Ireland Under 19's recorded a 45 run win against the Ulster Grasshoppers in their first competitive outing of the 2012 season.

Ryan Hunter top scored with 108 from 106 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes) as the teenagers racked up 311 for 6 in their 45 overs.

Hunter drove and pulled with great fluency, being particularly savage on Waringstown professional Glen Addicott.

Tyrone Kane (45) did his chances of inclusion in the final World Cup squad no harm at all, while Andy McBrine gave the innings late impetus with 3 fours and 2 sixes in his 44 not out from just 33 balls.

Hugh MacDonnell (25) and Jason van der Merwe (19) also batted well, albeit too briefly.

On their home ground, the Waringstown trio of James Hall (3-46), Kris Lyness (2-62) and Glen Addicott (1-33) took the wickets to fall.

Peter Chase removed openers James McCollum (17) and Charles Beverland (14), as well as Nathan Burns (6).

Barry McCarthy provided the champagne moment with a stunning caught and bowled to dismiss James Hall (5), before Tyrone Kane (2-22) captured the prize wickets of Peter Shields (11) and Addicoot (15).

When Andrew Cowden was run out for 0, the scoreboard read 102 for 7 and an early finish looked on the cards.

However Mark Irwin hit 11 boundaries in an undefeated 71, sharing stands of 81 for both the 8th and 9th wickets with Peter Eakin (50) and Craig Lewis (51).

The final total of 266 for 9 brought an air of respectability to the contest which had looked very distant at the half-way stage.

Ireland's Under 19's are back in action at Carrickfergus on the 15th of June in their annual clash with the MCC.

At Waringstown

Ireland Under 19's 311/6 (45 overs, R Hunter 108, T Kane 45, A McBrine 44*, H MacDonnell 25, J Hall 3-46, K Lyness 2-62)

Ulster Grasshoppers 266/9 (45 overs, M Irwin*, C Lewis 51, P Eakin 50, P Chase 3-48, T Kane 2-22)

Ireland Under 19's won by 45 runs