Photo by Adrian Frater
Cornwall College's Radcliffe Hall runs to the ball as Garvey Maceo's Upston Edwards falls in last Saturday's daCosta Cup game between the two teams at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay. Cornwall College won the game 2-0.

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup will move into the homestraight when the final four contenders square-off in this afternoon's two semi-final games, starting at 3:00 p.m.

The games, both play-to-finish encounters, will see champions Glenmuir High locking horns with Cornwall College at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay, while in the second game, Ben Francis Cup Knock Out champions Garvey Maceo will square-off with Rusea's at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

Wide open affair

Based on the closeness of the competition's just-concluded quarter-final phase, the semi-finals seem a with all four teams in with a good chance of copping a place in the final.

Cornwall College, which seem to have hit top form with their 2-0 quarter-final win against Garvey Maceo, are looking ominous with the likes of skipper Edward Campbell, Radcliff Hall and Jason King looking extra sharp. In fact, with just two defeats in 16 games this season, coach, Dr. Dean Weatherley, is buzzing with confidence.

'Play as a team'

"I am quite pleased with the way the team is playing because a lot of people did not expect them to do this well based on their youth," said Dr. Weatherley, whose team is chasing a record 12th daCosta Cup title. "While we do have outstanding individual players, our real strength is our ability to play as a team."

While they have been fairly good this season, champions Glenmuir have not been brilliant and one gets the impression that their best is yet to come, especially after Wednesday's gutsy showing against Munro College, which saw them coming back from two goals down to secure to a 2-2 draw to seal their semi-final place.

Despite having to face Cornwall College in their home city before what should be a partisan home crowd, Glemuir's coach, Jackie Walters, whose team features gifted players in James Thomas, John Ross Doyley and and Drion McNain, is not intimidated in any way and is looking forward to the game with much optimism.

"We have been quite lucky at Jarrett Park over the years and we are looking forward to another good game there," said Walters, whose team only lost one game this season. "To get into the final we must get past Cornwall College and that is what we intend to do."

Maintain tradition

With their stocks soaring after their brilliant come-from-behind 3-1 win against Clarendon College in their last game, eight-time champions Rusea's, which have recovered from a recent 0-3 loss to Glenmuir, are chockfull of confidence for the game against Garvey Maceo.