Ramba uchiverenga ndima ino - Johnston akatanga kutamba kiriketi yekirabhu muIreland muna 1995 uye akadzoka kwemamwe mwaka mina, achisangana newaimbova mudzimai wake Vanessa, waakabereka naye vana vaviri. Akaenderera mberi achitamba Sydney Grade Cricket yeNorth Sydney Cricket Club, asi akakodzera pasipoti yeIrish uye ipapo-murairidzi Adrian Birrell akafunga kuti anogona kunge ari kuwedzera kunobatsira kudivi reIrish. Akaita kutanga kwake kweIreland musi wa5 Chivabvu 2004 vachipesana neSurrey mumutambo weC & G Trophy uyo Ireland yakakunda, kukunda kwavo kwechipiri chete vachipesana nedunhu rekutanga-kirasi. Akatambawo mumutambo unotevera wemakwikwi neNorthamptonshire. Zviratidzo zvinotevera zvaJohnston zveIreland zvaiva mitambo miviri inopesana neWest Indies munaJune, wechipiri weIreland akakunda. Akabva atamba achipesana neMCC gare gare mwedzi iwoyo, asati aita kutanga kwake kwekutanga-kirasi kuIreland vachipesana neNetherlands muIntercontinental Cup. Izvi zvakateverwa ne2004 European Championship uye mutambo wekutanga-kirasi neScotland. Chiitiko chikuru cheIreland muna 2005 chaive 2005 ICC Trophy, yakaitirwa muNorth Ireland neRepublic of Ireland. Johnston akanga ari muchikwata cheIrish uye vakasvika kumagumo, vachirasikirwa neScotland, asi vachiri kukwanisa kuenda ku2007 World Cup
.