Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Patrick Kearney/Olympic FC

For FNQ Heat goalkeeper Nicholas Mooney a win on Sunday against Frenchville will result in his first taste of the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32.

The 17-year-old Mooney, who is a product of Heat’s Academy programme, wasn’t part of the 2014 side that travelled to Sydney in the competition’s inaugural year.

However, having now muscled his way into Martin Docherty’s starting eleven this season, he says he is eager to find out first-hand what all the fuss is about in the national stages of the Westfield FFA Cup.

“The FFA Cup is the premier Australian football competition and is the equivalent of the FA Cup in England, so to be recognised as one of the 32 best clubs in Australia would be a great privilege,” Mooney said.

“Last year was a bit of disappointment and the team wanted to get a bit further than they did. This year the goal is to get beyond the Round of 32 and who knows what lies beyond that.”

Before then Heat must beat Central Queensland powerhouse Frenchville and Mooney said the entire team were focused on making sure they don’t let the chance of a second straight Round of 32 appearance slip.

“We’ve faced community sides before, we’ve played Stratford up here who are a quality side, so we’re not going to take Frenchville lightly either. We’re going to go about our business as we always do.”

He added,“Playing an away game at Rockhampton, in a city where essentially we have become the enemy for an entire community, is going to be a tough game.”

Mooney debuted for Heat against rivals Northern Fury in the opening round of PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland 2015, and recorded his first senior clean sheet against the same team in Heat’s last Westfield FFA Cup outing.

He acknowledged that while he still had plenty to learn his game had benefitted immensely from the handful of appearances he had earned so far in the national second-tier.

“It’s been very different. The highest level I played before coming into the NPL was at the community youth level - I hadn’t played at a reserve or premier level,” he explained.

“I would say for my first game that I had virtually no experience and it was a real eye opener to the reality of competitive football at this level.”

“But I believe now that I have a few games under my belt I am a lot more comfortable. I got my first clean sheet last week and I'm keen to get more.”

Mooney explained that Heat coach Martin Docherty’s guidance was instrumental in his progress thus far.

“He has been one of the coaches looking at me since I’ve been at Under 12’s and he’s been guiding me ever since that time.”

“To link back up with him at a NPL level was very comfortable for me and he is done of the best coaches I’ve had,” he concluded.

Fixture details:

Westfield FFA Cup Northern Zone Qualifying Round 7
Frenchville SC v FNQ FC Heat
Ryan Park, Rockhampton
Sunday, June 7
Kick-off - 6:00PM