Local Fans Flock To Irish Times Pub For NFL Opener

On Sunday, hordes of football fans, eager to embark on another football season, gathered at .

Many enthusiastic patrons wore jerseys showing allegiance to their favorite New York team as they watched the Giants lose the season-openER to the Redskins, 28-14, and later went on to witness the Jets pull off a remarkable comeback in a 27-24 victory over the Cowboys.  The NFL's first full Sunday fell on the emotional day of the 10-year anniversary of 9-11.

Prior to the Jets' win, big Jets fan, Joey Parlante, 45, from Port Jefferson, was enjoying his first time at the Holbrook establishment.

"The wings are good," he said. "We'll find out tonight. You need the first win under your belt."

Parlante said the fact that it was also the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks caused everyone to "unite even more."

Giants fan, Mike Gragnano, 27, from Holbrook, predicted a grim fate for his team this season.

"I'm excited for the season; I'm not excited for the Giants.  I think they're going to be terrible.  They didn't do anything in the off-season," said Gragnano, as he made the best of things while sipping a cold pint of Guinness.

John Cirrincione, 43, of Port Jefferson, believes that this is the Jets' year.

"Two years in a row they were in the [conference] championship game. This year they'll be in the Super Bowl. I would say they're favorites," said Cirrincione adding, "but, I'm a Jets fan."

His brother Tom Cirrincione, 41, of Bayside, Queens agreed.

"The third time's the charm," he said. "It's going to make Giants fans very upset."

The younger Cirrincione brother cited the fact that the Jets scooped up Plaxico Burress, who last played in 2008 for the Giants before spending 20 months incarcerated on a gun charge, as a huge boon to the Jets' chances of going all the way this season.

Farmingville resident, Aaron Pentheros, 30, like many Giants fans this season is cautiously optimistic.

"I think they're going to do good. They've got a lot of good players, but a lot of their guys are hurt right now, like five of their staring players are hurt," Pentheros said grudgingly.

Holbrook's Ryan Clay, 22, was very excited about this year for the Jets, even before their auspicious season starter that took place during a thrilling game later that evening.

"We're very confident, the team and the fans, the third time is usually the charm," said Clay.  "I think Sanchez will finally be a man this year.  He's taking the training wheels off."

While John Bucaro, 29, from Hauppauge, believes that the Jets have a very strong team this season, he still feels it is not going to be easy to make it to the Super Bowl.

"They have a really difficult road once they hit the playoffs, dealing with New England and some other teams," Bucaro said.  "As a fan, I think they're going to get over that hump."