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Balmagie, St Catherine claim Kingston regional titles

Published:Sunday | January 14, 2024 | 12:09 AMGregory Bryce - Staff Reporter
Ian Allen/Photographer Members of the Balmagie Primary School celebrate after scoring against Spanish Town Primary in the Football Youth League Junior Cup Kingston Regionals under-12 final at University of the West Indies Mona Bowl yesterday.
Ian Allen
Ian Allen/Photographer Members of the Balmagie Primary School celebrate after scoring against Spanish Town Primary in the Football Youth League Junior Cup Kingston Regionals under-12 final at University of the West Indies Mona Bowl yesterday.

UNDER CLEAR blue skies at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Bowl yesterday, Balmagie Primary and St Catherine High School walked away with the Youth Football League Junior Cup Under-12 and Under-13 Kingston Regional titles.

Balmagie claimed top spot on the podium among the Under-12s, while St Catherine reigned supreme among the Under-13s.

In this year’s edition, the Under-12 competition saw teams placed in two groups in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout rounds.

Meanwhile, the Under-13 division saw the teams competing in a single-league format. Each team played all the other teams once, with the leader at the end of the fixtures being crowned champions.

It was an all-primary-school affair in the finals of the Under-12 division, as red-hot Balmagie, fresh off a four-game win streak, faced off against an unbeaten Spanish Town Primary unit.

It was a physical encounter throughout, with Balmagie capturing the title through Damario Palmer’s cheeky back heel at the back post, creating the game’s lone goal in the dying moments.

Balmagie head coach, Donald Eccleston, says he wasn’t surprised by his team’s performance, because they have only tasted defeat once in their last three tournaments. Eccleston said that he is also confident that his team will claim the all-island title when they get back into action in February.

“This wasn’t a surprise to me because I know the quality players that I have and what they are capable of. They are prepared for every youth competition that we are going to be entering. Surely, this team will bring home the all-island championship,” he said.

In the Under-13 competition, St Catherine saw off a title charge from runners-up Norbrook Strikers.

St Catherine finished atop the league with 10 points to secure the Kingston Regional title, edging Norbrook Strikers by a single point.

The Kingston Regionals ended with Balmagie Primary, Spanish Town Primary, Norbrook Strikers and Hillel Academy qualifying for the Under-12 all-island finals, while St Catherine Primary and Norbrook Strikers will take part in the U-13 all-island finals.

The Junior Cup’s next stop will be the Manchester Regionals on January 20.

Eccleston is also confident that his team will claim the all-island title.