Champions turn back newcomers in Manning, daCosta Cup finals

As the ISSA Manning and daCosta Cup competitions came to an end over the weekend, it was a case of past champions getting the better of newcomers in both competitions as Kingston College (KC) and Garvey Maceo High added to their history with respective wins.

KC, now 17-time Manning Cup champions, defeated St Catherine High 3-1 in their fixture on Friday, while Garvey Maceo claimed their third daCosta Cup title on Saturday as they turned back McGrath High 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

St Catherine and McGrath were both chasing history as the two schools made their first appearance in the finals.

KC took firm control of the Manning Cup final from the first whistle and ran out comfortable victors.

St Catherine's assistant coach, Donovan Lofters, praised his players for their effort this season despite the bittersweet end to their campaign.

"You can call it a defeat but we are privileged to be in the final two teams and we feel great. The fans are still here celebrating with us, they're hugging us and they are proud of us. It is not our day today but we will be back," he said.

Vassell Reynolds, head coach of KC, was a jubilant figure on the night as he stated that the Manning Cup title had come one year earlier than he had projected.

"Unexpectedly, we reached the semi-finals last year with a young team. For this season, we would have lost four or five of our key players but we figured that we wanted to reach at least the same feat as last year."

He continued, "Every phase of the competition, we pushed to see to what extent we can go. Once we reached the semi-finals, it was all systems go in terms of winning the Manning Cup."

Garvey Maceo had to dig deep in their contest as they were trailing 1-0 in time added for second-half stoppages, but late heroics from Omarion O'Brian pulled them level with seconds to spare, before they snatched the title in the penalty shootout.

Jermaine Thomas, head coach of McGrath, commended his players for their performance, but felt the loss of key player Devone Davis, who had to exit the field due to injury, proved costly.

"It's a tough one but I have to commend the team first. I thought they played well and they acquitted themselves well. The old trick worked because once Devone was out, I always thought it was going to be difficult for us."

His opposite number, Lester Hibbert, said Garvey Maceo's title came from their belief.

"Just belief," he stated. "Even in the celebrations I got a scar and that is for the Cubans family and the people that never gave up in us. A true believer is a real believer and we did it."

KC and Garvey Maceo will now contest the ISSA Olivier Shield for all-island schoolboy football supremacy. The match is set for Saturday, December 14.