Mooney aims to be a Royals' bright spark

New signing Dave Mooney is determined to be a big success at Reading after being rescued from life as an electrician in Ireland.

Royals boss Steve Coppell raided Cork City to snap up the highly-rated hitman in a £200,000 deal a week ago and Mooney is looking forward to forcing his way into the first-team at the Madejski Stadium this season.

Mooney, who was an electrician while playing for Longford and Shamrock Rovers, moved on to Cork where he showed his true potential by finishing as the Eircom League's top scorer last season and scoring 20 goals in 29 matches this time around.

He is now hoping to take that form into the Championship.

He told the Reading Evening Post: "To be given an opportunity is good. From the moment I spoke with people from the club it just felt the right club for me.

"It happened over night. I didn't really have that much choice in moving as the club (Cork) is in receivership.

"But Reading is a massive club. When you see the lads that have come here and developed then it was just a good opportunity for me."

He added: "Last year was more stressful. I was only a part-time player until February as I was an electrician.

"But since then I have just concentrated on my football and done everything right.

"I enjoyed my time there (at Cork). It was only a short stint, but it was really enjoyable. It's a family run club, similar to Reading and it bodes well for the future."