Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Left: Calabar's Fabian McKay. Right: JC's Ashani Walker ... doubtful. - file photos

Jamaica College (JC) will make yet another attempt to leap clear of the Calabar hurdle en route to their first Walker Cup title when the teams meet in the competition's semi-final at the Constant Spring Field at 3 p.m. today.

In the early encounter of a double-header, Eltham will also look to keep their hopes of reclaiming the crown alive, which they won in 2006, when they tackle Excelsior at 1p.m.

To secure their place in the final four, Eltham came from two goals down to beat Norman Manley 3-2, while Excelsior got by Bridgeport with a 2-1 win.

JC booked their place in the semi-final with a 1-0 win over Kingston College, while Calabar beat STATHS in a penalty shoot-out.

With almost 50 years having passed since the start of the competition, JC, one of the most successful teams in schoolboy football history, have been patiently waiting to etch their name on the trophy for the first time.

They have come close, but at least on a couple of those occasions Calabar have taken pride in proving to be the stumbling block in their path. In 1974, the Red Hills Road team beat JC, then heavy favourites, to claim their first title; and then in tribute to their fallen mentor and coach, David Hunt, once again turned back the more favoured Old Hope Road team to claim their second lien last year.

Despite the meeting of the teams coming at the semi-final stage, Calabar coach Alrick Clarke, a new man at the helm, hopes for a similar outcome.

"Well, whenever you are playing champions, you can't expect anything easy, nobody is going to roll over and die in this game, it has always been a real battle whenever these two team meet," he said.

"It's going to be a tough game but we are prepared for that, so hopefully we will be able to go out there and get a good result," he said.

"This cup has eluded me as a coach at least six or seven finals, but hopefully things will work out this time around," he added.

Doubtful

Calabar, for who Fabian McKay could be the key, will be without captain Kabari Palmer, who received two yellow cards in Saturday's quarter-final, while top JC player, Ashani Walker, is doubtful after his right clavicle was displaced in Saturday's win over KC.

However, despite past results going against the dark blues, JC's manager, Ian Forbes, is confident that his team will get the job done this time around.

"We are going there with a lot of confidence because we have a good team and the players are very discipline.

"We are very prepared because the team has been training long and hard for this encounter. We will have to play strong in all areas and make sure that we stick to our game plan throughout the match," added Forbes.