Latest News
Jermie Lynch is back - Former national striker nets double for Portmore United in JPL return
January 23, 2025
Striker Jermie Lynch marked his return to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) with Portmore United on Wednesday, scoring a late brace after coming on as a second-half substitute to lead his team to a 3-0 win over Chapelton Maroons.
Lynch made it 2-0 in the 79th minute to add to Romeo Guthrie's 38th-minute opener.
He then added the finishing touch to Cardel Benbow's pass five minutes later to put the game to bed.
However, the forward who had not played in over a year, after leaving the Vietnam League One in 2023, revealed he also did a surgery this year, and that staying fit and helping Portmore make the playoffs are his main priorities.
"I have been in Vietnam for six years playing. I have had a lot of injuries, so I didn't get to sign back," he said.
"Coming back to Jamaica, I got the call from Horace Reid and he told me that the door was open and that I am welcome to the club and I am happy to be here. He gave me the opportunity to continue doing what I love and that is to continue playing," Lynch said.
In his early days playing in the Premier League, Lynch was a scoring ace for Harbour View FC.
His goalscoring prowess for the Stars of the East landed him a spot in the Reggae Boyz team.
SURGERY
Lynch disclosed that since his return injury and surgery kept him out of the game for a year and after such a long layoff, he doesn't want his stint to end prematurely and is focusing on staying injury-free.
"I have been in Jamaica since November 2023, but I had an injury and then I ended up doing surgery in 2024.
"All that kept me out for like 18 months and this is the first time playing a JPL game since 2018. So I am just happy to be back," he stated.
"My expectation is to just stay fit and try to help the team as much as possible. We need to go to the playoffs and that is the main goal.
"We would like to finish first or second in the table so we can get the automatic semi-final spot. But if that is not possible, we just need to make it to the playoffs and take it from there."
Although he scored twice on his season debut, Lynch believes it will take time for him to get back to his best.
"It is going to take me a little while, not because I scored today (Wednesday). But to be back at my best and be the Jermie Lynch that everybody knows it is going to take a while
"Once I can get four, five games going and keep the consistency and if I stay healthy with no injuries, I will try to get fit so that when playoff comes I will be running like a train. By that time it will be the same old Jermie Lynch that everybody knows," the two-time Premier League champion stated.
He added: "When I play I just don't play to score, I always trya to help the team, even if I have to run back and challenge and head or kick out a ball.
"My thing was to come in today and just get a feel of the game again, and I got in the position to score a goal or two and I took them and I am happy for that. It's a very good feeling to get two goals on your return."
UNLIKELY PERIODS
Chapelton coach Jermaine Douglas said they conceded the goals at unlikely periods during the match.
"We started poorly but weathered the storm and then just as we got a foothold in the game we gave away a poor goal and after that we were always chasing," he said.
Portmore stay fifth but are level on 33 points with sixth-place Waterhouse, who beat Harbour View 1-0 on Andre Fletcher's 12th-minute penalty.
The day's other game between Dunbeholden and Vere Phoenix ended 1-1.
The League continues today with four matches.
