The battle to crown the Manning Cup champion and corporate area kings of schoolboy football enters its penultimate stage on Tuesday with the contesting of both semifinals at the National Stadium, which has also been announced as the host venue for the remaining fixtures in the 2024 ISSA schoolboy football competitions.

The action gets underway with many time winners Jamaica College going up against St. Catherine in the first game of the double-header at 3:30.

Jamaica College, who are chasing their first title since 2022, are the most successful team in Manning Cup history with 31 titles.

The 189 Old Hope Road based school cemented its place after topping Group A in the quarterfinal round on 7 points.

However the team will be without goalkeeper Tawayne Lynch who missed the defeat to Glenmuir in last Saturday’s ISSA Champions Cup final because of a three-match suspension.

St. Catherine meanwhile made progress after securing the runners-up spot in Group B and are aiming to make their first Manning Cup final.

Semifinal two, which kicks-off at 6:00 pm features last year’s beaten finalists Hydel – on the hunt for a maiden title – and sixteen-time winners Kingston College.

Hydel secured their place having secured Group B honours while Kingston College, who are hunting their first title since 2021, were runners up in Group A.

The winning teams will advance to the Manning Cup final which is slated to take place on Friday.

That game is scheduled for a 6:15pm start will be preceded by the ISSA Walker Cup KO final between Mona and Excelsior at 3:00 pm.

Meanwhile, organizers in a shock move announced that the ISSA DaCosta Cup semifinals, for schools in the rural area, will also be played at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Ocho Rios High and McGrath High meet in semifinal one at 3:30 pm after which back-to-back Champions Cup winners Glenmuir High take on Garvey Maceo High at 6:00 pm.

The final takes place on Saturday.

Preceding that game will be the ISSA Ben Francis Cup final between St. Elizabeth Technical and Clarendon College.