MONTEGO BAY, St James — Irwin High Coach Norman Foster was a relieved man at the final whistle on Tuesday as his team beat Anchovy High 5-1 in the Zone A return game at Cornwall College to earn the schoool’s first-ever qualification to the second round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association daCosta Cup football competition.

The win, which saw Leo Campbell scoring four times, was Irwin High’s sixth, a school record, as they improved to 21 points. They cannot finish outside of the top two in the zone.

Irwin High were joined by defending champions Garvey Maceo High, Petersfield High, Holmwood Technical, Glenmuir High, and Central High in qualifying for the second round.

“It’s a relief, it’s a good look for Irwin High,” Foster, who took over Irwin’s football programme in 2019, told the Jamaica Observer.

“We have been in the competition for a long time and it’s our first time getting out of the first round,” he said.

Irwin High can still win the zone for the first time, with a game to go, against Cornwall College.

“The first hurdle was getting out of the zone, and that was what we wanted first,” Foster noted.

Campbell’s effort on the day took his goals’ tally to seven, while Fabian Grey got Irwin’s other strike. Oneil Irving scored for Anchovy.

Cornwall College are in second place on 15 points after edging St James High 1-0 thanks to a direct free kick from Braxton Richards in the 48th minute.

Petersfield High booked their spot from Zone D after holding zone winners Manning’s School to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting of the season. Petersfield improved to 16 points, seven behind the leaders.

Garvey Maceo High edged Foga Road 2-1 in their Zone N game to improve to an unassailable 19 points as Vere Technical took over second place with 13 points after their 3-1 win over Kemps Hill High.

Holmwood Technical booked their spot without kicking a ball. The 0-0 result between top contenders Christiana High and Mile Gully means Holmwood, who are on 15 points, will finish in the top two in Zone G.

There is a two-team race for the next spot with Christiana High, on 12 points, and Mile Gully, on 11 points, both with a game to go, while Alphansus Davis completed their schedule with 10 points.

Glenmuir High’s 5-0 win over Old Harbour High, their fifth-straight victory, means that both them and Central High, who are also on 15 points, will get both spots from Zone M.

Meanwhile, hosts Munro College ended St Elizabeth Technical’s eight-game winning streak, edging them 1-0 in their first meeting of the season. St Elizabeth Technical were conceding for the first time this season.

STETHS had already won the zone while BB Coke (16 points), who beat Maggotty High 2-0, are in second place — just ahead of Munro College on goal difference.