ST CATHERINE High School’s quest for their first ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup football title face a tough hurdle today when they visit many-time champions Wolmer’s Boys’ School for a second-round return-leg clash.

The Anthony Patrick-coached St Catherine holds a slight advantage following a 2-0 win on their school grounds in the first-leg encounter on Saturday.

St Catherine have never won the Manning Cup, but have been knocking on the door for several seasons, including 2019 and 2021 when they won the Walker Cup, the knockout football competition for Corporate Area high schools.

They also “stumbled” after making it to the quarterfinal stage in 2018, 2019 and last year.

For Patrick, words cannot express what winning this year’s Manning Cup title would mean for the school community.

“Bridgeport [High] is the only school in the parish to win it. So, it would be fitting and very good for the school named after the parish to actually win it,” he told The Gleaner yesterday.

“So, this season we want to make an impact and so far so good.”

But their title aspirations will face a daunting test against the Jerome Waite-coached Wolmer’s Boys’ team with their season on the line.

Waite, who has previously won the Manning Cup with Charlie Smith High School, is widely known as a very tricky tactician and yesterday he sounded an ominous warning.

“They were the better team on the day based on the playing conditions. This time around they will be on a good field, a grass field that requires quality football,” he said, referring to the playing surface at The Mico College University, where the game will be played.

“I have to go for a win because I’m already down two nil and that’s the whole objective,” Waite added, noting that his team would also try to avoid conceding a goal, citing the away-goal rule.

But Patrick said the mindset for his boys will be the same as the first-leg encounter and he does not expect overconfidence to creep in.

“It will be the same positive mindset. The players are eager to take the pitch, they want to make a mark, a positive impact and hopefully we’ll get a positive result,” he said.

The St Catherine-Wolmer’s game is one of eight second-round return leg games, scheduled for today.

Kingston College, another of the many-time Manning Cup champions, will be looking to press home their advantage following a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Campion College in the first leg on Saturday.

The game will be the first of two at the Stadium East Complex.

Haile Selassie High and Tivoli Gardens will face off in the feature with everything to play for after a goalless first leg. The games are set for 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

In what is expected to be another close encounter, Excelsior host Hydel at their Mountain View Avenue compound starting at 3 p.m. Their first-leg game ended 0-0.

Mona High are in the drivers’ seat for their encounter with Jonathon Grant High at 1 p.m. Mona lead that tie, set for the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College, 4-0. Also at Ashenheim, defending champions, Jamaica College (JC), tackle Eltham High at 3:00 p.m. JC are also in a strong position with a 3-0 lead from the first leg.

St George’s College play St Jago High at its North Street compound starting at 3 p.m, bolstered by a 2-0 advantage away, while the high-riding St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) will face Kingston Technical High also at 3:15 p.m. STATHS lead that encounter 4-0. That encounter will be the second of a doubleheader at Mico.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com [3]

Today’s Games

Mona vs Jonathan Grant at Ashenheim Stadium (1 p.m.)

Wolmer’s vs St Catherine at Mico (1:15 p.m.)

Kingston College vs Campion Stadium East (2:30 p.m.)

Excelsior vs Hydel at Excelsior (3 p.m.)

St George’s vs St Jago at Emmett Park (3 p.m.)

STATHS vs Kingston Tech at Mico (3:15 p.m.)

Jamaica College vs Eltham at Ashenheim Stadium (3:15 p.m.)

Haile Selassie vs Tivoli at Stadium East (4:30 p.m.)