Lucan United sign former Shamrock Rovers and Cork City striker Dave Mooney after ten years as a pro in England

Leinster Senior League Sunday 1 side Lucan United have pulled off something of a coup with the signing of former Shamrock Rovers striker Dave Mooney for the coming season.

The Senior Sunday 1A champions face LSL kingpins Crumlin United for a place in the last eight of the FAI Cup on Sunday with a high-profile reinforcement in tow.

Mooney has been with the west Dublin side since pre-season and made his competitive bow in the first round victory over top-flight LSL side Killester Donnycarney.

The 34-year-old had ears pricked in the League of Ireland on his return from England in the summer following a ten-year stint with Reading, Southend United and Leyton Orient.

Mooney, who had stints with Rovers, Longford Town and Cork City in Ireland, played for Ireland at under-23 level before signing for the Royals in 2008.

Lucan are no strangers to high-profile signings, having boasted ex-internationals Mark Kinsella and Graham Barrett as well as current Rovers boss Stephen Bradley and Shelbourne legend Mark Rutherford in recent times.

“He’s a very nice lad - he’s settled in very quickly with the lads.” Lucan manager John Doyle told extratime.ie.

“I’m sure loads of other clubs were looking at him but he’s living 15 minutes from the ground and he’s obviously made the decision he doesn’t want to go back to the League of Ireland.

“He wants to train a couple of times a week and play matches and enjoy his games. I think that’s what he wants to do at this stage of his career. We’re delighted to get him – he’s a super player.”

Lucan overcame Killester, who finished second in Senior Sunday last year, and their reward was a meeting with the reigning league champions Crumlin.

Martin Loughran’s side are a fearsome side, having gone unbeaten in the league last season, but Lucan will go into the game without any pressure as the underdogs.

“Crumlin are an exceptional team. They went 28 games unbeaten in the league [last season], which is a major achievement.

“It’s going to be tough but we’re going into the game with no fear. We’re going to give it a good shot. They’re the favourites – the pressure is on them. We can relax and enjoy the game.

“When you don’t draw the big guns you’re a little bit disappointed but then you start focusing on the game you’ve got.

“It’s a great opportunity for a Leinster Senior League team to make the quarter-finals so, from that point of view, it’s great.

“It’s great for the league – the league will be delighted that one of us is going into the quarter-finals.”

Captain Gareth Matthews will miss out with injury but Doyle will have an otherwise full squad, including ex-League of Ireland players like Marco Chindea, available for selection.

“Gareth’s been out since pre-season so it’ll be good to have him back in three more weeks. He’s a real leader in the team. But, in fairness to the lads, they’ve been excellent without him.

“We’d a good win against Bluebell pre-season as well. We’ll go into the game confident and not fearing anybody. We know how good Crumlin are but we’ll give it a good crack.”