It’s marathon Sunday in New York and it will be a busy one for the Shamrocks too with games in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan where the day will begin early for the women’s team.

Struggling Manhattan Kickers will host the Rocks at 9am in East River Park but player/c0-manager Tricia Reed will be taking nothing for granted as the league leading women in green bid to extend their winning streak to seven games.

“We had a good training session on Tuesday to tighten things up on defense,” said Reed, “so hopefully we can keep a clean sheet on Sunday. A good win means we will go into the winter break as league leaders so the incentive is there.”

Meanwhile, in the first division of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, fourth-placed Shamrocks face another crucial match-up when they travel to Brooklyn to take on NYC Rovers (Bush Terminal Piers Park – 2pm).

Held at home last week by a dogged CPR outfit, Kevin Grogan’s first team are a point ahead of their following two November opponents in the league, NY Athletic Club and Manhattan Celtic, who face each other on Sunday at Travers Island.

Rovers, meanwhile, are having a tough campaign so far, bottom of the table without a victory and having lost to Celtic and Polonia in their previous two games.

“We have had a good week’s training,” Grogan told NYShamrockSC.com. “We have worked on a few things. The players look focused and hungry for the weekend.”

The reserves game – kicking off at 12pm – also has a lot riding on it with both teams tied in third on 12 points. Rovers are in flying form, coming into this one with four victories on the bounce.

With a few new faces added to his squad, reserves boss Stevie Doyle is hoping last week’s battling 3-1 win against CPR will kickstart a good run.

“This is our toughest test of the season but I am looking forward to what should be a cracking game,” said Doyle. “Both teams have only lost one game so far so I’m predicting it will be a close encounter.

“I’m very proud of the team’s performance last week under difficult circumstances but we showed great character and toughness to take all three points. Darren Coleman has been the stand out player this season with his scoring abilities and hit the net again as he has from the get go.

“Paul McDaid hit a brace and he has been in very good form lately. We also welcome back Brendan Lane to the fray who brings quality to the side and Nikle Guzijan returns too although he is not 100%. Our new signings Rory O’Leary, Gary Madden and Gary Dunne have all fit in so well already which is always a big plus.”

A depleted Over 30s team will face Guyana Veterans in Randalls Island 90 at 1pm with Paddy Mc Carry’s league leaders bidding to maintain a three-point gap over CPR Old Boys at the top.

Guyana have won three in a row and beat Nieuw Amsterdam 3-2 last week to move them to third, keeping them within four points of the Rocks.

“Sunday’s game is very important – first v third,” said coach Paddy Mc Carry. “We are missing five players for this game so the squad will be used to the fullest on Sunday. But we will still have a very strong 11 out there and I expect to go there and take the three points.

“But no doubt this is a massive game. You must beat the teams up near the top in this league. If you want to be champions, it’s all about consistency.”

Meanwhile, Shamrocks 1960 will be hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 loss to New York United when they face NY Finest at St Michael’s on Sunday at 1pm.

NY Finest have won just won game from their four so far this year but 1960 gaffer Andy Connolly is focused on getting his own side back to winning ways.

“We’ve witnessed defeat now and found it be an entirely unedifying experience,” said Connolly. “The whole squad is galvanized in its determination to return to the glorious path of victory this Sunday. We will offer a display of football to match our off-pitch hyperbole”

The Legends will play three-win SC Gjoa in the curtain raiser at St Michaels at 11am. This will be a special occasion due to the launch of their new set of jerseys sponsored by Joe Connolly and Solas Electric.

“We are looking forward to this one,” said coach Emmett Harvey. “Unfortunately we are still carrying some key injuries and we’ll be missing the likes of Ducky Kelly, Justin Stanford, Ger Shivnan and Tyrone Kent. But we’ll approach the game positively and hopefully we can get a result.”