Scotland claimed an eight-wicket victory over Ireland in the last of the One-Day Internationals in Malahide, but the narrative of the final day of this cricketing summer was played out amidst a genuinely moving script earlier in the day.
On Thursday night, Ireland all-rounder John Mooney had revealed the depths his battle with depression had brought him to in a brave, honest and important interview with RTÉ journalist Hugh Cahill.
The 32-year-old also talked about his desire to continue his Irish career now that he has started a treatment programme following his return from the Caribbean early in the year.
And with the 18-man squad for the World Cup acclimatisation tour to Australia and New Zealand to be named tomorrow, Mooney showed that his game was in rude health with one of the great Irish innings under the circumstances.
He went out to bat with Ireland struggling on 95 for four after Scotland finally won the toss and let the home side see what they had to deal with in the tougher morning conditions in the two defeats earlier in the week.
It might be too easy to say a weight has been lifted off Mooney’s shoulders after his revelations the previous evening, but he certainly played with a freedom with the bat once he had helped Ireland’s innings get back on an even keel as they went on to post 241 for nine off their 50 overs.
He put on 46 with Kevin O'Brien before the Ireland skipper played a rash shot to depart after the second drinks break for 36. Mooney played some of his best shots in the latter half of his innings and after he had passed his previous ODI best of 55, made four years ago against Zimbabwe in Harare.
One reverse sweep for six off Majid Haq in the 44th over was audacious, especially so when you consider that the off-spinner was enjoying his best bowling performance in an ODI with a first five-wicket haul.
Coming into the final over, the scene was then set for Mooney, who was on strike to Safyaan Sharif and requiring 12 runs to make his century. Two boundaries in the first four balls left him one hit away but the penultimate ball of the innings saw him caught at backward point by Richie Berrington.
There was stunned silence around the ground before they rose to acknowledge the innings and the man. From his team-mates to the media, to the members' area, to the kids on the bank, they stood in unison to the man known in Irish cricket circles as John Boy.
In the end it wasn’t enough to push Ireland on to a clean sweep of victories as an unbeaten 116 from Callum MacLeod and 89 from Hamish Gardiner saw Scotland home with almost 13 overs to go.
It’s like that in sport, dreams don’t always come true. But as John Mooney knows, nightmares also end.
SCORECARD
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL
(at Malahide): Scotland won the toss and fielded.
IRELAND
A Balbirnie lbw b Sharif 6
J Anderson lbw Haq 19
S Thompson c Cross b Haq 22
K O’Brien c sub b Evans 36
A Poynter lbw b Haq 15
J Mooney c Berrington b Sharif 96
S Poynter c Cross b Davey 7
A White lbw h Haq 6
M Sorensen c&b Haq 10
C Young not out 11
G McCarter not out 1
Extras (lb3, nb2, w7) 12
Total (for 9 wkts, 50 ovs) 241
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-49, 3-50, 4-95, 5-141, 6-158, 7-187, 8-215, 9-240.
Bowling: A Evans 10-1-27-1; S Sharif 10-0-44-2; J Davey 10-0-41-1; R Berrington 2-0-13-0; M Haq 10-0-54-5; C MacLeod 4-0-27-0; M Leask 4-0-32-0.
SCOTLAND
M Cross c Sorensen b Young 1
C MacLeod not out 116
H Gardiner c S Poynter b Balbirnie 89
P Mommsen not out 31
Extras (w6) 6
Total (for 2 wkts, 45.4 ovs) 243
Did not bat: R Berrington, F Coleman, J Davey, M Leask, S Sharif, M Haq, A Evans.
Fall-of wickets: M Sorensen 8-0-41-0; C Young 9.4-1-50-1; G McCarter 8-0-38-0; K O'Brien 5-0-15-0; A White 4-0-24-0; J Anderson 3-0-15-0; J Mooney 4-0-29-0; A Balbirnie 4-0-31-1.
Scotland won by 8 wkts, Ireland win the series 2-1.
Man of the series: Craig Young (Ireland).
