Ballyshannon man Shane Ward involved in All-Ireland Schools’ final this Saturday

If you want something done, ask a busy man. And there are few busier than Ballyshannon native Shane Ward at the moment.

On Saturday next he will be on the sideline in Tuam Stadium as St Clare’s, Manorhamilton take on Ennistymon CS, Clare in the Masita All-Ireland Schools’ Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup final (throw-in 1 pm)

Ward has other irons in the fire as he is part of the management of the Donegal U-20s and is also still involved with Derrygonnelly Harps in Fermanagh.

And it is a mixture of old and new rules. “I could have a coaching session in the morning under the old rules and in the evening it is the new rules,” says Ward.

Earlier this year Ward was also in charge of a combined Leitrim schools team which lost out to St Colman’s, Claremorris, who will meet St Pat’s, Maghera (conquerors of Abbey VS) in the Hogan Cup final on St Patrick’s Day.

Seven of that Leitrim panel are part of Ward’s St Clare’s side, which is supplied mainly by two clubs, Glencar-Manorhilton and Dromahair with a few from Shannon Gaels making up the 30-strong group.

St Clare’s have played six games to get to the final, winning the Connacht final by a point against Gortnor Abbey, Crossmoline. They were runaway winners in the semi-final against Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede by 4-17 to 1-9.

Saturday will represent a first for the Ballyshannon man, involved in an All-Ireland final. “We are really looking forward to it. The Ladies in the school won the All-Ireland in 2019 and 2020 so the boys are delighted to get the opportunity.

“The team is based on two good local minor teams in Glencar-Manor and Dromahair. Glencar got to the Connacht A final, losing by a point while Dromahair were knocked out at the semi-final stage.”

Amazingly Ward has spent 21 years teaching in St Clare’s yet looks young enough to be still a second level pupil. He says it was very good to work with the combined Leitrim Schools’ team and hopes there is a spin-off for all the clubs in the county.

As for Saturday’s opposition he says he has garnered “bits and pieces on them after some background checks. They have a strong group of former minors and some Clare U-20 panellists.”

Ennistymon were in the C final before three years ago after beating Donegal side St Columba’s, Stranorlar in the semi-final but they lost that final. “They would have bigger numbers than us. We have 540 pupils.

“We have a large cohort playing football and we have a few that did Transition Year which is giving us a bit of power.”

After spending 21 years teaching in Manorhamilton, Ward is a household name in the area.

“I suppose over that length of time you build up a bit of a rapport with the local clubs and that sets standards and expectations. The Ladies won two in-a-row and that feeds into the expectation too.”

The Ballyshannon man was back in Fr Tierney Park on Sunday and enjoyed the Donegal win over Derry. “The main man (Michael Murphy) made a difference. In the new era of new rules games are never over now until they are over.”