BY DAIRE BONNAR
KEADUE Rovers have changed managers and Patrick Bonner begins a new era at the club for the 2024/25 season.
Bonner was a swift replacement for the outgoing Pat Ward after three years in charge.
Ward progressed the side well and took them to a best finish since their return to the top flight in 2018 as they finished third.
However, as he stepped down, Bonner was keen to get involved having previously lined out for the side and has Paul Ferry as his assistant ahead of what should be an exciting season.
“It’s my first year in management and I’m looking forward to it,” Bonner said.
“I played with Keadue at underage and youth level then through to the Ulster Senior League.
“I went to Australia for seven years and came back in 2018 and played a few more seasons before packing it in so I’ve been out of the loop a couple of years and I’m delighted to be back involved.
“We’ve a few weeks training done and a few decent friendlies played against Illies Celtic, Buncrana Hearts and Strabane Athletic and then we’re into the Brian McCormick so we’re getting into the swing of things.
“Over the past number of years there has been a lot of good work done with the underage and senior team who are maturing into it now.
“There have been some great coaches there with Danny Doogan, John Francis Doogan and Pat Ward and there are a lot of good work done and last year was a bit of an accumulation of that and hopefully we can somewhat emulate that this season.”
Consistency is always key in the Donegal Junior League and Bonner has managed to keep the bulk of his squad together.
Former Ireland underage goalkeeper Patrick McGarvey has joined having previously been at Finn Harps and Dergview and looks a great signing for the Gulls.
“We’re delighted to sign Patrick, he’s obviously a good ‘keeper coming from a higher level. Unfortunately for him he had a bad knee injury and he’s just getting back into it but we were only delighted to offer him the opportunity to get back playing and it only suits both parties.
“Nobody has really left and then we’ve also got Danny McGlynn and Callum Boyle back who couldn’t play last year with work so we’ve essentially built on last year’s squad.
“It’s a very strong league and there a number of very good teams, for ourselves I’d just like to hope we’ll be competitive with everybody and maybe then we can pick up a few results on the way.
“There probably are a few stronger teams and everyone else is around the same level. If we can stay competitive in games then we’re capable of beating most teams.”
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