BRENDAN BRADLEY’S GOAL-SCORING record in the League of Ireland still stands at 235.
The Derry native played for Finn Harps on three separate occasions, debuting in the Ballybofey club’s first season in the senior ranks, 1969-70.
In all, Bradley (pictured below courtesy of Finn Harps FC on the mark against Shelbourne in the 1972/73 season) scored 181 goals for Harps, having also played for Derry City, Athlone Town and Sligo Rovers before hanging up his boots in 1986. His most famous moment came when he scored twice in Harps’ 3-1 1974 FAI Cup final win at Dalymount Park against St Patrick’s Athletic.
Thirty-seven-year-old Jason Byrne has signed for SSE Airtricity League Division One UCD and is only 18 goals behind Bradley.
Byrne, who earned two senior caps with the Republic of Ireland – one under Brian Kerr against Poland in 2004 and then when Steve Staunton was in charge against Chile in 2006 – has had two spells with both Bray Wanderers and Bohemians, as well as featuring for Shelbourne and Dundalk.
The Dubliner also lined out for Cardiff City, scoring once in 10 appearances, in the 2007/08 season.
“That’s the objective,” Byrne said of breaking the record having joined the Students. “But if I can get the goals and we can get promoted back to the Premier Division then that would be fantastic.”
Video courtesy of UCD AFC.
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=Qe74uJqNlqs