Duncans FC looking to build on TFA title success

WESTERN BUREAU:

Now that they have finally got their hands on the crown, Duncans Football Club executive member St Derrick Pryce says they have set their sights on winning more football titles.

Duncans crowned themselves champions of the 2024 Trelawny Football Association (TFA) Major League when they defeated neighbours Jackson Town FC 2-0 in Sunday's final at Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, near Falmouth.

"We have been around since 2016 and this is our second consecutive year in the final," Pryce noted after Sunday's championship game. "Duanvale defeated us 1-0 (last year), but this year we have made it one better by winning the final and becoming parish champions for the first time. This is just the beginning of where we want to go as a team."

The Duncans team, which is celebrating their eighth anniversary, walked away with bragging rights over their neighbours, the $200,000 winner's purse and the coveted trophy, symbol of football supremacy in the western parish. Jackson Town pocketed $100,000 for their losing effort.

After a lacklustre first half, which ended 0-0, Duncans sprung to life in the 69th minute when Oshane Plummer broke through the Jackson Town defence and slotted the ball past the helpless goalkeeper, Alex Rhoden, and into the goal, to set off wild celebrations among the supporters.

Duncans went into overdrive following their goal and had their opponents under siege for long periods and after coming close on a few occasions, finally doubled their lead in the 77th minute. An alert Garfield Stewart pounced on a pass out of midfield and fired into the goal, making the final score 2-0.

When referee Vinroy Hylton blew the final whistle, elated Duncans supporters raced on to the field, blowing their horns while giving the players celebratory hugs.

In congratulating the Duncans team, Dwight Jeremiah, vice president of TFA, expressed gratitude to the competition's new sponsor, Councillor Fabian Davis, who was among their enthusiastic spectators.

"I must give thanks to Fabo (Fabian Davis) for coming forward with the $500,000 in sponsorship. It went a far way in helping the association to run the 10-team round robin competition," said Jeremiah.

Dawkins, the councillor for the Duncans division in the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, said he was happy to have been able to sponsor the competition, and even happier that the team from his community won.

"I am a winner today. Both teams that played in the final are from my division. I am happy because we were able to play the match at the stadium," said Davis. "The TFA can look forward to my sponsorship support going forward," said Dawkins.