Excelsior High ended a 21-year wait for glory on Friday night, capturing the 2025 ISSA Manning Cup title with a composed 2-0 victory over many-time champions Jamaica College in the final at the National Stadium.
After a tense, scoreless first half, Kimarly Scott broke the deadlock in the 67th minute to put the Keon Broderick-coached Excelsior in front. Jamaica College responded with sustained pressure in the second half, but were repeatedly denied by a disciplined Excelsior back-line, expertly marshalled by goalkeeper Jamari Gordon.
The decisive moment arrived deep into second-half stoppage time. A long throw from Shamari Chambers was misjudged by the Jamaica College custodian Adriano Kitson, allowing Kivann Salmon to pounce and tap in from close range in the seventh minute of added time to seal the contest.
The victory delivered Excelsior their eighth Manning Cup crown and their first since 2004, while Jamaica College remain on a record 31 titles, having last lifted the trophy in 2022.
Excelsior will now turn their attention to the Olivier Shield final, where they will face the DaCosta Cup champions to determine the all-island schoolboy football kings.
Earlier, St Catherine High clinched the ISSA Walker Cup title after edging defending champions Mona High 4-3 on penalties, following an entertaining 3-3 draw at the end of regulation time.
Dwight Gentles led the charge for St Catherine with goals in the 22nd and 34th minutes, while Mona had taken an early lead through Devraj Singh in the fifth minute. Mona later reclaimed the advantage courtesy of quickfire strikes from Joenaldo Payne and Sean Leighton in the 55th and 57th minutes, before Kevin Grey rescued St Catherine with a dramatic equalizer 10 minutes from time to force penalties.
The shootout triumph saw the Anthony Patrick-coached St Catherine High replicate their Walker Cup successes from the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
