Saints march in!

It took penalty kicks to decide this year’s champions of the ISSA/Walker Cup competition with St Catherine High School prevailing 4-3 over defending champions Mona High in the final at the National Stadium yesterday.

It was St Catherine’s third overall title and their first triumph since 2022. Earlier both teams had played to a 3-3 draw at full time.

Captain Jordan Mathias, Kadean Young, Dwight Gentles and substitute Marlon Jones were the scorers for St Catherine in the penalty shootout. Niquan Allen and Nathaniel McCarthy missed in the shootout for Mona.

In the regulation time, Gentles in the 22nd and 34th minutes and Kevin Grey in the 80th minute were the goalscorers for the Anthony Patrick-coached St Catherine.

Mona’s goals were scored by Devrahj Singh in the fifth, Joenaldo Payne in the 55th minute and captain Sean Leighton in the 57th minute.

Anthony Patrick, head coach of St Catherine, was delighted with his team’s success.

“I think that is a good way to end the season for us with this trophy,” said Patrick.

“It was very tough because Mona took the lead first and we came back and scored goals before half-time. But they hit us very quickly in the second half and so we had to fight back and I think my boys showed character and so I must lift my hat off to them for that,” he added.

A good season

Technical director of Mona, Donovan Duckie, was gracious in defeat.

“We had a good season and we went to the ultimate and when you are in a penalty shootout it can go either way and it went St Catherine’s way today,” said Duckie.

“But I have to say kudos to our backroom staff and Craig Butler on his vision and our principal at Mona. Everyone has been excellent for us this season,” Duckie added.

Mona came out firing and they took the lead early when Devrahj Singh headed home a corner in the fifth minute of the game. However, as the game went on St Catherine found their rhythm and they levelled the scores when Gentles headed into the back of the net from point-blank range past goalkeeper Howard Robinson.

Gentles, who had an impressive season for his team, scored his second goal of the game with another powerful headed goal from close range as St Catherine led 2-1 at half-time.

Mona struck early in the second stanza when Payne and Leighton scored within two minutes. However, Grey responded for St Catherine with a beautiful 25-yard shot to level the scores late in the game.