After defending their Dacosta Cup title, Clarendon College (CC) will look to do the same with the Olivier Shield as they battle first-time ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup champions Mona High at the National Stadium today, starting at 5:00 pm.

The boys from Chapelton have impressed throughout the course of the Under-19 schoolboy football season and claimed rural dominance last Saturday when they hammered Glenmuir High 6-2.

No team has managed to keep a clean sheet against Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde’s team in all competitions in 2023 and their only loss this season came in the Champions Cup when they were edged 3-2 by Glenmuir.

In fact, CC have yet to lose to urban area opposition this season after victories over St George’s College and Hydel High.

Manager Richard Palmer says the team is ready for the Mona challenge as they look to claim the double.

“My coaching staff would not throw the philosophy through the window because of any other school. That would be like we’re panicking, we don’t panic. We are a tough team, we stay disciplined with our football and we stand to believe in what we do and we believe in our brand.

“Defending the title is always a sweet thing and winning the Olivier Shield is very prestigious. It’s one of the sweetest trophies you could ever imagine because it’s the champions of champions. It means the world to me, the team, the institution and everyone from Clarendon College. It’s a sweet trophy to have in your cabinet,[it] separates the men from the boys,” Palmer said.

While Clarendon have won the all-island title five times, including three of the last four, it’s Mona’s first crack at the shield after beating Hydel to claim urban area supremacy.

Like Clarendon, Craig Butler’s side has only tasted defeat once this season, which also came against Glenmuir in the Champions Cup.

The lead-up to their title challenge hasn’t been the smoothest due to off the field issues including not receiving the physical Manning Cup trophy last Friday and the incident where students were caught forcing their way on to Jamaica College’s campus during their celebratory motorcade.

The school from Mona Road will be looking to put all that behind them and focus on the task at hand.

Captain Akeem Bernard says the objective is simple.

“We have a winning mindset so we’re just going for it, going hard, nah ease up, warrior code,” he said.

The teams met in the first round of the 2022 Champions Cup and Clarendon came away 3-1 winners at Sabina Park.

However, Mona’s Vice-Captain Dante Peralto is expecting his team to do better this time around.

“We played against them last year but unfortunately, we lost because most of our players were sick but going into this game, we just have to keep a level head and just stay focused and I believe we’ll do very well against CC.”

The last time a new winner was crowned in the Olivier Shield was Bridgeport, back in 2006 where they shared the title with Glenmuir.