'Fort shock Evergreen and Bridge United pull off a thrilling comeback - Kilkenny Live

Fort Rangers arguably caused the surprise of the weekend in the Kilkenny & District League on Sunday, beating Evergreen emphatically to secure a place in the Maher Shield Final and a date with Bridge United on Saturday, March 14.

The pair are currently tussling it out in the St Canice's Credit Union Premier Division title race, with Fort Rangers' only defeat of the league season coming against last weekend's opponents. No doubt last weekend's result will inject Emmet Nugent's side with confidence ahead of their crucial second league meeting of the season in the coming weeks.

Reporter Kevin Gaffney in Cuffesgrange - After an edgy start to the game between the sides, it was 'Fort who broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark. Emmet Nugent cut in from the left and hit the post from the edge of the box. The oncoming Evergreen defender went to clear the ball, but it ricocheted off Eddie into the Evergreen net.

Just before the break, it was 2-0 to the locals when Jason Hennessy floated a ball to the back post and Eddie Nugent headed home from just inside the six-yard box. Fort led 2-0 at the break.

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'Fort went 3-0 in front, on the hour mark, when a long ball found its way through to Emmet Nugent, and he made no mistake, rounding the goalkeeper and calmly finishing to the net. The goal of the game came just under the 90th minute when Emmet Nugent broke from the edge of his own box, following an Evergreen corner kick. He ran the full length of the pitch, losing his left boot, just over the halfway line. He continued his run and toe poked home past the Evergreen keeper to make it 4-0 to 'Fort.

During a significant amount of added time and a controversial penalty awarded to the Kells Road side, the visitors pulled two back courtesy of the Mikey Drennan spot kick (94th minute) and David Grincell (97th minute) but it wasn't enough to rescue the tie for Gary Maher's charges. 

Meanwhile, Bridge United turned around a two-goal deficit to book their place in the decider with a 3-2 win over East End United.

Bill Nolan and Noah Walsh Brennan gave the Bennettsbridge outfit (41st and 69th minute) a two-goal advantage and perhaps one foot in the Maher Shield Final.

However, Bridge United delivered a period of cup magic, scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes to turn their fortunes around.

A Connor English penalty proved to be the catalyst, with his spot kick narrowing the deficit to one on the 71st minute. Just six minutes later, the pendulum had swung completely as both Eoin Kavanagh and Kieran Timmons netted (73rd and 77th minutes).

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