Bradley quits Derry County panel

Extra, Extra: Bradley leaves the panel!

Will Bright-Oak be able to persuade him to come back?

which one???

Bradley quits Derry county panel

Paddy Bradley celebrates after scoring a goal against Monaghan in May
Derry full forward Paddy Bradley has quit the county panel ahead of this week's All-Ireland qualifier against Monaghan, BBC Sport understands.

The news will come as a major blow to Derry manager Damian Cassidy and supporters of the Oak Leaf county.

The prolific Glenullin clubman is third in the all-time Ulster scoring list in Championship football and won an All Star for his performances in 2007.

The 28-year-old former Derry captain has won two National League titles.

Bradley scored Derry's goal in their Ulster Championship first round win over Monaghan.

He took part in a game involving panel members on Sunday, before informing Cassidy of his intention to leave the squad.

Back in January in an interview with BBC Sport Interactive, Bradley heaped praise on then new boss Cassidy and said that he was expecting the county to "achieve big things this year".

However after a promising league campaign where the county were beaten in the final by Kerry and an opening Ulster SFC win over Monaghan, Derry failed to put up a decent challenge against All-Ireland champions Tyrone in the provincial semi-final.


Bradley heaped praise on Damien Cassidy at the start of the season
Bradley was totally shackled by the Red Hand defence in the Ulster semi-final and a fortnight on, appears to have left the county panel.

In the BBC interview in January, Bradley, at that stage just short of his 28th birthday, acknowledged that the clock was ticking on his intercounty career.

"Time really is running out for myself and Sean Marty (Lockhart) and Fergal Doherty," said the Glenullin man.

"I'm in my 10th or 11th season now. I've been playing since I was 17 or 18. It's hard to believe. It's been so long but we still haven't won an Ulster title."

Bradley spent the autumn and most of January on an extended break in Australia but insisted that he was "feeling refreshed" ahead of the 2009 campaign.

Bradley also revealed that he and his Derry and Glenullin team-mate Gerard O'Kane had cut short their holiday Down Under by a couple of weeks in order to join Damien Cassidy's squad.

Cassidy opted not to start Bradley in several of the NFL games as he wanted the former All Star to be fresh for the championship.

Bradley did produce a decent display in the Ulster SFC win over Monaghan but he got little change out of the Tyrone defence a fortnight ago.

said Mid Mon Man

said Bright-Oak

said Loyal2TheRoyal

such a pity i was looking forward to seeing himself and vinny corey face off against each other!!

Are we the Newcastle of the GAA world?

Seemingly no point in titling a thread anymore?

Loyal etc -

I'm gonna try and find out what the hells going on with this and i'll post back better (hopefully) later.

i heard it is someting to do with his job - though i was told he is working as a coaching officer with his club so i cant fathom how that is interfering with his football

I heard he quit to elope with Bright-Oak. If so, I can't blame him.

Ah well that's us screwed then.

Bright-Oak wrote:Ah well that's us screwed then.

Are you saying that you and Loyal have no chance cause you have eloped with PB? It's like an episode of Fair City in here at the moment. Ya Toe rag!

This is astonishing news altogether. What's the story, is he just not arsed going down the qualifier route after failing in Ulster? I know a few who felt the same but doing this a week before a qualifier is amazing. I'll believe it when I see it though.

And Niamh, I hardly think that's yous screwed. Don't forget we are missing our own star forward, and last time out when both were playing Derry won. Who is the bigger loss to their team, especially considering the opposition? I would say Tommy.

I never though I'd say this but this past couple of week's I haven't paid much attention to Derry football other than club football. I though DC was our saviour but now I think he has ruined this Derry team, he has done nothing other than cause a major rift in Derry with Ballinderry and now with Kevin Mc Cloy. I'd believe PB's case is a lot more sinister than initially led to believe that it is through 'injury'. As I believe he would want to take over Oisin as Top scorer in Ulster before he leaves.

John Brennan should have been Derry, Manager since day one.

mid-mon man wrote:This is astonishing news altogether. What's the story, is he just not arsed going down the qualifier route after failing in Ulster? I know a few who felt the same but doing this a week before a qualifier is amazing. I'll believe it when I see it though.

And Niamh, I hardly think that's yous screwed. Don't forget we are missing our own star forward, and last time out when both were playing Derry won. Who is the bigger loss to their team, especially considering the opposition? I would say Tommy.

I swear MMM i can see us having any fight left, Cassidy is a grade A c**t, I can't stand him he has taken every bad trait in this team and splashed it all over the BBC news. I expect youse to win by 4-5 points and I am not even joking. I don't mean due to PB's absence but I mean due to Cassidys way of dealing with it.

Bright-Oak wrote:I never though I'd say this

Neither did I think you'd say it. I blame the drink, clearly affecting your once brilliant judgement. In my opinion, Derry are just waiting in Meath wings if on the off chance, we slip up.

What has all this "Doire Abu" stuff been about the last fortnight?

Well I'd hardly think Bradley is going to quit Derry. If he really has left the panel wouldn't it only be because he doesn't want to go through what he must see as a pointless qualifier run? Surely he'll want to win an Anglo-Celt before he finishes with the county and he's plenty of opportunity yet.

Just seeing your views on Cassidy there Niamh, and hearing from others aswell, it's seems there's alot of discontent regarding his position now, seems very sudden after all the praise heaped upon him in the league and how he was building a great squad? What you seem to outline there though is that it's about more than just the championship so far, has he really caused a bit of a rift with certain players and is there more going on behind the scenes than we know about?

Quote 1 - made on March 6th 2009 - "Hafta hand it to Cassidy he doesn't care who you are or where your from if you don't perform you don't make the cut"

Quote 2 - made on July 6th 2009 - "Cassidy is a grade A c**t"

So in exactly four months, Cassidy has gone from hero to zero! Oh the joys of being an intercounty manager. Poor Armagh manager getting abuse left, right and centre from their fans too. Well, EOB is a great Meathman, the loyal Meath fans will never turn on him like some Derry and Armagh supporters.

Wasn't it about this time last year a selection of Tyrone fans were shouting for Mickey Harte's head?

When Geraghty left the Meath panel in 2007, we made a semi-final against all the odds and put Tyrone back in their place in the process. Maybe some light at the end of the tunnel for Doire?

Certainly, this will galvanise the Derry team, much like losing Finlay and McQuaid did for us last year and to a lesser extent, losing Tommy for the Armagh game. It also takes the pressure off Derry a bit and now people are saying we should be winning, I never like hearing that. I still think we're in a worse position with Tommy suspended.

I think it's a bit early to be calling for his head already, jesus we only lost one game in the Championship!!!!

Surely not a bit of Bellaghy/Lavey hatred in your statements there Niamh, and with Brennan being a clubmate too?

Hilarious to see Niamh slate Cassidy, who was supposed to be their saviour a few weeks ago.

Derry have been a mess for years now, and Paddy Bradley is a big part of it. He seems to think he is the manager, and wants to dictate selection and tactics. This isn't a recent thing either, as he was no different during Croziers reign. It is sad for Derry and, if you even had 1 other scoring forward, I'd say good riddance to Bradley. Unfortunately, he is your only scoring threat, so it really is a mess.

bald eagle wrote:I think it's a bit early to be calling for his head already, jesus we only lost one game in the Championship!!!!

Surely not a bit of Bellaghy/Lavey hatred in your statements there Niamh, and with Brennan being a clubmate too?

Possibly, but Everything has went up shits creeks since Cassidy took over. Also, he has apparently not broke breath to a few Derry players the last few months, which I heard from a Derry player who too might walk because of the treatment of cassidy.

Thomas Clarke wrote:Hilarious to see Niamh slate Cassidy, who was supposed to be their saviour a few weeks ago.

Derry have been a mess for years now, and Paddy Bradley is a big part of it. He seems to think he is the manager, and wants to dictate selection and tactics. This isn't a recent thing either, as he was no different during Croziers reign. It is sad for Derry and, if you even had 1 other scoring forward, I'd say good riddance to Bradley. Unfortunately, he is your only scoring threat, so it really is a mess.

The past couple of years Eoin has in my opinion taken over Paddy as best player.