Pat Ward steps aside from first role of first team manager at Keadue Rovers FC

Pat Ward has stepped down as manager of Keadue Rovers FC.

The Rosses-based side, who play in the Premier Division of the Donegal Junior Football League, have paid tribute to Ward and his assistant Bernie Gallagher for their work. They guided the team to continued improvement and were within a whisker of winning the Brian McCormick Sports Cup last season, only to be pipped 4-3 by Letterkenny Rovers in the final at Ballyare.

“Keadue Rovers FC would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Pat Ward for his three years of service as manager of the club’s first team,” they posted. “Pat has decided to step away from the job ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Under Pat’s management, the first team has enjoyed excellent progress year-on-year.
In his first season in charge, which was the 2021-2022 campaign, we finished sixth. In the 2022-2023 season, we finished fifth.

“Last season, our third-place finish in the Donegal League Premier Division was the highest the club has finished since we gained promotion back to the top flight in 2018, in what was a very competitive league.

“We also reached The Brian McCormick Cup Final, which we narrowly lost to Letterkenny Rovers in a thrilling final.

“Pat spent the majority of his coaching career at underage level, where he enjoyed phenomenal success, and has always been passionate about the development of young players. Pat adopted the same mantra as manager of the first team, and always strived to promote young players into the team, and this has been evidenced by the likes of Brendan McCafferty, Aidan Brennan, Caolan Bonner, Matthew Comiskey, Maurice McGee and Pauric Neely all becoming integral members of our first team squad.

“He also gave first-team debuts to Aaron Neely, Paddy O’Donnell, Michael O’Donnell, and Dylan O’Donnell this season. He has left the club in a rock-solid place ahead of the 2024/2025 campaign, and we hope the new management team can build on his foundations.

“The club would also like to thank Pat’s assistant Bernie Gallagher, who came on board in the 2022-2023 season. Bernie has been a fantastic addition to the club and has great football knowledge, and coupled with a wicked Glaswegian tongue it was a deadly combination.
We sincerely also thank him for all his hard work over the last couple of seasons.”