5 days ago
3
Glenmuir High School and St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) secured their places in the 2025 ISSA daCosta Cup final, after wins over Dinthill and Kemps Hill, respectively, in the semi-finals at Sabina Park yesterday.
Glenmuir went a step closer to their first daCosta Cup title in 13 years, after coming from behind to beat Dinthill Technical 2-1 on a brace from captain Orane Watson (62nd, 90th +). Omanie Morrison gave Dinthill a 47th-minute lead.
STETHS, who are also seeking their first title in a decade, defeated Kemps Hill 1-0, on a 48th-minute strike from Kenoy Banton, to book a place in the championship decider.
After having the better of the first half, Glenmuir found themselves behind when Morrison got in behind on Niclas Paris’ pass and toed the ball past Justin Murray for the opener.
Watson restored parity, when he went down under a challenge from Morrison in the box, and slotted home the resulting penalty for his 25th goal of the season.
Watson found the winner in time added, capitalising on a poor defensive clearance, before evaded goalkeeper Dante Clarke and lifting the ball over two defenders on the line and into the far corner of the goal.
“He has been really immense,” said winning coach Andrew Peart of his talisman, Watson.
“There is a burden the (Glenmuir) captains carry. Zakari Messam won something in 2022. Kyle Gordon won something in 2023. Jason Whyte won something last year.
“So that burden, that pressure, that expectation is on him and he delivered how he knows best. Real credit to him. It may not have been his best game overall, but he had decisive moments,” Peart noted.
“The team showed great spirit, great resolve. This is a missing quality we needed most years. But so far this season, this team has shown that when we have gone behind, we have managed to come back. So hats off to them. We found a way to win,” he stated.
Dinthill coach Lenworth Hyde said his team gave a good account of themselves.
“The commitment and discipline was there for most parts. But we relaxed at times and lost balls in key areas, and that one cost the goal,” he said.
STETHS secured their date with destiny thanks to Banton’s lone strike.
STETHS were the main protagonist throughout and were always a threat going forward, with Kaieem Lewis, Banton, and Deanadre Barnett creating havoc for the Kemps Hill defence.
Nevertheless, the Clarendon school held their own and had opportunities as well. However, it was STETHS who had the decisive moment, three minutes into the second half.
Barnett played a pass to Banton down the right of the penalty area, and the winger slipped the ball past the advancing Omario Edwards for the game’s only goal.
Barnett had a glorious chance to add a second in the 84th-minute, but he put the ball wide of the post with only Edwards to beat.
STETHS coach Omar Wedderburn said it was objective met, on the day.
“The expectation was to reach the final. From the round of 16 started, we haven’t thought about performances any more. We think about result.
“So we are focused more on result over performance, because you can perform well and the results don’t go in your favour. So we stress more on the result than performance,” he said
“We feel good as staff and players, because a lot of people left St Elizabeth to come to Sabina Park without [electric] current at home. So we feel good we could let them go home with a little joy and some life back into their communities, based on today.”
English (US) ·