His scores will live forever – but Paddy McBrearty’s true legacy for Donegal was forged in leadership, resilience and standards when the county needed him most
PADDY McBREARTY gave so much more to Donegal than his sweet left foot.
He made his senior inter-county bow on May 15, 2011 against Antrim at just 17 — having played for the Donegal minors earlier that afternoon.
If you were good enough, you were old enough.
The dogs on the street knew he was ready and boss Jim McGuinness gave him a chance.
In his first senior start against Cavan that summer, he scored 1-3 and never looked back.
An Ulster SFC medal arrived during that maiden campaign and Sam Maguire glory followed a year later.
The term ‘clutch moment’ was made for McBrearty.
Shots that seemed impossible hung in the air for an eternity before dropping over the bar.
There are too many to name but his late winner in the 2021 Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry stands out.
Defences could do little when he was on it and his power made him a nightmare to stop.
But injuries have taken their toll.
A torn ACL in a 2018 Ulster SFC final win over Fermanagh was a huge blow, while a hamstring tear in February 2023 was just as cruel and threatened to end his inter-county career at 29.
Doctors said he had a 50-50 chance of playing football again but McBrearty successfully put everything into his recovery.
It was a painful year in more ways than one.
Michael Murphy retired as stars like Ryan McHugh, Niall O’Donnell and Shane O’Donnell opted out.
Paddy Carr stood down as boss that March as standards began to slide before their relegation to Division 2.
Down sealed their fate at the first hurdle in Ulster and Tyrone sent them packing in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals.
But McBrearty refused to accept any more of a fall from grace.
He knocked on McGuinness’ front door for an honest chat and a follow-up letter was sent two days later.
McGuinness returned that August.
McBrearty then lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup in front of a sea of Green and Gold in Clones for the first time as captain the following May.
His standard clutch score — which came against Armagh — forced extra-time before a penalty shootout win.
When I grabbed him for a word in the bedlam under the stand, he said he never thought he would see the day. A gallant All-Ireland SFC semi- final loss to Galway was enough to coax Murphy out of retirement.
And they came very close to lifting Sam Maguire again in July.
GLORY DAYS
McBrearty was captain and only started five of their 11 Championship games but still made an impact when introduced.
And his 0-3 cameo in the 3-26 to 0-15 thumping of Meath saw him finish the summer with 1-23.
Conor O’Donnell and Oisín Gallen in particular had to contend with McBrearty biting at their heels all summer long.
And he is probably one of the main reasons behind their form.
The scores will rightly sum up McBrearty’s time in Green and Gold, which began in a white jersey over 14 years ago now.
Yes, they lost the All-Ireland final against Kerry and that post-mortem is still underway.
But McBrearty shouted ‘stop!’ at the mere sight of their demise in 2023.
Standards were not being met but were restored when McGuinness came back to lift them off the floor after McBrearty’s intervention.
That was arguably the Kilcar man’s most important act for his county.
Leaving inter-county football will mean a massive adjustment for him.
But he leaves a legacy that will be felt for years to come.
