Mooney inspired by Dad
Birthday boy Tommy Mooney revealed his dad inspired his crucial debut goal - by cleaning his boots.
Mooney's first Walsall goal came on his 36th birthday in his 700th career match.
And he was quick to thank his dad, Tommy senior, who was visiting for the weekend from his native north east.
"The goal was a nice birthday present and my dad cleaned my boots for me in the morning so that was a nice gift from him," said Mooney.
"It's the first time he's done it since I was a kid. I just asked him to give them a quick rub over in the morning in the house.
"I said it would be nice if he rubbed a goal into them and that turned out to be the case."
Mooney edged closer to 200 career goals with his 197th on Saturday.
He joked: "I needed four so I've let myself down. But he is hopeful Saturday's point can set his new club up for the coming matches.
"It was a big game for the club," he said. "It's the first game back in the division with a lot of new faces.
"I think the pressure is eased a little bit now we've got the first point on the board and we can hopefully go on and play like we did in the second half.
"In the first half Carlisle were very strong and they stuck to their gameplan and did very well.
"At half-time we shuffled things about and played in the second half how we wanted to play.
"Hopefully that's the way we will play throughout the season."
Walsall boss Richard Money praised the Bescot fans after they roared their side on to a share of the points on the opening day.
Money, who has been critical of some sections of the fans in the past, was delighted with the rousing atmosphere for the start of the new season.
"I thought it was a great game for the supporters and both sets of supporters were terrific and created a great atmosphere in the stadium," said Money.
"Whatever people think of me that's all I've ever asked for. Keep behind the team and keep cheering them.
"We will always give our best, we will always work hard and do everything we can.
"Sometimes the football is good and sometimes it's not but it's not for the want of trying or working or planning.
"We just want everyone to stay with us and I thought the fans gave great support."
Money paid tribute to his side's character after they fought back from a goal behind to earn an opening-day point.
Money admitted his players struggled to cope with the Cumbrians' system in the first half as they endured a difficult return to League One.
But he was delighted with the response of his team after a half-time re-shuffle inspired a spirited second-half fightback.
"I think we have to remember that we've played a team who are going to be certainly in the top six," said Money.
"I thought in the first 30 minutes they really hit it off.
"They play a different way - 4-3-1-2 - which is difficult to deal with. It's not something we came across last year and we struggled to get the grips with the shape in the first half."
