Shelbourne are desperate to ‘win everything' claims Kate Mooney ahead of key tussle with Athlone Town
KATE MOONEY wants to win it all — and knows taking down the champions could be a step towards achieving that goal.
Mooney's Shelbourne sit second in the Premier Division table, a point behind last year's winners Athlone Town after nine games.
Advertisement
Shels — who were last champions in 2022 — lost their WPD opener to Shamrock Rovers but have won all eight league matches since to put themselves right in title contention.
And today's visit of the Midlanders, whom they beat in the pre-season President's Cup, now gives them the chance to go top.
Reds forward Mooney said: 'We haven't won the league in a couple of years so that will be a main goal but we loved winning the Cup last year and we want to retain that.
'For Shels, we want to win everything. The league is important but so are the cups.
Advertisement
Read More On Irish Football
'We want to win everything we possibly can, every single game, we're not even happy when we draw. Everything is important.'
As they also progress in the All-Island Cup and look ahead to a tough FAI Cup defence with a first-round tie with Galway United to come, winning it all is still attainable.
Mooney will likely be important if they are to do so, with nine goals to date this season to add to the 12 she scored following her return from the UK last August.
That type of goal record has her on Ireland boss Carla Ward's radar, though there has been no call-up yet.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
And Mooney, 26, reckons she has to improve to get that opportunity.
She added: 'I'm probably at my prime. Carla has come to a training session and she is probably watching every game.
Jack Grealish has gone from eye-catching showman and heartthrob to miserable bench warmer - and I know who's to blame
'I'd want to be a lot better to get in that squad and I would like to be playing professionally, training every day.
'It's a big ask for me to go from part-time into an Ireland squad and then perform, even though I do have belief in my own ability — hopefully some day.
Advertisement
'Growing up, I wished I had an Under-21 or Under-23 team as that would have bridged the gap a lot more. I finished playing at Under-19 and that was me out of the Ireland set-up.
'The dream is still there. But I need to be a lot better. I can score more goals.
1
Mooney hopes to end up playing professionally
"Two games I remember, I didn't have a shot on target and I wasn't happy, then other games you only have one on target and that's the winner.
Advertisement
"I just want to be those one per cents better all over the pitch.'
TODAY'S FIXTURES: DLR Waves v Sligo Rovers (3pm), Treaty United v Wexford Youths (3pm), Shelbourne v Athlone Town (4pm), Cork City v Galway United (5pm), Peamount v Bohemians (5pm), Shamrock Rovers v Waterford (5pm).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
21 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Robbie Brennan: 'Hopefully this shows people Meath are not a flash in the pan'
Meath manager Robbie Brennan hopes his team will be shown more respect after they followed up their earlier championship win over Dublin with this victory over Kerry. Brennan accepted Kerry would be fancied to continue their 100% record in this year's championship but had confidence in his group that they would upset the odds. 'There is huge belief in that group, in that team and I picked up on that quite early when we when we came in in our management, that they do back themselves, they do have belief and those results can only help. 'You know, it probably backs up the Dublin performance for one, certainly for the public outside not necessarily for us. But for maybe the other noises that you know we're not just a flash in the pan, hopefully.' Meath had sensed vulnerability in Kerry. 'We certainly mentioned it,' said Brennan. 'They had been coming up here from Kerry, a bit of a big spin etc and missing some key men, to be fair. Everybody would have to be wary of that fact but no more than ourselves. 'We knew we needed to start well and keep them at bay for the first 15 to 20 minutes and they started well. But too many turnovers for my liking in that first 15-20 but they missed a couple of chances, kept us in it and then we grabbed a stranglehold.' Brennan also confirmed James Conlon is out for the rest of the season after damaging his hamstring badly in training on Thursday night. In-form Matthew Costello should be fit for the All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday or Sunday week. 'If it was next week, I don't think Mattie plays. Two weeks will give him obviously an extra chance to get there. 'Unfortunately for James, that's him done with us. Ironically, in the last play of the session on Thursday night he did a bad job on the hammy, so hopefully he'll get back to the club but for us now it's just a case of minding and rehabbing him. Like I've said all year, it's been next man up and that's what we do today.' Read More Cork edge spirited Roscommon and progress after nail-biting encounter
Irish Independent
25 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Cork ladies won't fear Kerry in All-Ireland SFC rematch despite loss in Munster
Kerry travel to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday knowing that a win will certainly see them top Group 2 in the All-Ireland senior football championship. The carrot of finishing first is a coveted home quarter-final, so the Kingdom will be going full throttle once more to ensure that this is the case.
The 42
25 minutes ago
- The 42
Dublin bring abrupt end to Kildare's summer of fun in hurling championsip
Dublin 3-25 Kildare 0-13 Paul Keane reports from St Conleth's Park, Newbridge KILDARE'S SUMMER OF fun is finally over, visitors Dublin bringing an abrupt end to the Joe McDonagh Cup champions' interest in the All-Ireland SHC. Just six days after claiming an unlikely tier two title with a huge Croke Park display, the hope was that Kildare might be able to summon a similar performance on home soil to extend their season. But they were summarily dispatched by a Dublin side that had victory, and an All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Limerick next weekend, as good as wrapped up by half-time in Newbridge. First-half goals from Ronan Hayes and Diarmaid O'Dulaing laid the platform for Dublin's 21-point win with Fergal Whitely adding a third goal late in the second-half. Sean Currie, who shot 0-8, finished as top scorer for the Dubs who were sent down the preliminary quarter-final route as a result of their third placed finish in Leinster behind Galway and Kilkenny. The jump in standard was simply too great for Kildare who were still cheered off the pitch by their fans at the end of a terrific season. They will meet Dublin again in next season's Division 1B, though. Their dubious reward for this big win is a quarter-final clash with Limerick next weekend. Kildare hoped to carry the momentum from their breakthrough triumph through to this game, their seventh of the year in Newbridge. They'd won five of their previous six outings at home, only slipping up to Kerry in Round 1 of the Joe McDonagh Cup, and were tied with Dublin after 10 minutes. But when Hayes struck Dublin's first goal at that point of the game, it created a blue wave that washed over the overwhelmed hosts. By half-time the Dubs put 2-14 on the board to Kildare's 0-5 – the Lilywhites managing just two points from play in that period. The loss of James Burke from the team to injury hardly helped Kildare, but Dublin were still without Donal Burke while former All-Star Danny Sutcliffe was absent too through injury. Advertisement Burke was at least togged out and, in a positive development ahead of next weekend, got through a light warm up along the sideline in the closing minutes of the game. John Hetherton was a late addition to the Dublin lineup and the big St Vincent's man made two great first-half fetches, laying on points for Currie and O Dulaing. Rising star O Dulaing was the other late addition to the team and filled his boots, striking 1-4 in the first-half alone. The Commercials attacker was a constant threat, jinking this way and that and contorting his body to clip some terrific scores. He grabbed his goal in the 17th minute after a powerful run in from the right wing that left Dublin 2-6 to 0-4 up and already in the clear. In all, between the 14th minute and half-time, they outscored a stunned Kildare by 1-10 to 0-1 to open up that 15-point half-time lead. Hayes almost sniped a third goal for Dublin in the 43rd minute but blasted wide when he had Currie free on his left. It wasn't a fatal error. While Dublin weren't as prolific in the second-half, Kildare never looked like making it a contest again. The one time they did get in on goal, Cathal Dowling was thwarted by goalkeeper Sean Brennan who pulled off a great save in the 49th minute. Both sides rolled in their full allocation of substitutes in the closing minutes as the game petered out towards its inevitable conclusion. Whitely registered Dublin's third goal and finished with 1-1, beating the Kildare goalkeeper at his near post following a run in from the left wing for his 65th minute goal. Scorers for Dublin: Sean Currie 0-8 (0-5f), Diarmaid O Dulaing 1-4, Fergal Whitely 1-1, Ronan Hayes 1-1, Rian McBride 0-3, Brian Hayes 0-3, Cian O'Sullivan 0-2, Chris Crummey 0-2, Conor Burke 0-1. Scorers for Kildare: David Qualter 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), Gerry Keegan 0-2, Jack Sheridan 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1, Jack Travers 0-1. Dublin 1. Sean Brennan (Cuala) 2. John Bellew (Lucan Sarsfields) 3. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf) 4. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna) 5. Paddy Doyle (Naomh Barrog) 6. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields) 7. Paddy Dunleavy (Ballyboden St Enda's) 9. Brian Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes) 11. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes) 13. Sean Currie (Na Fianna) 15. Ronan Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes) 10. Rian McBride (St Vincent's) 20. John Hetherton (St Vincent's) 25. Diarmaid O Dulaing (Commercials) 14. Cian O'Sullivan (St Brigid's) Subs: 8. Conor Burke (St Vincent's) for Whitely (28-29, blood) Burke for McBride (45) 26. Conal O Riain (Kilmacud Crokes) for O'Sullivan (50) 17. Andrew Dunphy (St Brigid's) for Dunleavy (51) 18. Sean Gallagher (Naomh Barrog) for Brian Hayes (59) 12. Darragh Power (Fingallians) for Ronan Hayes (65) Kildare 1. Paddy McKenna (Clane) 4. Dan O'Meara (Maynooth) 3. Rian Boran (Naas) 2. Richy Hogan (Naas) 7. Paul Dolan (Eire Og Corra Choill) 19. Liam O'Reilly (Naas) 6. Cian Boran (Naas) 8. Daire Guerin (Naas) 5. Simon Leacy (Naas) 9. Cathal McCabe (Maynooth) 11. Gerry Keegan (Celbridge) 12. David Qualter (Maynooth) 13. Darragh Melville (Leixlip) 14. Cathal Dowling (Naas) 15. Jack Sheridan (Naas) Subs: 17. Jack Travers (Leixlip) for McCabe (45) 18. Harry Carroll (Naas) for O'Reilly (50) 21. Muiris Curtin (Moorefield) for Sheridan (58) 23. Killian Harrington (Naas) for Dowling (60) 22. Oisin Lynam (Celbridge) for Qualter (67) Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
