Reserves Save Shamrocks Blushes

By Ronan Creaney

THANKSGIVING weekend is never the ideal time for a game, and the Shamrocks first team looked to be suffering the after effects of hearty holiday. Their opponents, the New York Greek American Atlas, were in no mood to extend any holiday cheer and duly routed the Shamrocks 5-0. Rout may be a bit harsh, but the Shamrocks were given a lesson in how to take chances, even half chances. 

Down 1-0 at halftime to a speculative Hemir Niebles shot, the Rocks were not unduly worried. For much of the first half the Shamrocks had been more than the equal of the Greek side.

But for some fortunate goalkeeping when the Atlas keeper got in the way of a point blank Bingo O’Driscoll header things could have been different. Coach Billie Henderson had introduced some new blood to the side, and one of these, former Fordham senior Richie Engel, was gelling well with Mick Hennessey. 

The second half stared with a clutch shot saved from Hennessey, and it began to look like it wouldn’t be the Shamrocks day. Battling hard they couldn’t force and equalizer. 

Then in the space of two minutes the game was over. The Greeks struck in the 60th and 62nd minutes with goals that could generously be put down to poor defending. At 3-0 up they went into cruise control, forcing the Rocks to chase the ball, and it was no surprise when Ernie Murdukhayev and Eran Shalom added to the scoring in the last 10 minutes.

In the reserve fixture the Rocks second team gave the club something to talk about. Short many regulars, coach Robbie Walsh banded together a 

motley crew to fulfill the fixture and was duly rewarded with a resounding 4-0 win. 

The Welsh have a poet Dylan but the Rocks have a striker in Mark Dillon and his foot was a mighty as any pen. The “Off White” Feather as he is known, struck for a hat trick sending the Rocks in 1-0 at halftime, and then adding a brace in the second half. 

The scoring was finished by John “Christy Brown” Walsh reveling in his new midfield role. Walsh was stuck there to plug a gap, which he more than did. 

Coach Walsh was very satisfied afterwards, singling out the Seitz brothers Matt and Terry and the ageless Joey Behan for special mentions. 

In the Metro division Sean Keogh’s charges were unlucky to concede a goal in the last minute as old adversaries CPR stole three points on a McCarran park pitch that resembled a building site. 

For the Shamrocks Shamie Kelly was unlucky on a few occasions with the CPR keeper in fine form. Keogh made special mention of Dave “One Peg” Hillman who slotted in at left full in for the vacationing Tim Dunne. Hillman played a stormer until he twisted his ankle in the second half. Willie Murphy and Andrew Burke were also denied by the impressive CPR keeper. 

The Shamrocks annual kids Christmas party will take place on Saturday, December 13 in the Breffini Bar, Sunnyside. Toy donations can be left in the bar. The party starts at 2 p.m., with Santa’s arrival at 4 p.m.