Motivated Mooney Excels with the Ball as Ireland Put one over Rivals Bangladesh

Fingal Warrior John Mooney has been through it all in his career as an Ireland player.

Today he produced a superb spell of bowling taking 3 for 32 from 10 overs against the highly rated Bangladesh.

Mooney along with all the Irish Bowlers executed their plans to order in dismissing Bangladesh for 189. Ireland then reached the required 190 with 19 balls to spare for a 4 wicket victory.

Mooney is looking forward to the opening of the tournament proper on Sunday night when Ireland take on the mighty West Indies in New Zealand.

Barry Chambers: John a bit of a delayed birthday present for you today. The game on Tuesday didn't go well. But a fantastic bowling performance from yourself and the team today?

John Mooney: Yes, if we could just cut out the wides, I think that would have been one of our better bowling performances in a long time. I think we bowled really well, Max especially. But all the Bowlers, I think. We hit our lines and if we can just cut the wides out, you know, and we bowl like that in the rest of the tournament, it would be great.

Barry Chambers: And the fielding, we probably saved 15 or 20 runs with our ground fielding. I mean we looked really sharp?

John Mooney: Our fielding today was top class. And we've been working really hard on our fielding. Karl Hopkinson is in with us, and he's drilling us every day. And you know we're getting better as a fielding unit. We're a good unit already, but we're getting better every day as well.

Barry Chambers: And a great blend of youth and experience there in the batting. Ed Joyce just steadied the ship, and Andrew Balbirnie, one of the young guns, a fantastic knock from him?

John Mooney: Yeah, Ed you know, it's usual Ed, you'd expect that from him. But Andy was just fantastic. You know he really took the pressure off Ed. He came out, he played his shots, he scored off a lot of balls. And it was really great to watch as well.

Barry Chambers: And looking ahead now, that's the warm ups out of the way. We go to New Zealand and a little matter of the West Indies in the opening match on Sunday night, Monday morning?

John Mooney: Yeah that's going to be, I think that's the game everybody obviously has been looking forward to for a long time. I think we took our eye of the ball the other day. Probably looking a bit too far ahead. We got back to basics today, and everybody is just raring to go now on Monday.

Barry Chambers: And if you're handed the new ball, the scalp of Chris Gayle would be nice?

John Mooney: Definitely yeah. If I'm handed the new ball. It would be great if I was handed it after 8, 10, 12 overs, whatever. As long as I can just keep hitting the areas I want to hit, that will be just what I'll be looking for.

Barry Chambers: And I believe it's a sell out crowd in Nelson. Have you played there before?

John Mooney: I haven't. I've holidayed there. My brother obviously lives in the South Island. So it's going to be great to have all my family and friends there. And hopefully I can get the nod to play in the game, and in front of a full crowd.