Phelan makes it a ’Boot-iful night for the Blues!

Chris Phelan was the toast of the blue section of the city after he headed Freebooters to Maher Shield glory on Saturday night.

The midfielder was in the right place at the right time as he popped up at the back post to nod home from a corner, making it three straight Shield titles for ’Booters.

They had to do it the hard way though, as their Premier Division rivals Evergreen pushed them all the way for the first spoils of the domestic season.

It was the men from the Kells Road who made the opening chances on Thomastown’s superb new all-weather pitch, with Blues netminder Craig Cummins showing good hands to stop Andrew Wall’s early header. Freebooters held firm, but suffered a wobble when Emmet Nugent was forced out of the game through injury after just 12 minutes.

With ’Booters trying to settle back into the game Evergreen sensed an opportunity, but they couldn’t find an opening.

The pressure was on Freebooters but, all of a sudden, they lifted the siege and took an unlikely lead. Having defended for most of the first quarter, they took the lead when Jim Ryan - now leading the attack in Nugent’s absence - stretched to reach a menacing 23rd minute cross from the right wing. His touch was a telling one, sending the ball home inside the left post.

Evergreen were stunned by that goal, but cleared their heads and went back on the attack. Ethan Phelan sparked panic in the Blues ranks when he fizzed a low ball across the box before the half hour.

They went even closer on 35 minutes. Once more Phelan was involved when, after haring down the left, he pulled a low cross back across the box. Racing on to the delivery, the unmarked Ify Nzewi made a clean connection for what seemed a certain goal, but Craig Cummins dived to his left to make a super save.

The game had livened up with both sides going on the attack. It was Freebooters’ turn to threaten after that, Ryan controlling a Ger Hayes pass and taking a shot at the target, but his 37th minute effort flashed wide.

The game was developing a real see-saw nature, so it was no surprise when Evergreen forced play down the other end - and scored. Dean Cornally was the architect, whipping a dangerous into the box. Mikey Drennan was the intended target, but as two Freebooters defenders rose to challenge, one got a nick on the ball, diverting it past Cummins.

Gary Maher’s side were on fire now and turned the game their way with a second goal just five minutes later. There was no good fortune in the finish - just a sensational strike. Having tested Cummins earlier, Nzewi made no mistake with his second attempt when he ran on to a loose ball and unleashed a sublime effort from distance that curled into the top right corner of the ’Booters net.

It was a goal good enough to win any final - but within five minutes it was cancelled out as Freebooters hit back!

With the half now deep in injury-time, Joe Banville found time to go on one last attack. After his first cross was cut out he tried again, whipping in a menacing ball. Evergreen were caught out and paid the price when Jamie Holden popped up at the back post to turn the delivery in.

After all the first half fireworks both sides tried to deliver a second half that had a similar sparkle, but it failed to hit the same heights. Chances were at a premium, with both sides shuffling their packs in an effort to turn the game their way.

For Evergreen, their best opportunity came when Andrew Wall stole in to get on the end of a teasing Mikey Drennan free, but he couldn’t guide his 54th minute effort inside the back post.

It wasn’t long before Freebooters had a crack at the target. Jason Hennessy went close to giving them the lead when he was set up for a strike at goal, but sub goalkeeper Vinny O’Grady did well to push the shot to safety.

With the stalemate surviving as time ticked by, both sides could have been forgiven for thinking the game was going to go the full distance. However, that all changed when Chris Phelan struck four minutes from time.

Wriggling free from his marker, Phelan did well to meet Eddie Nugent’s floated corner and head it home inside the far post.

Freebooters had one hand on the title - but it was also wrenched away in dramatic fashion. The final was well into injury-time when Evergreen gave it one last throw of the dice.

In an almost carbon copy move of Jamie Holden’s first half goal, a green and white attack down the left ended with a looping cross into the box. Craig Cummins did well to push it to safety from under his crossbar.

When the clearance fell to the unmarked Lee Delaney the back of the net beckoned - but Dion Fitzpatrick’s goal-line block saved the day for ’Booters.

Freebooters - Craig Cummins; Ger Hayes, Leon Hayes (Dion Fitzpatrick, 78 mins), David Rice, Jamie Holden; Chris Phelan, Ben Ryan (Jack Cornally, 79 mins); Joe Banville (Harry Jordan, 90 mins), Jim Ryan, Ben Maher (Eddie Nugent, 72 mins); Emmet Nugent (Jason Hennessy, 12 mins).

Evergreen - Nathan Owens (Vinny O’Grady, 48 mins); Jason Quan, Adrian Cleere, Lee Delaney, Damien Kelly (Chris Whearty, 90 mins); Ify Nzewi, Dean Cornally (Tommy Earls, 80 mins); Ethan Phelan, Jamie Owens (Dillon Lawless, 56 mins), Mikey Drennan; Andrew Wall (David Grincell, 72 mins).

Referee - Derek Brennan. Assistants - Tristan Eardley, Kevin O’Neill.