Valuable points are on offer for the Rocks this weekend as the race for promotion from the Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2 begins to hot up.

The club will host Tesoro Brooklyn on Saturday night in Roosevelt Island with the first team kicking off at 8pm and the reserves curtain raiser starting at 6pm.

The first team’s exciting 2-1 victory last time out against NY Ukrainians came at a price and center back Rob Gaynor will serve a one-game suspension after the controversial red card which spurred the Rocks on to their comeback two weeks ago.

“We need a win to go level with NY Ukrainians and see how they get on against Manhattan Kickers on Sunday,” pointed out coach Glen Wrafter.

“If Manhattan Kickers beat them, we will be level on points with the Ukrainians with a game in hand. That being said, Tesoro will be no pushover. They have scored 17 goals in their last four games, losing only once to Kickers. We will have to put on another performance to pick up the three points.”

The reserves are confident after their 3-0 victory a fortnight ago and will have a strong squad to choose from with midfielder Keith Cagney the only doubt due to illness.

But Tesoro enjoyed a good win over Flank United two weeks ago and with both teams level on points, this game will be a true six-pointer after Tesoro edged the first game in Brooklyn after a controversial September clash.

“It was a great result two weeks ago which put us right back in the title chase,” said coach Robbie O’Neill. “It’s another big game this week against Tesoro. We’re hoping for another three points especially with the way we have improved squad over the winter.”

Meanwhile on Sunday afternoon, the Over 30s will look to bounce back from their 6-5 loss two weeks ago when they play Manhattan Celtic Legends in Brooklyn Bridge Park at 2pm.

“I’m missing alot of players and playing a team that’s top of the table,” admitted coach Paddy Mc Carry. “It wont be easy to get a result against them but we have got to try and get something because we need the points to avoid the drop.

In a stirring display on Saturday night in Roosevelt Island, the ten men of the Shamrocks first team came back from 1-0 down to beat NY Ukrainians courtesy of goals from Nikle Guzijan and Paddy Geraghty.

“To say I’m delighted with the result is an understatement,” said coach Glen Wrafter.

Paddy Geraghty knocked home the winner.

“I think the three points were well deserved given the training we have put in over the winter in some Baltic conditions on Roosevelt Island. The result puts us three points behind second place NY Ukrainians with a game in hand.”

The visitors took the lead against the run of play after 30 minutes with a sweeping move which cut open the Shamrocks defense.

Then after the hour mark, Shamrocks were dealt a blow when centre-half Rob Gaynor was sent off after a second bookable offense.

Nikle Guzijan scored a powerful header.

“Nobody, with the exception of the referee, could recall the first booking,” insisted Wrafter and Gaynor himself was unaware of how the mix-up occured.

But then thanks to some canny tactical changes by the Rocks sideline, the hosts took control and equalised after 70 mins through a header from Guzijan from a Joey Aronovsky corner.

“Joey Aronovsky terrorized the Ukrainian defense,” said Wrafter. “But special mention also to Shane Moore who kept the outstanding Ukrainians #10 very quiet all game and to goalkeeper Robbie O’Neill pulled off some fine saves to keep us in the game.”

Then, with ten minutes to go, Geraghty, Shamrocks captain on the night, smashed the ball into the net from close range, again from a Shamrock’s corner.

It was a memorable evening overall for O’Neill who guided the Reserves to an impressive 3-0 win in the curtain raiser. 

It was the Ukrainian Reserves first league defeat of the season and it helped the Rocks gain revenge on the league leaders for a heavy loss back in September. The win leaves them just a point behind them with a game in hand.

Returning after a knee operation, top scorer Sean Mc Mullan opened the scoring when his first half free kick took a deflection which gave the keeper no chance. Kevin Farrell ended a fine move with an excellent strike over the keeper midway through the second half to make it 2-0 before striker John McDonnell rounded out a great night with a lovely left foot finish to the far corner which went through the keeper’s legs.

Kevin Farrell made it 2-0 with an excellent shot from the left.

“This was a great return to league action for us,” said coach O’Neill who also played in goal for the majority of the game.

Ruairi Lavery and Neil Mannion played incredibly well at the back for the Rocks while Ryan McKinley was inspirational throughout. There were also impressive performances from four new signings, Marc Eisenberg, Joe O’Connor, Niall Brennan and Conor O’Sullivan.

“We won’t be getting carried away,” added O’Neill. “There are still six games to go and we’re determined to make sure every one of those games counts.”

Meanwhile the Over 30s were beaten 6-5 on Sunday morning by Tesoro at Randall’s Island in spite of a hat-trick from man of the match Eugene Gormley. Mike Bishop and Paddy Geraghty were also on the scoresheet but the Rocks paid for some poor defending in the final 20 minutes and conceded four goals.

“I made mistakes myself managing and made changes I shouldn’t have,” said disappointed coach Paddy Mc Carry. “Just one of those days bad day at the office.”

The NY Shamrock Soccer Club is looking to strengthen its player options before the April 1 signing deadline as the second half of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League gets underway this weekend.

GLEN WRAFTER (player manager)

All three teams are still in contention for league honors however first team boss Glen Wrafter, who has guided his side to the top four of the second division, is on the lookout for an extra bit of quality to try and eke out an edge on their closest competitors.

“We will be hosting a try-out at Roosevelt Island this Thursday night at 8pm,” confirmed Wrafter. “Everyone is welcome to come along. We’re convinced that there is a lot of untapped talent out there in the city. This club is incredibly ambitious but if we are to realize our objectives, we will definitely need to add some players.”

A win against NY Ukrainian this weekend (kick-off 8pm) will see the Rocks go level with their opponents thereby increasing their promotion hopes no end.

“With Manhattan Kickers unbeaten and five points clear at the top of CSL Division II, it’s a race for second place. That race starts for us with our first league game back against NY Ukrainian SC. Our season hinges on this game and a win would set us up nicely for a crack at promotion to the 1st Division,” added Wrafter.

The reserves are also in a strong position and will look to bounce back from a heavy League Cup defeat at the hands of their clubmates the weekend before last when they take on the Ukrainian reserves at 6pm.

“They’re unbeaten and they’re top of the league,” said manager Robbie O’Neill. “But a win will bring us level with them and put us in a good position for a strong run-in. It won’t be easy as we have a few injuries but that’s all the more reason to make this try-out as successful as possible.”

Over 30s manager Paddy Mc Carry, whose team is also back in action this weekend with a home tie against Tesoro on Sunday morning, has steadied the ship after a tough start to the league campaign but is hopeful of adding some new recruits before the deadline.

For more information on Thursday night’s try-out contact the club at NYShamrockSC@gmail.com.

The NY Shamrocks Soccer Club is looking to bolster numbers for all three of the squads which compete in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

We will be holding an open trial at Manhattan’s Roosevelt Island on Thursday March 21 at 8pm. All players with experience are welcome. Easily accessible on the Queens bound F Train – field is located at the northern end of the island.

It’s a great chance to play a fantastic level of football in a good atmosphere at a club that is highly ambitious and proud of its over 50 years of history.

For more information, please contact the club at NYShamrockSC@gmail.com.

The draw for the CSL League Cup quarter-finals has been made and the first team have been drawn away to Grenadier Zenith.

Grenadier Zenith beat New Amsterdam United 3-0 on Sunday and will host the Rocks on April 21.

A very enjoyable evening at the Courtyard Bar on Sunday evening as the Rocks league winning Over 30s were gathered together to celebrate their thrilling victory last season.

As footage of the final – a 3-2 win over NY Greek American Atlas in Randall’s Island – played on the big screen courtesy of Eoin Sweeney, coach Paddy Mc Carry and his assistant handed out the trophies to their successful squad.

Club president Kevin McPartland paid tribute to their efforts and in particular those of club stalwart Mc Carry whose commitment to the club received its just desserts with this title.

On the same evening, Over 30s player of the year and two-goal hero in the final, Mike Bishop, was rewarded for his efforts over the season while top scorer Mc Mullan was presented with the MVP award for the reserves also for the 2011-12 season.

Click to enlarge. All pictures by John Riordan.