Wolmer’s Boys’ couldn’t have asked for more from goalkeeper Shemar Jemison.

The 18-year-old fifth form student came up big when he had to throughout the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup competition to push the Vassel Reynolds-coached team into last Saturday’s final.

And he laid the proverbial icing on the cake with a couple of telling saves in the championship match versus favourites Cornwall College at Sabina Park to give Wolmer’s their maiden hold on the Super Cup trophy.

It was no surprise when Jemison won the Most Valuable Player Award, named in memory of St George’s College player Dominic James, who collapsed and died during a Manning Cup game earlier this season.

“As a goalkeeper, to win the MVP is significant because most times it’s the attackers who win the MVP. Rarely, a defender would win it, so as a goalkeeper I’m very proud,” Jemison said after yesterday’s celebratory devotion at the school.

Jahwahni Hinds, the Wolmer’s captain and central defender, had an often used phrase to sum up the victory:

“We always say goals win matches, but defence wins titles,” he said in reference to Wolmer’s stifling defensive display against one of schoolboy football’s most vaunted attacking units.

“We have to give hats off to goalkeeper Shemar Jemison. he’s definitely the best in the island, no doubt about that,” Hinds told the Jamaica Observer.

The major goalkeeping highlight Saturday evening was a reflex save Jemison made off a deflected free kick from Cornwall College’s top marksman Jourdaine Fletcher.

With the scores locked at nil-all he had to quickly shift balance to his left and beat the ball away with his left hand as Fletcher’s left-footed rocket redirected off a defender and appeared destined for the back of the net.

Alphanso Gooden went on to score the lone goal of the contest moments before the final whistle.

“At the time the ball was coming I was in two minds, as I wanted to put my body into it, but the way it came I had to just stick out my hand,” the lanky goalkeeper explained as he relived the moment.

“Before the competition started the coach said it was up to me to give the team the championship, and it did work out that way. I feel proud because during the season I’ve been doing my best.“

He conceded a solitary goal in the Super Cup tournament and has let in only four goals overall this season.

Jemison, who said he is inspired by Arsenal’s Petr Cech, added that guidance has come from Tivoli Gardens FC teammate and veteran goalkeeper Edsel Scott, who himself was a St George’s College schoolboy star.

Hinds, the national Under-20 skipper and former Under-17 Reggae Boyz representative, said Wolmer’s are no strangers to defensive cohesion, hence they always backed themselves to nullify Cornwall.

“Over the years, Wolmer’s have always taken pride in defending. I think overall the team, not just the defence, has played a crucial role…so that we could keep a number of clean sheets so far throughout the season. That helped us to win the Super Cup,” the skipper said.

He added that the understanding between the defenders and their goalkeeper is a key factor.

“Communication-wise things are very good [between the defenders and Jemison]. On a stage as big as the Super Cup it’s kind of difficult because of the noise and everything, but he tries his best to get through to use defenders and we try to do the same.

“And sometimes there is understanding even without words being said. We have to give thanks for him each and every day,” Hinds told the Observer.