Rocks Women’s team star Becky Torres has sent along this amazing photo from Rio! Great to see our club and our sponsors being represented around the world!
Tag Archives: Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Sunnyside Gardens brings Rocks community together
With the new season just under three weeks away, the NY Shamrocks Soccer Club gathered for their annual Sunnyside Gardens Six-Aside Tournament at Sunnyside Gardens Park in Queens on Sunday and a highly enjoyable day was had by all.
The victorious Shamrocks First team with the King McCormack Trophy. Back row, left to right, Anthony Tagliaferri, Frankie Tsasse, Teresa Ferraro, Stevie Doyle and Aoife West. Front tow left to right, Sinead Hennessy, Laurie Child, Zach Gosse and Joey Zorbo. Picture by Eoin Sweeney
The idyllic surroundings of the park were a perfect backdrop for some very exciting games that pitted eight teams against each other in competitive but fun games.
Kids enjoyed a bouncy castle and – the highlight of the day – a race across the field with a very happy medal presentation directly afterwards.
“This is the ideal way to celebrate the start of a new season,” said social secretary Aoife West, the event organizer. “A lot of new players were experiencing this occasion for the first time and they will now have a sense of the community which has built up around this club over the years.
“I want to thank the committee members who volunteered their time and all our sponsors, especially GTI, AJ Interiors and the Courtyard Ale House. I want to also thank all the players who gave up their Sunday to join in the fun and we are very grateful that Flynns, McGuiness and The Dugout sent teams along to take part.”
In the end, the King McCormack Trophy was awarded to tournament winners, the Shamrocks First Team, who won a tense penalty shoot out against the Over 30s/Legends team.
Sean Mc Mullan presents the King McCormack trophy to Laurie Child. Picture: Eoin Sweeney
The Over 30s/Legends team – from left, Colly Madden, Paddy Mc Carry, Tricia Reed, Jarielle Uter, Paddy Geraghty, Ger Shivnan and Jackie Pounder.
The squad representing Flynns.
The Shamrocks Reserves – back row left to right, Paul McDaid, Sharee Goodson, Gil Christenberry, Jessica Kambic and Andrew Scott. Front row, John Riordan, Johnny Hayes and Mike
The GTI Alumni Squad
The Dugout
The 1960 Team
McGuinness
Scenes from Sunnyside Gardens
Gallery
Action shots from the Six-Aside
Gallery
Link
Mc Carry reveals secrets of success
This feature about Over 30s coach Paddy Mc Carry was published in the July 20, 2016, issue of the Irish Echo.
By Jay Mwamba
Bring Jose Mourinho to this level and he may well have some stiff competition in Paddy Mc Carry. The Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s Over-30 division might be light years away from Europe’s elite set-ups, but pound for pound, Mc Carry is a sure bet to hold his own against any gaffer.
Over 30s coach Paddy Mc Carry pictured second from left after June’s historic State Cup final with, from left, Joe Connolly (Shamrocks player and sponsor), John Riordan (Shamrocks 030s player and committee member), club president and Mc Carry’s assistant coach Sean Mc Mullan and the club’s vice president Pat Burke. Picture: Eoin Sweeney
For now, though, the Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, man is stepping back to assistant coach to allow him to spend more time with his young family.
But talk about ending as coach on a high. He is coming off one of the most successful seasons by any manager in the history of the 1923-founded CSL.
Mc Carry’s Shamrock Over-30s went undefeated all season, clinching an historic league and cup double. Historic because it was the first time ever a CSL side had lifted the Fritz Marth Cup, the Eastern New York State Over-30 competition named for one of its illustrious administrators.
The victorious Shamrocks Over 30s celebrating their State Cup win back in June. Picture Eoin Sweeney
“My pride and joy,” hailed Mc Carry, in an Echo interview before his new role was announced.
The 37 year-old with a level 1 FAI coaching badge has been a magnet for success.
Prior to this season’s accomplishments, Mc Carry had won the Over-30 second division title in his first year as boss back in 2010 — unbeaten as well.
He went on to clinch two Eastern conference Over-30 titles and two first division championships.
Coaching supremos Paddy Mc Carry and Sean Mc Mullan planning out April’s State Cup quarter-final win v Dinamo. Picture: Keith Buckley
“Paddy is a great manager and with my help we’ve gotten the job done on and off the field,” said his assistant coach and Shamrock club president Sean Mc Mullan.
“We have had a strong Over-30 team now for the last three and four years since I came in to help Paddy after he won the second division. We went on to win the first division at our first try and we haven’t looked back since.”
Mc Carry concurred on the quality of his panels and how they’ve been key to his success.
“In all my teams I have been very lucky to have great players and when you win more good players want to join the team, and that has been the case,” he said. “But I am always looking for great players to push the ones I have.”
He also had kudos for Eoin Sweeney, his assistant in his debut coaching year, and Mc Mullan, an Armagh native.
Paddy Mc Carry pictured with his former assistant coach Eoin Sweeney.
“I would not be anywhere if it was not for my two assistants that I have had since I took over,” said Mc Carry. “Eoin Sweeney in my first year in charge, and Sean Mc Mullan the last four years. I would always listen to them and they would tell me to try this and that and we would.”
Mc Carry is not averse to taking responsibility for minor setbacks the Rocks have experienced under his watch.
“We had one bad season after we won the first division for the first time,” he said. “I take total blame for that for not recruiting during that summer and we paid the price. We stayed up by the skin of our teeth. That has not happened since and will never happen again under my watch. I learned by the mistake.”
On his tactical secret to success, Mc Carry revealed: “I play a hard-working high-pressure game of football and it works.
“The first line of defense is my two strikers up top. They close the [opponents] back line down. I totally believe if you put teams under constant pressure and don’t let them play, it is very hard to lose.
Mc Carry broke down Shamrock FC’s success further.
“In all our winning seasons, we have been very strong up the middle, extremely strong.
“My wingers are always hard working and do a ton of running and my wing backs are very tough hard tackling defenders, very important because in most cases the opposition wingers want no part of them.
“If you don’t concede goals you can’t get beat, plain and simple, and I say it every game.”
And key to all this has been the Rocks’ pressing game up top.
“My two front men have always been great,” Mc Carry pointed out. “We have speed, which is very hard to handle in the Over-30 Division, and great skillful players. Usually, if they get a half a chance, it ends up in a goal.
“We hit 71 goals in the league this year. Bottom line, in my team, you must work extremely hard and always have your teammates back.”
The Rocks’ philosophy is universal.
“It’s always about the team,” Mc Carry pointed out. “We win together and lose together. It’s always our team. Everything we have won is down to the players they put the effort in every Sunday and they get the rewards.”
Chimed in Mc Mullan: “What makes me and Paddy so successful is that we work together and do everything together.
“We talk every day about what team we’re going to go with at the weekend, and if he can’t make it out to the game because he might have to look after [his baby son] for the day I am there to take the team. Also, we couldn’t do this without the hard work that our players put in for us on the field.”
As a player, Mc Carry turned out for his hometown Ballybofey United and Drumkeen United back in Ireland. He moved to New York in 2000 and picked up a couple of Long Island league reserve titles and a league cup medal before joining the Shamrock metro side in 2009.
Sunnyside Gardens down through the years
Thanks to Eoin Sweeney for these nostalgic photographs of the annual Sunnyside Gardens Six-aside Tournament!
Do you have what it takes?
The NY Shamrocks Soccer Club is seeking volunteer coaches and assistant coaches to run our men’s reserves team and our women’s reserves team.
Join one of the fastest growing clubs in the New York amateur soccer scene and learn from some of the best coaches in the game.
Ideal candidates would be well organized with access to their own transport and passionate about the game with a keen eye for players that can progress to a higher level.
The commitment will involve Sunday games throughout Fall and Spring.
For further information, contact the club: NYShamrockSC@gmail.com
Talented Rocks quartet recommit for second season
With less than a week to go until the Shamrocks pre-season begins, Kevin Grogan has received timely boosts from four of his key players each of whom have followed his lead in committing to the club’s second season back in the top flight of New York amateur soccer.
Player of the Year Zach Gosse’s decision to return is an important boost for the Rocks while retaining the young, talented trio of Alejandro Fritz, Nick Zorbo and Dan Giorgi is an indication of Grogan’s bid to build on a foundation of young talent.
Nick Zorbo (left) and Dan Giorgi pictured recently after confirming their decision to stay with the Shamrocks for the Division 1 campaign ahead.
“We did a lot of recruitment last season to build the squad and now player retention is vital,” said Grogan.
“On top of retention, I’m looking very closely at new players. I have 17 players on my radar and I’m looking to sign four to six of them so we can strengthen the squad and build the training culture. Kwesi is a big signing. It’s going to be a very busy summer for recruitment. Detailing potential recruits and identifying the right personalities with the right temperament is very important. It’s a calculated process. We will have a full time pre-season with training, games, nutrition, sports psychology.”
Influential center back Gosse, who was ever present for the Rocks last season, said he was looking forward to his second season at the club.
Zach Gosse played in every game last season.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have gained a wealth of experience playing at various levels in the NYC metropolitan area, but I must admit the club is top notch,” he said.
“It’s astounding how much effort and sacrifice everyone puts forth in order for all of the teams at the club to succeed. From the players and coaches to the board members and supporters, the desire for ‘The Rocks’ to win has become infectious.
“Moreover, I must admit, having built relationships with my teammates and other club members both on and off the pitch, the club has become a second family for me. With a year of Division 1 football knowledge and maturity under our belts and the addition of several impact players to our talented core, I truly believe we can do extremely well next season.”
Fellow Long Islanders Dan Giorgi and Nick Zorbo settled in very well to the club after joining the Shamrocks in the spring.
“I am very happy with the experiences I have had in my first season,” said Giorgi. “In the past couple of months, I’ve learned a lot, worked hard, got to play in a cup final, and came out a better player. This is a great club that does so much for us and I’m very excited to re-sign and pick up where we left off. Up the Rocks!”
Zorbo was similarly delighted to recommit, adding that he was looking forward to experiencing a full season at the club.
“I’m delighted to re-sign with the Shamrocks for next season,” he said. “I would like to thank Kevin Grogan for bringing me in and introducing me to all the great people involved with the club like Stevie Doyle, John Riordan and Sean Mc Mullan. They have already made me feel so welcome at the Rocks. I have enjoyed being able to gain some experience playing with the older guys on the team. I’m motivated to be a bigger contributor to next season’s goals.”
NY Shamrock SC 