Paddy Bradley

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).

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.

[12] His ten points (six from open play) against reigning champions Ballinderry in the semi-final was instrumental in Glenullin reaching the final.

[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.

[12][14] Earlier that year, Glenullin won the Ulster Senior Club Football League,[1] beating Latton of Monaghan in the final.

[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.

[33] In April 2007 Bradley was banned for 12 weeks after a "minor physical interference" with a referee in a club game for Glenullin.

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".

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.

[50] 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.

[52] Bradley managed Newbridge to the Derry Intermediate Football Championship and was an Antrim coach working with his father Liam.

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

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.

Bradley in action against Galway in a 2009 National League game
Bradley celebrates scoring against Monaghan in the 2009 Championship