Paddy Bradley


Patrick Bradley is a sportsman from Northern Ireland, who plays Gaelic football for Derry. With the team he has won two National League titles, and individually an All Stars Award for his performance in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Bradley plays his club football for John Mitchel's Glenullin and has won the Derry Senior Football Championship with the club. He usually plays at full forward for both club and county. Bradley is regarded as one of the best forwards in Ireland, due to his accuracy in front of the posts with both left and right feet - from both open play and frees.
He has consistently been a high scorer for Derry, with a career high of 2-38 during the 2004 All-Ireland Championship. He is third all-time top Ulster scorer in Championship football with a tally of 13-177.

Early and personal life

Bradley is from Kilrea, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He attended secondary school at St Patrick's College, Maghera. Later he attended the University of Ulster Jordanstown.
Bradley is from a football background. His brother Eoin and cousin Gerard O'Kane both also play for Derry. His father Liam is current manager of Antrim. His uncle, Gabriel Bradley, was part of the Derry team that won back-to-back Ulster Championships in 1975 and 1976.

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.
His ten points against reigning champions Ballinderry in the semi-final was instrumental in Glenullin reaching the final. Glenullin met Bellaghy in the final and after a replay, won the title.
A combination of Bellaghy's defensive screen system and tight man-marking by Michael McGoldrick kept Bradley relatively quiet in both games. However, he scored the winning point in the injury-time to secure the Championship for Glenullin.
Earlier that year, Glenullin won the Ulster Senior Club Football League, beating Latton of Monaghan in the final. The club reached the Ulster League final again the following year, but were defeated by fellow Derry club Ballinderry. In 2008 the club reached the final of the All-Ireland Sevens Championship, organised by Kilmacud Crokes. However, they were beaten 1-11 to 0-13 by St. Gall's of Antrim in the decider, although Bradley scored 0-05. Glenullin, jointly with Ballinderry won the 2008 Derry Senior Football League. Bradley was Glenullin captain for four seasons between 2005 and 2008.
While in the United States in the summer of 2003, Bradley played for the Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Chicago. After a replay the Wolfe Tones won the Chicago Senior Football Championship.

Inter-county

Bradley made his debut for the Derry Senior team in late 1999 aged 18.
In his first season Derry won the 2000 National League, defeating Meath in the final. He made his Championship 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, as Derry reached the All-Ireland semi-final but were defeated by Galway.
In 2004, Bradley and Enda Muldoon contributed nearly 70% of Derry's total of 7-92 in that year's Championship. Bradley received another All Star nomination that year.
Bradley was Derry captain in 2005 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. 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, but lost out to Kieran Donaghy of Kerry.
In January 2007 Bradley was named Most Valuable Player in the All Star match between the 2006 and 2005 All Stars.
In April 2007 Bradley was banned for 12 weeks after a "minor physical interference" with a referee in a club game for Glenullin. He appealed the decision to both the Derry County Board and the Ulster Council, but both were rejected. However, the suspension was lifted after an appeal to the Disputes Resolution Authority, held on 29 May.
Bradley had an impressive season in 2007, ending with five points from play in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin. On 19 October 2007, he was announced as full forward on the 2007 All Star team. He was also named in the 2007 GPA Team of the Year.
Derry finished top of Division 1 of the 2008 National League and along with second placed Kerry qualified for the final, which Derry won.
Derry become the favourites to win the Ulster Championship. However, despite a good opening Ulster Championship victory over Donegal, 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.

Championship scoring details

Province

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

International

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

School and college

Playing in the half forward line, Bradley reached the 1998 MacRory Cup final with St. Pat's, but they were defeated by St Colman's College, Newry. He also played hurling at school and helped the school win the Mageean Cup.
Bradley was part of the UUJ team that won the Sigerson Cup in 2001. He was top scorer in the final with 0-05. He also won two Ryan Cup medals with the university.

Honours

Inter-county

School and college

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