Glenmuir High's Carnel Learmond (centre) is surrounded by Mannings High defenders in action from yesterday's daCosta Cup semi-final at Brancourt in May Pen. Learmond scored twice as Glenmuir beat Mannings 3-2 in extra time. The teams were locked at 2-2 at full time. Mannings' Kemar Malcolm is at left while at right is Learmond's teammate Eric Vernon. - IAN ALLEN
CARNELL LEARMOND HAS done it again. As a matter of fact, the Glenmuir striker went one better this time.
Last year in the daCosta Cup final, he shot from villain to hero by netting the championship-winning goal, just minutes after missing a penalty kick in extra time. That goal was the penalty shoot-out decider against Frome Technical in the final.
In yesterday's semi-final against another Westmoreland team, this time Mannings High, he missed a penalty kick at the 70th minute with Glenmuir leading 1-0 on James Thomas' 11th minute goal.
Had he scored, the penalty could have shut Mannings High out of the daCosta Cup semi-final at Brancourt playing field in Clarendon.
As fate would have it, Mannings equalised eight minutes later through Draion McNain who had been threatening all afternoon.
Immediately, the focus shifted to Learmond, with a number of spectators ripping into the youthful striker for missing the penalty.
They would have their say, at least to the 89th when Learmond stepped in between Mannings' bungling defence and scored to put his team back in the lead again.
CHEERING FAITHFULS
The faithfuls cheering on the more accomplished Glenmuir thought it was game over. But there was another twist. Mannings would win a free kick almost a minute later and their best offender, McNain, swerved in a high ball to which giant and game goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr outjumped all to head the Westmoreland-based school on level terms at 2-2.
It sent the game into extra time and with Kerr having already saved a penalty and scored an equaliser, and time running out, all bets were on a Mannings victory. That was until Learmond capitalised on another defensive error by dispossessing clumsy Jerome Wauchope and dribbling by two defenders before hitting a grounder into the far post to send the crowd into a frenzy with his 38th goal of the season.
The crowd, no doubt inclusive of some of the very persons who were cursing him, would later lift Learmond on their shoulders, just like they did last year after he had secured the title.
"I feel very good," he admitted afterwards. "In the first half I was disappointed because I got some early chances and didn't score ... and I got a penalty and I didn't score. So I had to come back."
Commenting on the goals, he noted: "Once the defenders make a mistake you have to make them pay."
Then there's the big question: Why did you miss the penalty?
"The penalty," he reiterated. "I was a bit anxious and the pressure caused that. If I was more relaxed I would have put it away."
His latter finishes showed another side of his character though.
HANDLING PRESSURE
"When it comes to pressure I know how to handle it. The two teams were anxious so you've to go out there and play to the best of our ability."
They will play Godfrey Stewart, who defeated Clarendon College 4-2 on penalties in yesterday's other semi-final, which saw the teams locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time at Jarrett Park. Looking forward to that game on Saturday, Learmond was positive but non-committal.
"This is in the past. We can't think about this game anymore. Saturday we've to go to win this one."
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to