Derry forward Bradley to bow out

Derry forward Paddy Bradley has revealed his plans to retire at the end of his county's 2010 All-Ireland Championship run.

The Oak Leafers were knocked out of the Ulster Championship recently by Armagh, meaning that the 29-year-old Bradley will end his playing career without a prized provincial winners' medal.

Bradley, who won his only All-Star award in 2007, is a footballer of immense ability and skill and has been a prolific scorer for his county since making his SFC debut against Cavan in 2000 - the year that Derry last qualified for an Ulster final.

Determined to bow out on a high, he told Derry's County Times newspaper: "I honestly feel I have given good service to the country over 11 years and I have given my all every time I played for the county. But I want to go out with a bang - on our day, I believe we are a match for any side in the country."

The Glenullin clubman, who represented Ulster in the Interprovincial Championship and Ireland in the International Rules Series, will be back in action with Derry in the opening round of the All-Ireland qualifiers on Saturday, June 26.

"I really believe that at the top of our game, we could beat a Cork or a Kerry," he added.

"We tend to play well at Croke Park in the big open spaces, but it's getting through the packed defences that you have to get past there that trips us up."

Bradley defended Derry's record in recent years which, although missing Championship success, includes two National League titles from 2000 and 2008.

"People will blame (the managers) Mickey Moran, Paddy Crozier or Damian Cassidy, or they will blame myself or Enda Muldoon or Fergal Doherty or any of the players," explained the quantity surveyor, who captained Derry in 2005.

"But I can tell you every one of us players and managers have worked very hard to try to bring success to Derry."

Bradley is said to be unlikely to don the Derry jersey again in the future, but may be tempted to return if his father Liam Bradley, the current Antrim boss, is appointed to the Derry managerial role.