Asher Hutchinson having memorable first season

Dinthill Technical goalkeeper Asher Hutchinson sees his school's run to the ISSA Champions Cup final as a proud moment in his maiden year at the schoolboy level.

Dinthill Technical got by Jamaica College (JC) 5-4 on penalties in Saturday's semi-final to vault the Linstead-based school to its first-ever Champions Cup final.

Tied 0-0 after regulation time, the teams were perfect after three rounds in the shootout before JC's Michael Graham's shot hit the post in the fourth round. Dinthill's Shamar Martin scored the winning penalty on their final attempt.

"It means a lot knowing it is my first year and this is the first time, so it is history for me," Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson was previously part of the Mount Pleasant Football Academy in St Ann, but left to have an opportunity to play at the schoolboy football level.

He kept JC at bay during regulation time, and in the second round of the shootout, though he had forced a saved but saw the shot trickle into the net. He said that he had the full confidence of his team throughout the rounds, even against a fierce opponent such as the reigning Manning Cup champions.

"We were pretty confident because it is what we have been training for and we just executed," Hutchinson said.

It is a victory that has guaranteed that a rural school will win the tournament for the second time since it's inception in 2014, as they will face Clarendon College (CC) in the final. CC defeated 2019 champions Kingston College in the semi-finals. With a trophy and rural pride on the line, Hutchinson said that they are relishing the opportunity to claim a maiden Champions Cup title for the Dinthill supporters.