• Geraghty sends Over 30s through to final four of State Cup
• Penalty shoot out victory for first team
• Sixth clean sheet in a row for rampant Rocks 1960
• Legends win on perfect day for the Shamrocks

Four wins from four and two semi-finals reached on a perfect day for the Rocks!

The Over 30s moved on to the final four of the State Cup after a hard fought 1-0 win at Dinamo in Randalls Island. A dramatic winner from Paddy Geraghty with about two minutes to go kept Paddy Mc Carry’s double dream alive.

“I could not be prouder of my team tonight,” said Mc Carry.

“It was a very scrappy, hard hitting game against a very good side but our back four was absoutly brilliant. These boys deserve to be in the semi-final. They have been great all year.

“This is the first time in the history of our club that the Over 30s have gotten to the semi-finals of this competition and I’m so happy for the players and the club.”

There was more cup joy in the late game as the first team advanced to the League Cup semi-final with a penalty shoot out win over the Greek Americans at the Met Oval.

Goalscorer Mustafa Alobeidy

Mustafa Alobeidy had the Rocks deservedly one up at half-time, a brilliant and brave diving header at the front post after a Chris Uy cross.

However, the home side rallied and leveled the game in a what would prove to be tense second half.

Frankie Tsasse was the hero of the shootout, saving twice to ensure a 4-3 win.

“This was a great result against a quality Greek side,” said delighted Rocks boss Kevin Grogan.

“We played excellent football in the first half and showed real quality. In the second half we struggled to maintain that level but we showed great character to hang in there.

“But the focus is all about the next league game now. We’re at home to Pancyprians next week and we will be preparing for that this week.”

Earlier in the day, Shamrocks 1960 won 5-0 against Metro City Fury at St Michaels, their sixth clean sheet in a row in the league.

Hughie McGowan (two), Ciaran Maloney, Michael Kumarsen and Dave Harvey were the goalscorers for the Metro 2 East leaders who are now ten points clear with two games more played than Gotham City.

“It keeps us on the right track,” said coach Andy Connolly. “We’re delighted with the fact that we took our chances but to keep another clean sheet is a great tribute to our back four and our goalkeeper Robbie O’Neill.”

Meanwhile in the opening game at St Michaels, there was a superb 3-1 victory for the Legends against CPR thanks to goals from Tyrone Kent, Karol Hughes and Richie Brennan.

“We got the three points today but at times we struggled to put the game away while dominant,” said assistant coach Eoin Sweeney.

“Ultimately, for the team to get to the next level we need to cut out the silly errors. Overall we’re headed in the right direction.

“Richie Brennan was the stand out performer today, leading as captain and scoring a screamer from 25 yards. Johnny Keogh was also very influential in midfield. Overall it was a great win against a a very good CPR team.”

• Mc Carry: “biggest game” as Over 30s gaffer
• League Cup quarter-final pairs Rocks & Greeks at Met Oval
• 1960 and Legends in St Michaels double header

The Rocks are ready for a big Cup weekend!

League leading Shamrocks face into what Paddy Mc Carry has described as the most important game of his long and successful stint managing the Over 30s – Sunday’s Marth Cup quarter-final against rivals Dinamo (Randalls Island 74 – 4pm).

The Over 30s team that beat Brooklyn Gunners last Sunday: back row left to right: Club President and Assistant Coach Sean Mc Mullan, Paddy Geraghty, Johnny McGeeney, Dominick McCartan, Billy Hole, Alex Berne, Marcus Nascimento. Front row, left to right, Tayfun Gokmen, Nei de Oliveira, Pablo Graham, Andy Horan, Matteo Stiglich. Picture courtesy Keith Buckley

Mc Carry has never brought a team this far in the State Cup and has his eyes firmly set on a league and cup double. Standing in his way is a talented Dinamo outfit still smarting from a thrilling 4-3 loss to the Rocks almost three weeks ago.

The Shamrocks have not had it easy thus far, overcoming Long Island champions Polet and also the team closest to them in the league race, second-placed CPR Grays.

“Sunday’s game is the biggest game I have been involved in as manager of the Over 30s,” said Mc Carry.

“We have won Division 2 and also two divisional titles on the way to two Division 1 league titles but we have never been this far in the State Cup. I believe this is the best chance we have of winning the cup. We have a great squad and I am only missing one starter for Sunday.

“We have a couple of knocks but we hope those players will be ready come Sunday. I believe we can win it and so do the players but we must get past our big rivals Dinamo first. I have no doubt they want to win this as much as we do so it won’t be easy but my boys are ready.”

Meanwhile, the first team has a chance to make amends for last Sunday’s bruising league defeat way to the Greek Americans when they return to the Met Oval for Sunday night’s CSL League Cup quarter-final (8pm).

The Greeks were a formidable opposition last Sunday – coach Kevin Grogan describing them as the most impressive team he has faced all season – but the opportunity to advance to the semi-final will give his players plenty motivation.

“It’s another big challenge for us against a quality Greek side,” noted Grogan.

“Obviously the league is our priority but the cup is a very nice distraction for us this weekend and it gives us a chance to get everyone minutes leading into our big league game (home to Pancyprians) the week afterwards.”

Nick Zorbo will return from a one-game suspension (two yellows), offering a big boost to Grogan’s plans.

Meanwhile, there are two league games at St Michaels on Sunday for Shamrocks Legends and Shamrocks 1960.

Rocks 1960 can take a step closer to locking up the number one seed going into the Metro 2 play-offs when they take on Metro City Fury at 3pm.

With no other Metro East team in action this weekend, a win would put the Rocks ten points clear facing into their final four games of the season. Second placed Gotham City will have two games in hand and the top two will face off at the end of April in what should be a divisional decider.

“We had a big win against Metro City in November,” said assistant coach Neil Mannion. “But that counts for nothing this weekend. We need to convert our chances and be ready for the big games that lie ahead. The aim is securing the top seed and this is one more game on the way to that.”

The curtain raiser will see the Legends take on second-placed CPR Legends at 1pm. CPR have not won a league game since November and having been losing ground on undefeated leaders Cosmoz.

“They’re a good team and they’ll be keen to steady the ship,” said coach Emmett Harvey. “We’re looking forward to this one though. We have a few injuries but that’s to be expected. The squad is big enough to cope with that.”

• 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.”

• Grogan: “biggest game” since joining the Rocks
• 1960 and Over 30s bid to keep control of league leads
• Rocks Women aiming for ninth league win in a row

A season-defining weekend lies in wait for the Shamrocks with valuable CSL Division 1 league points on the line at the Met Oval on Sunday evening (kick-off 8pm).

The NY Greek Americans will host Kevin Grogan’s fourth-placed charges with a four-point gap separating the two sides after the Greeks comprehensively beat NYC Rovers on March 20.

Shamrocks boss Kevin Grogan

This will be the first of two important visits to their Queens rivals inside a week with the April 10 League Cup quarter-final meaning the teams face each other two Sundays in a row.

The season started brilliantly for the Shamrocks against the Greeks back in September with a 1-0 win at St Michael’s thanks to Chris Uy’s late strike.

“This is by far the biggest game we’ve had since I have come to the club,” said Grogan.

“We have a great opportunity to compete as our squad and the team is maturing all the time. We need everyone available and ready to perform. The great players perform in these big games. The average ones don’t.”

The Greeks’ reserves are also nipping at the heels of the Shamrocks and will attempt to avenge September’s loss in the reverse fixture when the curtain raiser kicks off at 6pm.

Stevie Doyle’s men are confident after a fine 3-1 win at Pancyprians almost two weeks ago while the Greeks scraped past NYC Rovers, 3-2.

“It was a really good performance against Pancyprians,” said coach Stevie Doyle. “It was brilliant to have Sean (Steed) and Pierre (Meloty-Kapella) back in the fold and with Sean Doran added to the squad and Andrew Efren making his league debut, we are finally getting a very good outfit together which is capable of pushing all the way.

“I was very glad to see Colum McCommish back from injury and hopefully Brendan Lane will make a much anticipated return. We’re still missing our captain Shane Moore but hopefully he can get fit for the final push. It’s a battle between third and fourth but we need a win to really put pressure on the leaders.”

Meanwhile, in Metro 2 East, division leading Shamrocks 1960 will take on last-placed NYC Afghanistan at St Michael’s in the second of two games at our Queens home field (3pm).

Coach Andy Connolly, who returns after a four-game suspension, will hope to repeat the win achieved over Afghanistan back in September as they aim to maintain a five-point gap ahead of second-placed Gotham City.

“This is a big game for the 1960s and is the start of a pressurizing run-in of games,” said Connolly. “But as Neil Mannion so eloquently stated the other day, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. He also said something about vegan lasagne but I’m not sure whether it pertained to our efforts to win the Metro 2 league.”

The first game of the day will see the league leading Over 30s take on Brooklyn Gunners at Randall’s Island 75 at 8am. Paddy Mc Carry’s men will carry with them the brilliant 4-3 win over Dinamo almost two weeks ago while 11th-placed Gunners will be keen to recover after a 6-0 reverse at CPR Grays.

“Sunday is another chance for us to close in on the league,” said coach Paddy Mc Carry.

“But we will not be taking Gunners lightly for a second. We must get the three points. That’s what it’s all about – picking up enough points to retain our title. We have three players out injured but our squad is strong and they are all fighting hard to get into the starting 11.”

The Legends will visit SC Gjoa on Sunday morning for 9.30am kick-off at Dyker Beach Park. Gjoa are third after their recent 2-1 at CPR Legends Legends and were very narrow 1-0 winners at St Michaels back in November.

“After another tough loss last week we are hoping to bounce back this weekend against last year’s champions, SC Gjoa,” said player-coach Emmett Harvey.

“We have a good team with great team sprit and belief. We are building a team and the right results will come again soon.”

In the Women’s Metro League, Division B leading Shamrocks will take on Phoenix in the curtain raiser at St Michael’s (kick-off 1pm). The Rocks hold a two-point lead over Sirens while Phoenix are sixth with a 3 wins-6 losses record.

“We are missing a number of starters this week but that is why we have a big squad,” said coach Paddy Geraghty. “It’s a chance for others to step in. We play Phoenix who gave us a very tough game earlier this season so we are ready for a battle.”