AFTER a false start to his senior inter-county career, Caolan Ward hopes to see more game-time for Donegal in 2017 and is “embracing” the challenges of Division One.
The St Eunan’s clubman had hoped that 2016 would be his year to make his mark on the big stage, but openings were few and far between.
He made one brief appearance in last year’s League campaign against Mayo and never featured again.
However, with a host of retirements in the close season, Ward feels there may be more chances to impress boss Rory Gallagher this spring.
Playing at his home club on Sunday, Ward was certainly thrown in at the deep end against Kerry.
Neil McGee was to be assigned the man-marking role of Allstar forward Paul Geaney but was forced to pull out on the morning of the game due to illness.
So Ward was handed the job. Although Geaney bagged 2-4 (2-2 from play), the Carlow IT student stuck to his task and had good moments on the Kerry ace.
“I only found out on the morning of the game that I’d be playing in the full-back line,” said Ward.
“I was originally in the half-back line but Neil McGee pulled out sick and Rory came to me and said: ‘You’re in the full-back line today.’
“I don’t know much about [Paul] Geaney, to be honest. He’s an Allstar and he was nominated for player of the year so that got my focus.
“I was happy enough. I thought I handled him okay. Overall, I thought it was 50-50.”
Ward added: “To be honest I’m comfortable anywhere in the defence – full-back, corner-back, wing-back, centre-back – it doesn’t faze me too much.
“Even there at training you might be marking Paddy [McBrearty] or [Michael] Murphy so you’re learning and marking the best night after night in training.”
Ward hopes he’s done enough to be retained against Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park next Sunday as Donegal look to record their first points of their Division One campaign.
“Obviously as a footballer you want to be playing every day but when you look at the likes of the lads that were there [in the past], but there’s an opportunity for us now that they’ve stepped aside."
New boys Paul Brennan, Michael Langan, Jason McGee and Jamie Brennan were also given their chance to impress against Kerry last weekend.
“You just have to bide your time. It could have come last year but I’ve just knuckled down and worked on the training field since we met up around November time.
“When you look at Neil McGee, who wasn’t there, Ciaran Gillespie was missing too, Frank [McGlynn] and Karl [Lacey] have to get their fitness up… Just because you had a good game doesn’t mean you’re going to be there come Championship.
“I thought I put my hand up [for a place].”
For Ward, the highlight wasn’t facing the green and gold of Kerry – it was playing on his home patch in front of his family.
“I’m embracing it and loving pulling on the Donegal jersey, and to play at your home club too. It was a good day for my mum and dad and the St Eunan’s club and that kind of drove me on.
“Every day you’re representing your club, your family and your county – so that was the highlight for me.”
