THE wait is over for St Catherine High as they finally achieved a first-ever hold on a schoolboy football title, coming from behind to better Excelsior High 3-2 in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Walker knockout final at National Stadium yesterday.

The entertaining contest, the prelude to the prestigious Manning Cup showpiece between St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and Jamaica College, whetted the appetites of the many football enthusiasts in the grandstand.

Assanie Brown’s brace in the 39th and 45th minutes, and one from Kamau Davis in the 35th, saw the Anthony Patrick-coached St Catherine roar back after Jhevan Smith had given Excelsior a 28th-minute lead.

Smith returned to grab another from the penalty spot in the 77th minute. But it proved insufficient for the Mountain View Avenue-based team, which had also lost to Hydel High in last year’s final. That victory had also given Hydel their first-ever schoolboy football title.

Given St Catherine’s and Excelsior’s form leading up to the championship match, a close contest was always on the cards, and the explosive start was clear indication of what was to come.

After taking turns attacking each other’s goals, Excelsior eventually grabbed the ascendancy two minutes to the half-hour mark when Smith slotted home from a goal-mouth melee after St Catherine’s defence failed to clear their lines from a corner.

The Lebert Halliman-conditioned team kept its foot on the throttle, but was unable to further pierce the reinforced defensive armour of St Catherine.

That allowed St Catherine to pull level shortly after the arrival of alumnus and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Rhajneil Brown slipping his marker and playing a pass for Davis, who expertly turned and fired past custodian Pepetto Smith at his near post.

The school, founded in 1948, came alive and surged ahead two minutes later when Isaac Dunkley’s free kick bounced around in the 18-yard area before Assanie Brown got on the end of it to fire home.

And before Excelsior could catch their breaths, they were hit once more due to poor defensive work, as Brown was allowed too much time and space. He slotted home from inside the 18-yard box to put St Catherine 3-1 up at the break.

Both teams came out upon the resumption with the same level of intensity. But Excelsior were more threatening in the attacking third, as they knew very well that they had some ground to make up in chase of a eighth lien on the knockout title.

They thought they pulled one back a minute past the hour mark, but Rojaughn Joseph’s powerful right-footed effort from outside the 18-yard box rocketed off the left upright with goalkeeper Raheem Henry well beaten.

But they were duly rewarded for camping out in the opponents’ half, as Smith forced an error from defender Ian Cupee, who had no choice but to bring him down inside the danger area.

Smith stepped up and converted the 12-yard kick to add more life to his team’s thrust for the elusive equaliser in the latter stages of the game.

— Sherdon Cowan