Patrick McBrearty Gaelic games player
Patrick "Paddy" McBrearty (born 5 August 1993 in Letterkenny) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Chíll Chartha and has been a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team since 2011. A graduate of the Phoenix Elite Academy, he is usually selected in the full-forward line for his county, often flanking Michael Murphy with Colm McFadden.Among other accolades, he has one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2012), three Ulster Senior Football Championships (2011, 2012 and 2014) and one International Rules Series (2013). With this early success (all before the age of 21) McBrearty is believed to be "the most decorated player of his age ever to represent Donegal." He is also part of an exclusive club to have played minor and senior matches for their county on the same day. Indeed, he was the first Ulster footballer since Benny Coulter of Down to play both grades on the one afternoon - Benny is still waiting on that All-Ireland medal after Cork 2010.A major contributor to Donegal teams since his emergence at the start of the successful Jim McGuinness managerial era, McBrearty is considered one of the finest young footballers to have arrived on the Donegal scene since Murphy. Opponents have highlighted his "ace" attacking abilities and regard him as a considerable threat. Like Murphy, McBrearty has been a live target for Australian Football League recruitment. He turns down such offers as he wishes to further his education in Ireland and to spend time with his family.