Ward wary of threat posed by Ballinderry

DROMORE goalkeeper Peter Ward believes Ballinderry would have won a handful of All-Ireland titles in the past 15 years had their golden era not coincided with the reign of the country’s greatest club, Crossmaglen.

Sunday’s Ulster Club Championship clash between Dromore and Ballinderry sets the established power against the emerging force. The Tyrone champions, without a single Ulster title to their name, will tackle a Shamrocks club that has triumphed at provincial and All-Ireland level.

And the Dromore keeper knows his side faces a massive task in trying to get the better of the Derry champions.

“Ballinderry are one of the best teams in Ulster. They’re unlucky to be in the same era as Crossmaglen. They probably would have more Ulsters and more All-Irelands only for that.”

Ward is hoping that, at the third attempt, Dromore can finally come good in the provincial championship.

“In 2007, we were on the crest of a wave, and we were very unlucky to be beaten by Crossmaglen.

“It was a big disappointment for me and for all the players the way that we went out against Clontibret in 2009.

“We didn’t get going that day, and we’re just going to try to set the record straight and try to move on from here, try to pitch ourselves against the best teams in Ulster.”

The Tyrone men have a valuable insight into the opposition camp in the form of their manager, Ballinderry clubman Paul McIver.

“We could have nobody closer, but it’s a tough one for him, because he knows them all,” said Ward.

“He’s a Ballinderry man, and he’s a proud Ballinderry man, but I know Paul, and he has given us everything this year.

“He will set us up to beat Ballinderry, and set us up the way he did for the county final, look at their strong points, look at their weak points if they have any, and try to get the best out of us again.”

And Ward paid tribute to McIver’s contribution to another successful season for St Dympna’s, who picked up their third senior championship in five years with a narrow win over Clonoe in Sunday’s final.

“Paul has put his heart and soul into us. When he came in, he told us it was all about recovery, recovery from last year, and every game we played, we recovered, and we have reached the pinnacle again, we have won the county title again, which at the back of it all we wanted to do.”