Two Jamaican scholastic football powerhouses, Cornwall College and Clarendon College, have successfully navigated their semi-final matches to secure a highly anticipated championship clash in the ISSA Ben Francis Cup competition. The decisive matches unfolded on Thursday, setting the stage for a final confrontation scheduled for Saturday at the National Stadium.
At Drax Hall, Cornwall College delivered a commanding performance against McGrath High, securing a 2-0 victory. This triumph marked their second win over the St Catherine-based school within a fortnight, following a previous victory in the daCosta Cup quarter-finals in Montego Bay. The match was decisively shaped by Shakeen Gibson’s exceptional performance, with the player netting both goals. Gibson broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a powerful strike from inside the 18-yard box. He later sealed the victory in the 81st minute, expertly finishing a setup from teammate Kavontae Gooden by slotting the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Griffiths.
Simultaneously, a dramatic semi-final unfolded at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz. Clarendon College and Mannings’ School were locked in a 1-1 stalemate after regulation time, necessitating a penalty shootout. Clarendon College ultimately emerged victorious with a 4-1 win on penalties. Anthony Reid had initially put Clarendon in the lead with a goal in the 12th minute. However, Mannings’ School fought back, with Jordan Turner equalizing in the 53rd minute, ultimately forcing the nail-biting shootout. This hard-fought victory earns Clarendon College a consecutive appearance in the Ben Francis Cup final.