DCU and Shelbourne star Kate Mooney believes DCU can go a step further than previous years, and compete with some of the top college sides in the country, such as Carlow IT, or Maynooth.
Having netted a hat-trick in her college football debut against TU Dublin, Kate Mooney is targeting a place at the Women’s Intervarsities competition, hosted by Waterford IT in March.
Indeed, the future does look bright for a team hosting several players from across the Women’s National League, including Lynn Craven and Niamh Farrelly, who captains the side, as well as Mooney.
These experienced players can have a strong impact on the team, assisting others who have slightly less experience, but more than enough determination, according to Mooney.
“From playing that first match, the one thing I noticed, actually is they [the team] are a bunch of fighters.”
Mooney drew inspiration from her teammates and channeled that drive that led to her winning goal against TU Dublin.
“It helped me as well, cause I was like OK, let’s go and get this winning goal,” she said.
Having been deployed as a left full at club level, Mooney is reveling in a role at DCU that has seen her play further up the pitch, at centre forward, a role that she believes will allow her to have the maximum effect possible in her new team.
If Mooney can repeat her recent goal-scoring feats in the coming months it will surely catch the eye of coaches at the senior international level, a goal that is in sight for a player who has represented her country at youth level.
“I’ve always played underage internationally, but you always want to get to the senior level. I guess if I can maybe perform at DCU, and one of the coaches see it, at senior level, maybe I can have a chance. Playing with DCU will help me perform better with Shels,” said Mooney.
While the standard in college football may not be at the level of the ladies’ international sides, or indeed the national league, it will continue to improve, and Mooney feels that the current DCU team, would compete with sides that her club team play against regularly.
“As a team, we could give a game to Limerick and Kilkenny in our [club] league. Once we get promoted and get more players in next year, if they want to come to DCU, we’ll just improve and improve.”
With the climax of the Women’s National League fast approaching, and with Shelbourne battling with Peamount United for the title, and the college football season has got underway, there is little time for rest for Mooney.
However, the 20 year old would not have it any other way, due to the fact that football has been a constant passion throughout her life from an early age. A passion that Mooney lets consume her, as she continues to work diligently towards her goals.
Ruairi Carberry
Image credit: Kate Mooney