First half goals by Eugene Gormley and Paddy Geraghty in a 2-1 win over Tesoro SC on Randalls Island last Sunday put Shamrock back on top of the Over-30 First Division [West] standings.
Gormley scored off a pass from skipper Stephen Doyle [25th] while Geraghty struck from a free kick [35th] to lift Shamrock [6-4-1, 19] above New York Dinamo on goal difference.
In a game of the proverbial two halves, the Rocks lost a bit of the plot in the last 45 minutes during which Tesoro pulled one back.
“We dominated the first half. The second half was a different story -- they were the better team,” said coach Paddy McCarry.
Still, he called it a great team effort, even while singling out new goalie Alan Quirke for an outstanding debut highlighted by two fantastic point blank saves.
POOR BHOYS
Lansdowne Bhoys’ 2012 return, meanwhile, was a dismal affair with playoff implications in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League [CSL] top flight. They succumbed 3-1 to New York Athletic Club on Travers Island.
Austin Friel scored a late consolation after Thomas Campbell [two] and Tommy Strackhouse had NYAC cruising.
Second in the East, the Bhoys [5-3-3] were joined on the 18-point mark by NYAC. Both clubs trail leaders Barnstonworth Rovers by two points, albeit NYAC have played two games more than Rovers and Lansdowne one.
The top two finishers enter the playoffs for the CSL title.
“By far the worst performance since I’ve taken over. [But] it’s our first game back and we’ll pick up the pieces and move on,” Lansdowne boss Kevin Grogan summed up.
He handed debuts to several newcomers, including midfielder Craig Purcell from Dublin.
Lansdowne’s reserves slipped 2-1 with Neil on target after Khouri Mullings and Nino DiMaggio had netted for the hosts.
FIRSTS STYMIED
Shamrock’s first team conceded an 88th minute equalizer in a 2-2 tie with Second Division rivals Turkish American SC at Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens.
Paddy Geraghty, who’d warmed up earlier in the Over-30 match, put the Rocks ahead [15th] off an Andy Horan corner only for Bekdemir Ayhan Ayhan to level [30th]. Then Pablo Graham scored on the break [40th] to give the visitors a lead that held until two minutes from time when Serhat Unver broke Irish hearts.
Tolga Ozkan connected in the Turkish reserves’ 1-0 victory.
PERFECT CELTS
Second Division leaders Manhattan Celtic are now a perfect 10-0 this season following a 4-0 romp over New York Ukrainians at Brooklyn’s McCarren Park.
Rob Webber, Matt Negus [two] and Julien Greco tallied.
“A good start to the Spring,” said coach Frederick Etsiakoh whose lads appear promotion bound.
The Celtic reserves prevailed 2-1 on goals by Adam Darter and Mohammed Ndao.
