Reigning ISSA Champions Cup titleholders Glenmuir High made another resounding statement in their title defence as they dismantled Ocho Rios High 5-1 in a lopsided semi-final contest at the National Stadium. on Wednesday.

Glenmuir’s fluency and attacking prowess overwhelmed yet another opponent, as five different players found the back of the net to secure yet another berth in the final.

Orel Miller (40th), Dusting Cohen (42nd), Ronaldo Campbell (64th), Orane Watson (69th), and substitute Nyron Allen (71st) got the job done for the May Pen-based school after Kaneil Brown gave Ocho Rios a surprise 21st-minute lead.

Though still on course to retain their crown, Glenmuir’s Head coach Andrew Peart remains grounded.

“The final is just another game... it is just another step on the journey, and that is just it. Last year was last year; this is a different year, so new possibilities. So we are just going to hydrate, head home, and watch the next game,” Peart shared.

His counterpart Veron Peterkin felt his team was overwhelmed by the occasion.

“We made some very expensive mistakes; the discipline wasn’t there throughout the game, and so it is just one of those things. It’s the first time we have made those errors; it is their first time playing in the National Stadium for these boys, so credit to Glenmuir for capitalizing on our errors, and we know what we have to fix moving forward,” he noted.

Despite Glenmuir’s dominance in possession and two early warning shots from Watson in the sidnetting and Ja-Son Whyte’s shot from a distance that was kept out by Ocho Rios’ custodian Maleek Martin, it was Ocho Rios High who stunned the crowd with the opening goal in the 21st minute.

Kaneil Brown tried his luck from the top of the 18-yard box, and the effort proved rewarding as Glenmuir’s goalkeeper Justin Murray lost his footing and could only watch as the ball rolled past his near post.

The goal briefly gave Ocho Rios hope, but it would only serve as a wake-up call for Glenmuir, who shifted into high gear at the backend of the first half.

They pulled level in the 40th minute through Miller, who calmly finished off a well-worked buildup orchestrated by Whyte, with Cohen serving up the final past for the player sporting the number 17 jersey to register his 18th goal of the season.

Just two minutes later, Cohen turned from provider to scorer, expertly heading in a delightful chip from Miller, and the quick double salvo flipped the match on its head as Glenmuir went to the break 2-1 up.

The champions picked up where they left off on the resumption, maintaining relentless pressure on Ocho Rios. Although Orane Watson appeared to extend Glenmuir’s lead in the 50th minute, his goal was ruled offside, momentarily delaying the inevitable.

However, Ronaldo Campbell made no mistake in the 64th minute, nodding in a perfectly weighted cross from O’Neil Headley to make it 3-1.

Five minutes later, Watson finally got his goal—his 33rd of the season—turning his marker inside out before driving a powerful right-footer past Martin, who was left flat-footed.

The rout was completed in the 71st minute when substitute Nyron Allen broke away and audaciously chipped the ball over the onrushing Martin, capping off a scintillating performance from Glenmuir.