Three months of hard-fought football have come down to this one last game.

Today, Jamaica College and Cornwall College, arguably the two most talented schoolboy football teams in the country, face each other in the all-island final — the celebrated Olivier Shield.

The two schools boast rich history dating back well in excess of 100 years and their stories are intricately linked to the development of modern Jamaica.

In football and, indeed, sport generally they have contributed immensely.

Cornwall College of Montego Bay are the all-rural ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup football champions, unbeaten in that competition this season.

Jamaica College, statistically among the top two or three of the most successful Jamaican schools in terms of football, have been without question at the top of the pile in recent years.

JC boast 21 Olivier Shield titles since the competition was launched in 1909 and have won the last four, underlining their supremacy of recent years.

Decades ago, when high schools in rural Jamaica could be counted on the fingers, Cornwall College routinely shared all-island Olivier Shield titles with Munro College.

Much has changed over the last 50 years, and today Cornwall must look all the way back to 2001 for their last Olivier Shield title. Back then a highly talented team — including the outstanding Dane Richards who later represented Jamaica with distinction — swept all before them.

Cornwall College fans may feel a sense of déjà vu, given the rich talent now available to them. However, they met their match in the final of the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup, falling 0-1 to a good, admirably disciplined Wolmer’s Boys’.

JC, too, were stunned when they fell to Kingston College in the urban knockout competition, the Walker Cup, just a week ago.

Cornwall College, having conquered tough St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in last weekend’s daCosta Cup final, may well feel that the momentum of success is with them. That they will be supported by a massive home crowd at the Montego Bay Sports Complex will only add confidence.

Rural Jamaica will be watching with interest and no doubt cheering for Cornwall, especially because a rural school has not won the Olivier Shield since 2004.

However, Cornwall and their supporters will do well to be extremely wary of JC. Gifted and technically very competent, the urban champions are also guided by one of Jamaica’s best young coaches, Mr Miguel Coley.

Like all Jamaican football fans, this newspaper looks to today’s final with great anticipation.