February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Paddy Gerathy, who netted the winner when the Rocks last triumphed in the league, 1-0 over CD Iberia in April 2004, returned to the side for the first time since the fall to key the victory.
It was the young forward’s corner kick that big defender Bingo O’Driscoll headed powerfully into the net in the fifth minute. Later, Gerathy rose above the Brooklyn defense to nod in a Mark Cawley cross (70:00).
“We had several chances to go up 3-0, but their goalie had a good game,” said Italians coach John Guildea.
Ironically, the Italians stepped it up after they had a player red carded (75:00) and were able to pull back a goal when the ball broke loose in the box and was fired past stand-in goalie Kevin McPartland.
Gerathy and McPartland apart, the Rocks’ retro look was completed by the return of 46 year-old midfield veteran Paul Wilson, who was the last Shamrock coach to pick up three points.
Guildea, Wilson’s successor, was delighted with the result as the last place Irishmen (1-7-2, 5) battle relegation in Division One (West).
“The more games we have the better we get,” he said.
Up next is a crunch match with Central Park Rangers, who lead Shamrock by four points, but have played three games more.
BAD BREAK
Midfielder Shane Gallagher, hobbling from a knee injury suffered in the 3-1 defeat by Manhattan Kickers two weeks earlier, bravely suited up against Brooklyn Italians but was flattened by a tackle late in the first half that broke his left ankle.
Said Shamrock official Eltin Colman, giving Gallagher kudos: “He put the shirt on when he shouldn’t have because he knows what trouble we’re in.”
RESERVES ROCKED
Derry native Mark Cassidy and Niall Carolan, who hails from Cavan, were on target for the Shamrock seconds in a 4-2 loss to the Brooklyn reserves.
Shamrock trailed 3-0 at the interval but rallied back to 3-2 before conceding a fourth goal.
Reserve coach Sean Keogh said they gave up three easy goals in the first half but could have equalized in the end had they had more time.
BHOYS TIE
Lansdowne Bhoys put the brakes on hot CD Iberia with an exciting 2-2 tie, courtesy of CJ Doherty’s 86th minute leveler.
Iberia, with conquests over giants Pancyprian Freedoms, Athletic Club and New York Albanians in a seven-match unbeaten run going back to last October, twice led through Nigerian phenom Ron Azinge (15th, 38th).
The Bhoys were, however, in their usual fighting form, pegging back the Spanish side through the in-form Damien Mascall, who intercepted a back pass to goalie Ben (38th), before Doherty struck the equalizer (86th) following a Dessie Beattie cross.
“We came back as usual and did what we had to do,” remarked coach Paul Doherty. “It was an absolutely fantastic team effort.”
Doherty still gave special mention to goalie Robbie O’Neill for a brilliant showing and gushed over the exceptional Azinge.
“He’s excellent. He should be playing for the MetroStars,” he said of the African ace.
Lansdowne (4-7-2, 14) moved five points clear of bottom side Koha in Division One (East), albeit the Albanian club now has two games in hand.
The Lansdowne reserves were trounced 4-0.