The St John’s clubman returns for a 15th season with the Saffrons and insists he never contemplated retirement from county football despite recently becoming a father for the first time
The demands on county players seem to increase year-on-year and Paddy McBride openly admits his free time is severely limited with what he calls his three jobs.
A PE teacher at Belfast’s Coláiste Feirste, his partner Maeve gave birth to their first son Luca back in September. With all that being a father entails, few would have raised an eyebrow if the 32-year-old called time on his playing days with Antrim after 14 years of county service.
Yet, the notion of quitting never entered his head and he insists he is looking forward to the 2026 campaign with the Saffrons.
“This is my 15th season and I feel the best I’ve ever felt fitness-wise,” stated McBride.
“I feel like I’ve been at my peak in the last year or two. I’m 32, but I haven’t contemplated retirement.
“I’ve had a son for nearly 15 weeks now and people were thinking maybe things would change in terms of playing for Antrim?
“But Maeve’s brilliant, she’s very supportive of me going and training and stuff – that’s the hard part of it, is missing those two when you’re out of the house.”
He added: “I don’t know what I used to do with my time, I used to think I was really busy playing county football!
“I used to say it was like having two jobs, but now it’s three. To be honest, it’s given me an extra bit of a wee spring in my step when it comes to playing. I think I have an extra bit of something to play for now and I can’t wait to get at it.”
McBride’s enthusiasm isn’t diminished by the prospect of another season of Division Four after the Saffrons were relegated from the third tier in 2025.
They were last promoted from Division Four under Enda McGinley in 2021 and McBride knows that Antrim will need to battle for every point if they are to make a swift return to Division Three.
“Everybody thinks they are too good for Division Four,” said McBride.
“We’ll think that, Carlow will think that, Wicklow will think that – everyone’s aim is to get out of Division Four. To get promoted, you might need to win six games.
“You can’t slip up. Every game is like a Championship game. Every game is a dogfight. We’ve been in it that many times, we know what the score is. It is hectic to get out of it. You can think you are too good for it, but every team is going to be saying the same thing.
“It is just whoever wants it more, whoever prepares better, but it will be tough. I’m hopeful that we can get promoted – we’ll give it a good rattle anyway.”
