Irish striker Dave
Mooney joined Norwich on loan from Reading on 6th March 2009
Mooney joined Shamrock Rovers, his first senior club, in 2000
and scored in every round when Rovers' won the U17 All Ireland
title against Kingdom Boys in 2002. He made his first team debut
coming on as a sub against Longford Town on 6th April 2004. His
first goal came on 24th June 2004 against Dublin City. In his
fifteen months in the first team he scored nine goals in 40 total
appearances.
Due to Rovers' financial position at the time players had to
be sold on and Mooney moved to Longford in the summer of 2005.
His scoring return of 19 goals in the 2007 FAI Premier Division
season ensured he was top scorer in the league but Longford were
relegated . Although targetted by Crystal Palace and Leeds, and
having been offered a contract with Blackburn following a trial,
he instead opted to stay in Ireland and signed for Cork City,
scoring regularly
On 20th August 2008, he signed for Reading for €260,000.
He made his Reading debut in the Carling Cup against Luton Town.
He was loaned to Stockport in Janaury 2009 but returned injured
after 2 appearances.
He made his debut for Norwich in the 2-0 defeat at Blackpool
on 7th March 2009. He scored his first goal in the 2-0 win over
Cardiff on 10th March 2009 and then scored the only goal of the
game as Norwich beat Plymouth on 14th March 2009. His loan was
then extended until the end of the season. His 3 goals in 9 appearances
were not enough to help City avoid relegation to League One on
3rd May 2009 followin a 4-2 defeat at Charlton
In October 2009, Dave was loaned to Charlton Athletic. This was
extended until 28th December and then again until the end of the
season but his goals were not enough to avoid a League One play-off
semi-final defeat to Swindon in May 2010
On 5th August 2010, Mooney joined Colchester on a six month loan.
U's boss John Ward said : "David's a player I know well.
I tried to sign him from Cork City when I was at Carlisle. But
Reading gazumped me and he went there. He's a striker in the mould
of Steven Gillespie. He's been out on loan at Charlton and Norwich
recently so has a good pedigree. He's with us for six months and
will be able to play in the cups as well so I think it's a really
good addition to our squad."
Mooney has been capped by Ireland at Under-23 level.