Fri | Dec 27, 2024

Plucky Dinthill could spoil STETHS' party

Published:Friday | December 4, 2015 | 4:51 PMPaul Clarke
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Dinthill's coach Anthony Patrick
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Romaine Brown of Dinthill (right), turns expertly away from an incoming tackle from Jevaughn Bailey of Manchester High, during a recent daCosta Cup semi-final match at the Juici Field in Clarendon.
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Western Bureau:

After a long, often frustrating 34-year wait, Dinthill Technical now have the chance to once again play for the ISSA-FLOW daCosta Cup title, when they clash with St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) in this afternoon's final at the Montego Bay Sports Complex at 4:30 p.m.

Much is riding on this one, as Anthony Patrick, in his first year as head coach of Dinthill, will be on the cusp of joining an elite set of coaches - Jackie Walters, Oliver Clue and Frank Brown to have won both the daCosta and Manning Cups, but for him the focus should rightly remain on his players.

"It's really about them. If we play our game and win the final against STETHS, everybody associated with Dinthill will be happy. That is what we are hoping for," coach Patrick said.

"It is their good side against our good side. Anything can happen, but we are very happy to be here and want to do our best. We want to win and is going out there to win," he added.

According to Patrick, his team has what it takes and have been preparing all season for this moment.

He said that as far back as in April, along with assistant coach Curtis Hamilton, the team's management, the entire school have been in support of their dreams.

"Everyone has played a part in us reaching this far, but my hat is off to the players. They have given all to this moment. Confidence is right where we want it to be and it's a good feeling," the coach said.

As well it should be. With the prodigious talent of Rodave Murray in full swing, he has one of the most lethal strikers in the game. They will need him and the team's tenacity to be crowned champions. Murray has 27 goals to his name.

Not to mention goalkeeper George Brown, whose efforts between the posts has been underrated to say the least. Brown has been a tremendous part of Dinthill's march to the final and will be called upon this afternoon to once again be the wall to stop Michael Kerr and company from scoring.

"Big Brown is a huge part of our success. I think he is the best at the position in his age group," stated Patrick.

"But football is a team sport, so all our players have been impressive. Now we must take it to the STETHS team to win," he said.

- Paul Clarke