Paddy Bradley

Last updated

Paddy Bradley
Paddy Bradley Ulster League final.jpg
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Full forward
Born (1981-05-23) 23 May 1981 (age 43)
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Occupation Teacher [1]
Club(s)
YearsClub
1997–
Glenullin
Club titles
Derry titles 1
Ulster titles Ulster
Inter-county(ies)*
YearsCountyApps (scores)
1999–2012
Derry 44 (13–177 (216)) [2]
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NFL 2
All Stars 1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:28, 14 September 2008 (UTC) (UTC)
Includes Championship games only.

Patrick Bradley (born 23 May 1981) [1] is an Irish sportsman who plays Gaelic football for John Mitchel's Glenullin and the Derry county team. With the county he has won two National League titles, and individually an All Stars Award for his performance in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (and has been nominated a further four times).

Contents

With his club Bradley has won the Derry Senior Football Championship. He usually plays at full forward for both club and county. Bradley is regarded as one of the best forwards in Ireland, [3] due to his accuracy in front of the posts [4] with both left and right feet - from both open play and frees. [5]

He has consistently been a high scorer for Derry, with a career high of 2-38 (44 points) [A1] during the 2004 All-Ireland Championship. He is third all-time top Ulster scorer in Championship football with a tally of 13-177 (216 points). [2]

Early and personal life

Bradley is from Kilrea, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. [6] He attended secondary school at St Patrick's College, Maghera. [7] Later he attended the University of Ulster Jordanstown. [8]

Bradley is from a football background. His brother Eoin and cousin Gerard O'Kane [9] both also play for Derry. His father Liam is current manager of Antrim. [10] His uncle, Gabriel Bradley, was part of the Derry team that won back-to-back Ulster Championships in 1975 and 1976. [11]

Playing career

Club

Bradley plays club football for John Mitchel's Glenullin. He captained the club to success in the 2007 Derry Senior Football Championship. [12]

His ten points (six from open play) against reigning champions Ballinderry in the semi-final was instrumental in Glenullin reaching the final. [13] Glenullin met Bellaghy in the final and after a replay, won the title. [14]

A combination of Bellaghy's defensive screen system [15] and tight man-marking by Michael McGoldrick [16] kept Bradley relatively quiet in both games. However, he scored the winning point in the injury-time to secure the Championship for Glenullin. [12] [14]

Earlier that year, Glenullin won the Ulster Senior Club Football League, [1] beating Latton of Monaghan in the final. [17] The club reached the Ulster League final again the following year, but were defeated by fellow Derry club Ballinderry. [18] In 2008 the club reached the final of the All-Ireland Sevens Championship, organised by Kilmacud Crokes. B However, they were beaten 1–11 to 0–13 by St. Gall's of Antrim in the decider, although Bradley scored 0-05. [19] [A2] Glenullin, jointly with Ballinderry won the 2008 Derry Senior Football League. [20] Bradley was Glenullin captain for four seasons between 2005 and 2008. [21]

While in the United States in the summer of 2003, [22] Bradley played for the Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Chicago. After a replay [23] the Wolfe Tones won the Chicago Senior Football Championship. [24] [25]

Inter-county

Bradley made his debut for the Derry Senior team in late 1999 aged 18. [26]

In his first season Derry won the 2000 National League, defeating Meath in the final. [1] He made his Championship C debut later that year in the Ulster Championship against Cavan, and Derry reached the Ulster final, but lost to Armagh. The following season he received his first nomination for an All Stars Award, [27] as Derry reached the All-Ireland semi-final but were defeated by Galway. [28]

In 2004, Bradley (2-38) and Enda Muldoon (3-24) contributed nearly 70% of Derry's total of 7-92 (113 points) in that year's Championship. Bradley received another All Star nomination that year. [29]

Bradley was Derry captain in 2005 [1] and received a third All Star nomination that year. Longford knocked Derry out of the 2006 Championship after a suspense-filled game, despite Bradley's scoring 2–07 against them. [30] In addition to another All Star nomination in 2006, he was also nominated for the full forward spot on the inaugural GPA Gaelic Team of the Year, [31] but lost out to Kieran Donaghy of Kerry. [32]

In January 2007 Bradley was named Most Valuable Player in the All Star match between the 2006 and 2005 All Stars. [33]

In April 2007 Bradley was banned for 12 weeks after a "minor physical interference" with a referee in a club game for Glenullin. [34] He appealed the decision to both the Derry County Board and the Ulster Council, but both were rejected. [34] However, the suspension was lifted after an appeal to the Disputes Resolution Authority, [35] held on 29 May. [36]

Bradley had an impressive season in 2007, ending with five points from play in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin. [37] On 19 October 2007, he was announced as full forward on the 2007 All Star team. [38] He was also named in the 2007 GPA Team of the Year. [1]

Derry finished top of Division 1 of the 2008 National League and along with second placed Kerry qualified for the final, which Derry won. [39] [40]

Derry become the favourites to win the Ulster Championship. [41] However, despite a good opening Ulster Championship victory over Donegal, (where Bradley scored 10 points in a man of the match display, Derry exited the Ulster Championship against Fermanagh at the semi-final stage [42] and were defeated by Monaghan in the first round of the Qualifiers. He again received a nomination for a GPA All Star. [43]

Bradley and Derry again reached the National League final in 2009, but were defeated by Kerry. [44] Derry opened their 2009 Championship campaign with a win over Monaghan. However, they were defeated in the next round by Tyrone. Bradley was named captain for that game in the absence of suspended regular captain Fergal Doherty and injured vice-captain Niall McCusker. [45]

Bradley only scored one point against Tyrone and it later emerged he was carrying an injury into the game. [45] They were drawn against Monaghan again in the first round of the Qualifiers. On Monday 6 July 2009, five days ahead of the second clash with Monaghan, shock reports emerged that Bradley had quit the Derry panel. [45] Speculation mounted that he had told the then county manager Damian Cassidy he was leaving after an in-house training game the day before. [45] The Derry County Board released a statement on Monday night stating "Such rumours are totally unfounded and without substance". [46]

Bradley played against Monaghan and scored 2-08 (2-06 from play) in a man-of-the-match performance. Derry's 2009 campaign however ended the following week with defeat to Donegal, with Bradley being forced off injured in the second half. In November 2010, with a new Derry manager in place, it was reported by The Irish News that Bradley would again be available for selection for the 2011 county panel.[ citation needed ]

Championship scoring details

Province

Bradley won Railway Cup medals with Ulster in 2004 and 2007. [1]

International

Bradley was overlooked for a place on the Ireland squad for the 2004 International Rules Series against Australia. [22] In 2005, despite scoring 24 points in a trial game he missed out again. [47] He was in contention for a place in the 2006 team, [48] but did not make the final 25-man panel due to injury/fitness concerns. [49] The 2007 series was cancelled, Bradley was however selected for the 2008 Series in Australia. [50]

School and college

Playing in the half forward line, Bradley reached the 1998 MacRory Cup final with St. Pat's, [7] but they were defeated by St Colman's College, Newry. He also played hurling at school and helped the school win the Mageean Cup. [7]

Bradley was part of the UUJ team that won the Sigerson Cup in 2001. [8] He was top scorer in the final with 0-05. [51] He also won two Ryan Cup medals with the university. [1]

Media work

Bradley has appeared on the BBC's championship coverage. [52]

Managerial career

Bradley managed Newbridge to the Derry Intermediate Football Championship and was an Antrim coach working with his father Liam. Paddy Bradley was then "involved with" the Donegal Gaeltacht club Gaoth Dobhair. In late 2020, he was appointed as Derry under-20 football manager. [53]

In November 2022, Bradley joined the backroom team of the Donegal senior footballers, working under the management of Paddy Carr. [54]

Honours

Bradley in action against Galway in a 2009 National League game Paddy Bradley vs Galway - NFL 09.jpg
Bradley in action against Galway in a 2009 National League game

Inter-county

Club


School and college

Province

International

Individual

Bradley celebrates scoring against Monaghan in the 2009 Championship Paddy Bradley.jpg
Bradley celebrates scoring against Monaghan in the 2009 Championship

Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.

Notes

Each county participates in their respective provincial championship (in Derry's case the Ulster Championship) which operate through a knock-out cup competition format. The winners of each of the four Provincial Championships earn one of eight places in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The 28 teams that fail to win their respective provincial championships receive a second opportunity to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals via the All Ireland Qualifiers. The counties enter the Qualifiers at different stages (depending on how far they reached in their provincial championship). Four teams come through this system and join the four provincial champions in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. [56]

Related Research Articles

The Ulster Senior Football Championship is an inter-county and cross-border competition for Gaelic football teams in the Irish province of Ulster. It is organised by the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and begins in April. The final is played in May, but, traditionally, was usually played on the third Sunday in July.

Anthony Tohill is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Derry Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by the top sixteen Derry GAA clubs. The winners receive the John McLaughlin Cup and qualify to represent Derry in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eoin Bradley</span> Gaelic footballer

Eoin Bradley is a Gaelic footballer and association footballer. He plays the former for the Glenullin club and, previously, for the Derry county team. With Glenullin he won a Derry Senior Football Championship and with Derry he won a National League title. Bradley usually plays corner forward for both club and county – often paired in a two-man inside forward line with brother Patsy, but has also played in the half-forward line. He is known for his searing pace, point scoring abilities, fantastic goals and surging runs through opposing teams' defence. His "reckless adventure" and liability to do the unexpected is also part of his effectiveness. Although a great talent, in the past he has been criticised for some of his shot selections from ridiculous angles. However, since 2011 his decision-making in front of goal has greatly improved, which has put down to manager John Brennan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enda Muldoon</span> Gaelic footballer (born 1977)

Enda Muldoon is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team and has won an Ulster Senior Football Championship and two National League titles with the county, as well as Ulster Minor, Ulster Under 21 and All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championships. He also won an All Star Award for his performances in the 2004 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mitchel's GAC Glenullin</span> Derry-based Gaelic games club

John Mitchel's GAC Glenullin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Glenullin, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA. They currently cater for both Gaelic football and camogie.

Kevin McCloy is a dual player of Gaelic games who plays Gaelic football for the Derry county team, with whom he has won a National League title. He also won an All Star for his performances in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. McCloy plays his club football for Erin's Own's Lavey.

Fergal Doherty is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team, with whom he won a National League title. He was nominated for an All Star four times but narrowly missed out on each occasion.

Seán Marty Lockhart is an Irish dual player of Gaelic games who plays Gaelic football for the Derry county team. He has won an Ulster Senior Football Championship and three National League titles with the county, as well an All-Ireland Under 21 Championship. He also won an All Star for his performances in the 1998 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He plays club football for St Mary's Banagher. As a dual player, Lockhart also plays hurling for Banagher, and has in the past also hurled for Derry.

Gerard O'Kane is a Gaelic footballer who plays for the Derry county team, with whom he has won a National League title.

John Deighan is a Gaelic footballer who plays for the Derry county team, with whom he has won a National League title. He plays his club football for Limavady Wolfhounds GAC. He plays as goalkeeper for Derry.

Dermot McNicholl is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team in the 1980s and 1990s. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, also winning Ulster Senior Football Championships in 1987 and 1993. An All Star winner, he usually played in the half-forward line and was regarded as one of the best footballers in Ireland at a time.

Barry McGoldrick is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for the Derry county team, with whom he has won a National League title. He is also the current team captain. At underage level he won the Ulster Minor and All-Ireland Minor Championships with the county.

Paddy Crozier is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player who managed the Derry county team between 2006 and 2008, guiding the county to a National League title. He has also managed a number of club teams and Derry underage teams. Crozier currently manages Omagh St Enda's. He was a distant relation of former Derry manager Eamonn Coleman.

Damian Cassidy, is a Gaelic football manager and former player for the Derry county team in the 1980s and 1990s, who was part of the county's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, starting at left half forward. He also won two Ulster Senior Championship medals, three National League titles, and a range of under-age inter-county medals with the county. Cassidy played his club football for Bellaghy Wolfe Tones and won five Derry Championships and the 1994 Ulster Senior Club Football Championships with the club. For both club and county he usually played as a forward. Cassidy was also a talented hurler.

Liam Bradley, commonly known by his nickname Baker, is a Gaelic football manager and former player for Glenullin and the Derry county team. He twice managed the senior Antrim county team between October 2008 and August 2012 and from November 2013 until 2014.

Frank McGlynn is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Glenfin and who played for the Donegal county team between 2006 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donegal county football team</span> Gaelic football team

The Donegal county football team represents Donegal in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Donegal GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derry county football team</span> Gaelic football team

The Derry county football team represents Derry GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of football. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monaghan county football team</span> Gaelic football team

The Monaghan county football team represents Monaghan in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Monaghan GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

References

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  34. 1 2 "Bradley fails with second appeal". BBC Sport Online. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
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  44. Heaney, Paddy (1 May 2009). "No substitute to winning for the Kingdom". The Irish News . p. 62.
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  47. "Bradley takes stock". Belfast Telegraph . 8 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  48. "Coca Cola International Rules - Press Release 2". GAA International Rules website (2006). 11 October 2006. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
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  51. "Sigerson Cup Roll of Honour - Top Scorers". Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  52. Hannigan, Mary (27 August 2012). "Donegal may be in a league of their own, but no it's not rugby". The Irish Times . Retrieved 27 August 2012. Over on BBC Northern Ireland they were no less befuddled... "Predictions?" asked Austin O'Callaghan. Jarlath [Burns of Armagh]: "Cork." Mickey [Harte of Tyrone]: "Cork." Paddy [Bradley of Derry]: "Cork." [...] Final whistle. "Well?" asked Austin, but his guests didn't really know where – or how – to start.
  53. "Bradley appointed new Derry U20 football manager". Hogan Stand. 1 December 2020.
  54. "Paddy Bradley joins Donegal set-up as backroom team nears completion". RTÉ. 26 November 2022.
  55. "Derry line-ups 2005". Derry GAA website. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  56. See here for more details.
Gaelic games
Preceded by Derry senior
football captain

2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Derry Senior Football Championship
winning captain

2007
Succeeded by