Defeats in the PDL semi-finals could be blessings in disguise for Devonshire Cougars and BAA, who have switched their focus to the Friendship and Shield finals tomorrow at Wellington Oval.

Cougars, defending champions of the PDL Festive Tournament, were ousted 4-1 by North Village, while BAA were beaten 4-2 on penalty kicks by Dandy Town at Goose Gosling Field on Thursday night. Cougars beat BAA 4-0 in last year’s final, but can now focus on winning a third Friendship title and second trophy of the season when they meet PHC on New Year’s Day.

“Sometimes losses are good, it sends you back to the drawing board and gives you a perspective on certain things that you need to fix,” said coach Omar Butterfield, who can call on a few players tomorrow who played in the PDL match.

Domico Coddington and Chae Brangman have returned to the island from overseas for the Christmas break to add something extra to the Cougars squad and both featured in the semi-final win over North Village on Boxing Day. Brangman also played on Thursday night, scoring his team’s goal from the penalty spot in the first half. Butterfield will welcome having Monday off rather than preparing his teams for two finals in two days.

“I’m just glad to have a rest, to tell you the truth,” Butterfield said. “We’ve been going since the season started, in every cup and every final, so the players need the rest and I need the rest.

“I’m looking forward to it, I’m anxious about the game and want my boys to get out there and express themselves. It’s a big game but I’m trying to play down the occasion to keep them level.”

Another trophy will set Cougars up nicely for the second half of the season. They presently sit in fourth place, six points behind leaders PHC.

“We’ll try to keep it going, build as we go and improve every day,” Butterfield said.

Michael Araujo, the BAA assistant coach, will be aiming to retain the Shield they won last year. Head coach Kenny Thompson was abroad last year when his assistant Kameron Fox led the team to victory over X-Roads, now Araujo will try to do the same against St George’s in tomorrow’s final.

BAA were boosted by the return of several college players, but Araujo insists the 7-1 thrashing of Young Men’s Social Club in the semi-finals was not a fluke.

“No, it was well deserved, they had good clientele like we did but on the day we did a better job than they did,” Araujo stressed. Now he is hoping to share some good news with Thompson soon after the match.

“I’m in contact with him constantly when picking the teams. We’re looking forward to the final and we should do well.

“It should be a very good game, hopefully we get some good weather and have a good day of it.”

St George’s, who are three points ahead of BAA in mid-table in the standings, could again be without Jahron Dickinson who has a groin injury.

The Shield final will start at noon and the Friendship final at 2.30. PHC are chasing a record-tying 11th win in the competition.

X-Roads will play Wolves in a First Division make-up game on Monday at Garrison Field at 12.30, while North Village and Dandy Town meet in the PDL Final at Bernard Park at 3pm.