[caption id="attachment_71625" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Coach Kevin Grogan with the Bhoys’ first top-flight trophy."]
Manchester City were not the only club celebrating a championship last Sunday. On these shores, Irish sides Lansdowne Bhoys and Shamrock were reveling in title victories in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League [CSL].
Coached by former Manchester United midfielder Kevin Grogan, Lansdowne edged United FC 4-3 at Yonkers’ Tibbetts Brook Park to clinch the CSL Eastern division title -- the Bhoys’ first honor in the CSL top flight.
“It’s a great day for the club. Ever since I came here last February [2011], everyone has worked very hard,” said Grogan. “I’m delighted but the focus is now on the playoffs.”
Earlier at Tibbetts, Lansdowne’s thirds had demolished Ridgewood Romac 8-0 to scoop the Metro Div. II championship and earn promotion to Metro One in their rookie year.
Paddy McCarry’s Shamrock Over-30s, meanwhile, saw off Manhattan Kickers Premier 3-1 on Randalls Island to bag the Div. One [West] title and hand the Donegal native his second crown in two years.
NATIONAL CHAMPS NEXT
Conor Hunter, Hayden Johns, Austin Friel and Mike Fernandez connected in Lansdowne’s historic win over United whose Pavlo Bolonifa [two] and Adam Himeno replied.
The Bhoys [8-3-5, 29] now face West runners-up Pancyprian Freedoms at Tibbetts next Sunday [TBD] in the playoffs for the CSL title. Pancyprian are the CSL and U.S. national amateur champions.
Pauric Byrne, Seamus McDaid and Steven Conway scored in the Lansdowne reserves 3-3 tie with United “B.” Bolonifa, Victor Skrypko and Alex Zarester replied for United.
KING NELLY
Nelly Maguire [four] led the Lansdowne thirds’ 8-0 rout of Ridgewood. Dessie Beattie and Kevin McGeeney each added a brace for the new Metro II champs [12-2-2, 38].
Said Bhoys CEO Aiden Corr: “It’s a massive step forward winning the CSL Eastern division and the Metro Two titles. We still have a lot to do but we are very proud of our efforts so far from our management and committee and hopefully we can go all the way and turn the club into a major force in the CSL and beyond!”
PADDY GLEE
A draw would have sufficed, but in the end Shamrock’s old timers defeated East titlists Kickers Premier 3-1 to secure the Over-30 Div. One [West] crown.
Onder Koksol [30th], Paddy Geraghty [80th] and Burim Ljuta [85th] tallied for the 9-4-2 [29] Rocks with Alex Petrovic [30th] the Kicker scorer.
“Our backline was phenomenal; we defended excellent, they couldn’t break us down,” said McCarry who led the Rocks to the Over-30 Div. Two without a loss [12-0-4] last season.
Center halves Stephen Doyle and Joe Mulligan were singled out for special mention.
Shamrock tackle Barnstonworth Premier in the Over-30 playoffs with a Kicker rematch possible should the latter overcome New York Greek-American/Atlas.
METRO DROP
In Division Two, Alex Dawson’s strike consigned Shamrock’s first team to a 1-0 defeat against EMC and relegation to Metro One. The Rocks end the season 3-11-2 [11].
Eddie O’Riordan [two], James Powell, Sean McMullen were on target in the Shamrock seconds’ 4-1 triumph. Chris Matthews got EMC’s face-saver.
TANIOS HAT TRICK
At the top of the second tier, Manhattan Celtic are now 15-0 for the season after thrashing NYPD FC 5-1 at Pier 40. John Tanios [three], Matt Negus and Austin McCann scored.
Jonathan Juchno [two] and Barrie Taylor [two] were among the scorers in the Celtic reserves’ 5-2 triumph.
