The Shamrocks Over 30s – league and State Cup champions – will begin the defense of their title with a hotly anticipated Irish Derby against Manhattan Celtic Bhoys on Sunday September 11 (Pier 40 East Courtyard – 7.30pm).

The restructured Over 30 Division now has 16 teams with two conferences (east and west) of eight teams each.

The Rocks will compete in the East with Brooklyn Gunners, Partizani, Hoboken, Manhattan Kickers Premier, Megas Alexandros and both of the Manhattan Celtic teams, Bhoys and Legends.

Each team will play every other team in its conference twice, home and away and will play two cross-over matches in the Spring, decided on standings at the winter break.

Additionally, the top two teams in each conference will reach the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Shamrocks Legends will host SC Eintracht on the opening day of their league campaign, the first Shamrocks game at St Michael’s of the new season (kick off 11am).

The Over 37 Division now has 12 teams with two conferences of six teams each. The Legends have been drawn in the East.

Each team will play every other team in its conference twice, home and away and will play every team in the other conference once.

League champions Cosmoz will visit St Michaels in November for what will be the only regular season game against the runaway winners of last season’s title.

The top two teams in each conference will reach the playoffs.