THE harsher realities of life presently mean that Tyrone sharpshooter 
Mark Bradley appreciates that sticking a ball in the back of the net 
or over the bar isn’t the be all and end all right now.

After a year’s sabbatical from the county senior-set-up the
Killyclogher ace was looking forward to a return to centre stage in
2020.

That might still occur of course once the world manages to eventually
curtail the Covid-19 pandemic which has wrestled a vice-like grip on
of all our lives.

Like millions of people across the globe the primary school teacher is
currently entrenched at his home base, though because he is still
seeking to nail down permanent employment (he was subbing at both St
Mary’s PS Killyclogher, and St Mary’s PS Pomeroy this past academic
year) he has a lot of spare time on his hands at the minute.

“There’s been nothing permanent as of yet, so I’m just going week to
week. Normally you would know a month in advance, as schools would
have you booked.

“ have been quite lucky, I have got an awful lot of work since I have
qualified, with at least four days a week right through.

“I’m not doing remote teaching, as I do not have a permanent class
under my responsibility. If I had been in a school long-term I would
have been doing that.”

There is also a financial knock-on impact too for the talented
attacker, with no safety net in place in terms of a regular salary at
the minute, though Mark is hopeful that steps can be taken to address
issues confronting temporary teaching staff across the country.

“It will be September or October by the time the next pay cheque comes
in, so it’s a long stint without income.

“But looking at e-mails from the teachers union, there’s a possibility
that the board might give us an average of what we would have worked.

“That would be great, if we were to get an average based on the
previous month’s work. But that’s not guaranteed, that’s just in a
letter written to the Minister of Education recently.

“For the time being, there’s no income, and there’s quite a few people
in the same situation.

“And when you can’t work from home, and you can’t go out of the house,
there’s no way of earning, but that’s obviously not the most important
thing right now.

“But I suppose I’m lucky in that my expenditure isn’t that high. I’m
living at home, so I don’t have a house or mortgage to worry about. It
could be a lot worse.”

Bradley opted out of the Tyrone set-up last season, studying for a
teaching qualification in Liverpool, before spending last summer in
Boston.

He has returned to the fray this year, though like all his county
colleagues his training schedule has been disrupted in recent weeks.
Mark is philosophical about the situation, adding that he is able to
keep himself ticking over at home.

“We have got our set programme sent out to us, it’s mainly about
running, and if you can get some gym equipment to work on.

“A lot of people don’t have the gym equipment at their house, but
fitness shouldn’t really be a problem, for you can run as much as you
can, and that’s a silver lining.

“I have enough equipment, it’s not a complete gym, but it’s enough to
get me by. It covers the basics, and then I’m surrounded by fields, so
there’s no lack of running space here.

“And everyone has a ball, so you would expect to see the skills level
of everyone increase.”

He admits though that the cessation in all GAA activity has stymied
his hopes of building up some momentum and a competitive edge after so
long away from top flight action.

“ I have been quite unfortunate, because I have got quite a few
niggles. I think it may be because the intensity levels while I was in
Liverpool went quite low, and then I came back in, and although you
feel refreshed, the intensity spikes through the roof again.

“ I have been hit with these niggly injuries, but now there’s plenty
of time for everybody with those injuries to get them sorted and
cleared up.”

Bradley acknowledges that he is presently missing the camaraderie and
enjoyment which comes from being part of a team set-up, whether with
club or county.

“No-one knows when this whole fiasco will finish, so it’s a case of
getting from day to day at the minute. It’s extremely strange to have
seven nights of the week where you have nothing to do.

“We’re so used to four or five nights a week dedicated to that, and
you absolutely miss it.

“There’s times when you get home from work and you’re a wee bit tired,
and you find it hard enough to motivate yourself, but when you’re
there, it’s great. You miss seeing everyone, you miss training.”

And Mark stressed that once the country eventually emerges from the
fatal disease gripping it right now, then Gaelic Games would be
appreciated more than ever.

“Before all this, there was so much complaining about the GAA and
where it was going. But I think now, when this is all over, people
will really appreciate it for what it is.

“Last Sunday was supposed to be the start of the League in Tyrone, and
for some people, that’s their life, that’s all they have to look
forward to. But there will be brighter days ahead, it will come
around, eventually.”