Eoin Bradley: 'I probably enjoy it more'
Glenullin's Eoin Bradley pictured ahead of the AIB All-Ireland Club IFC Final against An Ghaeltacht at Croke Park.
By Cian O’Connell
Sport was always on the agenda for the Bradleys. A match to prepare for, a training session to attend, a team to inspire.
It will be passed through the generations. Sunday, though, will be special. Glenullin represent Derry and Ulster in a fascinating AIB All-Ireland Club IFC decider against An Ghaeltacht. Wherever you turn in Croke Park, a decorated footballer or coach will be there.
Eoin Bradley turned 42 in December, but his passion for the game endures. His father Liam, cherished as the Baker, served club and county as a coach and inspiration. “Dad is just fanatical,” Bradley responds.
“To be fair, anything I've ever done, whether it has been soccer or Gaelic, it doesn't matter, he has supported me. It has always been Gaelic for him.”
So, a rewarding childhood means Bradley has memories and moments etched in his mind. “When Paddy or I were no height, I mean four or five years of age, we'd be going up the road, singing songs, you'd sit in the back,” Bradley recalls.
“You'd basically sing songs, going to training. He was always involved. I think he made Paddy and me players.”
Advice was provided. “He used to tell us, take men on,” Bradley explains. “As forwards, Paddy and I were renowned for taking players on, all our careers. He'd that driven into us from when I was young. Take players on. Don't turn back. Take men on. Take men on.
“I did that throughout my career, and it was probably one of my biggest attributes, taking men on. It stood me in good stead. It is one of the things.
“It means so much, not to just Daddy, but to everybody in the club. So many people have done so much work. I can't thank them enough. Maybe a way to thank them would be if we won on Sunday.”
Three Derry senior titles have been gleaned by the club with Bradley involved in the 2007 triumph. The tradition counts. “It does, you're representing a small community,” Bradley explains.
“So, every time you go to play, you're representing that community. Whether it is the McNicholls, the O'Kane's, the Bradleys or the Mullans, it doesn't matter. We're nearly all related anyway. For me, it was always Glenullin, always Glenullin, always Glenullin.
Eoin Bradley is still going strong for Glenullin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
“It didn't matter. I've played soccer, I've played for Derry, Daddy had it driven into you, it is Glenullin. That is all that matters. You start when you're club when you're young, and you finish with your club.
“Everything else in between is great, I'm not dissing that or being disrespectful to anybody, but at the end of the day, this is the be all and end all for us.
“We're the first team ever in the club to win an Ulster Championship on our 100th year anniversary, and hopefully we can win an All-Ireland.”
Bradley learned from his father and others in the club. Helping emerging players is vital to him now. “At the end of the day, it is all about the people coming behind,” Bradley says.
“If I don't help them, who is going to help them? As a senior player, it isn't about Eoin Bradley anymore. At the end of the day, I'm not going to do what I did 10 years ago.
“You've to help them, tell them your experience, what you've done, the few things throughout your career. Hopefully they will pick up something from it. That is all you can do, really.”
Returning to GAA headquarters matters deeply to Bradley. Has his perspective altered? “I probably enjoy it more,” Bradley answers instantly.
“Now, I'd never get nervous in my life. The bigger the game, the better I'd think I'd play, hopefully I'm not scudding myself. There is no point in being nervous.
"This is what you train for. It is just different, now that you get older in your career, you probably appreciate it more. You know you haven't that many games left.
“You probably enjoy it more; you're telling young boys to enjoy it. They maybe think it will happen every year, but it doesn't.
“I enjoy it, I've been running about the last three or four weeks, you couldn't snooker me. The shackles are off, it is about going to enjoy yourself, and what better place to do that in Ireland, than Croke Park with your club.”
