Patrick and Stephen McBrearty.
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
PATRICK and Stephen McBrearty could become the first brothers in 51 years to play for Donegal on the same day in Ulster senior and minor finals.
The Kilcar siblings are in line to be the first brothers since the Gaoth Dobhair Breslins in 1963 to do so.
Patrick has been a regular feature on the Donegal senior team since making his debut as a substitute against Antrim in Jim McGuinness’s first Championship game as manager in 2011. That afternoon, he played for both the Donegal minors and seniors, the first player since Benny Coulter to represent both minor and senior teams on the one day in the Ulster Championship.
The NUI Maynooth student has won two Ulster SFC titles and an All-Ireland since stepping up to the Donegal senior set-up.
Eighteen-year-old forward Stephen, meanwhile, will play for Declan Bonner’s minors against Armagh in the minor final.
He has missed the best part of the last two years with knee problems, first having a cartilage injury and secondly, last June damaging a cruciate ligament.
One of the most highly-rated footballers in the county, he made his comeback off the bench against Derry and started the semi-final win against Antrim.
In ’63, Donal and Cormac Breslin played on the Donegal team that was beaten 2-11 to 1-4 by Down in the Ulster SFC final. In the curtain-raiser that day in Cavan, their brother Peter featured as the Donegal minors went down 4-6 to 2-11 against Down.
In the preview for the finals in ’63, the Donegal News said: “The Breslin brothers, sons of Leas Cheann Comhairle, Mr Cormac Breslin TD, hold a keen interest in both Ulster finals. Seventeen-year-old Peter is on the minor side; 19-year-old Donal and 29-year-old Cormac make up the right-wing attack for the seniors.”
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