Cayman Prep dominate finals

A day of upsets at the 2022 FIFA World Cup overshadowed the 2022 CUC Primary Football League (PFL) and Girls’ Primary Football League (GPFL) finals and third-place games this past Saturday, December 10 at the Annex Field, but the ‘upset jinx’ failed to materialise on this final day of primary school football competition.

Cayman Prep walked away with four of the five championships and one third-place, which marked the school’s largest one-day trophy haul on record.

CUC Girls’ Under 11 League (GPFL):

Cayman Prep’s young ladies defeated St. Ignatius Catholic 2-1 in extra time to win the Girls’ Under 11 League title. Tillie Lomax’s goals in the 26th minute of regulation time and in the 4th minute of extra time secured the win for Prep. St. Ignatius’ Kaylee Pierre was awarded The Marie Martin Most Valuable Player Award for her outstanding play during the final, albeit in defeat.

Sir John A. Cumber Primary (Sir JAC) needed penalties to get past Cayman International School (CIS) to secure third-place. Marlee Pessoa opened the scoring for Sir JAC in the 4th minute only to see the lead disappear thanks to a last minute blast from CIS’ Sophia Santiago in the 40th minute. With five minutes of extra time yielding no further goals, it would be penalties that would decide this thrilling contest. Sir JAC’s penalty takers were stronger on the day winning the penalty shootout 2-0 and securing a 3-1 win.

CUC PFL Under 9 Consolation Cup:

George Town Primary ‘carried the flag’ for the Government schools on Saturday as they defeated Red Bay Primary 4-1 with their talented forward Rolando Shield bagging his school’s four goals in the 7th, 25th, 30th and 40th minutes. Red Bay’s Decquan Allen grabbed his school’s lone goal in the 38th minute.

CUC PFL Under 9 Champions Cup:

2020 defending champions Cayman Prep 9A continued their dominance of the Under 9 division as they defeated CIS 3-1 thanks to a three-goal blitz in the 15th, 25th and 37th minutes from Jonny Jones, who sported a throwback Brazilian Ronaldo haircut for the occasion. CIS’ Nolan Anderson scored for CIS.

For his exploits in the final, Cayman Prep’s Jonny Jones was awarded The Gerome Graham Most Valuable Player Award.

In the third-place match, Cayman Prep 9B were unstoppable as they overcame a stubborn Prospect Primary team 4-0 (respect rule) thanks to two goals from Jack DeSaram (9th and 18th minutes) and a goal each from Dylan McAuliffe (6th minute) and Henry Maloy (20th minute).

CUC PFL Under 11 Consolation Cup:

Cayman Prep 11B notched a hard fought 2-1 victory over NorthEast School’s to secure the Under 11 Consolation Cup. A goal from Noah Dutil in the 1st minute and an unfortunate NorthEast Schools own goal in the 14th minute was enough to secure the win. NorthEast Schools’ Asher McGaw scored for his school in the 39th minute.

CUC PFL Under 11 Champions Cup:

The final in the Under 11 Champions Cup was set-up perfectly as the season’s two undefeated schools – Cayman Prep 11A and CIS – would do battle for the coveted league title.

The game began at a frenetic pace as both schools flew ‘out of the gates’ in search of the first goal. In the 18th minute, Prep’s Johnny Watkins found the back of the net, which ignited the Cayman Prep parents and supporters. Two minutes later, a wonderful free kick from Nathaniel Lindsay made it 2-0. CIS was not out of it as Lucas Kerr capitalised in the 29th minute on a rare Cayman Prep defensive error to bring his team within one.

Down 2-1, CIS pressed for the equaliser but Prep were in no mood to relinquish their lead. In the 30th minute, young Watkins scored his second of the day and the game was sealed in the 40th and 46th minutes as Oscar Shakespeare added two goals to secure a famous 5-1 victory and the Under 11 title. For his all-round excellent performance in the final, Oscar Shakespeare was awarded The Justin Henry Most Valuable Player Award.

In the third-place game, Joanna Clarke Primary rebounded from their dramatic and exhausting semifinal loss to CIS to defeat Sir JAC 1-0 thanks to a solitary strike from Ricardo Ricketts in the 12th minute.

Organisers of the CUC PFL and GPFL, the Cayman Youth Football Leagues (CYFL), extends congratulations to all the schools competing in the finals and third-place games and special thanks to the CUC PFL/GPFL youth referees who officiated the league and playoff games. Special thanks also to contributing sponsors Progressive Distributors and Gatorade.

Visit www.caymanyouthfootball.ky  for the full CUC PFL and GPFL league and playoff.