DaCosta Cup titans kick-start quarters

The race for the coveted ISSA daCosta Cup title intensifies today as the quarter-finals kick off with two intriguing clashes, both set for 3 p.m.

Football fans will have their eyes fixed on a mouth-watering Zone A encounter between 12-time champions Cornwall College and this season’s giant-killers Denbigh High at Cornwall College.

However, Denbigh coach Garfield Carney insists that his players are not intimidated by Cornwall’s rich history in the competition, maintaining that their focus is firmly on the current team.

“The many-time champions, we’re not focusing on that, to be honest, because those guys who have won, they’re not the guys who are playing now. We’re focusing on this year’s team, and see how best we can get the job done,” said Carney.

Denbigh are arguably enjoying one of the most impressive seasons in their schoolboy football history, and Carney said the Clarendon-based team is placing greater emphasis on mental preparation as it seeks to continue its strong run.

“We need to get something from this game. We are coming with a positive mind. We will try to get three points, as we try to win every game. If we can’t, then try to get at least one point,” said Carney.

The coach acknowledged that his team are underdogs, given their limited history in the competition. This is only the second time they have reached the quarter-finals.

“This is the best we have ever done, getting to the quarter-finals for the second time in our history,” said Carney.

Denbigh secured second place in their round-of-16 group with a 1-0 victory over former champions Clarendon College, eliminating them from the competition.

Cornwall College appear to be peaking at the right time, having delivered an impressive round-of-16 campaign that reinforced their title ambitions.

The Group One winners closed out the stage in emphatic fashion with a commanding 5-0 victory over former champions Garvey Maceo High.

The boys from Orange Street also completed the group stage with a perfect defensive record, keeping clean sheets in all three matches.

In Zone B, Clarendon-based Kemps Hill are returning to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year.

After a hard-fought round-of-16 campaign, the Kiegon Mitchell-coached side will face another stern test when they travel to St Elizabeth to take on seven-time champions Munro College.

Mitchell said injuries have left his squad short-handed, but he is hopeful that most of his players will recover in time for the encounter.

“We know three points are crucial on the road, but we expect to get them. A few persons are out with injuries, so it’s difficult to play. Hopefully, they’re able to actually play today,” said Mitchell.

“We know we’re not at full strength, but once we get those players to recover fully, we’ll have full strength,” he added.

Kemps Hill secured second place in their group after finishing level with Manchester High on points and goal difference, with Manchester’s red card proving decisive.

Munro, however, will be eager to make home advantage count as the Group Four winners look to overcome Kemps Hill and take another step towards the title.

Today’s games

Cornwall vs Denbigh at Cornwall, 3 p.m.

Munro vs Kemps Hill at Munro, 3 p.m.