Manhattan Celtic beat NYAC White 1-0 at the Superdome Sports Complex in Waldwick, N.J., to lift the August Steuer Memorial Trophy in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League's annual indoor championship.
Julien Greco clinched the winner in the Premier Division final with his sixth goal of the one-day tournament.
LEAGUE CUP
Returning outdoors last Sunday, an understrength Celtic side had a goal from Dan Callow in a 4-1 defeat to First Division Barnstonworth Rovers on Randalls Island in the revived League Cup.
"I fielded a weaker team but it was a good game. Our focus is on the league this year," said Etsiakoh, with an eye on the promotion race to the top flight that Celtic lead.
SHAMROCK BLUE
"Close but no cigar," was the story yet again for the Shamrock firsts on their 2012 return in the League Cup. They succumbed 3-1 on penalties to fellow Second Division stragglers New York Ukrainians on Roosevelt Island, Saturday night.
Headers by Joey Aronovski [55th] and player-coach Declan Condon [75th] twice canceled out strikes by Ukrainians' Michael Glass [15th] and Erik Vogel [65th].
But in the ensuing shoot out, Sean McMullan was the only Shamrock to hit the target. "Smashing game of football," Shamrock assistant coach Glen Wrafter echoed the referee.
The Rocks' focus will now be on avoiding relegation. They are bottom of the 12-club Second Division with a 1-8-1 [4] record, four points from safety.
SAUNDERS EXIT
On Sunday, Ukrainians' youthful reserves ousted Paddy McCarry's depleted Shamrock Over-30 side from the Saunders Cup with a 5-0 win.
"It was a huge loss. We didn't have another replacement," said coach McCarry, who was also missing six starters including skipper Stephen Doyle and top scorers Karl Hughes.
McCarry was nonetheless pleased with his men's performance in the opening 45 minutes against much younger opposition. "We dominated the first half but just couldn't score. Their keeper made three first class saves," he noted.
Goalie Joe Mulligan received Man of the Match honors for Shamrock with McCarry remarking that it could have been worse if not for the shot stopper's exploits.
