KINGSTON College (KC) won a record 10th Walker Cup title with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Mona High at Stadium East on Friday.

Goals by Rasheed Payne, in the 60th, and Kamaul Patterson (75th) turned around the fortunes of KC after Skylar McFarlane had given Mona a 16th-minute lead. It was a deserved victory for the “Purples”, once again showing resilience after falling behind.

They are now the most successful team in the history of the Walker Cup which was started in 1961. Kingston College won their first title in 1963 and followed that up in 1964 and 1965.

The North Street giant last won the Walker Cup in 2016 but had to wait another 10 years as governing body ISSA changed the format that ruled out the top teams. But in 2026 the format was once again changed that allowed the leading teams and KC truly obliged.

In front of a packed venue, Mona started the brighter as they pressed KC well not allowing the slick moving KC to play their passing game. But KC almost got the scoresheet as a deflected shot crashed onto the upright.

Kingston College’s Deshawn Byfield (left) and Mona High’s Jermaine Morgan vie for the ball during the ISSA Walker Cup final.

Then Mona stunned KC players and their large crowd support when McFarlane fired home after he was teed up by Sean Leighton. The half ended with Mona in the ascendancy but that changed on the resumption as KC went out with more intent.

Mona seemed set up to attempt to maintain the one-goal advantage for the next 45 minutes, a move that helped KC as they pressed forward searching for that equalising goal.

And it came on the hour mark. Payne, who was pulling the strings in the middle of the park, scored a beautiful free kick from 25 metres when the ball cannoned into the underside of the bar amd dipped over the goal line.

The momentum was clearly with KC, and top scorer Deshawn Byfield could have given them the lead from the penalty spot, but his shot crashed into the upright in the 71st minute.

KC’s second goal came five minutes later when captain and man of the match Patterson fired home, his shot looping over the goalkeeper.

Kingston College coach Jermaine Miller celebrates his team’s ISSA Walker Cup football final victory over Mona High.

Mona tried to get back on level terms but appeared to struggle to get out of the defensive mindset, and KC were able to comfortably hold on for the historic victory.

It’s the first title of the schoolboy season, with KC on course to also win the Manning Cup, Champions Cup and Olivier Shield. Byfield and Franklyn Mitcham of Mona High shared the Golden Boot with four goals each.