DaCosta Cup quarter-final list almost set

Western Bureau:

QUARTER-FINALISTS from seven of the eight zones in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) daCosta Cup football competition were decided in the final round games yesterday.

The quarter-finals promise to serve up some exciting clashes with teams playing out of a group of four vying for one semi-final spot, starting next Saturday. At the end of the three-game round, the group winners will also qualify for the ISSA Champions Cup, while the winners and second-place teams will play for the Ben Francis KO Cup.

One of high-flying William Knibb High School or Dinthill Technical, who both topped their zone, will not make it to the semi-finals. Also, one cannot fail to consider that they both could miss out, as one of the Clarendon teams in the exciting zone E, which is yet to be decided, could spoil their party. An undefeated Christina High will also want to have their say and upset the group.

William Knibb’s coach, Dwight Jeremiah, believes the zone A table-toppers will get things right for the quarter-finals.

MAKING A STATEMENT

“We wanted to top the zone for more than one reason. We want to send statements and also build a culture of topping the zone, which we have now done for the past two season,” said Jeremiah.

Coach of Dinthill Technical, O’Neil Thomas, said they are eyeing silverware this season.

“We are not counting our chickens, but we are coming all out. We know that William Knibb and the Clarendon teams are playing well, but we are looking for silverware so it will be a hard task going forward,” he added.

Twelve-time champions Cornwall College will face high-flying Manchester High, McGrath High and one of the Clarendon teams in group four.

Warren Barrett, assistant coach of Cornwall College, said they are happy to have achieved their primary objective, adding that there are no expectations of any title challenge for his young team.

“It’s good for their morale and confidence and the school on a whole, getting into the quarter-finals. We know it gets more difficult from here on in, but I hope we can pick things up again for a good run,” Barrett said.

Seven-time champions Munro College, who won their last title over half a decade ago, have drawn unbeaten The Manning’s School, who topped zone B, nine-time champions Vere Technical and Happy Grove High, who topped zone G, in group two.

Group three will see three former champions St Elizabeth Tech (5), Garvey Maceo, Frome and St Thomas Technical.

Yesterday’s results

- Petersfield 1 Godfrey Stewart 1

- Alston 1 DeCarteret College 2

- Foga Road 3 Vere 3

- Seaforth 1 Happy Grove 2

- Lacovia 0 STETHS 1

- Rusea’s 2 Green Pond 3

- McGrath 9 St Mary High 0

- York Castle 2 Charlemont 4

- Frome 0 Mannings 3

- Holmwood 4 Belair 2

- Christiana 0 Manchester 0

- Brown’s Town 0 Ocho Rios 0

- Old Harbour 0 Garvey Maceo 6

- Port Antonio 0 St. Thomas Tech 2

- B.B. Coke 1 Munro College 0