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Paul Brennan (Gaelic footballer)

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Paul Brennan
Personal information
Irish name Pól Ó Braonáin[1]
Sport Gaelic football
Position Half back
Born 1988/9
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Occupation Diver[2]
Club(s)
Years Club
201?–
 Réalt na Mara
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2017–
 Donegal
Ulster titles 2

Paul Brennan (born 1988/89) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Réalt na Mara and the Donegal county team.

He won two Ulster Senior Football Championship medals, in 2018 and 2019.

Playing career

[edit]

A native of Kinlough in Leitrim,[citation needed] Brennan started his inter-county career with Leitrim, but transferred to the neighbouring county of Donegal after falling out with the county board.[citation needed] Brennan won back-to-back FBD League titles with Leitrim in 2013 and 2014.[citation needed][clarification needed]

Brennan was involved with club football in Donegal, and won a Donegal Intermediate Football Championship with Réalt na Mara in 2015.[3] He was described as "one of the driving forces" in the club's IFC win.[4]

Brennan first featured for Donegal at senior level under the management of Rory Gallagher. He made his first competitive start for Donegal against Kerry in the opening round of the 2017 National Football League.[5] He scored a point in that game.[6] He made his championship debut against.[who?]

Brennan continued to feature for his county under the management of Declan Bonner. He started and scored two points in the final as Donegal won the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship.[7] He had started all his team's earlier championship matches that year, scoring two points in the semi-final against Down.[8][9][10] He also scored a point against Galway at O'Donnell Park during the 2018 National Football League.[11]

He was an unused substitute in the victory over Meath in the 2019 National Football League Division 2 Final at Croke Park.[12][13] He had, however, featured earlier in the league campaign, against Clare (from the start), the home fixture against Meath (as a late substitute), Tipperary, Fermanagh and Armagh (all as a substitute), Cork (from the start) and Kildare (as a substitute).[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Brennan made a second half substitute appearance in the final of the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship, which Donegal also won.[21] He also made substitute appearances against Fermanagh in the quarter-final and against Tyrone in the semi-final.[22][23]

Brennan started Donegal's first five fixtures of the 2020 National Football League against Mayo, Meath, Galway, Dublin and Monaghan, scoring a point against Mayo in the opening game.[24][25][26][27][28] Then the COVID-19 pandemic brought play to a halt. Play resumed behind closed doors on 18 October with a home game against Tyrone; Brennan started that game as well.[29] He did not participate in the concluding game of the league campaign (away to Kerry) as he and other senior players (such as Michael Murphy, Hugh McFadden, Ryan McHugh and Eoghan Bán Gallagher) were rested ahead of the 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Tyrone the following Sunday.[30][31] Brennan started that opening victory against Tyrone, scoring one point.[32] He also started the semi-final victory against Armagh and the final against Cavan, in what proved to be the season's concluding game for his team.[33][34]

Brennan started each of Donegal's first three of four fixtures of the 2021 National Football League (against Tyrone, Monaghan, Armagh); he did not feature against Dublin.[35][36][37][38] In the 2021 Ulster Senior Football Championship, he made a substitute appearance in each of Donegal's three fixtures, scoring a point against Derry in the quarter-final.[39][40][41]

Brennan started each of Donegal's opening three fixtures of the 2022 National Football League, against Mayo, Kildare and Kerry respectively.[42][43][44] He did not feature against either Tyrone or Monaghan in the fourth and fifth fixtures.[45][46] He made a substitute appearance away to Dublin in the penultimate fixture, but did not play against Armagh at O'Donnell Park in the next game.[47][48] In the 2022 Ulster Senior Football Championship, he made substitute appearances in two of Donegal's three fixtures, the quarter-final against Armagh and the final against Derry (during extra-time).[49][50] He did not feature in the semi-final against Cavan.[51] He also did not feature in the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier loss to Armagh.[52]

Personal life

[edit]

Brennan's father is Brendan and his mother is Rita.[53] In late-2023, he married Bundoran native and palliative nurse Colleen Granaghan, whose father Seamie played at half-forward during Donegal's 1972 and 1974 Ulster SFC title victories.[53] At that time the couple had two sons.[53]

He is not related to Jamie, with whom he has lined out for club and county.[54]

Honours

[edit]

;Leitrim[clarification needed] * FBD Connacht League: 2013,[citation needed] 2014[citation needed][clarification needed]

Réalt na Mara
Donegal

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Two changes for clash with Roscommon". Donegal News. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  2. ^ Craig, Frank (19 July 2019). "Brennan comfortable in at the deep end". Donegal News. p. 72. The Realt na Mara man is a commercial diver by trade…
  3. ^ a b McNulty, Chris (25 October 2015). "Bundoran show no mercy to crush Naomh Colmcille's dreams". Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  4. ^ McNulty, Chris (28 October 2015). "All Sports Donegal Intermediate Championship: Team of the Year". Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Kevin (3 February 2017). "Underage Kerry stars make the jump to senior as 4 league starting debuts handed out". The42.ie. Retrieved 3 February 2017. Jason McGee, Michael Langan and Jamie Brennan will make their senior debuts for Donegal, while Caolon[sic] Ward and Paul Brennan are set to start a competitive fixture for the first time.
  6. ^ Foley, Alan (5 February 2017). "Geaney at the double as Kerry achieve first opening round league win under Fitzmaurice". The42.ie. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  7. ^ a b Mooney, Francis (24 June 2018). "Energetic Donegal end Fermanagh's Ulster title dream". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  8. ^ McNulty, Chris (13 May 2018). "Ulster SFC: Donegal too good for Cavan". Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  9. ^ Mooney, Francis (27 May 2018). "McBrearty excels to fire Donegal past Derry". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. ^ Mooney, Francis (10 June 2018). "14-man Donegal cruise past Down into Ulster decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  11. ^ Foley, Alan (4 February 2018). "Last-gasp Galway snatch victory in Donegal to make it two from two". The42.ie. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  12. ^ Named as Donegal's number 23 on page 19 of the official match programme.
  13. ^ a b O'Brien, Kevin (30 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath: 23,644 supporters watched Donegal enjoy a two-point victory over the Royals". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  14. ^ Lynch, Derrick (27 January 2019). "Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory: Declan Bonner's side did just about enough to claim their first win of the league campaign". The42.ie. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  15. ^ Campbell, Peter (2 February 2019). "Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  16. ^ Fallon, John (10 February 2019). "Casey strikes late goal as Tipp come back to shock Donegal: Victory is only Tipperary's second-ever competitive win over Donegal". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  17. ^ Campbell, Peter (24 February 2019). "Fermanagh rally against 13-man Donegal to stay unbeaten in Division 2". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  18. ^ Foley, Alan (2 March 2019). "Super sub Murphy makes decisive impact in narrow win for Donegal: Michael Murphy came off the bench to score 1–2 as his side overcame Armagh this evening". The42.ie. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  19. ^ Hurley, Denis (16 March 2019). "Cork on brink of drop to Division 3 as Donegal power home". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  20. ^ Branigan, Peter (24 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass fires Donegal back to top flight". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  21. ^ a b Sweeney, Peter (23 June 2019). "Donegal power past Cavan to claim Ulster title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  22. ^ Mooney, Francis (26 May 2019). "Donegal overcome Fermanagh in Ulster arm-wrestle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  23. ^ Mooney, Francis (8 June 2019). "Donegal power past Tyrone to make Ulster decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  24. ^ "FL1: Durcan delivers late as Mayo hold Donegal". Hogan Stand. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  25. ^ Keane, Paul (2 February 2020). "Classy Donegal put Meath to the sword at Navan". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  26. ^ McNulty, Chris (9 February 2020). "Allianz FL D1: Galway secure valuable victory". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Mannion goal crucial as Dubs reel in Donegal". RTÉ Sport. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  28. ^ Foley, Alan (1 March 2020). "McFadden and Ward hit the net as Donegal claim easy victory over Monaghan". The42.ie. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  29. ^ McNulty, Chris (18 October 2020). "Allianz FL D1: Donegal defeat Tyrone". Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  30. ^ "Understrength Donegal well beaten by Kerry". Donegal News. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  31. ^ Brennan, Paul (24 October 2020). "Allianz FL D1: Kerry crowned League champions". Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  32. ^ Keys, Colm (1 November 2020). "Donegal in pole-position for Ulster three-in-a-row after dumping Tyrone out of Championship". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  33. ^ Bogue, Declan (14 November 2020). "Donegal ease past Armagh to reach yet another Ulster final". The42.ie. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  34. ^ O'Brien, Kevin (22 November 2020). "As it happened: Donegal v Cavan, Ulster senior football final". The42.ie. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  35. ^ Bogue, Declan (15 May 2021). "Allianz FL D1 North: Donegal edge Tyrone". Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  36. ^ McNulty, Chris (22 May 2021). "Allianz FL D1 North: Spoils shared in Ballybofey". Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  37. ^ Bogue, Declan (29 May 2021). "Allianz FL D1 North: Donegal finish strongly to earn important point". Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  38. ^ Campbell, Peter (14 June 2021). "Dublin share title with Kerry after defeating Donegal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  39. ^ Bogue, Declan (27 June 2021). "Donegal signal their intent with Ulster Championship trouncing of Down". The42.ie. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  40. ^ Foley, Alan (11 July 2021). "McBrearty kicks late winner as Donegal squeeze past Derry". The42.ie. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  41. ^ Bogue, Declan (18 July 2021). "Murphy sent off as Tyrone edge out 14-man Donegal to book Ulster final spot". The42.ie. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  42. ^ Finnerty, Mike (30 January 2022). "Rob Hennelly the hero as Mayo snatch draw against Donegal in Allianz Football League". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  43. ^ Campbell, Peter (6 February 2022). "Donegal have too much for Kildare despite losing Michael Murphy". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  44. ^ Brennan, Paul (20 February 2022). "Kerry impress as victory over Donegal sends them top of Division 1". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  45. ^ Campbell, Peter (26 February 2022). "Goals crucial as gritty Donegal see off Tyrone". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  46. ^ Campbell, Peter (13 March 2022). "Monaghan end Donegal's Ballybofey record to maintain Division 1 survival hope". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  47. ^ Keane, Paul (20 March 2022). "Allianz FL D1: Dublin finish strongly against Donegal". Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  48. ^ McNulty, Chris (27 March 2022). "Donegal hang on for win as things get hot and heavy with Armagh". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  49. ^ Watters, Andy (25 April 2022). "Donegal cruise to victory over mis-firing Armagh in Ulster Championship quarter-final". The Irish News. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  50. ^ Bogue, Declan (29 May 2022). "Derry outscored Donegal 0–4 to 0–2 in the extra-time period". The42.ie. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  51. ^ Haughey, John (8 May 2022). "Donegal 2–16 Cavan 0–16: Tir Conaill men survive Breffni onslaught to reach Ulster decider". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  52. ^ Bogue, Declan (12 June 2022). "Armagh power past Donegal to book All-Ireland quarter-final". The42.ie. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  53. ^ a b c Foley, Alan (29 November 2023). "Gaelic footballer Paul Brennan and Colleen Granaghan tie the knot". Retrieved 29 November 2023. Paul Brennan and Colleen Granaghan got married on October Bank Holiday weekend at St Aidan's Church, Kinlough.
  54. ^ RTÉ commentary when Paul Brennan appeared as a substitute during the Ulster senior final. The Sunday Game. 23 June 2019.
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