Garvey Maceo, Cornwall, Glenmuir, Charlemont in group of death
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Three former champions, including one of two teams with a perfect win record so far, will make up Group Four of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition, the proverbial “Group of Death” as the quarter-finals are set to get under way tomorrow.
Garvey Maceo High, who won their 12th-straight game on Saturday when they saw off Seaforth High 2-1; Cornwall College, who won the competition in 2016 and are still unbeaten, winning 11 of 12 games; former kingpins Glenmuir High; and Charlemont High will make up Group Four.
Sixteen teams advanced from the second round that was played on a home and away knockout format, and were placed in four groups of four.
The winners of each of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup and will accompany the second-placed teams to the first round of the ISSA all-island knockout, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will contest the Ben Francis knockout.
On paper, Garvey Maceo will start as favourites to win Group Four after scoring 43 goals in the first round, 24 coming in the last three-including double digits in two games — before getting the better of Seaforth by a 3-1 aggregate.
Cornwall College’s only blemish so far was a 1-1 come-from-behind draw at home to St James High in the always competitive Zone A before cruising to a 6-1 aggregate win over Titchfield High.
Aiden Jokomba, who leads the team with 14 goals, and Shavon McDonald were part of the 2016 team that won with McDonald scoring the winning goal in the final against St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).
Charlemont High are the darlings of the competition, getting out of the first round for the first time in a decade in a season where they held juggernauts Dinthill Technical to 2-2 score lines but are in uncharted waters in the final 16.
Glenmuir High could be the minnows of the group, losing twice to Garvey Maceo but by 1-0 margins and were held by Denbigh High but coach Warren Simpson is a veteran of the daCosta Cup and has been part of the technical staff on multiple title winning teams.
Group Three could also throw up some surprises with Dinthill Technical appearing to be on their way to a third straight semi-final appearance and STETHS hoping to make up for the last years when they failed to win a title.
Lennon High are a potential spoilers, but giving up 11 goals to Clarendon College in Zone M will weaken their title credentials.
Clarendon College are the class of Group Two and will leave the threesome of St James High, Manchester High and Old Harbour to battle for second place.
Group One is wide open with former champions Frome Technical just having their heads out in front but must be wary of giant killers Mile Gully High, who knocked out defending champions Rusea’s High on Saturday.
Group One — Port Antonio High, Mile Gully High, Frome Technical and Maggotty High
Group Two — Old Harbour High, Clarendon College, St James High and Manchester High
Group Three — Lennon High, STETHS, Dinthill Technical and Petersfield High
Group Four — Glenmuir High, Garvey Maceo High, Cornwall College and Charlemont High