After Trent Alexander Arnold's injury versus Arsenal many Liverpool fans would be forgiven for fearing the worst, already missing the likes Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andrew Robertson.
With Joe Gomez deputising at left back an opportunity arose at right back and that has been grasped by Tyrone's Conor Bradley. After impressing in a cameo against Arsenal and the full 90 in the Carabao Cup versus Fulham, Bradley made his Premier league debut against Bournemouth on Sunday putting in a fine display even registering an assist for Diogo Jota.
Former Underage Coach Anthony Devine Heaps Praise on the Liverpool Youngster
Last week we spoke with one of Bradley's former coaches Anthony Devine. Devine, however coached the budding Liverpool star at under 14 level with Aghyaran St.Davog's GAA club and even in Gaelic football Bradley's ability was apparent.
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"Ah ya, Conor first played for Aghyaran in the mid 2008 Conor was born in 2003. So I was there along with a few other coaches and it was evident early on the ability he had ya know. He'd a great enthusiasm and nothing was a bother to Conor he just seemed to (have) boundless energy and you can see that even today that's why Klopp has taken to him so well. He just loved football, he loved training and he loved trying to get better."
Conor Bradley made his Premier League debut for Liverpool on Sunday.
We spoke to Anthony Devine, his U14 coach with @AghyaranGFC about Conor's GAA roots in Tyrone. Interestingly, Liverpool were very encouraging of Conor playing GAA. pic.twitter.com/E2ghQUo3S0— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 22, 2024
Aghyaran GAA, a relatively small club in west Tyrone is perhaps best known for being the club of Ronan McNamee who was part of the 2021 All Ireland winning side. Bradley joined Liverpool in 2019 at the age of 16 but Liverpool's scouting department had recognised his talents previously. However, not exclusively through association football.
"Just when Liverpool first came to see him Liverpool actually encouraged him to play Gaelic football.... They were very supportive of the small club and us in particular so they encouraged him to keep playing with his friends until things improved for him..... They actually first came to see him at an under 14 game up in Loughmacrory. I was managing them and it was his mother told me they were coming and they watched him and that's really what set the spark. He was very very good for us that day and they liked what they seen. From that day on he didn't play much after that."
Devine recounts of the full backs formative years in Tyrone and that "he was the chat of the county at that time". Despite his meteoric rise Bradley has never forgotten his roots.
"Conor never lost where he came from. He's still an Aghyaran man through and through."
Premier League debut nerves?
Not for Conor Bradley, who gets an assist in a standout performance 👏 pic.twitter.com/2EK4ITPM8u— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 21, 2024
It is yet to be seen whether Bradley remains a permanent fixture in this Liverpool side with other key players returning in the coming weeks. However, one things for sure is that he's beginning to showcase the talent seen by Devine in his Aghyaran days at an elite level. When asked if there was any surprise to Bradley's breakout in this Liverpool team Devine had this to say
"Not one bit. Conor ya know, he's an outstanding player he always was, he gave everything when he was on the field. Off the field it was the same he treated himself well and its no surprise to me Jurgen Klopp's taken to him. He just wants to get better."
SEE ALSO: Diogo Jota Couldn’t Resist Playful Dig At Conor Bradley After His Debut Assist
