THE day after the night after the afternoon before. Glenullin’s clubhouse was alive like it hadn’t been in a long time, the back-to-back Derry intermediate champions savouring every second of their Sunday success against Banagher.
At the heart of it all was Eoin Bradley, as has been the case for the guts of the past quarter century. He may hit the big 4-0 on December 30, but there is a child-like joy and devilment that shines through no matter what his hand is turned to.
Bradley’s 1-6 in that extra-time county final triumph helped get the party started, rolling back the years once more as Glenullin earned another crack at Ulster, with Antrim champions Glenravel up next in Celtic Park on Sunday.
But all the serious talk, that’s for others. Not that his enthusiasm or application to the cause has waned, far from it.
It’s just that sport has always occupied a special space in life for the former Derry star – an oasis of fun away from the worries of the world. It has been like that since the beginning, it will be like that when the journey ends.
That’s why the video that did the rounds last week, when celebrations were still in full swing, summed up an uninhibited approach to life, and to the game.
Stepping outside the clubhouse, Bradley just about manages to stifle a smile while dismissing a mock call from new Oak Leaf boss Mickey Harte - “I told ye Wednesday, I’m busy” – before, as the camera cuts away, a wide grin eventually wins the day.
“I don’t think Mickey will be ringing me after that anyway,” he laughs.
“Ah it was a bit of banter. Half them boys think I should be on the county panel, obviously I know that’s never going to happen… even though I still think I should be playing county, never mind them!”
It is over a decade since Bradley last wore county colours but, while an upsurge in Derry’s footballing fortunes has sparked a few what-might-have-beens, he is more than happy with his lot.
Having previously resisted the urge to see how he would fare in the world of soccer, Bradley has carved out an impressive career in the Irish Premiership – one that only began at 29.
A couple of spells with Coleraine, either side of stints at Glenavon, led to his latest stop at ambitious Championship outfit Portadown. Niall Currie’s side face Dergview on Saturday, before Glenullin’s big day on Sunday, when Bradley comes face to face with Ports team-mate and Glenravel forward Eamon Fyfe.
But, while others get bogged down in the detail of their hectic schedule, Bradley’s trips off the tongue like you’ve just asked the maddest question ever.
“Well I played for Portadown on Tuesday night, train with Glenullin Wednesday, Portadown Thursday, bit of shooting with Glenullin Friday night, Portadown game Saturday, then up Sunday morning, hopefully score a pile. That’s the plan anyway.
“I just love playing… it’s hard to explain to people. I don’t give myself time to be tired the day after, ye know what I mean?”
Tuesday night’s League Cup win over Crusaders was his first appearance at Shamrock Park for a while and, despite a first half miss, Bradley finally felt like he was rediscovering the sharpness that has seen him terrorise opposition defences for so long.
An allergic reaction forced him from the action for the second time this season, though wild horses wouldn’t keep him away this weekend.
“My whole face swole up, my stomach started to get itchy.
“I was playing really well too, I don’t whether it’s heading the ball, washing powder they’re using, I haven’t a clue. That’s a couple of times, so I’d love to know why it’s happening - the boys think I’m maybe allergic to running since I got here.
“It was my first game this four or five weeks, that’s why I was pissed off I had to come off. Before that I didn’t really feel wile fit, then Gaelic was coming up, we were in the quarter championship, not that I’d rather concentrate on it but I wasn’t going well so I went to the Gaelic.
“I actually think it helped me because now I feel fresh and sharp. I’m 39, playing senior football 25 years at club level, then county as well, and you never really get a break. This last 10 or 11 years I’ve been playing soccer too, one just runs into the other and I just needed a break there, so I told Niall I’d train, work on my own.
“Even for my mind, I think it has helped. See that game the other week [against Banagher]? I was flying. When it came to extra-time I was as fit as anybody.
“If you’re enjoying something, everything’s far easier. I’m probably thinking more about playing football now than I was 10 years ago because you know you don’t have years and years left.
“This could be your last day playing, why not enjoy it?”
Eoin Bradley was there, spearheading the Glenullin attack alongside brother Paddy, when the club last lifted the John McLaughlin Cup in 2007. They may be a step off that level at the minute, but there is cautious optimism that won’t be the case for long.
Now Paddy is the man plotting their forward trajectory, the younger sibling still shooting the lights out. Thoughts of Ulster glory with Derry may be long gone, but a Bradley family affair helping Glenullin go all the way?
That truly is the stuff dreams are made of.
“To do it with Patrick is great.
“He would shout at me more and now I can’t really argue back the way I would have when we were playing together. That’s the only difference – he’s always right! He doesn’t give me no special treatment, in fact he’s probably sorer than me than anybody, but he knows what buttons to press. He knows how to get me playing football.
“These days are unreal for the community, the buzz about the place is great. My son, daughter, wife were all there at Celtic Park, daddy… I’d love to get to an Ulster final to say I did that with my club.
“Now that would be special.”
