STRABANE SOARING AS FIRST LEG OF POSSIBLE QUARTET SEALED

It’s been quite the season for Strabane who lifted the first of what they hope will be a quartet of trophies at the weekend when they lifted the Sperrin Springs Cup. Part of their success this campaign has been the inspired signing of former international John Mooney as Player/Coach and the 42-year-old has galvanized the Red Caps into a formidable outfit.

“It’s been a great year for the club whatever happens from here on,” said Mooney. “We have a cup to play for every week of August and you don’t get seasons like that too often.

“Sunday’s National Cup is the biggest one for me. I always start the season thinking about the All-Ireland's. I know the best team wins the league, but the All-Ireland is a big, special day and a chance for the club to be in the spotlight. People wouldn’t have believed it at the start of the season but here we are. Rush is the competition’s most successful club (3 wins) but we will go out and give it all we have. We will have a game plan and do just what we have been doing all year. There’s a bit of extra spice with the fact that I live in Rush!”

The semi-final win saw Mooney come up against North County, where he enjoyed such success, winning no fewer than five Irish Cups with the Balrothery side.

“It wasn’t a new feeling as I’d played against them before with Clontarf and Balbriggan. Strabane went into that game with no baggage, whereas County were caught up talking about me, rather than focusing on the whole Strabane team. It was an interesting day and I enjoyed it. There were a few incidents as there are in any cricket match, but we won and it was a great day. For me, there’s no better place to play cricket than North County. I love it down there.”

While ‘John-Boy’ may have been apprehensive about his move to the North-West given the travel involved, his journey so far has reignited his love for the game.

“The whole experience so far has been nothing but positive. What I’ve enjoyed most is the whole community and club feel to the game up here. That’s lacking now in other parts of the country. It’s what cricket used to be about everywhere having that community and camaraderie. It’s great here and I’ve reconnected with lads that I played under-age cricket with like Johnny Thompson, Jordan McGonigle and Ted Britton. Not just all great cricketers but great men too that I’ve played with and against since Under-13 level.

“I’ve been made welcome at every club I’ve played at, where the hospitality has been first-class, and I hope the people have enjoyed having me playing here too. There are some beautiful grounds here, like Ballyspallen that I played at for the first time this weekend, The Nedd, St Johnston, Bonds Glen, all beautiful grounds. They remind me of some great places in North Dublin like The Nevitt, Balrothery and Knockbrack.

“There is so much untapped potential in the North West game. I felt that maybe there was a bit of professionalism lacking in the NW, that if by me and others coming up and playing/coaching could take it to a higher level driving it through the whole province then the region could fly because there are some class players there.”

John Mooney leads the wicket taking stakes in the Division, and if he could add to that on Sunday against Rush, then who would bet against the Red Caps pulling off a shock against the three-times champions?