KINGSTON, Jamaica— McGrath High won their first football title after edging former champions Frome Technical 1-0 in the ISSA Ben Francis Cup final played at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.

Dontae Anderson’s 50th minute goal saw McGrath High becoming the third first time winners of the competition in the last four years since the format was changed to exclude teams in the daCosta Cup semi-finals.

Charlemont High won the knock-out title in 2018 followed by BB Coke in 2019; Edwin Allen High won in 2021 while Glenmuir High won last year.

Frome Technical, the 2006 winners came close to scoring in the first half but the teams went to the break tied at 0-0.

Anderson would break the tie five minutes into the second half when a teammate picked off an errant pass close to half line and sent him through down the left flank.

With just goalkeeper Oral Davis to beat, Anderson beat the custodian at his near right post with a firm low drive.

Frome Technical came close to drawing level late in the game but an acrobatic save by defender Isaac Mason who cleared the ball off his line with an overhead kick preserved their lead.

-Paul A Reid