DONEGAL forward Paddy McBrearty claims players who are detractors of the International Rules series have a “grudge” over never being selected for the compromise rules sport.
Still only 22, McBrearty is set to line out for the International Rules team on Saturday for the second time, after making his debut appearance in the 2013 series, with Ireland running out easy winners in both tests. While this time around, there will only be a standalone match to decide matters, McBrearty is honoured to have another opportunity to don the Irish jersey.
"We’ve eight weeks of training behind us now, so it’s going really good," he said.
“I’m really enjoying the experience, playing with some of best players in the country and there’s a good backroom as well. As a player, it’s very good. I suppose there aren’t many opportunities in Gaelic football to represent your country, so when [manager] Joe Kernan gave me the call, I was delighted to get a chance and I’m looking forward to putting on an Irish jersey and playing for my country.”
While there has been persistent and growing scepticism about the International Rules series, McBrearty is having none of it, flatly explaining away such criticism as envy.
“You hear players giving out about it, but they have a grudge to be honest - people who were never picked don’t like it. Anyone that’s ever played it has really enjoyed it,” he said.
McBrearty has his hand in many pies at the moment, between studying commerce and playing club, county and college football. Primed for his third Sigerson Cup outing in February and gearing up for his fifth year with a Donegal side that isn’t known for entertaining slackers, the 2012 All-Ireland winner admits he has a difficult schedule.
“It’s tough, no doubt. It’s probably out there what Donegal do [in training], but the club and the colleges here are very supportive," he added.
“They don’t push you into anything and I have to thank Jordanstown as they don’t put any pressure on you in that regard. I heard about the tradition that was here and I love it. It’s a great college with great people - I’m involved in the GAA club here too, so I’m really enjoying it."
In his second year with Jordanstown after graduating from Maynooth, McBrearty welcomes the addition of two members from the famous McHugh family after a disappointing early exit to eventual champions DCU in last season’s Sigerson Cup - Martin McHugh has joined Barney McAleenan’s backroom team and his son Ryan - a business student and Donegal team-mate - will line out alongside McBrearty.
“I’ve settled down here since last year, but it’s always good to have a few good faces you know," he said.
“I suppose last year was disappointing, but it was good to put that behind us. We’ve had a good Ryan Cup campaign under our belts, so once that’s finished we’ll look towards the McKenna Cup and we’ll see how that goes.”
While training with Donegal hasn’t started yet, McBrearty’s ambition for the coming year is clear - winning the Ulster Championship after Monaghan snatched it off them in the provincial final for the second time in three years.
“We’ve just a few meetings, getting the bodies and minds right. It’s going to be a long year hopefully and we’re looking forward to getting back into things and hopefully getting our Ulster title back,” he said.
McBrearty claims little desire to gain revenge against Monaghan for its own sake and also reveals he quickly got over his missed pointed effort at the end of the Ulster final, which denied Donegal a draw.
“You have to move on, a few hours after the game you’re disappointed because, nine times out of 10, they’d go over the bar," he said.
“Luckily enough, we’d Galway next week, so we had to get our heads fixed on that and there’s no point thinking about it.”
