*Shamrocks match reports for weekend of 4/28 and 4/29, 2018

The Shamrocks Women B essentially secured the Women’s Division B title with a 2-0 victory against NYC United B at Randall’s Island. Coach Keith Perez qualified the victory with the following remark, “While we are still awaiting some league rulings, that shouldn’t take away from the incredible season that the ladies have put together.” It was a back and forth matchup until Anastasia Hagan opened up the scoring in the first half. That goal opened the game up and Shamrocks controlled the game from then forward, despite the score line. Sara Gomez added a second goal at the end of the second half to secure the victory. Perez further commented: “The ladies left it all on the field every game, and it showed with the results we had this season. I am very proud of all of them and they should be equally as proud of their individual and team efforts.”

The shamrocks women’s A team finished the league strong with a 9-0 win over Manhattan Kickers. Sharon Odofin led the team with 4 goals while Mikaela Howell added 3 goals to her impressive season tally. Tara Kiernan and Georgia Frost also scored. The Shamrocks face rivals CPR White on Sunday in the state cup semi finals, as they aim to defend their state cup title.

Dan Giorgi sealed all three points for the Shamrocks first team on Saturday night, his second half penalty proving the difference in a 1-0 win over NYAC at Randall’s Island. Kevin Grogan’s men extended their league lead over NYAC, all but confirming a minimum of a fifth place finish in the standings. “A fantastic win,” said Grogan. “Probably our best aim of the season. We were very disciplined and organized and our work ethic was phenomenal. We can still do better in the final third from a creative standpoint but we looked like a real team out there.”

The Shamrocks reserves continue struggling to regain form, losing 2-0 to New York Athletic Club. However, the Rocks great showing all season means that they are still comfortably in second and that they have the excitement of the league play-offs to look ahead to. Bemoaning the obvious difficulties of playing against a bunch of weight lifters and greco wrestlers in NYAC, coach Meola remains steadfast in his belief that Lansdowne can still be caught for the top spot by the time the regular league fixture list is finished.

The Shamrocks over-30s continue to steamroll all obstacles, a strong CPR Old Boys being the latest victim of McCarry’s marvelous men. There was an evenly battled first half, during which the consistently impressive Johnny McGeeney took the lead for the Rocks. The over-30s took full control after the hour mark, with yet another goal from Mark Finn and a rocketing Rocks third from McGeeney, whose 25 yard belter hit the top corner of the net. After a game where a large number of squad players were used, McCarry had the following to say: “Our whole squad is full of quality and no matter who we pick, they do the job. They are all pushing each other very hard and the competition within the squad is fierce. Glad of another clean sheet and we are playing very well, which is very important for our massive state cup semi-final versus Long Island Gaels next week.

Two Scotsmen, an Englishman, and an Irishman walked into the pub, after having gotten an Uber from Staten Island to Queens. But, despite the heroic endeavors of James Whyte, Calvin Moyes, Stuart Colbert and Neil Mannion, there was no real punch-line to laugh over for the 1960s as they suffered a cruel 3-2 defeat to Metro 1 champions, Ulqini FC. “The boys who helped us out from the first-team are real gents, gifted players, and true warriors in the traditional Shamrock mold,” remarked coach Andy Connolly. “In fact, all three together have some of the signs of brilliance that I had a few years back myself. Or, just imagine a Stevie Doyle before the operation.”

Speaking of Doyler, he, Emmett Harvey and their fellow veterans continue to creek and fumble their way through the fixture list of the over-38 section. Turning up in Union, NJ at 8 am on a Sunday under the false belief that there was a game of bingo, a cup of Bovril and some re-runs of ‘Antiques Roadshow’ to be enjoyed, the Rocks found themselves reluctantly embroiled in a feisty competition with division high-flyers, America FC 1927. But with nowhere to hide, and with Harvey promising the likes of Eddie Gilmartin and Donal Kelly a Rich Tea biscuit and a nap afterwards, the Shamrocks put on a storming display. They played like a team demented!! Or, at least like a team in the early stages of dementia. The age-defying John Riordan particularly impressed, cleverly setting up the Rocks opening goal for Marcus Nascimento, who took his opportunity excellently well. There was an end score of 1-1 to a tense and, at times, bruising game. Harvey, having come on for a very narky and obviously confused Gilmartin, ended up himself with fractured ribs. Now, though Harvey cited a particularly hard and match-saving challenge that he made as the cause, some players claimed that the injury had other, less heroic origins. One theory is that he was warming up too vigorously in the facilities provided (hmm, might explain his constant complaints about the locked bathrooms at St. Michaels?), while another is that he laughed too quickly at a Kerryman joke that he remembered Eoin Sweeney telling him during the week.