Gabriel Bradley
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Bradley is an Irish
retired Gaelic football
er who played for Derry
in the 1970s and 1980s. He won two Ulster Senior Football Championship
s with the county. Bradley played club football for John Mitchel's Glenullin
and won the Derry Senior Football Championship with the club.
He was a very versatile player who could play in defence
, midfield or in the half forward line.
family with a strong footballing background. Two of his uncles, James and Paddy Rafferty had played for Derry. Bradley went to school at St Columb's College in Derry City
. St Columb's at the time was the county's top football nursery and here he played under coaches such as Father Ignatius McQuillan and Raymond Gallagher.
When Bradley won the Derry Championship with Glenullin in 1985, five of his brothers were also on the team. His cousin Colm Rafferty won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
with Derry in 1993
. Bradley's brother Liam
currently manages Antrim
and his sons (Gabriel's nephews) Paddy
and Eoin
are important players on the current Derry team. When Glenullin won the Derry Championship in 2007, nearly half the team were related to Gabriel Bradley.
in 1975. That year Derry won the Ulster Senior Football Championship
beating Down
in the final, with Bradley playing at left corner back. Derry were beaten by Dublin
in the subsequent All-Ireland
semi-final.
Derry reached the 1976 National Football League
final, but were defeated by Dublin by a point, where Bradley was left half forward. Derry also retained their Ulster Championship title that year. They were defeated by Kerry
in the All-Ireland
semi-final. Derry reached their third Ulster final in a row in 1977, but were beaten by Armagh. Bradley made his last appearance for Derry in 1984, against Tyrone
.
medal with Glenullin in 1977. Eight years later he was an important part of the side that won the 1985 Derry Senior Football Championship - the club's first Derry Championship in 57 years. Glenullin named Bradley Player of the Year in 1986, and was named Clubman of the Year in 1988.
In 1989 while traveling to the All-Ireland Hurling Championship
final, he was involved in a horrific road accident that ended his 17 year-long club career. Despite having a seriously damaged leg, he went back to drag his two friends from a burning car.
Bradley was also chairman of the club in the late 1980s.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
retired Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who played for Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1970s and 1980s. He won two Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
s with the county. Bradley played club football for John Mitchel's Glenullin
Glenullin GAC
John Mitchel's GAC Glenullin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Glenullin, County Londonderry - a valley near Garvagh, partly coinciding with the parish of Errigal. The club is a member of the Derry GAA. They currently cater for both Gaelic football and Camogie...
and won the Derry Senior Football Championship with the club.
He was a very versatile player who could play in defence
Gaelic football and Hurling positions
The following are the positions in the Gaelic sports of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Like rugby and baseball, and unlike soccer, these have set positions which haven't changed in decades...
, midfield or in the half forward line.
Background
Bradley comes from a GlenullinGlenullin
Glenullin is a rural area centred on a valley between the villages of Garvagh, Swatragh and Dungiven, and lies in the borough of Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The nearest city is Derry which is 27 miles away. 'The Glen' as it is often known, is not an officially recognised...
family with a strong footballing background. Two of his uncles, James and Paddy Rafferty had played for Derry. Bradley went to school at St Columb's College in Derry City
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. St Columb's at the time was the county's top football nursery and here he played under coaches such as Father Ignatius McQuillan and Raymond Gallagher.
When Bradley won the Derry Championship with Glenullin in 1985, five of his brothers were also on the team. His cousin Colm Rafferty won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
with Derry in 1993
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
. Bradley's brother Liam
Liam Bradley
Liam Bradley ; commonly known by his nickname Baker, is an Irish Gaelic football manager. He is currently manager of the Antrim senior football team, having been appointed in October 2008.-Personal life:...
currently manages Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
and his sons (Gabriel's nephews) Paddy
Paddy Bradley
Patrick 'Paddy' Bradley is a Gaelic footballer from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, who plays for Derry. With the team he has won two National League titles, and individually an All Star Award for his performance in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship .Bradley plays his club...
and Eoin
Eoin Bradley
Eoin Bradley is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Derry, with whom he has won a National League title.Bradley plays his club football for John Mitchel's GAC Glenullin and has won a Derry Senior Football Championship with the club....
are important players on the current Derry team. When Glenullin won the Derry Championship in 2007, nearly half the team were related to Gabriel Bradley.
Inter-county
Bradley played for the Derry Minor and Under 21 before progressing to the Senior side. He made his Senior inter-county debut against ArmaghArmagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
in 1975. That year Derry won the Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
beating Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the final, with Bradley playing at left corner back. Derry were beaten by Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in the subsequent All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1975
-Leinster Senior Football Championship:-Munster Senior Football Championship:-Ulster Senior Football Championship:-Semi-Finals:-All-Ireland Final:...
semi-final.
Derry reached the 1976 National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
final, but were defeated by Dublin by a point, where Bradley was left half forward. Derry also retained their Ulster Championship title that year. They were defeated by Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1976
-All-Ireland Final:...
semi-final. Derry reached their third Ulster final in a row in 1977, but were beaten by Armagh. Bradley made his last appearance for Derry in 1984, against Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
.
Club
Bradley won a Derry Intermediate ChampionshipDerry Intermediate Football Championship
The Derry Intermediate Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition between the intermediate Derry clubs...
medal with Glenullin in 1977. Eight years later he was an important part of the side that won the 1985 Derry Senior Football Championship - the club's first Derry Championship in 57 years. Glenullin named Bradley Player of the Year in 1986, and was named Clubman of the Year in 1988.
In 1989 while traveling to the All-Ireland Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
final, he was involved in a horrific road accident that ended his 17 year-long club career. Despite having a seriously damaged leg, he went back to drag his two friends from a burning car.
Bradley was also chairman of the club in the late 1980s.