Walker Cup final to proceed despite JC appeal

The ISSA Walker Cup final will go ahead as scheduled on Friday, despite Jamaica College (JC) appealing the decision to remove the school from the competition over concerns about the eligibility of national player Jamone Lyle.

Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) President Keith Wellington and competitions officer Ewan Scott confirmed to The Gleaner that the final would proceed as planned.

JC was removed from the final following a disciplinary committee meeting on Tuesday concerning Lyle’s eligibility to represent the school. The national player has reportedly signed a professional contract with Jamaica Premier League club Waterhouse FC.

Under ISSA regulations, players with professional status are ineligible to compete in its competitions, which are restricted to amateur athletes.

The disciplinary ruling also resulted in JC losing points from Manning Cup matches in which Lyle played and being banned from the 2027 Walker Cup competition.

Mona High, which JC defeated in the semi-final, was subsequently reinstated and will face Kingston College (KC) in Friday’s final at Stadium East, starting at 4:00 pm.

However, JC has challenged the ruling, disputing the validity of Lyle’s contract with Waterhouse and questioning the manner in which the investigation was conducted.

“We regard the treatment of JC as unfair,” the school’s Board of Management Chairman, Lance Hylton, said in a statement.

“We also do not concede that a valid contract exists in Jamone’s case and will argue that on appeal as well,” he added.

“Against that background, we regard the singling out of JC following the complaint by Mona as inequitable.”

The appeal could have wider implications for Manning Cup and Walker Cup results involving Lyle, depending on its outcome.

However, ISSA has made it clear that the challenge will not affect Friday’s final.

“Tomorrow’s game is still scheduled as earlier indicated,” Wellington and Scott told The Gleaner.

Mona High will therefore face KC with the Walker Cup title at stake, while JC’s appeal proceeds separately.

- Gregory Bryce

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