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CSL Preview: Lofty goals accompany Lansdowne’s ascent

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The 11 a.m. encounter at Van Cortlandt Park between the two promotion sides may have “grudge match” written all over it. But Lansdowne coach Damien Dunleavy calls it a blessing in disguise as the Bhoys savor what has been a meteoric rise to the CSL top flight.
“I think it’s the best opener we can get,” Dunleavy said last week. “We know [Kickers] from last year. We know their strengths and weaknesses.”
Lansdowne’s debut in the Div. 1 is the culmination of a three-year odyssey that has seen them win promotion each season in their quest to play with the best in New York metro area amateur soccer.
Some of the clubs in the expanded Div. 1 (now comprising 14 teams) are the Ronan Downs coached New York Athletic Club, Shamrock, Koha, New York Albanians, New York Greek-American/Atlas, CD Iberia, Polonia and defending champs Pancyprian Freedoms.
Having made it to the top after back-to-back championship seasons in Metro Div. I (CSL’s de facto Div. 3) and Div. 2, Dunleavy says his Bhoys are there to stay.
“We’re there to cement ourselves as a team,” he said.
They have a stronger squad, too, from the panel that finished runners-up in Div. 2 last season with an 11-2-3 (win, loss, draw) record.
“We’re getting nearly 30 guys at training and their commitment is unbelievable,” Dunleavy said.
Among them are several new signings, three of whom have jumped ship from Shamrock SC. These are defensive midfielder Mick Hennessy, fullback Freddy Fitzpatrick and shot-stopper Jim Keady — the latter a much-needed cure for Lansdowne’s goalkeeping woes.
“Lansdowne have struggled to find a permanent keeper that has experience the past two, three years. Keady is a good acquisition,” remarked Dunleavy.
Together, the former Shamrock trio bring to the club invaluable Div. 1 experience that could be vital to the Bhoys’ survival at that level.
Lansdowne’s biggest signing, however, is center-half J.P. Boyle, an ex-pro with Donegal in the League of Ireland.
Dunleavy is aglow at Boyle’s recruitment.
“He’s been around couple of months,” the coach gushed. “He’s absolutely a major signing.”
Conor Hunter, a 19-year-old winger who previously played semi-pro football with Cliftonville in the Northern Ireland League, should be another impact player for the promotion side. As should returning striker Dessie Beattie, a key figure in Lansdowne’s promotion run, and midfielder C.J. Doherty.
There’s certainly cause for optimism at Van Cortlandt Park as the Bhoys embark on a new challenge.
Dunleavy likes the side Lansdowne have assembled and concludes: “On our day, we’re capable of beating anyone.”
In a pre-season friendly at Van Cortland Park last Sunday, Lansdowne edged Div. 2 Astoria Gaels, 2-1, on goals by Dessie Green and Peter Maginn.
Izhar Harpas struck twice as the Bhoys reserves blanked Gaels’ second team, 2-0.

Reserves hopeful
Like their senior side, Lansdowne’s reserves are confident of giving a good account of themselves in Division One.
“We hope to give it a good run and try to establish ourselves,” said Sean Hall, Lansdowne’s president, who also doubles as the reserve coach.
Hall has the core of last season’s squad back, meaning more goal-scoring exploits from John O’Driscoll and Brendan Moran, the veteran leadership of Eammon Duffy, and the strong presence of Michael “Mogo” Flood, among others.
“The reserves are very strong,” Dunleavy chipped in. “With the first team being strengthened, more players from the first team will be available for the reserves.”
Lansdowne finished second in the Div. 2 Reserve competition last season.

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