MANNING CUP champions Jamaica College (JC) claimed their second title of the season when they defeated daCosta Cup winners Garvey Maceo 2-0 to win their second Olivier Shield crown at the National Stadium yesterday.

The Old Hope Road-based school, who earlier this month won the Manning Cup for the first time in 33 years, were propelled to victory through second-half goals from Anthony Grant (59th) and Robert Palmer (88th).

Alfred Henry, the coach of JC who is in his final season with the team after three years at the helm, credited his side's success to hard word and dedication.

"This is a great bunch of players and you couldn't ask for better because they were disciplined from the beginning to the end. They are a wonderful set of boys," said Henry.

"Whenever, you get a job to do, you just have to do it to the best of your ability and we did that and it paid off," he said.

Garvey Maceo were seeking a triple crown for the first time to go along with the daCosta Cup and Ben Francis KO trophies.

Lack of fitness

Coach Jeffrey Hewitt blamed his team's downfall on a lack of fitness.

"As a result of the amount of games that we have been playing for the past couple of weeks, I expected my players to be a bit tired," said Hewitt.

"I asked them at half-time what was the problem and they said that they were really tired, but I say congrats to the JC team because they came and played like they wanted it. So, hats off to them," he said.

"I am really glad for the guys in terms of our achievements because we thought the Olivier Shield would be bonus for us. We wanted to win the daCosta Cup and we did and so I must say thanks to God."

JC dominated possession in the first period and created numerous clear-cut chances but were let down due to poor finishing from the likes of Grant, Akeem Bennett and Kemar Bedward.

Garvey Maceo's captain, Ashton Bennett, got the best chance for his team in the period but, after getting by three JC defenders, his shot hit the crossbar.

JC continued their dominance in the second period and were finally rewarded when Grant fired home a powerful point-blank strike past custodian Andre Lindsay.

JC continued to control play and when Palmer rose above three Garvey Maceo defenders to head home a right cross from Bedward two minutes from fulltime it was all over for the Clarendon team.


Source: The Gleaner