long in the tooth but I should know how to bowl here!
"I knew if I found my length today I could cause a few problems and I said it to the other guys that if we were disciplined as we should be and pitched the ball up there would be enough in the wicket to cause some damage."
Murtagh's 5-13 makes him the first Irish cricketer to record a five wicket-innings, earning a spot on the Lord's honours board.
It was a surreal moment for the London native, who qualified for Ireland through his grandfather in 2012.
"It's as special as it gets really," he reflected. "Growing up as a kid I dreamt of being on that honours board. Probably not in the away dressing room but that probably makes it a bit more special now.
"But it was a fantastic feeling having taken five wickets walking off for lunch."
The most economical figures for anyone on the Lord's Honours Boards.
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) July 24, 2019
Take a bow, @tjmurtagh, what an achievement on your home ground 👏#LoveLords | #ENGvIRE
Ireland went on to score 207 and build a lead of 122 before being bowled out just before the close of play.
Captain William Portfield faltered with his bat, losing his wicket cheaply after being caught by Jack Leach after playing a weak shot.
Andrew Balbirinie and Paul Stirling amassed a 50 run partnership before a steady innings from Kevin O'Brien (28) and a tail-end swansong from Murtagh (16) before the end of the Irish innings.
Before the close of play there was just enough time to squeeze in one over of the England second innings, which featured Leach as night watchman.
Fittingly, Murtagh bowled a superb maiden, to cap off a day that will be remembered not just in Ireland but all over the cricket world for a long time to come.
