AGAINST the backdrop of St Catherine High missing out on the ISSA Manning Cup title, Head Coach Anthony Patrick says he’s overjoyed that the school added to its growing history by capturing the Walker Cup.

St Catherine dethroned Mona High as champions of the urban area knockout competition with a 4-2 penalty-shoot-out win at the National Stadium on Friday .

After a thrilling 3-3 result over 90 minutes, Mona’s Niquan Allen and Nathan McCarthy failed to hold their nerve in the shoot-out as St Catherine took advantage with Kadean Young scoring the winning penalty.

It’s the school’s third-ever title at the under-19 level after winning the competition in 2019 and 2021.

Although wanting to go one better after their Manning Cup final defeat last year, Patrick says he’s still proud of his boys.

“This is a hat-trick for the school in a couple of years,” he said.

“The Manning Cup is very, very important. I want to win it for the school, I want to win it for the parish itself, but it wasn’t to be. But, we still wanted some silverware and we have to be grateful.”

Patrick’s resume continues to stack up, winning his fourth Walker Cup title and adding to his two Manning Cups and Olivier Shields with Bridgeport High in the early 2001 and 2006.

“I must say, I’m very, very happy. As a coach that’s come into the schoolboy football competition and [has] start[ed] to win trophies, it’s very important. I’m very happy, very elated,” he said.

He was also pleased with Assistant Coach Theo Brown who’s made the transition from a title-winning player.

“It’s his first time, you being a coach in the schoolboy football competition,” he said. “He was my vice-captain at Bridgeport in 2006, and won the Manning Cup and the Olivier Shield. Now the first-time assistant with me at St Catherine, I must say kudos to him — he did a really good job here today.”

Patrick believes there’s more to come from his team and he expects them to be schoolboy football contenders for years to come.

“It’s all about getting them back now together. It’s going to be a pretty young squad but, definitely, we have to put out a whole lot more work now with these youngsters so we can get another two or three years with them to go forward.”

Anthony Patrick, St Catherine High’s football coach, lifts the Walker Cup.