 He was not named in Ireland's squad for the 1997 ICC Trophy, but did become a regular member of the team after the tournament.He played Benson & Hedges Cup matches against Middlesex and Somerset before a NatWest Trophy match against Yorkshire in 1997, before playing in the Triple Crown Tournament.The year continued with a first-class match against Scotland, a match against Australia in which he scored 64 not out, a match against the Earl of Arundel's XI and a match against the MCC at Lord's, before a busy 1998 in which he played 22 times for Ireland.