In spite of a positive start to life in Division 1 of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, Sunday will present the Shamrocks with arguably their most important test when they face fellow promoted side Polonia (Randalls Island 75 – 4pm).

The Greenpoint-based side edged the Rocks in last season’s race for the Division 2 title and for coach Kevin Grogan, Sunday’s first away game of the new season was always going to be a vital, season-defining six-pointer.

Grogan will be boosted by the fact that Joe Connolly is available for selection after the forward recovered from Sunday’s nasty clash of heads. Aside from Lee Toland, all of the Shamrocks are available for what their gaffer sees as a must-win game.

“It’s the biggest game of the season by a mile,” Grogan told NYShamrockSC.com.

“It’s a six-pointer because they were promoted along with us. Sunday is all about work ethic, discipline, concentration levels and making sure we don’t get complacent after a few decent results.

“I sound like a broken record but it’s always about the next game. Win lose or tie, how are we going to preform in the next game? Complacency is a disease so we can’t let that happen and spread. It will be the hardest game of the season so far make no mistake about that.”

Polonia have been unlucky not to win a game yet, losing their first two by the slimmest of margins away to United FC and at home to NY Athletic Club before earning their first point of the season last Sunday at Manhattan Celtic In a scoreless draw.

The Polonia Reserves have a similar record to their counterparts on the first team, coming into Sunday’s clash against Stevie Doyle’s men with a draw and two losses.

Two high-scoring wins for the Rocks in which they have racked up 11 goals in two games have placed them firmly in the category of “team to watch”, something Doyle is very conscious of.

“We had a couple of good battles with them last season and we expect nothing less than that on Sunday,” he admitted.

“We have to make sure we’re focusing on our performance because we know fully well this league will always have a surprise waiting around the corner. We will prepare the same way and try to get ourselves off to a better start than we did against United.”

St Michael’s will host games for Shamrocks 1960 and Shamrocks Legends on Sunday, both teams keenly pursuing vital victories.

Shamrocks 1960 have three wins from three but AO Brooklyn are nipping at their heels and the 1pm game is already shaping up to be a six-pointer for the newly formed Metro 2 side.

“We had a good September but we need to push on,” said 1960 coach Andy Connolly. “Teams are going to be improving as they get used to each other. We’re getting used to each other as well so hopefully we can put in a good performance at home and keep the streak going.”

The Legends face a very tough test against league leaders SC Eintracht Over-30 at 11am. Eintracht have already scored 20 goals in their three wins so far and will be going into this one full of confidence.

“We’re not far away from our first win,” said Legends coach Emmett Harvey. “We showed last weekend that things are starting to click. We played Eintracht in a pre-season friendly and they were very strong. So we’ll be ready for a tough game Sunday morning.”

Paddy Mc Carry returns from paternity leave to guide his undefeated Over 30s league champions into their clash with unknown quantity Nieuw Amsterdam (Randalls Island 83 – 5pm).

It’s tight at the top of the league after three games with Shamrocks, Central Park Rangers Old Boys and Manhattan Celtic Legends all on a 2-1 record so Mc Carry will be keen not to slip up against Nieuw Amsterdam who have played two games, losing to Celtic and drawing with NY Greek Americans.

“We don’t know much about Amsterdam,” said coach Mc Carry. “They drew with Greeks so they must be a decent side. I am missing couple of starters but as always I am going into the game looking for three points and so will my players.”

The first game of the day on Sunday will see the Shamrocks Women take on Astoria at Randall’s Island 80 at 9am as the Rocks seek out a third win on the bounce with their team strengthening as the season enters October.

“We are getting stronger every week,” said Tricia Reed, co-player-manager of the team. “We signed two new quality players in Christina and Teresa as well as getting Danika back from injury so we’ll be looking to make it t

• Shamrocks dominant as both United FC teams humbled
• Over 30s cruise past Westchester Dinamo
• Geraghty’s half-time speech inspires Rocks Women to second win in a row
• 1960 go clear at the top after perfect September
• Minute silence marks passing of Seamus McPartland

Chris Uy scored an impressive brace before half-time to lift Kevin Grogan’s Shamrocks to a 4-0 win over United FC at St Michaels on Sunday.

His first was a half volley from just beyond the penalty spot and his second was the result of a nice Joey Zorbo assist which allowed Uy to dink the ball past the United keeper.

The Rocks controlled the second half and Zorbo beat the offside trap to slot home and make it 3-0 before Santiago Rigby scored brilliantly after an excellent one-two move with Joe Connolly.

“I’m happier with our performance today,” said Grogan. “We worked on a few things at training and I feel that showed out there today.

“We have two wins from two now but I really believe next week’s game at Polonia is a true six-pointer that we have to focus on.”

Both teams observed a minute silence prior to the game in memory of Seamus McPartland, father of past president and club stalwart Kevin.

Unfortunately, Joe Connolly was taken to hospital with a bad head wound but he was treated and released Sunday evening.

Earlier the reserves were outstanding in their 6-0 victory with goals from Darren Coleman (2), Leo Nizzi (2), Colum McComish and a screamer from Isaac Hidalgo which opened the scoring.

“I was delighted with the clean sheet,” said reserves coach Stevie Doyle. “We didn’t start the game well but we came into it and took our chances when they arrived in the second half. It was also good to see that a few lads came in to stake their claim for a starting spot.”

Rocks 1960 made it three wins from three in Metro 2, coming from 1-0 down and 2-1 down to get all three points against Afghanistan and make it a perfect September for their inaugural campaign.

A Dave Harvey penalty brought the Rocks back to 1-1 while Neil Mannion made it 2-2 with a tap-in after a Harvey free. The winner was an own goal thanks to pressure from Ciarán Moloney.

“We battled well today,” said 1960 coach Connolly. “It wasn’t easy and they made us really work for it but results like this will really stand to us in the spring. When we got the ball down and played our style, we were well on top but it still needed a bit of grit to edge them out.

“AO Brooklyn are just behind us in the table so that will be an early six-pointer to focus on next Sunday.”

The Over 30s were 4-0 up against Westchester Dinamo at Randall’s Island on Sunday morning when their opponents threw in the towel at half-time. Sean Riley scored twice while Tayfun Gokmen and Matteo Stiglich were the other goal scorers.

“That’s seven points out of a possible nine against title rivals so we are delighted with how we’ve begun the season,” said Paddy Mc Carry. “We’ll go into October with confidence now but we’ll take each game as it comes beginning Sunday with Nieuw Amsterdam.”

The Legends were also at Randall’s Island on Sunday morning, drawing 4-4 against Banatul to notch their first league point of the season.

Randall Friedman opened the scoring with a header, Ger Shivnan added a pair of goals – his first for the club – and Eddie Gilmartin scored from the penalty spot.

“We deserved a win but we’ll take the draw,” said coach Emmett Harvey. “It’s a confidence booster and I think we proved to ourselves that we’re starting to get a bit of shape. We’ll push on to next week and build on this one.”

Elsewhere, a half-time speech for the ages from coach Paddy Geraghty roused the Rocks Women to come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Phoenix at East 6th St.

In doing so, they were winning their second game in a row for the first time as they moved to 2-1 in the Metro Women’s League. Top scorer Sinead Hennessy was on fire again adding two goals to her season’s tally of along with a Jackie Pounder effort overturning a 2-0 deficit to earn the Rocks Women a 3-2 win, their second of the season.

“We were down at halftime 2-0 so we needed to be more focused,” said co-player-manager Tricia Reed. “Paddy delivered a memorable speech and that got us were fired up. Everyone worked hard in the second half and we scored three goals in the last 25 minutes so we have to be very pleased with how it ended up.”

After an early break from their Division 1 schedule, the newly promoted Shamrocks are back in action on Sunday afternoon with a tough home game against United FC (St Michael’s – 1pm).

Kevin Grogan will have new signing Laurie Child available for selection after he missed the opening day 1-0 victory over the Greeks but captain Sean Steed (injury) and vice-captain Lee Toland (away) must both wait a little longer before they make their season starts.

United FC were turned over badly last Sunday by 2014-15 runners-up Pancyprians, their ten men falling 9-1 in a result which was watched by Grogan. They did however take a 1-0 victory away from their opening day game at home to Division 2 champions Polonia.

“It’s the biggest game of the season for us because its the next game,” said the Rocks boss.

“United FC are a very good football team and are hurting from their defeat last week so they will be doing everything in there power to rectify that.”

The curtain-raiser will see Stevie Doyle’s reserves look to build on their impressive 5-3 week one victory (St Michael’s – 11am).

United reserves are coming into this one on the back of a pair of 2-2 draws against Polonia and Pancyprians.

“We’re looking forward to the game this week after having a small break,” said Doyle..”It’s going to be a very difficult game against United FC but we’ll look to play our way and try to replicate the good football we produced two weeks ago.”

With a perfect record going into week three of Metro 2, Shamrocks 1960 will face unknown quantity NYC Afghanistan later on Sunday (Randalls Island 74 – 2pm).

Afghanistan have lost both their opening games, losing 4-1 at Eintracht and 2-1 at Gotham City.

Andy Connolly’s men emerged from another tough tussle with the narrowest of victories last Sunday, downing Eintracht 1-0, and Connolly said he is keen to keep the winning streak going.

“We had a good session on Tuesday night and we have a few players coming back after missing the game against Eintracht,” said Connolly.

“The lads are getting used to each other but we’re not looking past Afghanistan and we really have to focus on getting a result against them.”

In the earliest kick-off of the day, Paddy Mc Carry’s Over 30s champions will host Everton FC Westchester Dinamo at Randalls Island 75 with an 8am kick-off.

Dinamo have merged with Westchester having succumbed to the Rocks in last season’s league final and drew their one and only game of the new season against Manhattan Kickers Over 30s.

“I expect a very very tough game against these boys,” said Mc Carry. “We beat them on penalties in the final in June so I expect rhere will be nothing in it again. We will have to be at our best to get a result – they are an excellent team.”

The Shamrocks Legends will follow up the Over 30s game on adjacent Field 74 where they will take on Banatul at 10am.

Coach Emmett Harvey is hoping to bounce back after two bruising defeats.

“We are building a really good squad at the moment,” said Harvey. “We are getting stronger every week and have signed some good players within the last few weeks. We played very well last week and we look forward to this Sunday’s game hopefully getting some points on the board.”

Meanwhile in the Metro Women’s League, the Shamrocks have an 11am kick-off against Phoenix (East 6th St).

“We are looking to build on last week’s win,” said coach Paddy Geraghty. “We are missing a few players but hopefully we can keep another clean sheet and take our chances when they come.”

The Shamrocks Women got their first victory of the season on the board in style, downing Appletown with a dominant 3-0 win in New Utrecht on Sunday.

Goals from new signings Brittany Meade, Sinead Hennessy and Jackie Gawne set up the big victory giving the management team of Erin Cullen, Tricia Reed and Paddy Geraghty a much needed boost to kickstart their season.

“We expected this performance was coming,” said player/co-manager Tricia Reed. “But it was great to see the new players gel so well with our squad and get a win early in the season. Everyone did really well and we can now look forward to our game next Sunday against Phoenix. We will keep working hard and we aim to make a big push.”

The winning Rocks – 3-0 victors over Appletown

“This team was started 14 months ago but today we arrived,” added coach Paddy Geraghty. “There is a buzz about the squad and good players want to come play for the club. The effort in training is starting to show and we’ll take some stopping now.”

Meanwhile on what was a bye week for our firsts and reserves, Shamrocks 1960 made it two wins from two in Metro 2, beating Eintracht 1-0 in a tough tussle that was decide by Dan Meola’s first half goal and some heroic goalkeeping from returning stalwart Robbie O’Neill.

“It was a tough game against a good young team,” said coach Andy Connolly.

“Robbie O’Neill’s performance between the posts certainly helped us over the line and these are the sort of wins that will stand to us. The goal was excellent and the defenders did well after that to keep us ahead.”

The Rocks 1960 team that beat Eintracht 1-0 on Sunday

With almost half an hour gone, Hughie McGowan showed great composure on the left, finding Meola who then chipped the ball beyond the Eintracht goalkeeper wit ha sublime half volley.

The 1960 team will take on NYC Afghanistan FC next Sunday with time and location to be determined.

A battling 2-2 draw for the Rocks Over 30s ensured a point gained after a depleted first 11 made the tough trip to Manhattan Celtic and came from behind twice to take a result back to Queens.

Tayfun Gokmen scored a stunning free for the second week in a row while Marcos Soto’s second half equalizer was an excellent finish from the right wing, a lob that pinged in off the back post.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” said caretaker manager John Riordan. “We were missing some key players but the lads stepped up and salvaged an excellent point.”

It will be another tough assingment at home next Sunday morning for Paddy Mc Carry’s men as they face Dinamo (who have merged with Westchester) at 8am, a repeat of last season’s league championship decider.

Earlier in the day, the Shamrocks Legends went down 5-1 at home to Cozmoz with Stevie Doyle scoring a first half consolation tap-in. Banatul SC form next Sunday’s opposition time and location to be determined.

With a bye-week being enjoyed by our firsts and reserves this weekend, it will be a slightly quieter Sunday for the club.

Notable, however, will be the home debuts of the Rocks Legends and Rocks 1960 who play Sunday morning at St Michael’s for the first time.

The curtain raiser will see Emmett Harvey’s Legends look to put their very unlucky defeat last week in the past when they face Cozmoz FC at 11am.

Harvey will have a much stronger squad available to him with the squad building process in full swing.

“We left it behind us last weekend,” said assistant coach Donal Kelly. “We’re very much looking ahead and the players know we have the potential of putting together a very good outfit.”

In the second game on Sunday, the fledgling 1960 team will face a tough task against SC Eintracht (1pm kick-off).

Eintracht emerged as 4-1 winners last week against NYC Afghanistan.

The Rocks 1960, coached by Andy Connolly, Neil Mannion and Colly Madden, snatched a late victory last week against fellow rookies Beyond FC and will look to build on that this weekend.

“We’re not getting carried away by that win,” said manager Andy Connolly. “SC Eintracht will be very strong and we’re still getting used to each other. But we showed great resolve to grind out the win so it bodes very well.”

In an around the same time in New Utrecht, the Shamrocks Women will be hoping to bounce back from a 3-1 loss last weekend when they face Appletown at 1.30pm.

“I was very impressed by our new players last Sunday,” said Erin Cullen. “We’re looking forward to them getting used to their new team mates and once they do, we will be able to put some good performances together.”

A late kick-off is on the cards for the Over 30s who must visit their arch-rivals Manhattan Celtic in Pier 40 (7.30pm).

The champions have been landed with a tough start to their title defense but enjoyed an impressive win last Sunday morning against Manhattan Kickers.

“Sunday night will be another very difficult game,” said Paddy Mc Carry. “Celtic always make it very hard to get any kind of result especially at their home field. They have a few quality players who can win games for them.”

Lastly, we would like to make our players and supporters aware that women’s team co-manager Erin will be taking part in a charity sleep out next week in aid of Covenant House.

Since 1972, Covenant House has been available to meet the immediate needs of young people, with a hot meal and a safe bed – and to help them further their education, get a job, find permanent housing. In essence, Covenant House helps these kids find and build a brighter future.

“I have decided to take on the challenge of sleeping outside with my peers from the (Re)Insurance industry,” explained Erin. “It will be uncomfortable. It will be dark. But for one night I can give up the comforts of home knowing that – by doing so – I can bring warmth and brightness to young people who need it most.”

You can support her efforts here:

http://covhou.convio.net/site/TR/SO_Corporate/SleepOutCorporateEdition2015?px=1996409&pg=personal&fr_id=1570

Up the Rocks!!

To all our players, members and supporters,

It is a huge honor for this club to be back in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and it has been a busy off-season trying to prepare.

I want to thank our loyal sponsors The Courtyard Ale House and GTI for their incredible and continuing support.

I would also like to welcome the support of Joe Connolly and Solas Electrical – confirmed as new sponsors this past week.

Special word of thanks to our golf outing GOLD SPONSORS Andrew James Interiors and also to our SILVER SPONSORS Creo Design and Life Source Irrigation.

I want to also acknowledge the assistance of Councilwoman Liz Crowley in helping us secure permits for our home field at St Michael’s. We are also very grateful to our good friends at the Irish Consulate for their support and assistance whenever called upon.

Monday’s Golf Outing at Lido Beach Golf Club is a vital fundraiser for our club as we prepare to send six teams out to compete at high levels around New York City.

We will always welcome support for our hole sponsorship drive at $100 per hole.

Please contact NYShamrockSC@gmail.com for more details.

A sponsorship form has been attached.

Finally, to all our players, a special word of praise. There is a long and tough season ahead and I look forward to seeing you all in action and getting to know the new players that have joined this great club.

Our history goes back all the way to 1960 and every player should wear the jersey with pride!

Up the Rocks!

Sean Mc Mullan