Lansdowne Bhoys' metro side blew out New York Galicia 10-0 at Tibbets Brook Park last Sunday in their first foray in the D'Arpino Cup.
The rout was the first in a hat trick of victories at the weekend by Lansdowne's three teams in State cup competitions.
DARREN TREY
Darren McDermott notched three of the ten goals against fellow Cosmopolitan Soccer League outfit Galicia on the Lansdowne thirds' D'Arpino Cup debut.
Also in the same competition, Lansdowne's reserves had goals from Johnny McGenney and Barry McInerny in a 2-0 decision over CSL Metro One campaigners Nieuw Amsterdam.
SWEET SWEDE
Later, the Lansdowne first team came away from Oyster Bay with an emphatic 6-2 win over the Long Island Soccer Football League's [LISFL] OB Fenerbache in the Manning Cup first round.
Swede Johannes Grahn starred with a hat trick [50th, 67th, 85th pen.]. Conor Hunter [15th], Kevin Mira [25th] and Austin Friel [60th] got the other goals.
"We play Mineola in the next round. It will be a difficult game but we're optimistic," said coach Kevin Grogan, who's lost just one game in all competitions this season.
ROAD WARRIORS
Shamrock's Over-30s were also victorious on Long Island, albeit they required post-match penalties to fork out hosts Glen Cove 4-2, after a 3-3 tie in the Marth Cup.
Paddy Geraghty, Eugene "Bingo" O'Driscoll, Brian O'Connor and Mike Bishop -- the latter after goalie Timmy Lynch had saved a Glen Cove spot kick - connected in the shoot-out.
Inspired by Karl Hughes, the Rocks had three times taken the lead in regulation time only to be pegged back by Glen Cove. Hughes struck twice [5th, 40th] then had the assist on O'Connor's goal [65th].
The performance earned the speedy winger a share of the Man of the Match award, along with the superb Lynch.
"I'm very proud of the result in tough conditions," said manager Paddy McCarry, who was critical of the turf.
Shamrock's reward is a second round Marth Cup tie with the LISFL's Integral who defeated Guyana Veterans 'A' 4-2.
UNHAPPY RETURN
There was no joy in the Flamhaft Cup for the Shamrock firsts whose return to their old stomping ground at Msgr. McLancy High School was marred by a 1-0 loss to Port Chester of the Eastern District Soccer League.
"They scored in the 70th minute and we put on a bit of pressure. Paul McDaid had a good shot saved by their goalie who pulled off several fantastic saves," observed Glen Wrafter.
LANSDOWNE AWARDS
Aiden Morten was named Lansdowne's First Team Player of the Year for last season at the club's awards night on Friday.
The other honorees included: Conor Hunter [First Team Top Scorer], Shane Moore [Reserve Player of the Year], Robbie "The Touch" Green [Reserve Top Scorer] and Aiden Corr [Clubman of the Year].
