'Different gravy': The Kilcar view on McBrearty reaching 150 mark with Donegal

The stats of Fr Seán Ó Gallchoir on this page outlines the career, so far, of Patrick McBreaty, who created his own individual piece of history by winning a sixth Ulster medal this year.

Born in Dublin, he returned to the home place of his father, Seamus ‘Super’ McBrearty when he was young and it wasn’t long before he came to the notice of the parish.

Well-known coach, Neilly Byrne, was probably one of the first to see him at first hand: 

"The first time I came across him was at National School, maybe U-11, 12. We won the National School 9-a-side. Gabriel Meehan was the headmaster and I was in there doing coaching.

"He was a big lad even that time, strong and he was a brilliant player, a brilliant left foot," said Neilly, who laughed when asked if he had tried to improve his right foot.

"I told him plenty of times but I don't know if he listened too much. He didn't do too bad with the left and he had that explosive speed even at that age, over 15-20 yards. He had strong legs and shoulders.

"And if Patrick came out in the right frame of mind, Patrick would win the game and that's that. He has that ability. He was strong willed, he knew exactly what he wanted. I would have nothing but praise for him, I had no bother with him at all," said Byrne.

"He went through the school in Carrick with me then and he was always that much ahead of the rest. Ryan McHugh would have been in there too with him.

"I had him at U-14 and U-16 and then he was under John Mac (McNulty) at minor level.

"You always knew he was going to make it and he went into it when he was only a minor. 

"A terrible nice young fella he is and I was talking to him recently and he was delighted to be named captain of the team. He was over the moon about it. He is a fierce competitor as well and he is a leader but also honest," said Byrne, who said he has also given a lot to the Kilcar club.

Patrick McBrearty leading out Donegal as captain in Celtic Park recently Picture: Sportsfile

‘DIFFERENT GRAVY’

Another man in Kilcar who managed McBrearty and also played alongside him was Barry Doherty. 

"I would have managed him at U-16 level. He would have been 14 and we knew then that he was 'different gravy'. We won the U-16B that year and beat Glen in the final and he was the difference.

"I didn't manage them after that until senior level. I played with him for three years from 2011 to 2014. He finished my career at full-forward, put it that way," laughs Doherty.

"If you were playing inside with him, you just gave him the ball. He had power and was very quick over the five, 10 metres. He looks after himself and the dedication he gives to it is on a different level."

When Doherty became senior team manager in Kilcar, he made McBrearty captain. "It was good working with him. He was my captain for the three years I was manager, but especially in 2017 and '18. He did the cruciate in '18 but in '17 he learned a lot about leadership and what it takes to be a captain. It was his first time at senior level. He knew the buck would stop with him and he took the leadership so well.

"He's a model person. He's the sort of buck you wouldn't mind your daughter coming home with. He's a decent lad.

"Being captain now of the county is a massive honour for him and I'm sure he's doing whatever he can. I know he had injury problems early in the year and he's dealing with different stuff like being substituted which he wouldn't be used to."

McBrearty created a new personal record when winning his sixth Ulster medal against Armagh and Doherty is not surprised. "You knew going back to his U-14 days this fella was going to be a record breaker.  If the hamstrings hold up, I have no doubt he will do whatever it takes to stick at it and he will be driven to break as many records as possible," said Doherty, who is looking forward to having him back in Kilcar colours towards the end of the year.

PATRICK MCBREARTY FACTS  by Fr Seán Ó Gallchoir