Western Bureau:
The big Group One clash between champions St. James High and Ben Francis KO champion Glenmuir at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay, is poised to take centre stage when action resumes in the quarter-final round of the 2009 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup today with four games, all starting at 3 p.m.
In the other Group One game, 2003 champions Frome Technical will host 1974 and 1999 champions St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) at the Frome Sports Ground. In the Group Two games, Manchester High will meet last year's beaten finalists Spaldings High at Kirkvine, and 2007 champions Garvey Maceo battle Marcus Garvey Technical at Drax Hall.
Based on their impressive performances this season, St James High and Glenmuir have caused many pundits to be predicting that both teams will qualify for the final at Jarrett Park on December 5.
Flawless this season
Except for their controversial first round 1-0 loss to Cornwall College and their 3-2 Ben Francis KO semi-final loss to Munro College, the Hugh Solomon-conditioned St James have been flawless this season. Fresh from their masterful 3-0 win against STETHS on Saturday, their confidence level should be high going up against Glenmuir.
However, with their impressive unbeaten record in all competitions, the best defensive record and having already won the Ben Francis KO title, the Patrick 'Jackie' Walters-coached Glenmuir will be confident of upstaging the St James High team.
While the battle is unfolding at Jarrett Park, STETHS and Frome Technical will also be facing off in a tricky situation at Frome. The winners will remain firmly in the race for a semi-final place but the losers will be out.
Based on their inter-zone form, which saw STETHS emerging as group winners and Frome Technical advancing as a best second-place finisher, the St Elizabeth team seems to be enjoying the better form at this time. However, having not lost a single game in five outings at the Frome Sports Ground this season, the Boysie Nicholson-coached Frome Technical will not want to spoil that record.
In Group Two, the game at Kirkvine between Spaldings High and Manchester High should be an intriguing affair as both teams have proven themselves to be quite capable this season.
Have the edge
If one should be guided by the results Manchester High and Spaldings had against Lennon High, the Manchester High team would definitely have the edge. Spaldings suffered an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Lennon in their Ben Francis KO clash but Manchester spanked Lennon 5-0 in their inter-zone clash.
While Spaldings can afford the luxury of a draw today, based on their first round 1-0 win against Marcus Garvey Technical, a similar result for Manchester High would be disastrous as they lost their first round game to Garvey Maceo and are without a point at this time.
In the second Group Two game between the two schools named in honour of National Hero Marcus Garvey, a classical showdown is expected at Drax Hall, St Ann. While Marcus Garvey have all but made the Drax Hall venue a fortress this season, Garvey Maceo are currently in awesome form and looking extremely ominous.
Group One
St James vs Glenmuir at Jarrett Park
Frome vs STETHS at the Frome
Group Two
Spaldings vs Manchester High at Kirkvine
Marcus Garvey vs Garvey Maceo at Drax Hall