Aodh Ruadh's Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward - still going strong 25 years later

Sunday is Donegal senior final day and one man will bring a unique touch to the day. Aodh Ruadh veteran Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward will be part of the Jubilee team, winners in 1998, who will be introduced in the interval prior to the start of the senior game.

Before that, however, Ward will line out at full-forward for the Aodh Ruadh team in the Senior B final against Gaoth Dobhair.

Despite turning 46 in August, Ward is still a big player for his side and was their top scorer in the semi-final win over Kilcar a couple of weeks ago.

Back in 1998, he played a major part in Aodh Ruadh’s success over Naomh Columba, and was named man of the match, accounting for 1-4 in the 1-11 to 0-11 win, in what has proved to be Aodh Ruadh’s  last county senior success.

The nickname ‘Sticky’ came about because in his young days, the ball stuck when passed to him. And the nickname has now been passed on to his son, MJ.

His earliest playing memories go back to the U-10s. “My cousin Fabian took me up to U-10 league in the old Munday’s Field. Mick Shannon, God rest him, was manager. That was my first introduction to Gaelic football.”

That was in the early 1980s and there was always one or two big games being  played in Ballyshannon.

“I remember my father taking me up to the big games in Fr Tierney Park. He actually took me up to see Jack O’Shea playing, he was the big name at the time, but everybody left the ground that day talking about Gerry Curran. Obviously at that age I didn’t even know who Gerry was.

“That was the first big game. That’s where seeds are sown for young lads going up to follow them, and Aodh Ruadh were strong at the time. Seeing those boys operate at a good level and big crowds watching them. You wanted to be part of that and you set your targets towards that.

“That’s why it is so important to take the kids to the games.”

Michael Sticky Ward being congratulated after the 1998 final

Around the mid 1980s Aodh Ruadh won two senior titles and there was a big buzz around.

“I would have seen the older players, serious footballers. I went through the School of Excellence with PJ Buggy, Josie Boyle, Jim Kane, them men  put in  tireless work years ago, up the side of Munday’s Field under the trees in the wind and rain.  You  would be there every evening, 2-3 times a week.

“Willie Rogers came a wee bit later. Myself and Willie’s son, Niall, would have been good friends.

“Then you would have had Creevy NS v Rockfield NS, always a grudge match and Willie would have been coaching you with Aodh Ruadh and then managing Rockfield, how to stop you, it was good craic.

“He had all the tricks, good and bad, but that was Willie. He was a great man.  He was there when we won the All-Ireland (Community Games) in Mosney with Jim Kane as the manager. There were a few others helping my father and Aidan McGurrin.

“That was a great run we had with just 15 players, to win an All-Ireland. Willie was very much to the front.

“We might have won an U-12 county championship, but that was the big one, the welcome home with a big crowd,” said Ward, who said that most of that team went to De La Salle and also won two or three Ulster titles and an U-16 County Championship.

He mentions players like Stephen Ward, Buddy Greene, Barry Travers and Brendan Boyle along with himself. “Brendan Boyle was a cracking corner-back. Every night at training you didn’t want him marking you.”

Michael had trials at divisional level for county minors but says he was very small up to the age of 18-19. “I’m not much bigger now,” he quips.

“I never made a county panel until U-21 when I had a couple of seasons under Donal Reid and the late Seamus O’Reilly of Bundoran. But to be honest my interest wasn’t great at that time. The Erne Estuary was open for fishermen and that was my No 1 priority.”

1998 final

“The win was special and always stays in your mind.  It was a great day for all involved and it was what the team deserved with what happened the year previous.

“Ironically, that day Sylvester (Maguire) could have taken me off at half-time. I had made a few mistakes and wasn’t going well and I’ll never forget saying to him, ‘leave me on the field’. He did and the rest is history, as they say.

Ward picked up the man of the match and hit 1-4 of the Aodh Ruadh tally in their 1-11 to 0-11 win.

Ward says he hasn’t watched the game since but remembers it as being  nip and tuck for most of the contest.

“There was a bit of a  shemozzle in the second half around the middle of the field. Barry and Stephen Ward were involved and I think Noel Hegarty. Sometimes when that happens it goes either way for a team. John Duffy and (Brian) Roper seemed to up the ante a bit and we got a few scores.”

Then  came the Ward goal and that was the difference when the final whistle was blown.

“John Duffy was carrying a hamstring injury that day. People thought of John Duffy as this soft, silky footballer but he was far from it, he was a tough, tough lad.

“The better footballers know when you need to  win a ball and he was one of those players, probably one of the best I’ve played with, different class.”

Bringing the Dr  Maguire back to Ballyshannon was a great memory and it contrasted greatly with what happened the previous year with Ward not that happy with Sylvester Maguirre when he was dropped for the semi-final.

“So there were contrasting emotions - getting dropped one year and man of the match a year later, two really different sets of feelings.”

While they felt the good times would continue, after reaching the final  the following year in 1999,  there would be no further finals at senior level.

“We still had some good players and had a chance in 2005, taking St Eunan’s to a replay, with Peter Gallagher as Peter Gallagher. We had good players in Seamus Kane, Barry Mulligan, Thomas McPhelim.  We got to the final in the Kilmacud 7s, but then came the recession and boys headed off.

“We had a very bad period after that and at one stage we only had only seven or eight at senior training; we were just trying to keep the thing together.

“We seem to be on the way back up but it’s hard to know yet. We are moving forward. We have up on 50 adults training during the summer. And it is good to see lads of all different standards enjoying themselves.”

The Aodh Ruadh 1998 panel - county champions

Ward was always an all-rounder and loved other sports including soccer and rugby.

“I just loved soccer. Back then the soccer season was from September to Paddy’s Day and it was a way of keeping the weight off. Myself and Val (Murray) would be known as two soccer men. We would have played with a few different clubs.

“Erne Wanderers had a good team at the time and we got to the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup. I remember we came up against a very well-known side, The Freebooters. Our pitch was waterlogged and the game was played in Cliffoney.

“If there was no Gaelic in Ballyshannon, there would be a serious soccer team.”

“I also loved rugby and in the years when Erne  Wanderers were not functioning, Donal Hannigan used to take me and young  Diarmaid Slevin with him up to play teams in Ulster. It is a great game and I played outhalf and full-back.

“I can only imagine playing it down in Munster where there is a proper set-up and you get a real good cut at it. It is a great sport when played in the right areas but Ballyshannon is a Gaelic town and that is the No 1 sport.”

In a player profile included in the programme for the 1998, Ward is credited with cricket being one of his favourite sports and also Brian Tuohy  being his childhood hero.

“There were a few blagards about at the time and they must have filled out the form. You wouldn’t want to believe everything you read,” laughs Ward.

“I think Brian Tuohy was brought back into  the squad in ‘98 by Sylvester. The boys used to play Good Cop, Bad Cop, that was the relationship and how they tried to  keep us in tune.”

With all his involvement at different sports, Ward says he never really missed any amount of time due to injuries.

“I’ve been very lucky and have never had any serious injuries. I love the game and that's why I keep playing it. But then there are a lot of people who love the game but can’t play because of injuries.”

Ward has an All-Ireland Masters medal from 2019, scoring 0-5 in Donegal’s 0-9 to 0-7 win over Dublin in Ballyleague.

His longevity, he believes, is down to his work schedule in construction and roofing, which keeps his muscles well toned. “It gives you a bit of power and keeps your strength up.”

There are two young Wards following in Michael’s footsteps and they are showing plenty of potential. MJ is the full-forward for the Aodh Ruadh U-14s and has many of the traits of his dad. Daniel is 11-years-old and, according to dad, will probably be much bigger and will probably be used more out the field.

“They are much further down the road than I was at the same age,” says Ward, who has been part of the coaching team in recent years.

“I was involved with Niall (McCready) and Damien (Conlon) with the U-13s last year. They are a good group which were probably neglected. We put in 120 sessions and they really improved. They got to the B county final and were very annoyed when they didn’t win. They had come from just going up to training to get to a county final within nine months,” said Ward, who feels that is the way for the future.

“It’s non-stop if you want to be competitive. For some people, maybe they feel it shouldn’t be competitive but I feel it should.

“You’ll have more bad days but it makes the good days all the sweeter.”

Here's how the 'Donegal Democrat' Jury have voted on Sunday's Donegal senior final

Last year St Eunan's got the Jury vote 10-2, but Naomh Conaill ended up as winners. How will they vote on this year's decider between Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill?

And what about Sunday’s opponents, Gaoth Dobhair: “They are a typical Gaoth Dobhair team, big, strong men, nothing overboard, that’s the way they play. They have a few from their Ulster club win a few years ago. We’re going in as underdogs but we’ll take that; it’s a good way to go to a final.

“Our team is called the Development Team. We’re trying to develop these lads for a year or two down the road. This final has probably come a year or two too early for most of these kids but we will take the challenge on,” said Ward, who has been impressed by the likes of Aidan Sweeney, Darragh Dolan and Damian Weber. 

“These lads will learn from games against teams like Gaoth Dobhair.

“Brian Gillespie has put in massive work with these boys and there has been great support from the club from the likes of Lisa, Sabrina and William, the club’s main officers.”

As for the future of Michael  ‘Sticky’ Ward, he says: “As a club player you never retire. As long as I’m fit I’ll keep going. I don’t feel I’m putting myself at risk and I’m enjoying it.”