Last men standing
St Catherine upstage JC, KC head to Manning Cup final
Published:Wednesday | December 4, 2024 | 12:12 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
ST CATHERINE High School upstaged defending champions and title favourites, Jamaica College, 5-4 on penalty kicks in the Manning Cup semifinals to book their first-ever final at the National Stadium yesterday.
There were no upsets in the second semifinal of the evening as Kingston College made their way into the Manning Cup final courtesy of a 2-0 win over Hydel. That victory was earned through a Matrim Martin brace, the forward scoring in the 16th and in the first minute of time added.
In the first encounter, captain Romaine Walter fired St Catherine in front from the penalty spot after 12 minutes. But Nashordo Gibbs restored parity four minutes before halftime.
When the teams failed to separate themselves after 90 minutes, the dreaded penalties were required and St Catherine were perfect from the spot, as they look to add the coveted Manning Cup to the Walker Cup trophy they won last season.
“We know they have a deeper squad than us. But I told the youngsters after getting the go-ahead goal that no matter what happens, we have to keep our heads in the game.
“They got the equaliser and we just asked them to fight, dig deep and keep them out as best as possible and carry them to the penalty shootout and once we get to the penalty shootout, it would be very good for us,” St Catherine coach Anthony Patrick commented.
He added that his team will have nothing to lose when they face Kingston College in Friday’s final at the same venue.
“It’s a one-way street. We have nothing to lose, other than just give it our best and hope our best is good enough,” he said.
JC started the brighter of the teams and gave St Catherine goalkeeper Omarion Brown an early warning with a shot after five minutes.
However, it was St Catherine who took the lead against the run of play, after a JC defender was called for a handball in the box.
Walters then converted the spot kick to give St Catherine the early lead.
JC had a big chance in the 27th but Jabarie Howell failed in his attempt to go around goalkeeper Brown.
The champions pulled level in the 39th when Dyllan John set up Jamoy Dennis, who crossed for Nashordo Gibbs to finish into an empty net.
However, in first-half stoppage time, Giovanni Taylor missed a glorious opportunity from close range to put JC in the lead.
After the break Taylor and then Dennis (twice) had good openings but failed to hit the target.
John also had a tremendous opportunity after combining with Dennis but he placed his effort wide from 10 yards.
JC continued to dominate, while St Catherine appeared to have run out of ideas, as Dennis fired another great chance wide in the 89th minute.
JC coach Davion Ferguson said he always feared going to penalties, especially being without number-one goalkeeper Tawayne Lynch, who received a three-match ban for verbally abusing a referee in their Champions Cup quarterfinal.
“Disappointed I would say. We knew if we didn’t win the game in normal time it would be difficult. We really went for it, but it wasn’t to be,” he said.
“It is clear for everybody to see that’s where our season changed (when we lost Lynch). Had we had him here today, I am sure we wouldn’t have conceded the goal we conceded.
“But our season hit a snag from that Champions Cup in Montego Bay. From that day onwards our season hasn’t been the same.
“Also, one of our most experienced players, who has won Manning Cup before missed unexpectedly. But such is the nature of the game. We had to be perfect from the spot and we weren’t.”