Old foes face off for place in Ben Francis final

Former Ben Francis Cup champions McGrath High School and Cornwall College are still hoping for silverware and have come increasingly close to achieving that.

Last year’s beaten daCosta Cup finalists, McGrath, were disappointed to have been knocked out of that competition but have a chance at redemption, beginning with today’s Ben Francis Cup semi-final against Cornwall at the Drax Hall Sports Complex. Cornwall, though, have returned to being one of the teams to watch under the tutelage of former national midfielder Hector Wright and were one of the reasons McGrath failed to make it back to the final of the daCosta Cup, handing them a 2-0 defeat in the quarter-final that may hurt to this today.

McGrath may be back to their best after Hurricane Melissa, the team going into the quarter-final straight after and losing thrice. Their 4-1 thrashing of Ocho Rios suggests as much.

Jermaine Thomas, coach of McGrath, said the team will be cautious entering the game.

“This game will be a new one. Once we nullify their threats, it shouldn’t be a problem,” said Thomas.

“We gave them a lot of space in the first half when we played them. They were allowed to run and use the ball without much pressure.

“We have to close down, track and mark a bit better. Once that is done, it should be a little bit easier,” added Thomas.

The St Catherine-based McGrath have been on a rise in the last few years. Last season, as daCosta Cup finalists, they were minutes away from becoming champions against Garvey Maceo, and in 2023, lifted the Ben Francis title when they defeated Frome Technical High School 1-0.

Meanwhile, Cornwall have won seven Ben Francis titles (1983, 1984, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2001, and 2003). They are tied with St Elizabeth Technical High Schoo for the most titles.

Still, 2025 marks 22 years since Cornwall last lifted a title, dropping out at the semi-finals last year after an 8-9 penalty shoot-out loss to STETHS.

On the other side of the draw, also at 3 o’clock, former champions Clarendon College will face Manning’s School at the STETHS Sports Complex.

The boys of Chapelton, Clarendon, with new coach in tow, are trying to figure out what post-Lenworth Hyde life looks like.

Hyde, known for teaching a possession game to youngsters, with devastating effect, is now at Dinthill Technical, who just lost to Glenmuir in the daCosta Cup semi-finals. He went trophyless last year at Clarendon, losing 3-1 in the Ben Francis Cup final to STETHS. New coach Devon Anderson may just have a point to prove.

However, the nearly 300-year-old Manning’s have been having arguably one of their best seasons in years.

According to Patrick Graham, coach of Manning’s, the team needs to contiue believing they can go all the way.

“We expect a tough game tomorrow. We’re feeling good about our chances. We have been working hard in training and believe we have what it takes to compete,” said Graham.

“We will give it our best tomorrow and see where it takes us.”

And the team has shown it can compete.

On Tuesday, Manning’s showed grit in their quarter-final against Christiana, coming from behind to win 2-1 with almost the last kick of the game.

Clarendon College vs Manning’s at STETHS

McGrath vs Cornwall at Drax Hall

Both games begin at 3 p.m.