OCHO Rios High created history as they became the first school from the parish of St Ann to qualify for the semi-finals of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition on Saturday. They beat former champions Garvey Maceo High 2-0 at Drax Hall to top their group in the quarter-finals.

On a dramatic day of pulsating football Ocho Rios were joined by Garvey Maceo, who edged Munro College on goal difference from Group B, while McGrath High scored four times in the second half to beat Frome Technical High 4-0, edging St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) on goaldifference to join Glenmuir High as the qualifiers from Group A.

The semi-finals set for November 30 will see Clarendon neighbours Glenmuir High and Garvey Maceo in one game, and Ocho Rios High and McGrath High in the other game.

Ocho Rios High Team Manager Eyan Kean described the atmosphere at Drax Hall as, “like a carnival right now; it’s pure celebrations going on. This is big for the entire parish of St Ann”.

Orane Watson scored twice to lead Glenmuir High to a 5-2 win over STETHS while Munro College beat Central High 3-1.

The results also mean STETHS, Frome Technical, Central High and Munro College will join the winners of the first round of the Ben Francis Cup in the quarter-finals set for Thursday.

At Drax Hall, Ocho Rios High — who had drawn their first two games of the round — beat Garvey Maceo High 2-0 with goals from Robert Morris in the 31st minute and the reliable Keanu Reid (75th), who was scoring in his fourth-straight game.

Ocho Rios High top Group B with five points as — despite their first loss in 16 games, going back to their first-round game against Glenmuir High on September 14 — Garvey Maceo edged into the semis ahead of Munro College on goal difference as they also finished with four points, with a 3-1 win over Central High.

Despite having already secured their semi-final spot from winning their first two games in the round, there was no letting up for Glenmuir High who led STETHS 3-0 at half-time before winning 5-2.

Watson took his goals tally to 31 for the season; Orel Miller opened the scoring with his 17th of the season; while Conroy Nicely and second-half substitute Ricardo Binns also scored. Justin McPherson and Shemmar Stewart scored late to rekindle some hope for STETHS.

Jimm Mitchell scored twice and Isaac Mason and Shane Pusey scored one each as McGrath High beat Frome Technical 4-0 to edge STETHS on goal difference of +1 to -1.

Saturday’s results

•McGrath High 4, Frome Tech 0

•STETHS 2, Glenmuir High 5

•Ocho Rios High 2, Garvey Maceo High 0

•Munro College 3, Central High 1