Patrick McBrearty (born 5 August 1993) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Cill Chartha and the Donegal county team, which he has captained since 2023.
[15] A 2015 survey — conducted among U.S. women with little or no knowledge of Gaelic games — ranked McBrearty as the seventh sexiest GAA player, second in Ulster and top in Donegal.
He can win his own ball in front of his man but he is also quick and intelligent enough to make the kind of runs that also eliminate a sweeper.
[26] McGuinness named McBrearty as a late replacement for his clubmate Michael Hegarty in the starting lineup in that game against Cavan.
[27] McBrearty's performances during his debut season at senior inter-county level drew widespread praise, both from local and national media.
[32] In the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat of Kerry at Croke Park on 5 August 2012, Anthony Thompson knocked McBrearty out of the game with his head, causing him concussion.
[2] McBrearty played in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Mayo, making a notable contribution in the build-up to Donegal's second goal of the game.
[42] However, Dublin County Board chairman Andy Kettle reacted with indifference, rejecting the need for an investigation and complaining instead of "a hard pitch".
[44][45] On 17 April 2013, the Central Competitions Controls Committee (CCCC) cited Kevin O'Brien, the 2012 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship-winning captain, for the biting of McBrearty.
[47][48] The offence fell under Category III and a three-match ban was proposed, enough to end the player's year if Dublin were to exit the Championship at an early stage.
[49] Stalked by "bitegate" (see above) since the end of the National League, McBrearty put in a man of the match performance against Tyrone in Donegal's opening game of the Ulster SFC.
[53] McBrearty received a personal message from US actress Sarah Jessica Parker ahead of the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final: "My body is in NYC but my heart is in Donegal.
"[54] Under the management of Rory Gallagher, McBrearty started the opening fixture of the 2015 National Football League against Derry and scored 0–5 (two of which were frees) in what was his 46th appearance at the age of 21.
[65][66][67] McBrearty scored 1–1 in the 2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Galway at Croke Park and started the next game against Mayo at the same venue.
[70] He started the second fixture against Cork, a ten-point win in Ballyshannon, contributing 0–4 (including two frees) to the team's victory.
[79][80][81] McBrearty scored eleven points in Donegal's 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship victory over Cork at Croke Park.
[88] McBrearty made a second-half substitute appearance in the 2017 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory against Antrim and scored 1–2 (both points were frees).
[90] He started the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Meath at Páirc Tailteann and scored 0-7 (three of which were frees).
[92] McBrearty captained his club to the 2017 Donegal Senior Football Championship, scoring three points in the final.
[93] Under the management of Declan Bonner, McBrearty started the opening fixture of the 2018 National Football League against Kerry in Killarney, scoring 0–10 (eight of which were frees).
[100] In the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship, McBrearty scored eight points (six from play) as Donegal overcame Derry in their quarter-final encounter.
[111] In the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship, McBrearty scored five points (two from play) as Donegal overcame Fermanagh in their quarter-final encounter.
In the final against Cavan, McBrearty scored five points (four from play) as Donegal claimed that season's provincial championship.
[112][113][114] McBrearty made his 100th appearance for Donegal against Meath in the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final.