MONA Prep will face Liberty Academy in today’s final of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) Henriques Cup, as they look to take the first critical step towards a potential double-title success this season.

The match is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 pm at American International School of Kingston (AISK).

Mona, who are also in the semi-finals of the JISA Alberga Cup, will look to return to the top in the knockout competition and are already guaranteed an improvement on last year’s third-place finish in the Henriques Cup.

First-time finalists Liberty Academy have enjoyed a historic season, and the Hope Road-based school is determined to continue their Cinderella run after their surprise victory over preseason favourites Emmanuel Christian Academy (ECA) on Wednesday.

The 10th-ranked Liberty Academy survived a bruising contest in Wednesday’s clash against ECA at Maxfield Park Field, outlasting their opponents to win 2-0 with two extra-time goals.

It was another close match between the teams who were also drawn in the same preliminary round zone in the Alberga Cup competition, with that first-round match ending 1-0 in favour of ECA.

Mona enjoyed a similar 2-0 victory over fellow Alberga Cup semi-finalists Sts Peter and Paul Prep in the other Henriques Cup semi-final match, and will start huge favourites to secure their first silverware for the season.

In their previous meeting this season Mona hammered Liberty 5-0 in a game that propelled them into the Alberga Cup semi-finals at the expense of their opponents.

Liberty started their knockout campaign with a 6-0 win over St Hugh’s on November 20 before defeating Wolmer’s 2-1 in the second round.

They then eased past St Andrew Prep 3-0 in the quarter-final before getting their now-famous win over ECA in the semis.

Mona were also convincing in their run to the final, thumping Dunrobin 6-0 in the second round after their first-round bye before getting the better of Belair 4-0 in their quarter-final assignment.

In today’s third-place play-off ECA will play Sts Peter and Paul at 12:30, also at AISK.

The independent schools’ football season will continue next Wednesday with the playing of the Alberga Cup semi-finals.

In the first semi-final Hillel Academy will seek revenge against Sts Peter and Paul in their hunt for a first appearance in the final while Mona will come up against ECA in the feature match. Venues and times for these matches are yet to be confirmed.