[caption id="attachment_71512" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Conor Hunter was on target again for the Bhoys."]
A year ago, Kevin Grogan was brought in to save Lansdowne Bhoys from relegation in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League top flight. Last Sunday, the former Manchester United player led the Bhoys into the title playoffs with a 3-0 romp over New York Albanians in their penultimate match, at Tibbetts Brook Park.
"A great day for the club," said the Dubliner. "The hard work starts now, though. It's going to be very hard but we are ready for the challenge."
Conor Hunter, Mike Fernandez and Norway-bound Erik Rengifo hammered the Albanians.
Lansdowne [7-3-5, 26] also moved to within three points of the First Division [East] title. A win over United FC in their final match this Sunday [11 am at Tibbetts] will guarantee them the title. Reserves kick off at 9 am.
Seamus McDaid [88th] connected in the Lansdowne reserves' 1-0 decision.
SIX-SHOOTERS
Earlier at Tibbetts, the Bhoys' Metro Div. II side crushed New York Galicia 6-0 to claim first place [11-2-2, 35] from idle Europa FC with a game remaining.
John McGeeney [two], Nelly Magure [two], Martin Hughes and Marty Griffin tallied.
OVER-30 TIE
Shamrock's playoff bound Over-30s tied 1-1 with New York Greek-American/Atlas on Randalls Island.
Skipper Stephen Doyle fired the Rocks ahead [55th] from the penalty spot after Bingo O'Driscoll was fouled by the Greek goalie.
"The keeper should have been sent off [because] he was the last man," argued coach Paddy McCarry.
He wasn't and the Greeks equalized ten minutes later.
McCarry's lads meet Manhattan Kickers Premier in their final regular season game this Sunday [kick-off 9 am] on Randalls, with the West division title within grasp.
ROCKFALL
Shamrock first team player-coach Declan Condron [15th] scored early against New York Ukrainians on Roosevelt Island but still saw his team succumb 4-1 in the Division Two fixture.
Jacob Chase, Alex Broz, Cassio Costa and Mike Glass replied
for Ukrainians whose reserves
prevailed 3-1.
In that game, Shamrock captain Ruairi Lavery was on target, while Sergei Khaladzinski, Craig Thomas and Lukasz Prawozin starred for the Ukrainians.
FLAWLESS
Strikes by John Tanios, Sam Sneed and John Tanios after FC Japan had conceded an own goal made it 14 wins out of 14 starts for Division Two champions-designate Manhattan Celtic.
"Our goal is to try and finish undefeated. That's the plan if we can do it," said stand-in coach Ian Woodcock, who can do just that against NYPD
this Sunday.
His reserves vanquished Japan 6-0 courtesy of Barrie Taylor, an own goal, Jamie Hamilton, Dan Callow [two] and Matt Negus.
Woodcock pulled double duty on the day, coaching and playing in the Celtic Over-30s' 5-0 drubbing of FC Gjoa before driving to Randalls for the Japan game.
Scorers against Gjoa were: Mickey Mason [2nd], Barry O'Connell [34th, 80th], Messaoud Ouechtati [50th] and K.Z. Punnette [54th]. John O'Hagen and Greg Macek each had two assists.
