Kingston College (KC) capped off a remarkable season in fitting fashion, as they claimed the ISSA All-island Olivier Shield for an 11th time after a thrilling 4-3 sudden-death penalty shootout victory over daCosta Cup champions Garvey Maceo at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) on Saturday.
The Manning Cup champions had to come from behind to ensure a 1-1 in regulation time, thanks to Tyreek McKenley’s 83rd-minute own goal after Omarion O’Brian (63rd) sent Garvey Maceo in front.
However, the North Street-based school proved the better team from 12-yards on the day to secure another special football crown, as it coincides with their 100th anniversary celebrations.
For Garvey Maceo, the wait for an Olivier Shield title continues despite a valiant effort, as this was their third time losing this playoff.
Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, lauded his team’s resilience and ability to fight back.
“This is a pleasant achievement—something that we set our sights on as a team, and we did it. This team has shown character all season, and I must say kudos to the entire coaching staff. It was a journey, but we were always confident that we prepared this team well enough from the start, so we weren’t worried,” Reynolds said post-match.
“Even when we went behind, we never lost belief, and winning this title is the perfect way to cap off an incredible year for the school,” he added.
His counterpart Lester Hibbert was gracious in defeat.
“First we have to give the Almighty thanks; we had the game planned to the cue, but we unfortunately conceded an own goal. I think we created all the chances in the game; we enjoyed good possession of the ball, but that’s just football. Sometimes you win some and you lose some. So we have to give thanks and move on. Congrats to KC,” a proud Hibbert said.
Both teams began the contest with contrasting approaches, as Kingston College applied early pressure, with Damaine Smith’s deflected shot just going over the bar.
But Garvey Maceo soon found their rhythm and threatened in open play. Their best effort of the half came in the 30th minute, when Devany McIntosh’s curling effort from the top of the 18-yard box forced Kingston College’s goalkeeper Malique Williams into a spectacular save, diving to his left.
Despite a few other half chances, the first half ended goalless, as both teams lacked the final touch.
The second half saw Garvey Maceo capitalize on a lapse in Kingston College’s defence. In the 63rd minute, a long ball from the back found O’Brian on the run, and the prolific forward calmly slotted past the advancing Williams for his 14th goal of the season.
Though they fell, Kingston College by no means yielded and instead responded with urgency. Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when Smith shrugged off his marker and sent a dangerous ball across the face of the goal.
In an unfortunate twist for Garvey Maceo, McKenley inadvertently turned the ball into his own net past goalkeeper Garfield Tomlinson as the score was level at 1-1.
Garvey Maceo had one last chance in the 89th minute, but O’Brian’s shot from the top of the box went wide, sending the match into the dreaded penalties.
The shootout was as tense as the match itself. Both teams traded successes and failures, with Kingston College’s Zaire Douse and Kelvin Brown seeing their efforts saved, while Garvey Maceo’s McKenley hit high and Delano Thompson fired wide.
At 3-3 after the first five rounds, sudden death beckoned, and Kamaul Patterson calmly converted his spot-kick for Kingston College to put the pressure squarely on Garvey Maceo’s Livingston Donaldson, who sent his shot wide, sparking jubilant celebrations from the Kingston College players.