on 23 july 2011, mooney signed his first permanent contract since 2008, a two-year deal with league one side leyton orient, where he linked up with former norwich city teammate jamie cureton. he scored his first goal for the club in a league cup game against bristol rovers, following it with a goal against blackburn rovers in the next round. mooney then scored his first two league goals, away at yeovil town on 25 october, as the game ended 2–2.