| Code: | Football |
| Sport: | Gaelic football |
| Brendan Sloan | |
| Irish: | Breandán Ó Sluáin |
| County: | Down |
| Province: | Ulster |
| Club: | Atticall |
| Clcounty: | 0 |
| Counties: | Down |
| Icposition: | Right corner-back |
| Icyears: | 1967–1978 |
| Icapps(Points): | 32 (0–00) |
| Icprovince: | 3 |
| Icallireland: | 1 |
| Nfl: | 1 |
| Birth Date: | 1948 |
| Birth Place: | Atticall, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Death Date: | 24 March 2016 (aged 67) |
| Death Place: | Atticall, County Down, Northern Ireland |
Brendan Sloan (1948 - 24 March 2016) was a Northern Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a right corner-back for the Down senior team.[1] [2] [3]
Born in Atticall, County Down, Sloan first played competitive Gaelic football in his youth. He became involved with the Atticall club at juvenile levels before eventually enjoying a lengthy career at senior level.
Sloan made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Down minor team in 1966. An All-Ireland runner-up in this grade, he subsequently joined the Down under-21 team. Sloan made his senior début during the 1967 championship. He went on to play a key role during a successful era, and won one All-Ireland medal, three Ulster medals and one National League medal.
Throughout his inter-county career Sloan made 32 championship appearances. He retired from inter-county football following the conclusion of the 1978 championship.
Sloan first played for Down as a member of the minor team in 1966. He won an Ulster medal that year following a 1–12 to 1–9 defeat of reigning All-Ireland champions Derry. On 25 September 1966, Down faced Mayo in the All-Ireland final. A goal by J. J. Timoney after 21 minutes gave Mayo a boost and they eventually secured a 1–12 to 1–8 defeat of Down.[4]
On 11 June 1967, Sloan made his senior championship début in a 3–9 to 1-10 Ulster quarter-final defeat of Derry.
Sloan enjoyed his first senior success in 1968. A 2–14 to 2–11 defeat of Kildare gave him a National Football League medal. Later that year, he won his first Ulster medal as Down defeated reigning champions Cavan by 0–16 to 1–8.[5] On 22 September 1968, Down faced Kerry in the All-Ireland final. Seán O'Neill got the inside of his boot to a rebounding ball for a Down goal after just 6 minutes. John Murphy struck for another following confusion in the Kerry goalmouth. Brendan Lynch's goal from a close-in free in the 59th minute came too late as Down secured a 2–12 to 1–13 victory and an All-Ireland medal for Sloan.[6]
In 1971 Sloan won a second Ulster medal following a 4–15 to 4–11 defeat of Derry.[7]
Sloan added a Dr McKenna Cup medal to his collection in 1972 following a 2–13 to 1–6 defeat of Derry.
After losing three successive Ulster finals between 1973 and 1975, Down experienced a resurgence in 1978 as Sloan was in the twilight of his career. A 2–19 to 2–12 defeat of Cavan gave him a third and final Ulster medal. He retired from inter-county football shortly after this victory.