New Sligo Rovers manager Owen Heary with new signings Keith Ward (left), Kevin Devaney and Dinny Corcoran
Keith Ward has become the first departure from Oriel Park following last week’s title success having signed with Sligo Rovers.
The 24-year-old was snapped up quickly by new Bit O Red manager Owen Heary, alongside Kevin Devaney and Dinny Corcoran.
Having made his League of Ireland breakthrough with UCD, Ward first arrived at Oriel Park under Ian Foster’s tenure in 2011, helping the side to the Setanta Sports Cup final that year.
He quickly became a fans’ favourite, appearing in 47 of the club’s 50 competitive games that season and scoring five times.
The following year, Ward departed for Bohemians where he regularly featured for Aaron Callaghan’s side.
The 5ft 6in midfielder, who was hugely popular in the dressing room, would return to Oriel Park in December 2012, however, after being snapped up by Stephen Kenny.
However, a cruciate knee ligament injury in June 2013 in the victory over St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park would end Ward’s season and although he signed on for the 2014 campaign last February, it would be the EA Sports Cup clash away to Bray Wanderers in May before he featured for the side.
Opportunities were limited for Ward and although he featured in each game of the side’s EA Sports Cup campaign, he rarely even featured on the bench with the highlight of his season coming in the 7-0 victory over Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park when he made a late, memorable cameo.
A hairline fracture to his back, sustained at the Brandywell in the EA Sports Cup victory over Derry City, added to Ward’s frustrations. However, he remained a popular member of the Lilywhites squad at all times and gaining huge praise for handing his EA Sports Cup winners’ medal over to Dundalk fan Cillian Moran, the son of local Senator Mary Moran.
Talk of the Town 