Teams chase daCosta Cup last-eight spots

Jaquan Mitchell of Munro College (left) passes the ball as Manning’s School’s Rajon Mackenzie closes in during the ISSA daCosta Cup round-of-16 match at Llandilo Sports Club in Westmoreland on October 31, 2026. (Photo: Paul Reid) MONTEGO BAY, St James — Five quarter-final spots in the ISSA daCosta Cup football competition could be decided this afternoon after the second set of games in the round of 16. Cornwall College in Zone 1; Lacovia High and Dinthill Technical from Zone 2; Glenmuir High from Zone 3; and the winner of the Zone 4 game between Munro College and McGrath High; would all secure qualification with a game in hand. Munro will be full of confidence at home after coming off a big 4-1 win over Manning’s School, which ended the Westmoreland-based school’s perfect record in the daCosta Cup. McGrath High, who were quarter-finalists in the daCosta Cup last season as well as semi-finalists in the Ben Francis Cup, have hardly put a foot wrong in this campaign. They put themselves in prime position to advance after beating Central High 2-0 on Saturday. Jimm Mitchell is the target man for McGrath High, and along with Alex Williams, will hope to put the Munro College defence under pressure. At the other end, the Munro College coaching staff will hope Kajaye Williams will maintain his terrific scoring rate. Support is expected to come from Akel Vespry and Nikosi Foncette. Carlondo Morris has scored back-to-back hat-tricks for Cornwall College who have netted 10 goals in their last two games. With their backs to the wall, they will hope to avenge a loss to Frome Technical last season. A loss to Manning’s at home on October 24 had put Cornwall College behind the eight ball. But they responded with a 4-1 win over Rusea’s High, and then scored six against Ocho Rios High on Saturday. Frome Technical have blown hot and cold and are winless over their last two games after previously winning three straight — including against Munro College and St Elizabeth Technical — to top their second round group. The Frome players appeared to be going through the motions in a 2-3 loss to Maggotty High in their final second-round match after after they had secured qualification. Frome failed to break down a disciplined and well-organised Garvey Maceo team on Saturday. Dinthill Technical and Clarendon College are set to meet in yet another high-stakes game, especially after the latter were hijacked on their home ground by Lacovia High on Saturday. Dinthill are coming off a win over a high-flying Denbigh High and they will start favourites to win and knock the Ben Francis Cup finalists out of the competition. Lacovia High will be riding a wave of confidence after coming from a goal down to beat Clarendon College but face Denbigh High who have lifted themselves off the floor on a number of occasions this season to salvage situations. Glenmuir High and Kemps Hill are to meet for the second time this season after their Ben Francis Cup game went to penalty kicks, with the former team emerging the winners. Defending champions STETHS will be playing for their lives when they face Manchester High in Mandeville, in a game both teams need to win. STETHS were battered 0-5 by Glenmuir at home, while Manchester High ended 1-1 versus Kemps Hill High. Ocho Rios and Manning’s will be in must-win situations after heavy loss on Saturday. Ocho Rios will be home against Garvey Maceo High at Drax Hall, while Manning’s must turn things around against Central High. — Paul A Reid