The career of one of Derry’s longest serving GAA stars is at a crossroads due to his dual participation in soccer and football.
Eoin Bradley.
Eoin Bradley has been issued with an ultimatum by county football manager Brian McIver – soccer or GAA?
The 29-year-old currently plays for Coleraine in the Irish League Premiership but that is something McIver is no longer prepared to tolerate.
Bradley has told his county manager he would be happy to continue to play both codes, but McIver has ruled out that possibility.
Playing in midfield, Bradley has scored five goals in just eight appearances since making his debut for Coleraine on 14 September last.
Prior to joining the Bannsiders, he played for Ballymoney United and Kilrea United.
Bradley plays his club football for John Mitchel’s GAC Glenullin, and has won a Derry Senior Football Championship with the club.
His brother Paddy and cousin Gerard O’Kane also play for Derry and his father Liam is manager of the Antrim football team.
He was “man of the match” when Glenullin defeated Bellaghy in the replayed final of the Derry Senior Football Championship in 2007.
Earlier that year, he was a member of the Glenullin side that won the won the Ulster Senior Club Football League, beating Latton of Monaghan in the final
Bradley was first called up to the Derry Senior panel in 2004 by Mickey Moran.
He made his debut in the Dr. McKenna Cup against Antrim but suffered a horrific leg break against Jordanstown in the next outing and was out for a year and a half.
He made his Ulster Championship debut in 2005 against Monaghan and his brilliant solo goal against Down in the Qualifiers won RTE’s Goal of the Season.
In 2006, he collected an Irish News Ulster GAA All-Star award for his performances in that year’s Ulster Championship and Qualifiers.
However, following a disagreement with then Derry manager Paddy Crozier during the National League campaign, he missed most of the 2007 Championship season.
Following a period of suspension and the rift being resolved, he returned to play an instrumental role in the 2008 National League, which Derry won, defeating Kerry in the final.
That same year he was named by manager Joe Kernan in the Ulster Railway Cup panel.
He captained the side in a National League group game against Donegal in 2009 when Derry reached the final only to be defeated by Kerry.
With McIver sticking to his guns, Bradley’s long GAA career could be over if he decides to continue his soccer with Coleraine.
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