Mooney eyeing move overseas

With Roy O'Donovan since departed for the Premiership, Dave Mooney has every chance of finishing the season as the top domestic…

Dave Mooney: in-form striker could move overseas
Dave Mooney: in-form striker could move overseas

With Roy O'Donovan since departed for the Premiership, Dave Mooney has every chance of finishing the season as the top domestic scorer.   But a move away at season's end appears inevitable.

The Longford Town striker has weighed in with 13 league goals for the basement club - one less than O'Donovan - and no strike was more important than Friday's 92nd minute winner at Shamrock Rovers.

Mooney's goal secured a 1-0 win against his former club and it moves Longford - deducted six league points earlier in the season - to within a point of fellow strugglers Waterford United .

While his goals have proved timely, they have also made others sit up and take notice. Mooney was the subject of transfer speculation before the window slammed shut at the weekend.

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The Dubliner attracted interest from Southend United and a number of Scottish clubs but an approach from the English side was turned down at the last minute.

"I know everything that's gone on but it was turned down," said Mooney who is now content to see out the season with his current employers.

"I've got to keep going hard, training hard and hopefully the goals will keep coming.  If that happens then I might get a move at the end of the season."

Longford boss Alan Matthews is relieved to hang on to Mooney for the remainder of the campaign but he is ultimately resigned to losing the in-form front man.

"There was interest from one club in England and a couple from Scotland but he's happy to play with ourselves until the end of the season," said the manager.

"Hopefully at the end of the season he'll have more options and more choices.  If his performances continue like that and he works hard he'll give himself maybe a better menu when the seasons up."

For the time being at least Mooney has one objective - prolonging Longford's stay in the top flight.

"We've done Drogheda a big favour in recent weeks by beating both Pats and Rovers," said the striker. "But look, we're not in it for Drogheda.  We're trying to survive.  We've to concentrate on ourselves.

"We'll look for Waterford's results once our games are over.  If they keep losing and we keep winning we'll survive in the Premier Division."