By Cian O'Connell

On the eve of the Championship Shane Ward is satisfied.  Even though Leitrim’s campaign is unlikely to end in glory - gleaning provincial or national silverware is merely a dream - the Donegal native feels that quiet and steady progress is being made.

Leitrim’s players are responding to Ward’s promptings; there is a sense of hope surrounding Leitrim again.  For now, that is enough.  “My job is to lead them through that process, I provide the support structure for them,” Ward told GAA.ie about the Leitrim panel’s willingness to develop. 

“I try to give them confidence every time I meet them. That is my job, but I still have to ground them and keep them patient to let them know when the time is right.

“The players are happy and content.  There is nobody in Leitrim that should be playing for Leitrim that isn't.  That is a massive sign of the esteem in which they hold their county in.

“I've massive respect for them, for what they do, and for how they go about their business.  Obviously having not been very successful in the last number of years to keep coming back looking to be successful, there is huge resilience in the group.  Gary Reynolds is one of those guys, hence why he is captain.  He is the leader in the dressing room.  Everyone who walks in that dressing room aspires to be like him.”

Getting the correct blend of youth and experience isn’t exactly an easy task in Leitrim, but Ward is taking encouragement from the small strides that have been taken at underage level.  “We always try to give a good performance in Pairc Sean even though results haven't always been on our side,” Ward admits. 

“Leitrim's underage teams are becoming very competitive and that is very pleasing.  We've had two or three good minor teams. 

“Our minor team last year won the Connacht Minor League, and our under 21s beat Galway two years ago.  Those are the little things that Leitrim are looking for all of the time, we just want them on a more consistent basis.”

Ward’s brief is to bring this through to the senior stage.  “I suppose the group is very young, we spoke about it last year, we have a lot of new faces in the group,” Ward said.  “They don't get as much exposure to Championship games as you would like, but they have another year of National League football under their belts.  You'd like to think that they are a bit more experienced, and we feel we have 20 or 21 players that can play at a high level for 70 minutes at Championship pace.

“We have a very young side, it is taking time, there is no doubt about it.  I've said that from the outset it would take time.  The one thing that really gives me motivation everyday is the fact that the players understand that.”

Leitrim’s attitude and application has provided Ward with huge encouragement.  “The players are driving everyday to change everything about the way they approach things. 

“I wouldn't be so sure that before they were at the right level to compete on a consistent basis and I wouldn't have been content with that.  They alluded to that themselves, they want to be performing on a consistent basis. 

“They want to give themselves the best chance, like the game against Roscommon and know they have a chance of winning.  That doesn't happen overnight.

“In the under 21s we played Mayo in the first round of Connacht, we played Roscommon the year before, we played Galway the year before that.  So you are against the big hitters all of the time. 

“We played against a Mayo team who played four or five games in the Championship this year, we only played one.  Across three years they might play 15 games we might only play three.”

The return of Emlyn Mulligan has been a significant boost to Leitrim according to Ward.  “Emlyn coming back is a massive plus.  He is one of those players that is very good both on and off the field. 

“He is a real leader within the group and that has been good, especially for the younger players.  You need leaders and a bit of experience in the squad, it has been really important getting him back.  He has been a massive boost to us along with Paddy Maguire and Adrian Croal, they've obviously a bit of experience so it has been a massive boost for us.”

New York came close to causing a shock when Roscommon visited Gaelic Park, but Leitrim’s objective on Sunday is to remain in contention.  “We are very much focused on staying in the game up until the 55th to 60th minute,” Ward commented. 

“If we do that obviously our supporters will go with us the whole way, that will be very important.  As a team and as a group we need to make that happen we need to be in the match in that period.  We need to make the fans dream about beating the Rossies in Pairc Sean.

“Roscommon are taking all the limelight at the present time and it is probably rightly so.  They've done really, really well in Division One.

“I suppose they had a disappointing performance in New York, but nonetheless they are probably looking far forward into the summer.

“Massive respect has to go to New York, it was a massive performance from them.  I'd like to think if we kicked 17 points in a game that we would be out the better side of it.  I'm sure they were disappointed with that, but nonetheless I'm sure it was a huge confidence booster for them.   

“The Leitrim people are great supporters and because it is a derby game, there is a massive rivalry and competitive streak there between Roscommon and Leitrim.  There is a bit of competitiveness there and Roscommon will travel in big numbers because they have huge aspirations for this Championship. 

“So they will be eager to see how the team bounces back after New York, we are hoping the Leitrim people will be eager to see how the young guns in their county are doing, and how they will fare against Roscommon.”

Over the past year and a half Ward has relished being involved at senior inter-county level.  “Definitely, I have really, really enjoyed managing Leitrim,” Ward replies. 

“I find it a world away from club management, not that there is anything wrong with that.  It is just a different dynamic and a different way of doing your business.  I find it challenging everyday which is an exciting part.

“Trying to find a way around the lads or find a way to get them to look at a different aspect or give them a different outlook on the game is really, really exciting.

“If you have a group that are really absorbing everything you're doing you just keep bringing more and more.”

Ward’s interest in coaching commenced as a youngster monitoring events at Aodh Ruadh in Ballyshannon.  “I'm grateful, more so in the last 12-18 months when I look back on my days in my home club in Ballyshannon, Aodh Ruadh,” Ward reflects. 

“For some reason they seem to breed lots of coaches and lots of managers, who have been very successful. I think it is because of the influence we got the day we walked into that GAA club.  It is a very proud club with plenty of county titles, they are one of the biggest hitters in Donegal football.

“I was lucky to be able to be there at a time when they were at their peak.  I learned a lot from that having the best coaches and managers.  Two or three people there were massive influences in my career.”

Ensuring Leitrim improve, though, is exactly what Ward intends to do during the coming weeks and months.  “I'm really enthralled with Leitrim, I'm really passionate about it, I've lived there for the past 10 years.  I'm living, married, and settled in Manorhamilton so I'm passionate about Leitrim.

“I find it a really good place, a passionate county.  It is a small place with resilient people, who are striving all of the time.  It excites me and I'm willing to give all the energy that I have.”