• Women’s win sets up Sirens showdown
• Over 30s denied by late penalty, move closer to league title
• Grogan looking ahead to Saturday’s big Irish Derby
• Pancyprians plunder the spoils at St Michael’s

It was a tough afternoon for the Shamrocks on Sunday at St Michaels where a 3-0 loss against league leaders Pancyprians kept Kevin Grogan’s side hovering just above the relegation zone.

Results elsewhere ensure the Shamrocks stay four points ahead of ninth-placed Polonia (they lost 4-0 at NYC Rovers) but Grogan said he was disappointed by the performance and called for his team to recover in time for next Saturday evening’s big Irish derby at Lansdowne.

“We deserved to lose the game,” admitted Grogan.

“We played our worst game of the season after playing so well last week in the first half against the Greeks. Consistency is king and we need to work hard on that aspect. We had no discipline in many ways today and that really disappointed me.

“There are four games left now and every point won or lost matters. The real characters need to come forward for us now. We can achieve our goal but we need everyone working together as a squad.”

The reserves also suffered a major blow, beaten 4-3 having led 3-1 thanks to goals from Colum McComish, Darren Coleman and Alex Wasilewski.

Colum McComish opened the scoring for the Rocks reserves

A win on Saturday allowed the Lansdowne reserves to leapfrog the Rocks into second – the top four will qualify for the play-offs  and fourth-placed NYC Rovers and firth-placed Westchester Eagles are within reach.

“It’s a game we should have won,” said Stevie Doyle. “But the heat took its toll and we ran out of steam. We will need everyone firing on all cylinders next Saturday because the game against Lansdowne is a must-win.”

Meanwhile, in the first game of the day, the Over 30s’ winning streak in the league came to an end but a 1-1 draw at CPR Grays kept Paddy Mc Carry’s men seven points clear at the top with three games to go.

Alex Berne scored early after good approach play but the Rocks couldn’t capitalize on that and were denied all three points late in the game when CPR were awarded a controversial penalty.

The Over 30s have a weekend off and now need just two wins from their three games in May in order to be assured of retaining the title.

“We took a step closer to the league title even though we were unlucky not to win,” said Mc Carry.

“We were unhappy with the penalty decision so that was very disappointing. But they needed to win and that didn’t happen so we’re set up nicely now.

“We did not play well in the first half but we were 1-0 up at half-time and we were much better in the second half so we would have deserved all three points.

“We’ll push on and pick up the points we need from our last three games. We don’t need to worry about anyone else bar ourselves – it’s a brilliant achievement to remain unbeaten this season and we will be looking to continue that.”

The women’s team also edged closer to a league title after an 8-0 win at Astoria.

A makeshift midfield performed brilliantly as Chloe Wheeler scored four, Sinead Hennessy grabbed two and there was a goal each for Amber Waery and Brittany Meade.

Chloe Wheeler added four more goals to her season tally

“It was a strong performance this week,” said coach Paddy Geraghty.

“The things we’ve worked on in training are starting to show and hopefully we’ll continue to improve.  We have our biggest game of the season next week and we know a win will put us in a great position.”

The late game on Sunday saw the Legends lose 4-2 at Manhattan Celtic with Johnny Keogh and Richie Brennan getting their names on the scoresheet.

“It’s always a tough game against Manhattan Celtic but it got even tougher at the start of the game when we only had 10 players,” said coach Emmett Harvey.

“Even with 10 players we played very well as a team but two injuries towards the end of the game left us short for the last 30 minutes.

“We actually missed a penalty and had a few chances so overall we did ourselves justice.”

Shamrocks 1960’s opponents failed to show up with enough players, forfeiting the game to the Metro 2 East leaders.

In Metro 2 West, Gottschee and Williamsburg continue to fight it out for the all-important top seed. Both teams won on Sunday and Gottschee remain just one point ahead of Williamsburg. The winners of each division will advance to June’s Metro 2 final.

• Grogan welcomes new signing Alejandro Fritz
• Reserves aim to keep pressure on NYAC
• First v second as Over 30s get set for CPR Grays challenge
• Leaders 1960 take on the Finest
• Women’s team return to action after weekend off

“Every game is a cup final now,” Shamrocks boss Kevin Grogan has pointed out ahead of Sunday’s tough St Michael’s assignment against the league leading Pancyprians (kick-off 3pm).

For the second time in the space of five weeks, the Rocks will have to work out a way past last season’s Division 1 runners-up who come into this game on the back of a hard fought 1-0 win over Lansdowne in the Manning Cup.

But Grogan has his own reason for confidence after a good League Cup quarter-final victory at the Greek Americans. The Pancyprians have slipped slightly since the league resumed – that last gasp draw they grabbed at home to the Rocks preceded a 1-0 away loss at Everton FC Westchester Eagles two weeks ago.

“We will have a very strong squad this weekend,” added Grogan. “We have five league games left and we need strength-in-depth from now until the end. We signed Alejandro Fritz this week and I’m delighted with that because he will be a great addition.”

The reserves game will be a chance for Stevie Doyle’s men to close the gap on top side NYAC who won’t be in action this weekend. The Rocks reserves have enjoyed two well deserved wins in a row, the former of which was also achieved at the expense of Sunday’s opponents.

With the Pancyprians going all out to deny Lansdowne a third title in a row, their reserves have suffered somewhat and haven’t won a game since the first weekend in October, ironically a 3-1 success over current leaders NYAC reserves.

Doyle has a full squad to choose from ahead of Sunday’s match and his players are fully focused on a third win in a row.

“The most pleasing thing is that we have tightened up considerably at the back with what is a very experienced defense,” said Doyle.

“We have added more quality both at midfield and up top so it’s a very rounded squad and I’m very pleased with our performances this side of the season. Three points is crucial at this stage in order to stay in the running.”

Meanwhile, in the earliest kick-off of the day, it will be first against second in the Over 30s Division with Paddy Mc Carry’s title holders facing CPR Grays in a game that will go a long way towards deciding the destination of this year’s league.

The Shamrocks hold a seven-point advantage over CPR but they have played a game more and Mc Carry said this week he is focused on turning the screw on their nearest challengers.

“Sunday is another massive game for us,” said coach Paddy Mc Carry.

“They’re second and they need to beat us but if we can prevent that, we are going to be very hard to catch. We’re missing Sean Riley up front but it is a full squad otherwise so I firmly believe they can do the business Sunday. Everyone of them want their title back and the chance to do the double is a big motivation. We did not play great last week – it will be a different story on Sunday.”

Metro 2 East leaders Shamrocks 1960 will take on struggling NY’s Finest later in the day at Flushing Meadow Park 5 (kick-off 5pm) and assistant coach Neil Mannion has promised his team are not looking past this one even as they edge closer to locking up the top seed in the play-offs.

NY’s Finest have just three wins so far – their last success coming at the start of December, a 2-1 away win at Metro City Fury.

“We certainly won’t be taking the opposition lightly,” said Mannion. “They will be trying to play the spoiler role so we’ll have to be ready for that eventuality.”

There will be a late kick-off for the Over 36s Irish derby when the Manhattan Celtic Masters host the Shamrocks Legends at Randalls Island Field 74 at 8pm.

Celtic are just a point ahead of the Rocks but Emmett Harvey’s men enjoyed a huge boost last week when beating CPR Legends 3-1 at St Michael’s.

“It was a brilliant performance and we are looking to continue that against a strong Manhattan Celtic side,” said Harvey. “We play well as a team and have a great squad and if we cut out some individual errors and take our chances we can finish high up in the table.”

Elsewhere, the Metro Women’s League leaders will travel to Brooklyn for a 1.30pm kick off against Queens rivals Astoria.

“They are a team that gave us a tough game earlier in the season when we beat them 2-1,” pointed out coach Paddy Geraghty. “We had a good training session on Tuesday and we’re ready to continue our good run. A win will set us up nicely for the run-in.”

• 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.”

The Spring schedule for the first team and the reserves has been confirmed.

In order to ensure all teams had an even number of home and away games throughout the 16-game season, the Shamrocks find themselves drawn away to Lansdowne and Polonia once again. And, as with the Fall, we will be once more welcoming Westchester and CPR to St Michael’s.

This crucial phase of the season opens with Sunday’s visit to the Met Oval, a six-pointer against the resurgent Greeks followed by a home game against Pancyprians two weeks later.

In between those league games will be the CSL League Cup quarter-final on Sunday April 10, also at Met Oval and also against the Greeks.