Freebooters have claimed the Pat Maher Shield once again after a 3-1 defeat of Bridge United.
15 mins into the Pat Maher Shield Final and Freebooters were 1 – 0 up on Bridge Utd. Very even opening to the game with both sides sizing up each other. In the 8th minute, Freebooters won themselves a corner and a lovely floated ball found the head of David Rice who of course made no mistake and put the blues 1 up. Bridge Utd were not gone out of this game yet though as Captain and Manager Conor English made some great runs around the midfield but was unable to beat the keeper with a few shots. So from a wet Kells road venue, it was Freebooters 1, Bridge Utd 0.
After 26 mins had gone, the game was level. That was until there was a free kick awarded to Bridge Utd in a very dangerous position on the edge of the box, Conor English put the free in between the keeper and the attackers and somehow the ball made its way into the back of the net. 28 mins gone now and it’s all level at 1-1.
Your match day teams.#PatMaherShieldFinal pic.twitter.com/LdodYwrOtK
— Kilkenny & District Soccer League (@KilkennyDSL) March 19, 2023
The second half was end-to-end stuff, as each side tried to gain an advantage. The advantage would go in favour of the City side on 65 minutes, Ger Hayes showed how lethal his right foot is, with a sweetly struck volley across the box which nestled into the goal.
It went from bad to worse for Bridge though as with 9 minutes to go Seanie Bolger doubled ‘Booter’s lead, striking just inside the 18-yard box to put it beyond goalie Aiden Hynes
Congrats to Freebooters on the fantastic achievement.