Ward hails Wolves link for Ireland win

Stephen Ward today saluted the 'Wolves Factor' which brought his marathon season to a grand finale this week.

A shattered Ward is finally heading for the beach after closing an exhaustive campaign by helping Ireland claim a famous 2-0 victory over Italy in a prestige friendly in Belgium on Tuesday night.

Ward's international breakthrough provided the icing on the cake of a season which has occupied all but 41 of the 365 days since he played his first match, a pre-season friendly at Bohemians, back on July 19.

Club-mates Kevin Foley, Andy Keogh and Stephen Hunt were alongside Ward to give the Republic's triumph a real Molineux stamp but for Mick McCarthy's favourite utility player, the summer internationals represented his first taste of Ireland action.

"Beating Italy topped things off. I thought all the Wolves lads did well," said Ward who flew straight off to join up with Giovanni Trapattoni's squad after his club's dramatic last-day relegation escape.