As the historic walls of Kingston College gear up to mark their centenary in April 2025, the North Street powerhouse added another glittering chapter to their storied legacy when they clinched their 17th ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title with a commanding 3-1 victory over first-time finalists St Catherine High at the National Stadium on Friday.

Goals from 15-year-old sensation Jaeshawn Edwards (36th), Demario Dailey (45+1), and Deshawn Byfield (54th) ensured that Kingston College reclaimed the crown they last held in 2021.

A 61st-minute own goal by Byfield served as a consolation for St Catherine, who nonetheless earned plaudits for their spirited debut appearance in the final.

The win was especially meaningful for Head coach Vassell Reynolds, who etched his name into an elite group of coaches to have won both the daCosta Cup and the Manning Cup.

A subdued Reynolds said achieving the milestone with a school so rich in history and tradition is something he will always cherish.

“It is great to be among Frank Brown and Jackie Walters to have won the daCosta Cup and Manning Cup; it is something that I have dreamed of, and I am very proud of it, but it is all praise to the boys. Another good thing is that April will catch us with the trophy in our cabinet, so at least we will have it to celebrate with, and this is what we wanted to cap it off, so I am very proud,” Reynolds said in a post-game interview.

Kingston College began with intent, fashioning the game’s first real chance in the 11th minute when Dailey’s left-footed strike was comfortably saved by Omarion Brown in goal for St Catherine.

St Catherine showed glimpses of their attacking potential in the 27th minute when Lavaughn Taylor’s shot was blocked by Kingston College’s Kvist Paul in a play that sparked cheers from the crowd.

From there, both teams rode their respective wave of momentum and displayed attacking promise but struggled to find decisive finishes early on.

It was until six minutes past the half-hour mark that Kingston College broke the deadlock when Damaine Smith’s pinpoint cross found an unmarked Edwards, whose composed header nestled into the back of the net.

Kingston College pressed the ascendancy from there and again went close in the 41st through Dailey, whose left-footed effort was charged down by St Catherine’s defender Romaine Walters. Smith served up another weighted cross from the resulting corner, but Paul’s free header sailed over the crossbar.

They inevitably doubled the lead just before the break, as Dailey finished with aplomb from the centre of the 18-yard box after Byfield provided a perfectly weighted pass, following a parried effort from Brown to Matrim Martin’s initial shot.

With a 2-0 advantage at half-time, Kingston College were always poised for glory, and they extended their lead in the 54th minute when Dailey turned provider, delivering a cross that Byfield calmly finished for his 22nd goal of the season.

St Catherine, determined not to go down without a fight, pulled one back in the 61st minute. Dwight Gentles’ curling corner caused problems for Byfield, who inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.

Despite this mishap, the ‘Purples’ held their composure for the remainder of the contest as they defended stoutly while also reminding St Catherine of their attacking threat, though they failed in the probe to add to their tally.

Reynolds pointed out that the victory symbolizes the enduring spirit and excellence of their football programme.

“This one is special. We’re not just playing for ourselves; we’re playing for generations of KC men and the rich legacy they’ve built,” he noted.

“We know that they (St Catherine) were very strong in midfield, so we had to crowd them out in there. So it was a different formation when we had the ball, and a different formation when we were out of possession. I thought the boys stuck to that very well, so it was a well-executed plan, and you don’t want it any better than that,” Reynolds said.

Meanwhile, for St Catherine’s assistant coach, Donovan Lofters, the result marked the end of an impressive journey, as he believes their spirited campaign is a foundation to build upon in the coming years.

“It means a lot to us... we are in the party, as I said, because we are here at the end, so there is nothing for us to be ashamed of. We showed some character after going down 3-0 and we came back and we fought. First time in the final and some of the guys were a bit nervous but I think we did well,” Lofters said.

Kingston College (KC) continued their quest for schoolboy football supremacy with a composed 2-0 victory over Hydel High in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup semifinal at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

A brace from Guyanese forward Matrim Martin (16th and 90+1) secured the North Street-based school's place in Friday’s final, where they will aim to cop a 17th Manning Cup lien, having last triumphed in 2021.

They will meet first-time finalists St Catherine High in the 6:15pm showpiece.

Though not entirely pleased with performance, Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, welcomed the victory, as they are now within touching distance of adding another Manning Cup title to their storied history.

“I am a little bit disappointed, especially with the first half, because the last three games we performed very well, and we were banking on the fact that we would have carried it over to the semi-final. But maybe they were a little bit nervous because this team knocked us out at the same stage last year, but we wanted to win and we got that, so I am very proud of the boys,” Reynolds said.

Both teams began the match with energy and intent, but it was Kingston College that carved out the first meaningful chance. Martin’s firm header in the early minutes forced Hydel goalkeeper Idrian Robinson into action, signaling Kingston College’s attacking intentions.

Their persistence paid off in the 16th minute when Hydel’s defence failed to clear their lines under pressure, and Martin capitalized with a precise strike from the top of the 18-yard box, sending the Kingston College supporters into raptures.

Hydel had a golden opportunity to respond just four minutes later when a defensive mix-up in Kingston College’s backline gifted Sean-John Curchar a chance from point-blank range. However, the centre forward fired high, letting Kingston College off the hook.

Though both teams continued to show attacking ambition, they struggled to convert half-chances into goals as Kingston College remained 1-0 up at the break.

It was more of the same after the interval, with both teams displaying flashes of attacking promise but lacking the finishing touch.

Kingston College came close to doubling their lead in the 69th minute when Kamaul Patterson broke free behind defenders, only for Robinson to leave his line well and deny the effort.

Hydel, desperate to find an equaliser, had their best chance in the 87th minute. A long cross found an unmarked D’Sean Henry at the far post, but his tame header was comfortably gathered by Kingston College’s goalkeeper, Malique Williams.

The game’s decisive moment came in the dying embers of stoppage time when Martin outsprinted two Hydel defenders and fired a powerful low shot past Robinson at the near post to seal the Purples victory.

It was another heartbreak for Hydel’s Head coach, Devon Anderson, who consistently failed to get over the semi-final hurdle.

“I am very much disappointed. It seems like this is a very familiar place for me to come knock at the door, and the door is still closed. But that’s just the game; if you don’t execute, you don’t win,” Anderson noted.

Defending champions Glenmuir High kept their title defence alive with a 2-1 win over Kingston College in a keenly contested ISSA Champions Cup quarterfinal clash at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Saturday.

A late winner from substitute Nyron Allen (90+1) broke Kingston College’s hearts and sealed Glenmuir’s semifinal berth after Orane Watson’s 41st-minute goal gave the Clarendon-based team the lead. Demario Dailey (61st) found Kingston College’s goal in the encounter played in testing rainy conditions.

Glenmuir will square off against Ocho Rios High in one semifinal, while Jamaica College and Hydel will cross swords in the other to determine the finalists.

Winning coach Andrew Peart was pleased with how his team navigated the conditions and, by extension, a disciplined Kingston College defence.

“We got a lot from the substitutes; throughout the game we were always wondering how we could get a stronger foothold on the game because KC were really disciplined, but we made some adjustments to try and attack the game instead of waiting on a goal to come. So the lesson is to never give up and always fight until the end, and today was testament to that,” Peart said.

Both teams approached the encounter with energy and intent, despite heavy rain making conditions challenging. Players struggled to maintain footing on the wet turf, but the intensity of the game never wavered.

The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when Glenmuir’s O’Neil Headley delivered a well-placed corner to the back post. The ball was headed back across the goal, where Watson reacted quickest to fire home, giving Glenmuir a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Though down, Kingston College, true to their motto, came out more purposeful on the resumption, and their persistence paid off a minute past the hour mark when Dailey unleashed a speculative shot from distance. The ball skidded off the wet surface, deceiving Glenmuir’s goalkeeper Justin Murray, who was left flat-footed as the ball nestled into the net to make it 1-1.

The equalizer ignited the match further, with both sides creating chances. In the 66th minute, Watson broke through Kingston College’s defense, but goalkeeper Malique Williams charged off his line to make a crucial block.

Minutes later, Watson had another opportunity, but Williams once again stood tall, denying Glenmuir’s talisman.

Kingston College came close to taking the lead in the 81st minute when Dailey found space inside the box, but his effort hit the sidenetting, leaving the Glenmuir bench breathing a sigh of relief.

As the game edged toward extra time, Glenmuir found a moment of brilliance as substitute Ricardo Binns orchestrated a flowing move down the right flank. His precise pass across the face of goal caught Kingston College’s defence off guard, allowing Allen to dart in ahead of his marker and fire home from close range in time added.

Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, was gracious in defeat.

“It was a good game from both teams. We had a plan, and right down to the T, the boys executed well. It is just unfortunate that we conceded when we couldn’t get back but really proud of what the boys delivered today based on what we planned. So I am pleased with the performance but not the result,” Reynolds noted.

The stage is set for another thrilling chapter of schoolboy football as the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Champions Cup draw, conducted at SportsMax Studios on Tuesday, revealed a series of captivating matchups.

Chief among the fixtures to kick off this weekend’s quarterfinal round is the clash between reigning champions Glenmuir High and former champions Kingston College, as the tournament, which brings together the best from the Manning Cup and daCosta Cup competitions, promises fierce battles and a showcase of young talent.

Glenmuir High have been in impeccable form this season and are high-riding favourites to go all the way in the daCosta Cup. To begin their Champions Cup defence against Kingston College (KC) will certainly test their mettle, but they have so far displayed that they possess enough quality to overcome any challenge.

According to assistant coach Johnoy Chambers, Glenmuir, now making their fourth Champions Cup appearance, are riding high on years of developmental work.

“What we are doing at Glenmuir is just continuing the hard work we’ve been doing for the past three to four years. Being here is very important to us because the school strives to be the best both on and off the field," said Chambers.

Kingston College, a nine-time participant and winner in 2019, brings a legacy of dominance and is hungry to reclaim their place at the summit of schoolboy football.

In a historic clash, Ocho Rios High will make their second Champions Cup bow against debutants St Catherine High. Ocho Rios have been in good knick this season and will aim to continue that run of form, but St Catherine, under the stewardship of veteran coach Anthony Patrick, are determined to make an impact.

Patrick, a two-time Manning Cup-winning coach with Bridgeport, expressed pride in his team’s achievement. 

“It’s a joy for me to have a team here. We’ve been building well from preseason, and it’s now coming out on the field. We are going to give it our best shot," Patrick declared.

In another interesting clash, Hydel High will mark their fourth appearance in the Champions Cup when they face Garvey Maceo, who are no strangers to the tournament with six appearances.

Hydel, known for their resolute defence and quick transitions, will be eager to stamp their authority on the competition. However, Garvey Maceo are seasoned campaigners, and their current crop of players will look to rise to the occasion in this encounter. 

Meanwhile, Jamaica College (JC), a nine-time participant and 2022 Champions Cup winners, are peaking at the right time and, as such, will start favourites in their encounter against McGrath High, the reigning Ben Francis Cup champions.

Jamaica College’s decorated history speaks for itself, and members of Davion Ferguson’s current unit are seasoned in high-stakes matches. Still, they will be relying on tactical discipline to continue their rich history, while McGrath, buoyed by their recent cup triumph, will look to continue their upward trajectory.

Champions Cup Fixtures

Hydel High vs Garvey Maceo

Ocho Rios High vs St Catherine High

Jamaica College vs McGrath High

Glenmuir High vs Kingston College 

A new ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup champion will be crowned after Kingston College (KC) registered a decisive 2-0 victory over reigning titleholders Mona High in their Group A quarterfinal showdown at Stadium East on Friday.

Kvist Paul (8th) and Demario Dailey (70th) did the damage for Kingston College in a win that not only ended Mona's campaign but also propelled the North Street-based team into the semifinals alongside Jamaica College (JC), who trounced Tivoli High 4-0 in a simultaneous fixture at the Ashenheim Stadium.

By virtue of the results, Jamaica College topped the group on seven points, one point ahead of Kingston College (six points), while Tivoli High (three points) and Mona High (one point) will now turn their focus to the Walker Cup knockout competition for redemption.

Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, lauded his team's composure and execution.

"It was a fantastic performance. We knew Mona would come out strong, but the boys stuck to the game plan and delivered when it mattered. Now, we look ahead to the semifinals, but as always, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. The aim is to keep the boys grounded and focused, and we will see what happens when that time comes,” Reynolds said.

With a lot at stake for Mona in particular heading into the contest, it was expected to be a close affair, but the manner in which Kingston College started ensured otherwise.

In fact, Mona had very little say in the contest as Kingston College’s show of intent resulted in an early strike inside 10 minutes. Damaine Smith delivered a perfectly placed corner kick, which Paul rose to meet and headed past Mona's goalkeeper, Riquelme Edwards.

Mona High, desperate to respond, almost found themselves further behind in the 15th minute when Dailey fired wide from a promising position.

As Mona struggled to contain Kingston College’s tactical discipline and attacking enterprise, Deshawn Byfield almost added his name to the scoresheet but had his effort dramatically cleared off the line by Dante Peralto.

Despite KC’s dominance, Mona’s goalkeeper Edwards produced a string of superb saves to keep his team in contention.

Just before halftime, he acrobatically parried a powerful shot from Kajay Fletcher, diving full stretch to his right, and Byfield failed to capitalize on the rebound.

Seconds later, Edwards was called upon again to deny a stinging shot from Smith.

Matrim Martin then unleashed a venomous right-footer, but Edwards once more stood tall, ensuring the scoreline remained 1-0 at the break. 

The purples continued to assert their authority on the resumption as Dailey threatened in the 68th with a firm shot from close range that went straight at Edwards.

However, the Kingston College striker, sporting the number nine jersey, made amends two minutes later. Sent on his way by a brisk through pass, Dailey powered a low drive past a flat-footed Edwards to double Kingston College’s lead and effectively end Mona’s hopes of a comeback.

Jamaica College (JC) once again demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with, as they made light work of rivals Kingston College (KC) with a comfortable 3-0 win in their ISSA/Digicel Group A quarterfinal encounter at Stadium East on Tuesday.

Led by Nashordo Gibbs’ 18th-minute penalty and a pair of clinical strikes from Jamoy Dennis (31st and 33rd) in quick succession, Jamaica College controlled the one-sided affair from start to finish, rarely allowing Kingston College to find a foothold.

With the win, Jamaica College moved into pole position in the group on four points, relegating Kingston College into second on three points. Tivoli Gardens (three points) kept their hopes of a semi-final berth alive with a surprise 3-1 win over reigning champions Mona High (one point) in the other group contest.

Jamaica College’s Head coach Davion Ferguson, expressed delight at the outcome.

“We understand the competition in terms of how we prepare to peak at the right time. Today was a difficult game, the scoreline might seem as if it was easy but it was a tough game because we played three days ago, and the key was just to get the boys recovered to come here and deliver a good performance.

“At this stage of the competition, it is not about the number in terms of goals, but more about continuity to ensure we consistently secure the three points,” Ferguson said.

His counterpart Vassell Reynolds, also had a positive outlook.

“I don’t think the scoreline was a true reflection of the game, but congrats to JC, they punished us. I thought that we gave away two easy silly goals, we weren’t concentrating, especially on the set plays. So there is no reason to be disappointed or hard on the boys, we just made some errors and we paid for them so it is just about refocusing and come again on Friday,” Reynolds said.

Jamaica College asserted their intent early, with a warning shot just seven minutes in as Donte Logan’s long-range effort forced Kingston College’s goalkeeper Malique Williams to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Excelsior in Group B action against Campion College which served as the curtain-raiser of the double header.

Dennis, an ever-present threat, continued to test Williams, firing off a quick shot in the ninth minute from Jabarie Howell’s pass, and then a powerful strike from just outside the box four minutes later, both of which were kept out by the custodian.

However, Jamaica College’s breakthrough inevitably came when Gibbs, a former Kingston College player, converted from the penalty spot after Jamone Lyle drew a crucial handball from Dejuan Green inside the area.

That opener laid the foundation for what would become a commanding performance as Kingston College's best chance of the game came in the 27th minute when Damaine Smith delivered a pinpoint cross to Deshawn Byfield, whose effort from point blank range was kept out by an alert Taywane Lynch in goal for Jamaica College.

Jamaica College quickly doubled their lead just four minutes later. Gibbs slipped past his marker and sent a precise pass to Dennis, who calmly slotted the ball past Williams to make it 2-0.

Barely two minutes later, Giovani Taylor capitalized on Kingston College’s defence that appeared momentarily disoriented from a quick free-kick, sending another slick pass to Dennis, who made no mistake in finishing his brace and putting Jamaica College 3-0 up.