Too close to call: Mona, St Catherine set for explosive Walker Cup final

MONA HIGH will be seeking back-to-back Walker Cup titles when they battle St Catherine High in today’s final of the ISSA/WATA knockout football competition at the National Stadium. Kick-off time is 3 p.m.

Today’s game is expected to be closely contested as both teams are evenly matched in all departments.

Mona are even more pumped and hungry to retain their title as they are now expected to be without their head coach, Craig Butler, who has been hospitalized.

They booked their spot in the final of the competition with an exciting 3-2 win over Charlie Smith High at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Feeling confident

Technical director of Mona, Donovan Duckie, said his players are well aware of the task ahead and, therefore, he is feeling confident about their chances of retaining the Walker Cup title today.

“It is very important that we win this title because we felt that we were hard done [by] in the Manning Cup, and so we have set out to win this trophy,” said Duckie after Wednesday’s victory over Charlie Smith.

“We want also to win for Craig Butler, who is in the hospital right now,” he said.

Mona will be led by their captain, Shawn Leighton, along with Franklyn Mitcham, Savi-K Morton, and Joenaldo Payne.

St Catherine also booked their place in today’s final with a similar 3-2 win season over Kingston College on Wednesday.

The Anthony Patrick-coached St Catherine, who last won the title in 2022, will be feeling very confident about their chances of lifting the title today.

Patrick said that his players were very upbeat and ready for today’s encounter against Mona.

“My youngsters have said that they want to win this one seeing that they missed out on the big one, which is Manning Cup, and so they are determined to get the job done,” said Patrick.

“I think it is going to be a tough game against Mona because they are the defending champions, but I know that my boys will be ready for it come Friday at the National Stadium,” he said.

St Catherine’s key player is striker Dwight Gentles, who netted a brace against Kingston College in Wednesday’s semi-final contest. He is expected to receive strong support from Kadean Young, Josh Reid, and Ronaldo Stewart.