This week in our series getting the members of the Finn Harps first team we have local lad Joel Bradley-Walsh.
Signed ahead of this season, Bradley-Walsh is a graduate of the Harps Academy and also a skilled Gaelic footballer. He secured Harps’ draw vs Longford Town here two weeks ago. Ryan Brolly caught up with him ahead of Friday’s game.
You re-signed ahead of the 2025 season.
How have you found re-joining Harps and getting back into League of Ireland football?
It’s been very enjoyable, once the opportunity came along to return to Finn park it was no brainer for me.
The group of players we have and the staff are excellent so it makes it that bit easier to settle into.
It’s a very talented bunch so it keeps that little bit of competition for places every week which will only help everyone.
As a graduate of the Harps academy, what was your experience of going through the age groups before making your first team debut?
I had been signed by Declan Boyle in 2017 from my local club of Cappry Rovers as a winger, funny enough.
As the training began under Declan I was slowly moved back to a defender which I was really enjoying.
Declan played beside my uncle Shane at centre-back so I think he was just reminiscing about the good old days, but where credit is due the u17 season was the best season of football I have ever had. We were lucky enough to win both the Cup and the league that year.
As a reward for the silverware Ollie Horgan invited a number of us up for training the next pre-season which gave us all a real taste of what it would feel like to graduate from the academy and represent the first team.
From then on I didn’t look back. I had 2 more years and u19 level one year managed by Joe Boyle and the second season under Tommy Canning in which were incredibly unlucky in both seasons not to go on and win more silverware.
The second season under Tommy I felt like I had matured a lot from being in the presence of the first team which spurred me on.
I made my first team debut that year in St Pats although the result wasn’t the best, the feeling I had after the game is even still hard to explain but I kept pushing myself for more which rewarded me with a first team contract and that was the real moment I looked back and thought this was really worth the hard work.
I really hope there’s loads more to follow as it’s great to see that the talent is there and it’s local.
For anyone who plays in the academy or is parenting a kid in the academy it’s so important that the goal is to improve each day.
On the topic of the youth set-up, what is it like to play in one of the younger teams in the division who have a lot of academy graduates in the squad?
It’s extremely positive to see it, nothing better than seeing players progress and improve, the people the young boys have to learn from whether it be staff or players in that changing room is second to none.
We have a mix of players who are well into their career and have seen it all to players who are only starting off I have to say the young boy’s attitudes are really good and we are all really close as a group also so the mix of young players and seasoned players is great which will only improve them even more.
They aren’t there because of luck, they are there from their hard work and dedication to improve.
The hard work doesn’t go unnoticed by coaches, I mean the amount of academy graduates in the past number of years is incredible and we are definitely one of the youngest teams in the league.
So let the graduates of recent years be an advertisement to the next ones coming through.
What was it like to score the late equaliser against Longford in such dramatic fashion in front of the Ballybofey crowd?
The best feeling ever without a doubt having my whole family there too made it even more special. I even said to Tommy Canning heading up to the changing room after the game that I waited 24 years for that. I got a few question marks over the celebration but just to clarify I wanted more than just that equaliser.
Lots of footballers like yourself also have a passion for Gaelic football. Are there any skills you have picked up from playing GAA that you can apply to football to help your game?
Yes the games may seem a lot different to watch but when you are playing both or have played both there are so many similarities to the way a game plan must go in order to perform the best and get the victory.
Even outside of the bubble the way you have to look after your body after training/before games especially is one thing that stood out for me.
Both demand the best possible version of you each day you play, you are also representing the people who support you and the place you are from in both sports which I don’t take lightly.
There is 100% a massive link and crossover in tactics and game plans between Gaelic and soccer.
I see it very often now especially with the standard in both sports being so high.
Every little detail and all the 1% is what we chase every day. I have been incredibly lucky with teams and managers I have been involved in and coached by and the learnings I have taken from both have definitely improved me on and definitely off the pitch.
What is your favourite series that you’re currently watching or one that you’ve recently watched that people should have a look at?
Since it was masters week last week , I really enjoyed the show Full Swing on Netflix. It’s a real insight into a golfer’s life and behind the scenes, since they are at the top of their game it’s interesting to see if I can take anything from their routines or habits.
And finally, who is the best player you have played with or against in your career so far?
I dreaded this question, the list is long to be honest , one bad memory was training with seniors when I was u17 and Paddy McCourt was a joke. I don’t think I touched the ball once. I’m still not over it.
Best is hard to single out and not being biased Celtic fan but I’ll give it to
Adam Idah as he scored 5 goals that day so I think he deserves this one.
Honourable mentions with :
Paddy McCourt
Barry McNamee
Johnny Dunleavy
Oisin Gallen
Micheal Murphy
Shaun Patton