The Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 1 champions NEW YORK SHAMROCKS SOCCER CLUB are seeking a first team coach for the 2021-22 season.
This position is a volunteer role and all players are fully amateur.
Reasonable expenses will be fully covered by the club committee, based on a transparent reimbursement system.
The coach will be fully supported by a team manager / club general manager who will implement player registration and oversee all other league / club administration including permits and CSL correspondence.
The reserves team coaches are already in place and will be fully supportive of the first team coach and players where and when deemed appropriate.
The first team coach will also be welcome to select 2/3 of their own assistants, as they see fit.
Time commitment:
four hours every weekend from early August through to mid June (not including a six-week winter break from mid December through to early February, weather permitting).
two hours on a suitable weeknight for weekly squad practice
Please email NYShamrockSC@gmail.com to indicate interest or call Club President Rob O’Neill at (929) 601-5956 for more information.
Shamrocks Reserves coach Rob O’Neill, who guided his team to the club’s first ever Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 1 Reserves championship in June, has been installed as the club’s president following the annual AGM.
O’Neill takes over the position following the departure of Paddy Geraghty and his family for pastures new in South Carolina. paddy, wife Tricia, daughter Jane and son Tommy will be missed by their Shamrocks family and we thank them deeply for all their years of service to the club and all the joy they helped deliver along the way.
Pat Burke will move into the Vice President role while Teresa Brink takes on the job of club secretary. A welcome new addition was Nadia Abdul Ghani as treasurer with Legends player coach John Riordan taking on the Games Commissioner duties. The newly formed Social Secretary/PRO will be Ger Shivnan with the directors lining up as Kailey Walsh, Joe Zorbo, Des Fetherston and Nikle Guzijan along with two more welcome new faces, reserves assistant coach Ciaran Taaffe and first team captain Darren Coleman.
John Duddy, the former world middleweight boxing title contender and star of Colin Broderick’s latest film, won man of the match honors in the Shamrocks Legends’ 4-2 penalty victory over Baldwin in the Long Island Soccer Football League’s [LISFL] Over-40 Gillen Cup final in Massapequa last weekend.
Shamrocks goalkeeper Baron Meyer, left, with John Duddy. Meyer saved two penalties in the Legends penalty shoot out win.
A wildly popular prizefighter in his previous incarnation, Duddy and compatriot James Moore — also a retired pugilist — went 90 minutes in the Legends midfield.
Duddy hit a post in the first half with a right footed effort and after a goalless draw, the final went to penalties.
Baron Meyer was the hero of the shoot-out, saving the first two Baldwin attempts and paving the way for victory, thanks to successful strikes from Player of the Year Bingo O’Driscoll, his fellow Kerry man Niall Corbett, James Moore and the clincher from Sergio Tache.
Man of the match John Duddy was the standout performer in a scoreless draw played out in entertaining fashion with both sides having opportunities in front of goal, including Duddy who hit the post in the first half with a wonderful shot. This was the first ever trophy for the Rocks Over 40s unit in what was a unique season spent in the Long Island league.
Pictured back row, from left to right, James Moore, Sergio Tache, Mike Bishop, Johnny Keogh, Baron Meyer, Justin Stanford, Pete Anastasian, Steve Pringle. Front row, left to right, John Duiddy, Dylan Moore, John Riordan, Niall Corbett, Tolga Yilmaz, Bingo O’Driscoll.
“I’m very proud of this squad,” said player-manager John Riordan.
“It was an incredible battle with no room for error. The lads were delighted and it’s great to add a trophy to those won by our first team and reserves. We enjoyed our year in Long Island and we’ll look forward to the return to the Cosmopolitan Soccer League next season.”
“John Riordan is a big part of the Shamrocks Legends. It’s all thanks to him that this happened,” said Duddy.
“It was a really tough game,” Duddy added, noting that it was the first time he’d played 90 minutes in 15 years.
The “Derry Destroyer,” as he was known in his boxing days before hanging up the gloves with a 29-2 [18 KOs] ledger, and Moore, a former world amateur boxing champion who went 17-3, 10 KOs] as a light middleweight in the paid ranks, debuted for the Legends last November. Duddy said it was Moore, an Arklow transplant, who asked if he was interested in playing soccer again.
Since hanging up the gloves, Duddy and Moore have pursued different endeavors. Moore went into business as the proprietor of the popular Woodside, Queens, establishment Maggie Mae’s, and Duddy as an actor. He has appeared on stage, in movies, short films and music videos.
Duddy’s played legendary Scottish boxer Ken Buchanan in the Roberto Duran bio-pic “Hands of Stone,” that also starred Robert De Niro. Earlier, he’d helped De Niro train for the boxing sequences for the film “Grudge Match.” Duddy other notable big screen credits include Colin Broderick’s first feature film, “Emerald City” and the forthcoming release, “A Bend in the River,” also by Broderick.
Champagne cooled the baked turf of Field 74 on Sunday night as Paddy Geraghty’s men finally reached the summit of the CSL Division One.
A resounding 5-0 win against a severely depleted Greek Americans was the culmination of a brilliant, unbeaten season where composed defense was married to electric attacking football.
Paddy Geraghty has now overseen Division One championship wins in both Women’s and Men’s soccer for Shamrocks; a unique feat in a season that was itself, unique to say the very least.
The campaign began on a sunny Sunday on Roosevelt Island with mandatory facemasks, temperature checks and a palpable sense of relief that the club was getting to play football.
Uncertainty abounded. Would the authorities allow sport to continue? Would we ever have a complete league season?
To the eternal credit of Paddy Geraghty and indeed all the other coaches involved they blocked out the uncertainty and focused their team’s thoughts on the things they could control, winning games. And win they did.
The first half of the season saw the Firsts score 35 goals and concede only 9; three of those coming in a thrilling 4-3 win over arch rivals Manhattan Celtic in what proved to be the most decisive 3 points of the season.
The second half of the season started in similar fashion with thumping wins over Greek Americans, Richmond, Polonia. The reverse fixture against Manhattan Celtic proved to be another barnstormer. A 2-2 draw kept Shamrocks’ nose in front and proved to be a body blow to Celtic’s title ambitions.
There was to be one further small turn in the race to keep things interesting, a last minute equalizer from Zum Schneider meant that the title race was going down to the last day.
A scorching Sunday evening was the scene for the finale. Celtic kicked off two fields across knowing only a win from them and anything less than three points from Shamrocks would see them crowned champions. It was not to be.
Shamrocks tore into Greek Americans controlling every aspect of the game and quick fire goals from Buitrago and Cameron proved to be the all that was needed to end the tie as a contest.
Shamrocks coasted to 5-0 win and then the celebrations began in earnest.
Rob O’Neill’s Reserves whose facile final game was called off were there to receive their trophy and provide full-throated support for their clubmates as they have done all season.
Reserves captain Joey Flynn was the first to receive the trophy to uproarious delight from a talented and close knit squad.
Next up was talismanic midfielder and captain Darren Coleman whose metronomic passing set the tone for the team became the first Shamrocks captain to raise the CSL Division One title.
It was a moment that many, have contributed to, not just this year, but down through the years. Some are still in the club, some have moved away for warmer or indeed cooler climates and some of our dear friends and teammates are no longer with us. Their memories were kept alive by Sunday night’s victories and for many there those people were close in their thoughts.
In a 12 months that saw us lose so much this was a moment to savor. The glint of the floodlights off those trophies might just have been the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Little Rocks is open to all Shamrocks members and will begin on Saturday April 10. Full schedule below.
Please register here. The program is free and limited to 20 kids. Each player will receive a free t-shirt but we do ask that everyone bring a ball (Little Rocks coaches will also have extra) and their own water / snacks.
If you have more than one young player which you would like to register, please do so on a fresh form.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Paddy Geraghty at (917) 560-4114.
Rob’s reserves ready for Saturday trip to New Jersey
Get involved in our 60th anniversary celebrations!
Saturday evening will see the Shamrocks Firsts and Reserves head to Clifton, New Jersey to take on Richmond County FC (Athenia Steel Complex K.O 5:15 & 7:15).
The two teams kicked off the new season last Sunday against Kelmendi at Roosevelt Island with the firsts earning a perfect winning start and the reserves beginning solidly with a tie.
In that opening game of the day, Rob O’Neill’s reserves were forced to rescue a point in a 3-3 draw against a spirited Kelmendi side. Two goals, including a last gasp header, from Ben Jordan and a well taken Mark Roche penalty saw both sides share the points.
Paddy Geraghty’s first team had an easier time of it, running out 6-2 winners against their Kelmendi counterparts. The undoubted star of the show was Kurt Cameron with four goals and one apiece from Ahmed Mohamed and Jared Gilbey. Despite going one down after five minutes, Shamrocks took control of the game and ran out easy winners with a dominant second half performance.
It will be a Staten Island club on New Jersey territory presenting the challenge for the Rocks this weekend.
Richmond Reserves, fresh off an 11-3 shellacking of Polonia will provide a stern test for Rob O’Neill’s men. When asked, O’Neill stated that he was looking for “three points and a big performance from the lads”.
In the firsts game, coach Paddy Geraghty will be without a number of players for what he has marked down as being “a tough away game against a team unbeaten in their last seven games”. Geraghty is in a confident mood saying “we’ll be going there looking to get three points and stay top of the league”.
Meanwhile, in honor of a landmark year, we are giving our members, past-members and supporters a unique opportunity to be a part of our official 60th anniversary!
Not only can your business sponsor this specially designed shirt but you can also personally support our club’s operations after a difficult year by adding your name and the year you discovered the club to the famous green of the Rocks!
Register here, email NYShamrockSC@gmail.com or text/call one of the 60th Anniversary Jersey Committee members for more info…
John Riordan (917) 767-2362
Ger Shivnan (646) 509-7049
Teresa Brink (917) 916-1384
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS – 60th anniversary jersey:
$100 – your name and the year you discovered the Rocks
$150 – jersey mailed to you
$200 – jersey mailed to you + season non-playing membership
BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP:
$5,000 sponsorship across front of all sets of jerseys
$2,500 sponsorship across back over number
$2,000 sponsorship across back under number
You can pay by Zelle / Venmo /PayPal to NYShamrockSC@gmail.com / @nyshamrocksc
Or by check to NY Shamrock SC – PO BOX 4051, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Place name and year in the memo or the online message.
In honor of a landmark year, we are giving our members, past-members and supporters a unique opportunity to be a part of our official 60th anniversary!
Not only can your business sponsor this specially designed shirt but you can also personally support our club’s operations after a difficult year by adding your name and the year you discovered the club to the famous green of the Rocks!
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS – 60th anniversary jersey $5,000 sponsorship across front of all sets of jerseys $2,500 sponsorship across back over number $2,000 sponsorship across back under number
Name on 60th anniversary jersey $100 – your name and the year you discovered the Rocks $150 – jersey mailed to you $200 – jersey mailed to you + season non-playing membership
You can pay by Zelle / Venmo /PayPal to NYShamrockSC@gmail.com / @nyshamrocksc
Or by check to NY Shamrock SC – PO BOX 4051, Sunnyside, NY 11104
Place name and year in the memo or the online message.
Sunday will see the commencement of the new season with Paddy Geraghty’s men’s first team and Rob O’Neill’s Reserves lining out against Kelmendi FC at Roosevelt Island’s Octagon (kick off 10am and 12pm).
“It’s great to be back playing,” said newly installed club president and first team gaffer Geraghty.
“Our committee has been working hard to facilitate a safe return and currently we can accommodate up to 90 players on our men’s teams. We are also close to getting our women’s teams back on the field so hopefully we can finalize details on that next week.
“Securing Roosevelt Island as our home field allows us to ensure all safety protocols will be met as well as providing a local venue for supporters to watch games. Special thanks must go to Sean O’Neill who worked diligently behind the scenes to help ensure we would be able to compete in the CSL this Fall. We hope to see some familiar faces on Sunday.”
The Shamrocks defense, shorn of talismanic defender Stu Colbert, will have to be at their best against the free-scoring Albanians. Geraghty can, however, rely on the experience of Larry Slaughter, John McAleenan and the returning Charlie O’Loughlin to marshal the back line.
On the other side of the field Geraghty will have an exciting attack with goal threats throughout the midfield and forwards in players such as Darren Coleman, Joey Aronovsky, Chris Uy and Kurt Cameron.
“We are looking forward to Sunday’s game,” he added.
“We have a strong squad that has been together for a while and the pre-season has gone well. We welcome back Charlie O’Loughlin, a direct replacement for Stuart Colbert, who we wish well after his recent surgery. Our new players including Reed Williams, Kyle Perno, Jared Gilbey, and Aidan Haas have shown well in training and will improve the depth of our squad. We can’t wait to get started.”
Rob O’Neill’s reserves take the field against Kelmendi FC NY Reserve who are newcomers to the division and will be something of an unknown quantity. O’Neill will have a hugely experienced squad at his disposal and they are certainly capable of mounting a title challenge.
Lastly, the club would like to wish all the very best to Mikaela Howell who has signed for Sky Blue FC who play in the National Women’s Soccer League.
After several months of uncertainty, the Shamrocks Soccer Club can at last begin to celebrate 60 years of soccer in New York City!
It has been a sad year for the city and the thoughts of everyone at our club are with everyone who has endured hardship throughout this time.
But there are causes for optimism now at the Rocks with a new president and a new committee, a new field permit secured and a new campaign being launched where you and all of our supporters can have your name or a message inscribed on our special 60th anniversary jersey.
At a first ever Virtual AGM on Monday September 14 – which had been delayed due to uncertainty over the prospects of Fall soccer – a well attended recap of a shortened season culminated in a successful vote for new officers.
Some of the AGM delegates who attended via Zoom on Monday Sept 14 including new Shamrocks baby Zoe Ferraro-Gosse, daughter of Zachary and Teresa.
First team coach Paddy Geraghty was a very popular choice to succeed Teresa Brink as president with Teresa moving to the role of secretary. New committee members Ger Shivnan (PRO,) Des Fetherston and Joe Zorbo were welcomed aboard and outgoing officers Amber Waery and Erin Cullen were thanked for their commitment to the club. See below for full committee list.
Meanwhile, after a tough month of searching for a field, the Shamrocks can finally confirm involvement in Division 1 of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League after the securing of Roosevelt Island Octagon. Huge gratitude to long time Rock and RI resident Sean O’Neill for his help in this matter.
The firsts and reserves will kick off the new season on Sunday October 4 with a home game at Roosevelt against Kelmendi (10am/12pm) followed by a trip to Richmond County, a home clash with Beyond and then October rounds out away to Zum Schneider. Full schedule here.
With 60th anniversary celebrations having been hampered by the global pandemic, the club committee is looking for sponsorship through a specially designed 60th anniversary jersey which will be inscribed with the names and / or messages of Rocks supporters. Email NYShamrockSC@gmail.com for more information.
Fundraising – 60th anniversary jersey: $5,000 sponsorship across front of all sets of jerseys $2,500 sponsorship across back over number $2,000 sponsorship across back under number
Name on jersey: $100 – name and / or message on 60th anniversary jersey $150 – + jersey mailed to you $200 – + jersey mailed to you + season non-playing membership
Meanwhile, amidst all the good news, we did have one setback during our pre-season friendly at Lansdowne on Saturday evening. Club stalwart Stu Colbert is today beginning his long road to recovery after surgery on a serious leg injury sustained during that game. He is in good spirits and emerged from hospital wearing Rocks merch. Best of luck Stu!
Stu Colbert pictured post-aurgery.
Unfortunately due to the lack of field permits in the five boroughs, there will be no Fall season for the rest of the CSL along with the New York Metropolitan Women’s Soccer League who are entirely dependent on the New York Parks Dept.
As a result the Shamrocks Over 30s have entered a team into the Long Island league and the Legends are now also seeking players aged Over 40 to do likewise. Please reach out to John Riordan at (917) 767-2362.
Finally, the club would like to extend its deepest sympathy to longstanding player Bingo O’Driscoll and his family on the passing of his father Gene. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
2020-21 Shamrocks Committee:
President: Paddy Geraghty
Vice President :John Riordan
Secretary: Teresa Brink
Treasurer: Rob Gaynor
GamesCommissioner: Kailey Walsh
SocialSecretary: Georgia Frost
PRO: Ger Shivnan
ClubDirectors: Pat Burke, Des Fetherston, Nikle Guzijan, Sean Mc Mullan, Rob O’Neill, Tricia Reed-Geraghty, Joe Zorbo
NY Shamrock SC 