Former teammates and colleagues look back at the brilliance of Patrick McBrearty

Patrick will go down as one of Donegal's greats - Colm McFadden 

Colm McFadden shared a deadly inside line with Michael Murphy and McBrearty as Donegal landed Sam Maguire back in 2012.

The St Michael's man is now part of Jim McGuinness' backroom team and says the departing captain has left a serious legacy. 

"He was an old head on young shoulders, old school, and fitted in right away. He had a maturity and just this physically, it was hard to believe he was only 17. I'd seen very little of him at the time, but everyone else seemed to have had a look at him. 

"Jim at the time, I remember him saying that he was more than ready to play senior county football at the time. It took a lot to get Jim excited so it got me wondering.  

"But right away in training, it was obvious that he was something different, special even. So it was very exciting. As you couldn't wait to see how all developed. 

"He came on that day against Antrim, I think Mickey Hegarty came on as a double substitution and, the rest they say, is history.

"He came on with no gloves too and it lashing, he was known to use hair wax on his hands. I think he eventually got around to wearing gloves though! 

"His ability to kick big scores, he was so accurate and he never dropped one short. 

"Like, people won't appreciate how hard Patrick worked in the last few years. He'd a cruciate injury, then he'd that one where the hamstring came off the bone a few years back

"So he put so much into getting back from that. Working with him the last few years, to see the effort he put in was crazy. 

"He did a lot of work behind the scenes too getting Jim back. That is well documented. It's a pity that he has to drop off. Like, he's been around for so long that it's hard to believe he's still only 32. 

"But without a doubt, he will be remembered as one of Donegal's best ever".