Matthew Bradley: 'It's my job. As a free taker, you take on that responsibility'

Sun, 16 Nov, 2025 - 19:04

Shane Donovan

As the county final match-winner for the second time in as many weeks, it’s safe to say Matthew Bradley has been to the fore as Aghabullogue completed a second hurling and football double in three years.

A fortnight ago, against Uibh Laoire, Bradley’s winner came from play. It secured his club Senior A football.

On Sunday, his winner came from a placed ball; it’s a different kind of pressure. For Bradley — scorer of 0-11 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh — it’s a responsibility he’s happy to take on.

“Look, it’s my job. As a free taker, you take on that responsibility,” Bradley said. “I’ve had plenty of bad days on them and the lads have full confidence in me taking them every day we go out. All I can do is be grateful to them for trusting me fully all the time.”

And the immediate feeling after referee Willie Wallace blew his whistle for the final time? “Relief,” he said. “I suppose we don’t do it easily, but just to get over the line, it’s just unbelievable.

“I know it’s probably a bit cliché, I know we were in here two weeks ago and we just got over the line too, but this feeling inside here of winning a county, it’ll never change, no matter how many times you win one, it won’t change.

“It’s just unbelievable.”

This Aghabullogue unit — led by a crop of dual players which Bradley is one of — is an extremely united one.

Asked what it means to him on a personal level, although eager to move the spotlight away from himself, Bradley acknowledged 2025 may be a hard year to beat.

“I suppose 2025 for me and Luke (Casey) has been unbelievable. That’s our ninth medal now this year, between soccer, football and hurling.

“I’d love to say I’ll be able to match it again , but it’s hard to say I will.

“On a personal note, it’s unbelievable. It’s why you do it. It’s why you make so many sacrifices between social life and other aspects of it.

“It’s sensational really, and look, I just love it.”

Premier Intermediate hurling returns in 2026. Their overall ascent is ongoing.

Bradley’s words of admiration for his teammates and the community behind them will tell you they have all the right ingredients to kick on again.

“I owe all those lads a debt that I’ll never be able to pay back,” Bradley added. “They’re unbelievable to be around on and off the pitch, you know, we’re such a close group, but as a club, as a whole, the community is unbelievable. They’re just so supportive.

“We just want to keep giving them as much as we can as a club.”