WOLMER’S Boys will have to pick themselves up after the disappointment of missing out on the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup crown if they are to successfully defend the Walker Cup Knockout title.

Today’s final — the second for the Heroes’ Circle-based boys in less than a week — pits them against plucky Excelsior High at the Constant Spring playing field, starting at 3:00 pm.

Both teams have done well this season and this clash presents a last chance to salvage something from the campaign. Aside from the KO final, Excelsior also reached the Manning Cup semi-final, while the Wolmer’s team can boast of reaching the championship game in both competitions.

Excelsior High, the seven-time KO winners, who last won the title in 2008, have been notoriously difficult to break down this season.

Ample goals and attacking industry have come from the nifty left-sided player Kareem Banton.

The Leebert Halliman-coached team, though lacking in star power, beat the formidable Jamaica College team 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals, and then defeated St George’s College on penalties after a goalless draw to make the showpiece event.

Excelsior’s golden run this season was checked when JC exacted revenge with a 4-0 whooping in the last four of the Manning Cup.

Despite that heavy loss, Excelsior are expected to return to their resilient best today, and with fresher legs than Wolmer’s, should push their opponents all the way.

Wolmer’s Boys, tipped by many to win their third KO Cup title and second in a row, suffered their first loss of the season in the 2-3 extra-time loss to Jamaica College in last Saturday’s Manning Cup final.

But coach Ludlow Bernard’s outfit got an extra two days to mend emotional and physical wounds when ISSA shifted the Walker Cup final from Tuesday.

Wolmer’s, who are led by top marksman Jaheel Hyde — as they have displayed throughout most of the season — were dominant in dispatching Spanish Town High 4-0 to make the last four.

Defensive cracks were exposed in the 3-2 semi-final win over Charlie Smith High, but their attacking potency ultimately decided that contest.

Blessed with superior talent in his team, Bernard will likely be under more pressure to wrest the last remaining silverware up for grabs in this season’s Corporate Area schoolboy football.