Keadue Rovers looking to find some consistency - Pat Ward 

Keadue Rovers manager Pat Ward knows his side faces a tough battle this weekend as visitors Swilly Rovers make the trip to Central Park. 

Rovers have begun their Donegal League Premier Division campaign reasonably well, picking up ten points from their opening seven league fixtures, which leaves them sitting in sixth place in the table. 

Ward has said that it is a season, which so far has had its ups and downs with the side being unable to field a consistent lineup each weekend. However, he stated that once a regular first 11 can be fielded, Keadue will be backing themselves against anyone out there. 

“There have been ups and downs to be honest,” said the boss. “We haven’t had the same 11 players out for any game this season. 

“For one reason or another, it is very hard to get a steady team. We have had boys away on holidays, boys playing Gaelic football as well as things such as weddings”. 

He continued, “If we can get our first 11 out then we will be as good as any team. We have a lot of good players with the likes of Paul ‘Yank’ Boyle, Mark Forker, Martin Ferry, David Ward, all lads that have played at a decent level. We also have a couple of good young players coming through in Aidan Brennan and Peter McGee.”

This Sunday, Keadue face a big test with a home tie against fourth-place Swilly Rovers. This is an important match for both teams with only three points separating the sides in the Premier Division table. 

Ward feels that this is going to be a tough match for his Keadue outfit who will again be missing a number of key players ahead of this weekend’s clash. The Keadue boss also had high praise for the talented side, which Swilly Rovers have at their disposal. 

“It will be a tough game against Swilly, they’re flying. I reckon they have the best player in the league in Shane McNamee, he is excellent. As well as that, they have players like Lawrence Toland and Kyle Black. 

“They are a good team and we will be up against it. We will be missing a couple of players as well so it will be a tough game.”

Ward mentioned how the pitch, which is in place at Keadue, is an asset to his outfit with the big playing surface allowing them to play the passing brand of football they promote. 

However, he stated how Sunday’s visitors will also be well capable of coming along and passing the ball about.

“The pitch suits us in Keadue, it is probably the biggest pitch in the league. We will be able to spray the ball about and that is our game, although at the same time Swilly Rovers are well able to spray the ball about as well.”

When questioned about the aims and goals for his side going forward this season, Pat Ward stated that they are aiming for a top-half finish in the Premier Division and that they will be happy with that.

“We will want to finish in the top half of the table. If you finish in the top half then you are one of the top five teams in Donegal and it is a nice thing to be saying that you are up there with the best. 

“We would like to say we will win the league but being realistic I don’t know. We are too far behind as it is and are playing catch up already.”

Ward went on to mention how a decent run in cups would also be satisfactory for himself and his side particularly since they have never reached the final and therefore this may be a goal of theirs for the season.

“If we can get a run in the cups it’ll be good. Every year we have been beaten in the semi-final of the cup, we have never reached the final so that would maybe be a target for us.”