Nial O'Brien of Ireland plays a sweep shot against the ACT Comets at Manuka Oval. Photo: Jay Cronan

Irish eyes smiled on Canberra as the men from the Emerald Isle enjoyed the first victory of their World Cup familiarisation tour of Australia.

After back-to-back losses in Queensland last week, Ireland bounced back to form with an emphatic 124-run win against the ACT Comets at Manuka Oval on Tuesday night.

Ireland posted an imposing total of 8-302, thanks largely to Niall O'Brien's 88 from 79 balls, before its bowlers restricted the Comets to 178 in reply with Craig Young (3-36) and Peter Chase (3-39) picking up three wickets each.

O'Brien said it was an encouraging all-round performance as Ireland continues its preparations for next year's World Cup, which includes a match against South Africa at Manuka Oval on March 3.

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"We've got a game here in the World Cup, so hopefully we get another win on Thursday and come back with fond memories and have a good match," O'Brien said.

"We probably got more than we thought we might get at one stage 260, 270 would have given us a good chance, then some good batting at the end from Andrew Poynter and John Mooney got us over 300.

"We've got a very young bowling attack, so it's pretty good to get 10 wickets and to restrict them to under 200."

O'Brien held the innings together, the 32-year-old showing all the experience of his 60 one-day internationals and 21 T20's for his country.

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Ireland record emphatic victory against the ACT Comets in one-day cricket match at Manuka Oval in Canberra