Donegal All-Star will be latest to join 100 Club on Sunday next against Armagh

The Donegal list of players who have played 100 times for the county will get another name added to the list this Sunday when St Naul’s Brendan McCole reaches the landmark.

The All-Star full-back is not one who seeks the limelight but over the last four or five years has established himself as one of the county’s best ever defenders.

Thanks to Fr Seán’s wonderful county player statistics, we know that McCole made his first appearance for Donegal in 2017 against UUJ in the Dr McKenna Cup and on Sunday last he made his 99th appearance when Donegal defeated Mayo in the National Football League game in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.

A holder of Ulster minor league, U-21 and senior championship medals as well as captaining DCU to Freshers and Sigerson Cups, his hallmark, especially in the last few years, has been his high level of consistency.

The advent of the new rules has put the spotlight back on one-on-one defending and it is here that the St Naul’s man comes into his own.

It has not been a straightforward route to the top for McCole, who came back to live in Ireland at the age of 9. At Keelogs National School in Inver, he would have met Gavin Mulreany for the first time and the pair have shared dressing rooms at school, club and county.

Mulreany says he used to play out the middle but Paul Griffin takes the credit for saying he was a full-back.

“I don’t mind saying it, Brendan was never our most talented player when we were younger, but his determination and dedication was way ahead of everyone else’s. Because he was nine when he moved over (from the US), he would have missed out on four or five years. But he has made that up.

“Like, when we were underage, it’s funny there would have been players in our teams that we would have said were better and never went on to achieve anything in football.

“It just goes to show, Brendan’s efforts over the years were rewarded; all the hard work he put in.”

A lot of people point to a particular day in Croke Park in 2019 when Donegal played Meath in the Division 2 League final and McCole was replaced after 14 minutes. “I wasn’t involved with the county at that time but don’t worry, we always let him know about it,” quips Mulreany.

“It was a baptism of fire and he jokes about it even now. But no, that’s the day I would say that made him. I don’t even know how to describe it, but it was definitely a big day for him. His reaction to that day says a lot; he came away from it a stronger person. It was one of those days that is going to make you or break you.

“And he went on to establish himself. His athletic profile is second to none. Everything he needs to do is done 100%,” says Mulreany, who added he likes to go about his business in a quiet way.

“He doesn’t gloat. He likes to do his talking on the field. And what he has achieved in the last few years, he’s at the top of his game. He’s the best in the country in the last two years, three years I would even say.

“And there’s plenty more to come,” says Mulreany.

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Facts provided by Fr Seán