Strabane's Peter Gillespie thrilled by Cricket Ireland Hall of Fame honour

Strabane legend Gillespie had planned to retire following a memorable display in Ireland’s unforgettable 2007 World Cup campaign in the West Indies but delayed it until later that summer when even the interjection of a certain Phil Simmons couldn’t convince him to prolong a glittering career.

The 46-year-old won every honour in Irish cricket with his beloved Red Caps and still holds the Irish record for the fastest century after smashing a six off the his final ball to finish on 102 not out against the MCC at Upritchard Park, Bangor back in 2005.

While today marks the 10th anniversary of Ireland’s win over England at the World Cup of 2011, where Kevin O'Brien scored the quickest century in World Cup history, the Strabane man still holds the record of scoring the fastest ton for his country. His 102 remains the quickest hundred made for Ireland both in terms of balls faced (47) and minutes batted (50).

“I was part of so many firsts and that was brilliant,” reflects the former Irish International after being inducted into the Cricket Writers’ of Ireland Hall of Fame at Friday’s ITW Sports Irish Cricket Awards.

“Being able to defeat our first county team in Middlesex and then backing that up by beating Surrey before defeating a full West Indies team at Stormont. Defeating Zimbabwe, playing in Ireland’s first one day international against England at Stormont, being the first North West player to reach 100 caps and that fastest hundred - there are so many fantastic moments I can look back on thanks to cricket.

“In fact I remember when I passed Ossie Colhoun’s record which he had held for years as the most capped cricketer from the North West. Ossie had retired a long time before I even started playing cricket but when I passed his tally he sent me a lovely card to congratulation me and said he was glad somebody from the North West had eventually passed him. He said to make sure that I kept going. It was a lovely touch.”

An ardent Liverpool FC fan, Gillespie admits he feared a similar fate to legendary Reds skipper, Steven Gerrard, as his own club career drew to a close without that Premier League title for Strabane. He need not have worried though as titles proved like buses, once one arrived more soon followed as Strabane claimed the top flight honour in 2009 (tied winners with Limavady) and again in 2010 and 2014.

“It was nice to win everything. There was a bit of sweat towards the end as to whether I was going to do a ‘Stevey G’ but thankfully I avoided that banana skin,” he laughs.

“The All Ireland success was special because of the group of players we had at that time and then to win the league towards the back end of my career and end up with three league titles, that’s special but I was very fortunate.”

Modest Gillespie claims he was simply in the right place at the right time as regards his international career and praised former Ireland coaches, Mike Hendrick and Adi Birrell, whom he credits for much of the success.

“People often ask if playing at the World Cup was the pinnacle of my career and while the World Cup was amazing, and in a way has to a pinnacle for that generation of players, it’s hard to say it was for me because it wasn’t the end and we have done so much,” he explains.