In a breathtaking finale to the ISSA Walker Cup, St Catherine High emerged victorious over Mona High in a nail-biting penalty shootout that concluded 4-3. The championship match, held on Friday, culminated in high drama after the teams fought to an electrifying 3-3 draw during regular play, forcing the decisive penalty kicks.
The victory marks St Catherine’s third Walker Cup triumph within the past six years, adding to their previous championship wins in 2019 and 2021. This latest achievement solidifies their growing legacy in the competition’s recent history.
The match began with Mona High establishing an early advantage when Devrahj Singh found the net in just the 5th minute. St Catherine responded with determination as Dwight Gentles delivered an impressive first-half performance, scoring twice in the 22nd and 34th minutes to secure a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Mona High demonstrated remarkable resilience after the break. Joenaldo Payne equalized in the 55th minute, followed immediately by a go-ahead goal from team talisman Sean Leighton just two minutes later, putting Mona ahead 3-2.
With time running out, St Catherine’s Kevin Grey executed a perfectly placed volley in the 80th minute, tying the game and sending the championship into a penalty shootout. Under immense pressure, St Catherine’s Marlon Jones, Jordan Mathias, Dwight Gentles, and Kadean Young successfully converted their penalties, while Tchane Riley missed the team’s third attempt.
Mona High saw conversions from Sean Leighton, Savi-K Morton, and Joenaldo Payne, but crucial misses on the third and fourth kicks by Niquan Allen and Nathaniel McCarthy ultimately decided the championship in St Catherine’s favor. This victory represents St Catherine’s third football title, all achieved since the Walker Cup format was restructured in 2018 to exclude the top four Manning Cup teams.