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The Irish News Archive - Sep 25 1998: Michael 'Wonder' Ward drafted into Donegal squad

MICHAEL Ward – the man who blasted Glencolmcille’s hopes of a Donegal senior championship – has been drafted into Declan Bonner’s county senior squad.

‘Wonder’ Ward joins his midfield namesake Stephen, also of Aodh Ruadh, in the panel of 28. Michael Ward’s pace and power certainly gives Bonner more options up front after he hit 1-4 in last Sunday’s county final.

The towering 19-year-old midfielder Stephen Ward has been in outstanding form for Ballyshannon in their championship success this season.

Other new faces are Kilcar’s outstanding central forward Michael Hegarty and Ollie Reid, back from a six-month ban after playing in the US.

Glencolmcille’s sharpshooter Padraig Gillespie and St Naul’s Andrew Gallagher are also in the panel along with Cardonagh’s Kieran Brown.?

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DERRY City will have Peter Hutton back in their starting line-up when they travel to take on, bottom of the table, Dundalk at Oriel Park tonight.

‘Pizza’ has returned on a three year deal and manager Felix Healy will be hoping the midfielder can recapture the form that made him an inspirational figure in leading the candystripes to the title in 1997.

“Everybody’s happy to have him back, he was training with us while he was at Portadown so I’m sure he’ll quickly fit back in,” commented Healy.

Healy’s only injury worry for the trip is Stuart Gauld (hamstring).

The Candystripes manager will unleash striker Liam Coyle and Michael McHugh on a shaky Dundalk defence that will be without David Crawley who is suspended as a result of his sending-off against Sligo Rovers.

David Hoey should fill his spot at left back.

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NORTHERN Ireland’s David Jones lies five shots off the lead after the first round of the Elf Seniors Open in the south of France.

The Stakis Park professional fired a level par 69 which leaves him five adrift of Canadian Bill Hardwick.

American Lloyd Monroe and England’s Brian Waites carded 66s to lie two in arrears while South African Bobby Verwey, twice a winner this season, and England’s Jim Rhodes both shot 67s.

Three Irishmen, in-form Corkman Denis O’Sullivan, Tommy Halpin and Arnold O’Connor are in a nine-strong group on 68. Paul Leonard, who won last weekend’s Seniors event in Holland is further adrift.

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NORMALLY there are only three certainties in life: death, taxes and Rangers having a bigger recruitment budget than Celtic.

Another one which could be thrown into the ring is that the Parkhead club are, after recent dismal displays, in dire need of a proven goal scorer.

One such candidate for this particular vacancy – Australian internationalist Marko Viduka – has at least admitted his willingness for the position.

As revealed exclusively in yesterday’s Tartan Talk, the 22-year-old has confirmed Celtic’s interest in his services and more importantly he has also owned up to his own interest in them.

Speaking last night from his base with Eastern European club Croatia Zagreb, he said: “When we played at Celtic Park last month I was shaking in my boots as the Celtic players got together for their pre-match huddle.

“Fans all over the world can learn a lesson from Celtic’s supporters, I have never seen anything like them.”