• 12th win in a row earns Women final appearance
• Celtic hold Rocks in Irish Derby stalemate
• Marth Cup champs exit at semi-final stage
• Legends survive Doxa scare

A second Shamrocks team has reached the June 4 State Cup finals after a convincing 4-0 rout of Beyond sent the women through to their decider and kept alive the possibility of a phenomenal treble.

Georgia Frost was on the mark twice during Sunday’s semi-final at East 6th St while there were also goals from Sharon Odofin and captain Teresa Ferraro as Paddy Geraghty’s team extended their unbeaten run to an incredible 25 games.

“I’m very happy with the desire and work rate,” said Paddy Geraghty.

“The ladies took it very seriously and played all 90 minutes with high intensity. We still have a lot of work to do but we have set ourselves up with two cup finals and a chance to clinch the league next Sunday.

“We also had great support today from the Women’s B team as well as the Men’s teams. It makes a huge difference and it’s great to see the club come together like that.”

Left back Dan Giorgi scored his first ever goal for the Shamrocks in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Manhattan Celtic. Picture by Dennis Schneidler

Meanwhile, the first team moved to within a point of leaders Lansdowne in spite of a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Manhattan Celtic at St Michaels on Saturday night.

Battling against relegation, Celtic took an early lead after a defensive mix up but ever present left back Dan Giorgi notched his first ever goal for the club with a second half cross that crept in high at the back post

Reigning champions Lansdowne were overturned at home by Cedar Stars, allowing Kevin Grogan’s men to narrow the gap at the top ahead of next Sunday’s tricky trip to take on the Greek Americans.

“We got to give valuable minutes to players,” said Grogan.

“It’s important that all squad players have minutes under there belts before the play-offs and State Cup final. Manhattan Celtic were hard to break down as they had two solid banks of four and five defensively.

“At times we needed a small bit more imagination in the final third. I can’t complain about our work ethic. That was excellent as always. A point is a point. We regroup and move on.”

In the opener, a play-off semi-final was secured by the reserves for whom Seán O’Neill, George Lara and captain Paul McDaid were on the mark.

The Shamrocks Reserves defensive duo of goalkeeper Kieran McGovern (left) and center back Joe Kennedy helped their team to a shut out 3-0 win at home to Manhattan Celtic in Saturday’s Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 1 game at St Michaels. Picture by John Riordan

“Two wins in a row sets us up nicely for Wednesday’s State Cup semi-final ,” said John Riordan. “I wanted us to get through this game without incident so I’m glad we achieved that. The focus is entirely on Lansdowne away now. The boys are looking forward to it.”

The defending Marth Cup champions were knocked out by Germania in Poughkeepsie, Paddy Mc Carry’s men relinquishing a 1-0 lead which was gained by Johnny McGeeney and ultimately losing 3-1 against the impressive hosts in an incident packed game.

“Today’s loss is hard to take,” said Paddy Mc Carry.

“But I can’t take anything away from my players. They put in a huge effort and on another day the result could have been different.

“We went one up through a great strike from Johnny McGeeney to the bottom corner. I strongly feel their first goal should not have stood – the ball clearly was over the sideline and we did not get the call but that happens in football.

“We then missed a penalty – the keeper made a great save but he conceded the penalty when he brought down Riley and he was the last man so he should have been sent off. The referee only booked him.

“This turned the whole came their way. The third goal was a brilliant goal. We have no complaints – they have some fantastic players and they are definitely the best Over 30 side I have ever faced in my eight years.”

Three generations of the Burns family enjoying the action at St Michaels on Saturday night. Chris Jr watched his father help keep a clean sheet in a 3-0 win for the reserves. Picture by John Riordan

The Shamrocks Legends ended up 4 2 winners against Doxa thanks to strikes by Marcus Nascimento (two), Eoghan McParland and player-gaffer Emmett Harvey .

A first half full of defensive indecision combined with three brilliant saves by Joe Connolly led to the Legends trailing 2-1 at half-time. A stern talk from the coaches and the introduction of Justin Stanford to a flat back four steadied the defense.

Ultimately the appearance of coach Harvey with 30 mins left lifted the team to score three without reply and he stepped up himself to score the decider against a tiring Doxa.

“At the end of the day, three points is three points but the team can’t afford a similar poor start next week against a good Eintracht side,” said assistant coach Eoin Sweeney.

In Metro 1, Shamrocks 1960 lost 4-2 to Mola, Robbie Kenneary and Danny Meola with the goals.