Keadue Rovers aiming to take St Catherine’s scalp ahead of Premier Division run-in

Keadue Rovers manager Pat Ward is expecting a tough test on Sunday as his side travel to Emerald Park to face Shaun Kelly’s high-flying St Catherine’s FC.

Ward expressed his satisfaction with his team’s campaign to date in the Premier Division, with the Rosses men sitting in fifth position and Ward reckons given the quality of the league, a top-half finish would be superb.

“It has been a mixed season,” he explained. We’ve had a great run as of late but we didn’t start too well.

Overall, we’re happy with the league. If we finish in the top half, then we will be very content. It is a tough, tough league and there are no easy games.”

Next up for Ward and his outfit is a tricky assignment with a trip to Emerald Park to face a resurgent St Catherine’s.

Ward labelled the Killybegs outfit as the surprise package this season, praising the efforts of manager Kelly and adding that their position in the Premier Division, just behind champions and leaders Fanad United, is fully deserved.

“St Catherine’s have really come on this term,” Ward explained. “Shaun has done wonders with them.

“They are the ones that have come in a little under the radar. We were all maybe looking at the likes of Swilly, Kildrum and Rathmullan. But Catherine’s, they’ve quietly come up and they deserve to be there.

“And listen, there is a serious tradition at Emerald Park. So they’re back at the level they belong at. They’re a really good example for the rest”.

St Catherine’s are currently three points off the coattails of Fanad, but with a game more played.

Rovers currently occupy fifth position, nine adrift of the Saints however, a win on Sunday would close the gap to six and Ward’s men will continue to have two games in hand.

“We’re going up there with something to play for but St Catherine’s are going to have more to play for than we will,” was Ward’s response to all of that basic mathematics.

“However, if we beat them on Sunday then there’s a possibility of us finishing second so it is a big game”.

St Catherine’s have an impressive home record this season, with only Fanad United leaving Emerald Park with all three points so far.

Pat Ward agrees Emerald Park is a tough place to visit but he is backing his side to give it their all on Sunday.

“It’s going to be tough. Even going back to when I was playing, it is a fortress up there and they’ve got fantastic support which helps the team play too. Again, they’re a good outfit and we’ll give it our best shot but I’d say we’re underdogs on Sunday.”

The Keadue man added that there’s currently a massive focus and drive within the camp, with the players out on the training pitch three times a week. This mixture of drive and enjoyment can be a very successful combination.

“The boys have trained very hard, they’re going three nights a week. You’ve got Paul ‘The Yank’ Boyle, Mark Forker and Martin Ferry and they’re the driving force. They’re getting the boys out training. They’re enjoying it and there’s good numbers coming so the buzz is still with the lads.”

Ward and his men have cup football to look forward to as well as the remaining league fixtures with his side still in the mix there.

And despite wanting to finish high in the Premier Division, the cup is their last hope of silverware and therefore that has to be the aim.

“The Sportsman Cup is probably our main target now. Don’t get me wrong, we want to finish high up the league but the only thing left that we can win is the Cup so that’s the more realistic”.