PAUL BRENNAN FOUND HIMSELF at the centre of a national media storm last December when his transfer from Melvin Gaels to Bundoran was approved.
Brennan made a full-county move from Leitrim to Donegal.
It was said at the time that the powerful half-back was set to join Rory Gallagher’s Donegal squad.
Ten months on, Brennan is ready to line out for Bundoran in Sunday’s All Sports Donegal Intermediate Football Championship final against Naomh Colmcille, but has yet to link up with the Donegal panel.
“It was never talked about,” he told Donegal Sport Hub.
“If Donegal ever came knocking on my door, I’d never turn it down. Papers didn’t refuse ink so, seeing as I played for Leitrim, people just assumed that I’d go for a move to Donegal when I made the decision to transfer county as well.”
Brennan attended a get-together with the Leitrim panel last October, but it proved to be his last involvement.
With Melvin Gaels, he won a senior championship in 2012, but the club subsequently dropped to the intermediate grade.
Brennan’s allegience switch was criticised by Leitrim’s manager, Ballyshannon native Shane Ward, but the player was unmoved by the furore.
“I grew up in Bundoran and went to school in Bundoran,” he said.
“Stepping into these boys is nothing new for me. I played all my schools football with them.”
Orginially from Antrim, Brennan’s long-time girlfriend is Colleen Granaghan, daughter of former Donegal, Bundoran and St Joseph’s star Seamie Granaghan.
To that end, Gaelic Park felt like home rather than a home-from-home for Brennan.
“I made the decision a long time before it happened,” he said.
“I was at a point in my life where it was pull the plug time. I felt that I had more to offer as a player, but not with Leitrim or Melvin Gaels. I was drained out. I thought about taking a break, but boys were saying I might never go back.
“I love the game and I love this – I love Championship. When you see Championship day coming and the flags are flying, that’s what it’s all about.
Brennan adds considerable experience to Bundoran’s ranks.
Already, Brian Gavigan can call on Shane McGowan, who has turned out for Donegal in the past, while James Keaney got a run in the county squad under John Joe Doherty, and Jamie Brennan was one of the stars of the 2014 Donegal minor squad.
Bundoran topped a group that included Milford, Burt and Naomh Bríd to advance comfortably into the quarter-finals. From the outset, Bundoran entered the year as the firm favourites to collect the Cathal McLaughlin Cup.
“The way it was structured, we knew that we’d come out of the group,” Brennan said.
“We knew we’d make it through into the quarter-finals. As much as players didn’t like it, Brian structured the training so we weren’t flying for the first Championship game.
“We were preparing for this time of year, which is when you want to be at the top of your game.
“It was expected of us and it was so hard going into those games when people were expecting us to win by big scores. When you cross that line, the rub of a grass could win or lose you a game.
“The big difference between here and Leitrim is that all the teams can take something off other here, but in Leitrim you’d only have two or three.
“I also see a big difference in the structure of management, which has all filtered back to clubs from Donegal winning the All-Ireland in 2012. They’re lacking the interest in pushing on in Leitrim.”
Bundoran eked out a win, snatched by a last-ditch Jamie Brenann point, over old rivals Aodh Ruadh in the semi-final after getting over Naomh Bríd despite a below-par display in the quarter-final.
Bundoran dropped down to the Intermediate Championship last year having played four years of senior football since winning their last Intermediate crown in 2010.
“The quicker we get back into senior football and get playing the big teams again, the better,” Brennan said.
“It’s all about climbing the ladder.
“When you see the top teams like St Eunan’s, Naomh Conaill or Glenswilly, young people in those clubs see their boys reaching county finals and they look up to them.
“To bring cubs through, you have to be doing well at senior level and make sure the interest is kept up.”
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