Brendan Devenney is a former Irish sportsperson. Described as "", he played Gaelic football for Naomh Adhamhnáin and the Donegal county team. Described by RTÉ as one of his county's "one of the greatest players to have worn the Donegal jersey", Devenney was his county's "main marksman in the pre-McGuinness era". Devenney was a member of the Ireland international rules football team in 1998 and 2001. Educated at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny, Devenney also played soccer for League of Ireland club Finn Harps, as well as Limavady United and Portadown across the border. In retirement, Devenney remains involved with his local club, appears on media platforms such as Highland Radio and files a column for the Letterkenny Leader. He is also having to come to terms with Michael Murphy naming him on national television as his childhood hero. A shocked Devenney opened up on this revelation years later: "And that was back when Michael was already the fuckin' man! The fact that he has called me his hero is, probably, the most humbling thing that anyone has ever said to me". Devenney later said: "Has anyone's hero turned around and then been their hero? Because Michael would be mine. So it's come full circle".
Playing career
Devenney played for his school team, St Eunan's College.
Club
In the final of the 1999 Donegal Senior Football Championship, Devenney broke Martin McHugh's record by scoring 0–14 of his team's 1–19 to their opponents Aodh Ruadh's 1–11. Devenney punctured a lung while playing for his club against Clonoe of Tyrone in the Ulster Championship in 2008. He ignored his injury, sustained in the first half, and carried on until the end of the game—scoring four points and contributing to the decisive goal which won the game for his team—after which he was hospitalised. He also captained his club.
Inter-county
Devenney played senior while not having played underage. Devenney's debut against Cork in the National Football League quarter-final at Croke Park in March 1998 was nothing short of sensational: he scored 2–2. Declan Bonner gave Devenney his Championship debut in 1998. He played in his first Ulster Senior Football Championship final later that year, and though he lost, he received the man of the match award. He would play for League of Ireland soccer club Finn Harps and was involved in the 2001-02 relegation playoff, though did not take up an offer of a two-year contract in 2007. He had a decent game against Armagh in the 2004 Ulster final at Croke Park. Devenney played championship football until 2005. He came back in 2007. During this time he played association football in the north with Portadown. He often played alongside Adrian Sweeney for Donegal, and played a vital part in Donegal's winning of their first National League title in 2007, passing a late fitness test to play in the final against Mayo. However, he went off injured during the game, which Donegal won, and Kevin McMenamin replaced him. Devenney was held largely responsible for Donegal winning their 2007 Ulster Championship first round match against Armagh on Sunday 27 May 2007. He scored the vital last-minute goal that saw off the Orchard County by a single point, 1-09 to 1–08, at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey. However, he never won the Ulster Senior Football Championship during his career. Devenney confirmed his retirement from the top level of Gaelic football on 29 December 2009. Shortly after his departure Donegal won an All-Ireland Senior Football title in 2012. Devenney said, He spoke again in 2020 of the "dread" he experienced ahead of playing for Donegal against other Ulster teams.
International rules
Devenney represented Ireland with distinction against Australia, and was his country's leading scorer in the 2001 International Rules Series as Ireland romped to victory in Australia.
Nowadays
Devenney currently plays soccer for Gweedore United in the Donegal Junior Football League. He also coaches Naomh Adhamhnáin and does radio commentary for the BBC. He has been critical of the qualifiers the GAA have brought into the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, saying they have "diluted the Championship season a bit." He has also been involved in a national radio debate hosted by Marian Finucane on the topic of money.
''DL Debate''
On 10 February 2020, a weekly programme called DL Debate began airing on Highland Radio. It originated in discussion between Devenney and Oisín Kelly between games on a Sunday, with Devenney concluding that a Monday evening programme to discuss the weekend's fixtures was necessary. Devenney's guests on the first episode included John Haran, Colm Parkinson and Ciarán Whelan. Others in later episodes included Neil Gallagher, John Gildea, Enda McGinley and Rory Kavanagh.
