By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL have appointed a new minor football manager ahead of the 2024 season.

Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon man Barry Ward was rubberstamped at Monday night’s meeting of Donegal GAA.

Ward steps into the vacancy left after Luke Barrett joined Jim McGuiness with the seniors.

An Ulster u-21 winner with the county in 1995, Ward has experience of managing his native club – who he steered to the 2020 intermediate title – and had a spell in charge of the Donegal u-16 team.

Donegal were last Ulster champions at minor level in 2016 under Barrett’s father Shaun Paul. Before that, Declan Bonner won Ulster two years earlier before being beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland final, the county’s only appearance in the decider.

Ward’s appointment comes after last week’s news that Aidan O’Rourke will be the new Armagh minor boss.

The process to appoint the next Donegal u-20 football manager is ongoing.