Defending champions Excelsior High and Denbigh High will contest the 2019 Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) High Schoolboys final, while Merl Grove High and Wolmer’s Girls will contest the girls’ equivalent after winning their semi-finals at the Mona Hockey Field yesterday.

The finals will be played on Friday at the same venue at 2:00 pm (girls) and 3:15 pm (boys).

Excelsior High defeated Kingston College 4-0 and Denbigh High crushed Mona High 5-0 to set up a repeat of last year’s final where Excelsior beat Denbigh.

Excelsior led 2-0 at half-time before scoring two further goals in the second half to register a convincing win against Kingston College. The scorers were Sean-dee Pettigrew in the ninth and 38th minutes, and Shemar Gordon, who netted in the 11th and 41st minutes.

Meanwhile, in the second semi-final of the boys’ competition, after a goalless first-half where Mona dominated but did not put away their chances, Denbigh suddenly went on a goal spree in the second half to crush Mona 5-0.

Two goals from David Powell in the 37th and 45th minutes, along with two goals from Dwight O’Hara in the 43rd and 50th minutes, and the other from Shaun Aranceria in the 38th minute, proved more than enough.

Denbigh’s coach Jevaughn James said it was a tough game, especially during the first-half, but his team played very well in the second-half to score five goals.

In girls’ action, Tami-Ann Ashmeade scored in the 13th minute in Merl Grove’s 1-0 win against defending champions Alpha Academy. Merl Grove thus turned the tables on Alpha, who had beaten them in last year’s final.

In the other semi-final, goals from Aaliyah James and Sheneil McKnight in the 19th and 48th minutes gave Wolmer’s Girls a 2-0 win over Denbigh High.

Chakira Airey, coach of Wolmer’s Girls, said her team’s chances are very good but they will need to score and play as a team to win the title.

Merl Grove’s coach Annmarie Smith said it should be a very competitive final as the team has never won a title, but she is confident they will come out victorious.