CORINALDI battled from a goal down to defeat Pembroke Hall 2-1 in the final of the LIME/INSPORTS Primary League at Constant Spring Stadium on Friday.

It is the first time Corinaldi and the parish of St James were winning the title, going one step better than Irwin, who were runners-up last year.

Pembroke Hall, who were also reaching the final for the first time for both team and parish, must wait for another year as the right to be called national primary football champions remains an elusive goal.

St Andrew champions Pembroke Hall started aggressively, pinning Corinaldi in their own half, while Corinaldi goalkeeper Peter Sinclair was a busy boy, being the difference in the early onslaught.

However, Pembroke Hall’s persistence paid off, as Sinclair was at fault when he spilled Jahdane Barnett’s free kick, allowing Chavelle Henry, who reacted quickest, for a simple tap in.

Pembroke Hall’s failure to add more goals during a dominant first half proved costly at the turn of the second half.

With the strong wind, which blew consistently throughout, now in their backs, St James champs Corinaldi went in search for an early equaliser.

And Steve Bucknor’s boys didn’t have to wait too long for the winner, as Tyrone McClairy arrived at the back post to stab home Richard Thompson’s corner.

Corinaldi surged into the lead when Denyu Ricketts rifled home a short corner, which the Pembroke Hall defence was slow to react to.

Bjorn Folkes’ lads fought gallantly in a bid to pull level, but it wasn’t to be their day, as, for the third straight year, the visiting team was victorious.

Bucknor, now enjoying a lifelong dream as a football coach after retiring from international umpiring, said his team didn’t panic after being a goal down at half-time.

“It was the first time we were falling behind in a game this season,” Bucknor noted. “But we also won many games in the second half, so it wasn’t surprising to me the way the team came back.”

Folkes, meanwhile, believed poor decisions by the officials were contributing factors behind his team’s defeat, but further added that they didn’t replicate their performance in the first half.

Earlier, Portsmouth of Portmore took third place after blanking Westmoreland’s Petersfield 3-0.

Migual Robinson, Saquan Dawkins and Shantamoi Brown got the goals for Kevin Reid’s boys, who achieved their highest finish in the competition.