Sliema continued to increase their KO winning record when they managed to win the 62nd edition so as to make them 22 KO wins in history, three more than their rivals Neptunes whilst finalists Sirens had to remain with seven wins equal to both San Giljan and Valletta.
The Blues beat last year's KO winners Sirens in the final and thus ended a three-year major trophy drought since the 2004 league was their last success whilst 2002 was the last time they won the KO when incidentally they had won the double (they are the last team to have registered a league and KO double).
Although the main honour is always the league championship (won by Neptunes last week), this KO success ends Sliema's season on a somewhat positive note. On the other hand Sirens missed an opportunity to register their sixth KO success in nine years.
Sliema had an early man-up as Mercieca was excluded but Grech saved on a Soler attempt.
Tamas Marcz opened the score late in the fourth minute as he found open space on the left, outswam his marker and then lobbed over Josie Cachia (who is reported to have played his last game after a long and successful span at Sliema).
Sliema equalised half a minute later when Privitera was excluded and captain Clint Debono found the Sirens' net.
A minute later a Mercieca shot was judged to have been touched by Cachia (looked different from the press box) and Sirens were awarded a corner. From the resultant offence Debono was excluded by the local referee Dalli whilst the Italian referee signalled for a penalty. Yet the game continued with an exclusion and Sirens shot high over the bar off a bounce shot. At the opposite end Grech saved well when Sirens had Montfort excluded so that the initial session ended at par, 1-1.
The KO record-winning Sliema had a great start to the second session as they went on a 3-0 run in five minutes of play. Privitera received his second exclusion and Tamas Varga took full responsibility from the right and scored with a powerful shot. Edward Aquilina, just a minute later, made it 3-1 as he scored a beautiful goal from some six metres with a shot going straight in the top left hand corner behind Grech.
Sirens missed on a Paolella exclusion and Sliema then increased their lead with another nice goal this time through Debono's brace as the latter let fly a nice diagonal shot despite some 3 opposing players trying to block his vision of goal.
Sirens fought back bravely and re-opened the game in just 90 seconds as they decreased the margin to just one goal after Karl Montfort scored on a Varga man-up and then Paul Privitera beat Cachia with a powerful shot to the right corner.
Forty seconds from the shifting of ends, on a Cutajar man-up, Daniel Paolella received a good assist from Aquilina and, from close range, put the ball in the Sirens' net for 5-3.
The third session was a tactical affair with both sides very wary of each other. Two respective man-ups on both ends were missed with Debono (Sliema) and Mercieca (Sirens) now on their second personal fault.
The only goal in the session was netted by Jurgen Borg when this left handed player made it a tight 5-4 game late in the 22nd minute.
All had to be decided in the final session where no goal was scored in the first four and a half minutes. Then Marcz was excluded and Jonathan Valletta fired in Sliema's sixth on the day.
A minute later Sirens' hopes were revived when Clint Mercieca scored from a good distance from goal. The St. Paul's Bay side had a great opportunity to equalise when Meli was excluded 83 seconds from time but, after their own time-out, Sliema defended stoutly.
Half a minute from time Sirens protested sturdily when Marcz was judged by the Italian referee (who was away from play) to have committed a penalty. Varga came in to take the penalty and he did not miss and now Sliema were home and dry as they even managed to defend a late Valletta exclusion.
The players and numerous Sliema fans celebrated this success and were merry when Clint Debono received the KO trophy from Ms. Lara Scicluna, on behalf of the sponsors Wilkinson Sword.
Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, N. Lubrano, M. Rizzo, M. Meli, J. Soler, T. Varga 2, J. Valletta 1, C. Debono 2, E. Aquilina 1, D. Paolella 1, J. Gabaretta, A. Bianchi.
Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava, T. Marcz 1, P. Privitera 1, J. Rizzo Naudi, R. Xerri, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 1, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 1, R. Attard, E. Arrigo.
Refs: M. Di Chiara, M. Dalli