Sporting Advent Calendar #7: John Mooney’s revelations on depression will help break boundaries

What might have beens in Ireland defeats are not usually the source for highlights of the year, but for Irish cricket a defeat to Scotland in a dead rubber match on the final day of the summer season provided just that.

All-rounder John Mooney had started the year by returning from Ireland's tour of the Caribbean after suffering a bad episode in his ongoing battle with depression.

Ireland went on to secure their playing highlight of the year on that tour, with a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in a Twenty20 international at Sabina Park and had a chance to complete a first series win against a Test-playing side, only to lose a low-scoring second game by 11 runs.

Mooney went back to playing cricket with North County and Leinster Lightning but missed out on selection to play against Sri Lanka before returning for the three-match Scotland series.

An unbeaten 27 in the second game helped Ireland win the series 2-0, but it was to be his innings in the third which summed up Mooney’s skill, resolve and just how popular he is amongst Irish supporters.

A third ODI half-century soon became his highest score in the format and his shot-making became even more spectacular as the crowd started to sense a maiden ODI century.

Entering the final over, the 32-year-old from Balrothery was 12 shy of three figures, but two fours in the first four balls left him one good hit away.

Playing the penultimate ball a little later perhaps, he holed out at backward point for 96, the silence soon making way to prolonged applause and a standing ovation from the whole ground.

The year ended with Mooney writing an incredibly honest account of how the tragic death of Philip Hughes in Australia had brought back memories of his father, who also died while playing cricket.

Mooney’s most public disclosures of a very private torment has done a great deal for people far beyond any cricket boundary.