KINGSTON, Jamaica – Mona High has arrived. That was the message of principal Kevon Jones at Monday’s devotion as the school celebrated its first-ever Manning Cup triumph at the institution’s Old Hope Road campus.

On Friday, Mona defeated Hydel High 1-0 to grab their first hold of the prestigious trophy.

At the devotion on Monday, Jones expressed that it was a “remarkable feeling” for the school to win the competition.

“Mona High School is 44 years old and in our history we have never won the Manning Cup. History was created on Friday and, I have to say, we have arrived,” Jones said as he addressed jubilant members of the school community.

Speaking at the devotion, the architect of the school’s climb to the pinnacle of schoolboy football locally, head coach Craig Butler saluted his players.

READ: Mona High win first Manning Cup title

“Nothing could have been done without the dedication, the commitment, the hard work and the patience of our players. I am the hardest coach on the planet, I am not an easy person to deal with. The fights, the growth, the determination and the commitment that was shown by these guys is unbelievable and deserving of our praise,” Butler said.

Mona added their names to the list of Corporate Area football champions thanks to a 10th-minute goal from Demarion Harris.

A well-worked move gave Mona High the only goal they would need when Kshaine Gordon picked up a long ball on the right side of the area and crossed into the Hydel penalty area where Harris swept it past goalkeeper Tajarie Lee.

Mona High pulled players behind the ball late in the game and invited Hydel High to come at them and were able to keep them out until the final whistle.