ST ANN, Jamaica – A new chapter will be written in the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition this season as Ocho Rios High advances to the semifinals for the first time in the school’s history. They will face McGrath High on November 30, with the winner earning a spot in the coveted final.
Ocho Rios made history on Saturday by defeating Garvey Maceo High 2-0 at Drax Hall, finishing top of Group B with five points. The match saw key contributions from Robert Morris, who opened the scoring in the 31st minute, and Keanu Reid, who sealed the win with a strike in the 75th minute. Reid’s goal marked his fourth consecutive appearance on the scoresheet, cementing his reputation as one of the competition’s top performers.
McGrath High, who were semifinalists in 2019, qualified as runners-up in Group A. They secured their place in the final four thanks to a crucial 5-2 victory over St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), with a goal-difference advantage. Despite both McGrath and STETHS finishing with four points, McGrath’s superior goal-difference earned them the edge.
Glenmuir High, the top team in Group A, will face Garvey Maceo in the other semifinal match, setting up an all-Clarendon affair to determine one of the finalists. Glenmuir’s 31-goal star Orane Watson continued his prolific form with a brace in his team’s 5-2 win over STETHS, while Orel Miller also added his 17th goal of the season.
The stage is set for an exciting semifinal showdown as Ocho Rios High looks to continue their historic run against McGrath High, who will be eager to return to the final after their previous appearance five years ago.
