• Bradshaw and Shivnan get nod for the Rocks
• Coleman pays tribute to departing reserves gaffer Dan Meola
• Tough test for first team at home to league leaders
• Over 30s, 1960 and Legends bid to make it two wins in a row
• Table topping Shamrocks Green face double champs

Ireland and Manchester United legend Frank Stapleton is confirmed for the Robbie Walsh Memorial Exhibition Game at Gaelic Park on June 22! The Dublin-born forward cost United £900,000 when he signed from Arsenal in 1981 and helped his new club win the FA Cup in 1983 and 1985.

You can buy match tickets here: https://robbiewalsh.eventbrite.com
And you can meet all of the Legends if you buy banquet tickets here: https://nyshamrocksc.com/2019/03/27/banquet-2019/
We are pleased to also announce that Ger Shivnan and Paul Bradshaw will line out for the Shamrocks Legends XI.

Paul has played with the Shamrocks for a decade and still turns out every Sunday for our Legends. He’s a passionate Manchester United fan and can’t wait to play against his idols. He’s the only Shamrock in history to have a career ending injury and recover from a career ending injury in the same game. His left leg is held together by a combination of paper clips, prayers, and hubba bubba. Paul is joint favorite to score the first goal on June 22nd.

Ger has been an avid Manchester United fan since birth and is looking forward to sharing the field with his heroes. He’s originally from Roscommon, a place even most Irish people have never been. His goals for the Legends this year have been instrumental in the push for the playoffs and his main job for June 22nd is to provide enough sunscreen for all the bald(ing) members of the squad. He even volunteered to administer the sunscreen for anyone who can’t reach the top of their head. But that’s Ger… the consummate team player.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

SATURDAY
CSL DIVISION 1
Shamrocks v Pancyprian Freedoms (Randalls Island 70, 8pm)
CSL DIVISION 1 – RESERVES
Shamrocks v Pancyprian Freedoms (Randalls Island 70, 6pm)

SUNDAY
CSL METRO 2 – SOUTH
Barnstonworth Rovers v Shamrocks 1960 (Bushwick Inlet, 12pm)
CSL OVER 30 DIVISION – EAST
Shamrocks Over-30s v Pancyprians Over-30s (Randalls Island 74, 8am)
CSL OVER 39 DIVISION
Shamrocks Legends v Cozmoz (Frank Principe Park, 1pm)
NYMWSL DIVISION A
Shamrocks Green v NY Magic Reserves (St Michaels, 1pm)
Rovers v Shamrocks White (East 6th St, 9am)

It will be another busy weekend of football action for the Shamrocks. The reserves and the club as a whole bade a fond farewell to coach and committee member Dan Meola who earlier this week moved with his wife Natalie to a new chapter in Texas. Rob O’Neill will step up to a dual role alongside his 1960 responsibilities and reserves player Darren Coleman paid tribute to Meola for his stewardship of the team over the past two seasons ahead of Saturday night’s game against Pancyprians (Randalls Island 70, 6pm).

“On behalf of myself and all the players we would like to thank Dan Meola for everything he has contributed to this team in his time with us,” said Coleman. “He leaves us unbeaten with only four goals conceded this season so far, the least in any division in the Cosmo League. He will be very much missed by all of us and we wish him and his wife all the very best of luck in their new adventure! We will certainly continue the great work that Dan has put into this team going forward!”

The first team have a tough task ahead of them as they prepare to face the league’s top side on the back of two slender defeats against Doxa and Zum Schneider.

“They pay their players and have a high quality squad with players who boast professional experience,” said Coach Kevin Grogan.

“In saying that, on any given day we can compete with anyone in the league. Granted we have had a bad start to the Spring but as the weeks go on we will get better and better. April is a big month for us as we have a League Cup game and then play Hoboken and NYAC. In many ways this game is preparation for those games.”

Sunday will start with another game against Pancyprians as the Over 30s look to add to their winning start against their play-off rivals (Randalls Island 74, 8am).

“With the first game of the second half of the season out of the way, we can now get back to business, winning games in a push to win the league,” said coach Sean Mc Mullan.

Second-placed Shamrocks 1960 are looking to close a seven-point deficit behind top side Sandzak when they take on Barnstonworth Rovers in Williamsburg (Bushwick Inlet, 12pm).

“We’re looking forward to a tough match against a strong Barnstonworth side who gave us a great game in the first half of the season,” said gaffer O’Neill.

“We are looking to bring home another three points and continue our push for promotion.”

In the Over 39 Division, the Shamrocks Legends will complete the first round of games with a crucial game against two-time champions Cozmoz (Frank Principe Park, 1pm).

The position in the standings of the Legends on Sunday evening will dictate their final four games with the CSL forced to pair up teams according to their record thus far. The higher the ranking, the harder the run-in each team will face as they challenge for a top four berth and a play-off spot.

“Cozmoz have been the top team since this new division was brought in so this is a very tough way to round out Phase 1,” said player-coach John Riordan.

“But we will go all out for the win and then figure what happens next in the final four games of the season. It is not an ideal system but we are where we are. We have a strong squad but we’ll miss Antoin O Duibhir who scored twice last Sunday.”

Elsewhere, in the New York Metropolitan Women’s Soccer League, Division A leaders Shamrocks Green will play NY Magic Reserves at St Michaels with a 1pm kick-off. And Rovers will host Shamrocks White at East 6th St at 9am.

“We play the reigning league and State Cup champions this week so it’ll be a tough game as always,” said coach Paddy Geraghty.

“Hopefully last week’s game against Shamrocks White will stand to us. It was our toughest game of the season so far but we showed we don’t give up easily. If we have the same attitude and work ethic we’ll be tough to beat.”