Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Jamie going ‘hell for leather’
JAMIE BRENNAN is finally comfortable in his own skin as a Donegal senior footballer.
Coming into a star-studded dressing room as a promising Ulster-winning minor and U21 forward, it took time to learn the wily ways of senior football and feel he belonged in a brilliant full-forward line alongside Paddy Mcbrearty and Michael Murphy.
“I suppose that doesn’t happen overnight but I’ve been part of the senior panel for three or four years now and I’ve settled in a bit more. It takes time,” admits the lightning quick Bundoran flier (inset).
“Those guys winning an All-ireland was a great platform for us as underage players. We were all at the match (in 2012) and then we were in a minor All-ireland final (in 2014) when they were in another senior final.
“You see a winning side like that and you want to be a part of it.”
Opposition defences have been conditioned over the years to having to shackle the deadly duo of Murphy and Mcbrearty, but Brennan – who kicked 2-7 from play in the Ulster Championship wins over Tyrone and Cavan – will have Donegal’s Super 8s rivals on high alert.
“A lot of eyes are on Patrick and Michael so I might get a wee bit more space. Having
Patrick fit again after nearly a year is a great lift again. We’re trying to build a partnership.” Brennan is so dangerous because he loves to take his man on, something he was always told at club level with free-spirited Bundoran. “It’s a matter of eyeing up the defender, seeing what side they’re leaning to and trying to find a wee bit of space.
“I like to play it as I see it, but taking on the man isn’t always the best option!
“Look at the Fermanagh game. If you went to take the man on, you’d end up being gobbled up and getting turned over. It’s just awareness. I’ve developed that. “When I came in first, in the semi-final against Tyrone, I went into contact early and got turned over. I was hooked at half-time.
“Division One last year was the same against the top teams but the extra work I’ve been doing is the stepping stone to success.”
Brennan, 23, has just finished his studies at Sligo IT with a degree in nutrition and is still weighing up what the next step in his career will be. On the field, he’s a lot more sure-footed, having bulked up to cope with the rigours of senior football. But not too much that it could weaken his biggest asset – speed. “I made sure of that,” he smiles.
“Once they showed me the mechanics and science, maybe I’ve actually gained a bit of pace if anything.
“It’s been a great Ulster campaign and the Super 8s are a new chapter and we’ll go hell for leather at them.”