[caption id="attachment_66745" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Shamrock coach Paddy McCarry."]
Lansdowne Bhoys' new third team were big winners on their Cosmopolitan Soccer League debut last Sunday. They crushed New York Itthiad 5-1 at Tibbets Brook Park on the opening day of the 2011-2012 season.
Kevin McGeeney banged in a hat trick while Marty Griffin and Chris Morten added one goal apiece in the Metro Div. One fixture.
Lansdowne standouts included midfielder Keith "Foxy" Fox -- in his first game back from a broken leg two years ago -- Aiden Corr and Colm Morrisey.
"It was a disciplined performance from the Lansdowne back four and we were very disappointed to concede a late goal at the end," Corr said.
EARLY BLUES
Later at Tibbets Park, Lansdowne's "A" team let slip a 2-1 lead over New York Athletic Club to succumb 3-2 in their First Division opener.
Austin Friel scored twice, leveling before the interval [40th] and then shooting the Bhoys ahead on the hour. But two late NYAC goals and the woodwork conspired to thwart the hosts.
"Very unfortunate," lamented Lansdowne coach Kevin Grogan. "We played well and a draw would have been a fair result."
They might have nicked a point had Hayden Jones's powerful volley not smacked the crossbar.
Lansdowne's reserves were blanked 4-0.
SPLIT POINTS
On Randalls Island, promotion side Shamrock were denied full points in a 1-1 draw with New York Greek-American/Atlas in an Over-30 Div. One encounter.
Eugene Gormley bagged the Rocks' first goal after 25 minutes. Shamrock then missed a succession of chances before the Greeks, titlists in the West last season, equalized in the 75th minute.
"On another day, we should have beat them. They got very lucky," rued Shamrock coach Paddy McCarry who led his side to the Div. II title last season. "We hit a post and the crossbar. My boys were brilliant."
Center half Stephen Doyle, the Rocks' new skipper, and left back Brendan Donoghue shared Man of the Match honors.
CELTIC REIGN
And in the late match at Chelsea Pier 40, Manhattan Celtic knocked off Shamrock's first XI 4-1 in an early season Irish derby.
A pair of signings did the damage for Celtic with Austin McCann [two] and Steven Amaya both netting on their debut. Matt Negus got the other goal in the Division Two duel.
"It was a great start to the season but we were disappointed not to keep a clean sheet. Our main goal this year is to get promoted," said Pat Kelly.
"We were missing a number of players [and] were outplayed," conceded Shamrock's Glen Wrafter. "Sean McMullan netted a late equalizer. Sean Riley rattled the cross bar with minutes to go, but Celtic were worthy winners."
In the reserve tussle, Scotsman Barrie Taylor's late cracker [86th] notched a 2-1 win for Celtic after Shawn Duda had leveled earlier for the Rocks.
