• Grogan: “Every point is now a dogfight”
• Coleman brace lifts reserves to second
• Wallace’s wonder strike clinches points for 1960
• McGeeney on fire as Over 30s win 10th in a row
• Hat trick hero Ferraro inspires magic eight for women’s team

The Greek Americans made up ground in CSL Division 1 with a deserved 2-0 win over the Shamrocks at the Met Oval on Sunday night.

A goal just before half-time gave the home side a deserved lead and the Rocks pressed hard for an equalizer in the second half. But it wasn’t to be as the Greeks held out and sealed the three points late on.

“The Greeks were a totally different team to the one we played in the first game back in September,” noted coach Kevin Grogan.

“They were what I would call ‘The real Greeks’; they passed and moved better then any team in the league I’ve seen this year. We were disciplined but we couldn’t keep the ball. Not having John (McGuigan), Darren (Freeman) and Chris (Uy) available today killed us on the ball as they are all footballers.

“Now we move on quickly and regroup. Every point is now an absolute dogfight. If everyone makes themselves available for every game we will do ok.”

Meanwhile, the Rocks reserves moved up to second after recording an excellent 4-2 win in the opener thanks to goals from Mo Fofana, Darren Coleman (two) and Paul McDaid.

Darren Coleman scored twice

The Greeks were a goal to the good after 15 minutes but Fofana equalized almost 10 minutes later after his strike partner Coleman set him up with a headed cross.

Coleman got himself on the scoresheet with two brilliant goals in quick succession early in the second half before Paul McDaid rounded out the scoring on the hour mark. The Greeks were reduced to ten men when their goalkeeper was sent off but they pulled it back to 4-2 with a late goal.

“Very good performance,” said coach Stevie Doyle. “We played some great football and we deserved to win the way we did.”

Sunday began with a good 4-1 win for the Over 30s, a game which was played in tough conditions. Johnny McGeeney scored twice while Tayfun Gokmen and Andy Horan also chipped in with well taken strikes.

“It wasn’t easy to play in that weather so we had to make the most of those chances,” said assistant coach Sean Mc Mullan. “But the lads took control after half-time and deserved to see it out.”

With CPR Old Boys losing 1-0 to Manhattan Celtic Legends, the Rocks’ lead at the top is now extended to seven points although second-placed CPR Grays have a game in hand. The Rocks will face CPR Grays in what could turn out to be a league deciding showdown on Sunday April 17.

Shamrocks 1960 also extended their lead in Metro 2 East when their hard fought 1-0 win over NYC Afghanistan helped them move seven points clear of Gotham City who held 2-2 by Metro City Fury.

Dylan Wallace’s brilliant first half goal ended up deciding it – a great shot from outside the box after good combination play on the left flank by Mick McAnea and Craig Glynn.

“That Afghanistan team was a lot more impressive than we were expecting,” admitted assistant coach Neil Mannion. “They don’t deserve to be ay the bottom of the table and that makes the three points all the more valuable. We have to bring that guile to the remaining five games and ensure we avoid any slip-ups.”

There was a tough 3-2 loss at SC Gjoa for the Shamrocks Legends in the second game of the day. Karol Hughes and Donal ‘Ducky’ Kelly were on the scoresheet for Emmet Harvey’s men, Harvey paying special tribute to who he said was superb in midfield.

“In very tough conditions, we dominated most of the game against Gjoa,” said Harvey. “But after we went 1-0 up, we should have killed off the game. We had several opportunities to score more goals but didn’t take our chances and Gjoa did.

“If we cut out individual mistakes and play to our potential we will climb up the table.”

Teresa Ferraro scored a hat trick for the Shamrocks women as they won by another big margin, downing Phoenix 8-0 in the opener at St Michaels on Sunday afternoon.

The Shamrocks women’s team that beat Phoenix 8-0 at St Michaels: Back row, left to right, Val Lux, Teresa Ferraro, Aoife West, Jarielle Uter, Jackie Pounder, Michaela Newell, Amber Waery, Tricia Reed, Olivia Nadon. Front row, left to right, Kailey Walsh, Erin Cullen, Paige Osborne, Becky Torres, Colleen Cavanagh, Olive Lyons.

Ferraro opened the scoring with a 30-yard effort and Jackie Pounder made it 2-0 after a superb Paige Osborne assist. Player-coach Tricia Reed made the most of a Jarielle Uter cross before Uter slotted home from the edge of the box to make it 4-0.

Ferraro completed her hat trick by half-time to make it 6-0 while Uter and Pounder both goals in the second half. Uter pounced on a mistake at the back to make it 7-0 while Pounder scored with a header from a Colleen Cavanagh corner.

“We were missing a lot of starters today and yet we managed to look very assured,” said coach Paddy Geraghty. “Most of the goals resulted from great team play and that was very encouraging. Our next game is two weeks away but we’ll keep working hard in training in the mean time.”