Ryan Bradley (Gaelic footballer)

Ryan Bradley (born 1985) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Buncrana and is a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team. Considered an underage prodigy, he has been reborn since Jim McGuinness took over as manager of Donegal and is now regarded as "the poster boy for the new Donegal".

Playing career

Bradley made his debut for Donegal in the National Football League in 2005 when Brian McEniff was in charge. Brian McIver brought him back into the fold for the 2007 National Football League campaign when Donegal won the title. He also scored a goal in the final when Donegal won the 2009 Dr. McKenna Cup.

However, becoming increasingly disillusioned, Bradley left to pursue his career in Boston. Jim McGuinness telephoned him upon his appointment as Donegal manager in 2010 - Bradley would later say, “I talked to Jim once and after that conversation he had it drummed into my head. If I hadn't have come back after that phonecall I'd have been better just to give up football”.

Bradley made his first Ulster Senior Football Championship start against Antrim in May 2011. He scored two points during the game and The Sunday Game gave him their man-of-the-match award. TV pundit Pat Spillane controversially claimed Bradley was "the best of a bad bunch". McGuinness reacted furiously, calling Spillane's comments “way over the top”. In July 2011, Bradley became the first man from Buncrana to help Donegal to an Ulster title. He won the Ulster title again the following season and later played in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final as Donegal defeated Mayo.

Against Down in the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship he was concussed and received hospital treatment. In August 2013, he announced he was transferring to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for €89.

Personal life

Bradley is a plasterer by trade. He is a past pupil of Crana College. He is married to Claire Sheerin, a cousin of Donegal teammate Michael Murphy. He is not fond of the media spotlight.

Honours

Inter-county

• 1 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2012)
• 2 Ulster Senior Football Championships (2011, 2012)
• 1 National Football League (2007)
• 1 Dr. McKenna Cup (2009)
• 1 National Football League Division 2 (2011)
• 1 Donegal Junior Football Championship (2005)

Individual

• GAA GPA Player of the Month (July 2012)

• "Bradley is player of the month". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.