Retirements

[J70]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

[StephenC]

A great servant for Donegal - 14 years of senior football is good going. Despite everyone knowing it was coming, that cut in from the RHS for a sweet strike off that left peg was incredibly effective over the last few years.

GRMA Paddy - some great days. The winner against Armagh in 2014 is probably the one that sticks out for me.

[David McKeown]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

I genuinely thought Donegal were going to win Sam that year before the injury. If memory serves where his club not also heavily favoured for Ulster that year before the injury?  A great player who I loved watching as a neutral. Not quite at Murphy's level but not too far below either. Not sure he will be a massive miss though given the strength of the current squad.

[tiempo]

100% agree Donegal 2018 looked on course for the All-Ireland until the very unfortunate injury

I'd have him in the top tier of Donegal players, just a shame his best years were spent playing old rules

[Truthsayer]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this.   

[Armagh18]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBreaty on a par with any of those players. Unless he's struggling with injuring I find it a strange decision. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so makes no sense.. unless him and Jim aren't pulling..

It was reported he retired on medical advice on a knee injury.

[Truthsayer]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBreaty on a par with any of those players. Unless he's struggling with injuring I find it a strange decision. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so makes no sense.. unless him and Jim aren't pulling..

It was reported he retired on medical advice on a knee injury.

Aye I re-read it and seems to be injury is why I amended the post above. A great player.

[Captain Obvious]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this.   

As a neutral point of view I wouldn't have him on par with the players J70 has listed and yes injuries didn't allow to see how good McBrearty could have got.

Adrian Sweeney is another that was as good as McBrearty and he stood out on some poorly organised and underachieving Donegal teams.

[Truthsayer]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this.   

As a neutral point of view I wouldn't have him on par with the players J70 has listed and yes injuries didn't allow to see how good McBrearty could have got.

Adrian Sweeney is another that was as good as McBrearty and he stood out on some poorly organised and underachieving Donegal teams.

We'll agree to disagree. Great player imo on a level with those others apart from Murphy obviously who was a cut above...

[In hiding]

A question for Donegal men on here.
Was Mc Brearty better than Colm Mc Fadden ?

[J70]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this. 

Yeah, it was injury.

On the other point, to me, Murphy and Lacey are the two best players to ever come out of Donegal, with Martin McHugh close behind. Manus Boyle gave star performances in multiple All Ireland wins at various age levels (it's not like we have many). Tony Boyle was a brilliant all-round forward.

I just don't think McBrearty's body of work is quite at their level. To me, he's in the group with Adrian Sweeney, Kevin Cassidy, Frank McGlynn, Barry McGowan, Anthony Molloy, Colm McFadden, Brendan Devenney etc., some of them very talented and consistent, some extremely talented but more patchy.

Just my amateur opinion.

[J70]

A question for Donegal men on here.
Was Mc Brearty better than Colm Mc Fadden ?

He never had a flawless season like McFadden did in 2012.

I think he was more consistent over his career than McFadden though.

[Captain Obvious]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this.   

As a neutral point of view I wouldn't have him on par with the players J70 has listed and yes injuries didn't allow to see how good McBrearty could have got.

Adrian Sweeney is another that was as good as McBrearty and he stood out on some poorly organised and underachieving Donegal teams.

We'll agree to disagree. Great player imo on a level with those others apart from Murphy obviously who was a cut above...

Entitled to your opinion though how was it reached? Lacey for example won a handful of All Stars,was named footballer of the year and at his peak he was consistently one of the top performers in the country.

[Truthsayer]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this. 

Yeah, it was injury.

On the other point, to me, Murphy and Lacey are the two best players to ever come out of Donegal, with Martin McHugh close behind. Manus Boyle gave star performances in multiple All Ireland wins at various age levels (it's not like we have many). Tony Boyle was a brilliant all-round forward.

I just don't think McBrearty's body of work is quite at their level. To me, he's in the group with Adrian Sweeney, Kevin Cassidy, Frank McGlynn, Barry McGowan, Anthony Molloy, Colm McFadden, Brendan Devenney etc., some of them very talented and consistent, some extremely talented but more patchy.

Just my amateur opinion.

Obviously I didn't follow Donegal football as closely as you so hardly amateur opinion! I thought he was great player... and would have him in the top tier but there you go...

[Truthsayer]

He's not in the Murphy-Lacey-McHugh-Boyle(x2) tier for us, but definitely the next one underneath. Brilliant player who'll go down as a Donegal legend.

It's a shame he wasn't five years younger, as the new rules are made for someone like him who excelled at coming out on the loop and shooting long range. Injuries definitely took their toll, both on him and on us. We were shaping up so nicely in 2018 in Bonner's first year when McBrearty suffered the cruciate injury in the Ulster Final after a brilliant campaign to that point, and we'd no one to pick up the slack in his place. Not saying we'd have won it, but we'd have put up better shows against Dublin and, in particular, Tyrone, when our relatively weak bench killed us down the stretch. 

You must be joking! Apart from Murphy I'd have McBrearty on a par with any of those players. Donegal must think they can take the All Ireland next year so can only be injury has forced this.   

As a neutral point of view I wouldn't have him on par with the players J70 has listed and yes injuries didn't allow to see how good McBrearty could have got.

Adrian Sweeney is another that was as good as McBrearty and he stood out on some poorly organised and underachieving Donegal teams.

We'll agree to disagree. Great player imo on a level with those others apart from Murphy obviously who was a cut above...

Entitled to your opinion though how was it reached? Lacey for example won a handful of All Stars,was named footballer of the year and at his peak he was consistently one of the top performers in the country.

Aye I am surprised McBrearty didn't win any All Stars.