JOE Brolly has reportedly joined the backroom coaching team of Mayo GAA club Knockmore.
Brolly has of course for decades made his feelings on Gaelic football clear through multiple punditry platforms.
But at the age of 55 he is taking once again taking on an official role at senior level, having previously only dabbled in coaching with Antrim and Belfast club St Brigid’s many moons ago.
Per The 42, the 1993 All-Ireland winner will be operating as ‘Head coach/selector’ on veteran boss Ray Dempsey’s staff.
In a previous stint with the club, Dempsey guided them to county crowns in 2020 and 2021.
Former Knockmore supremo Nigel Reape is quoted as saying in that piece: “He’s done bits and pieces and I’d say he will be a breath of fresh air. It’s a good coup for Ray.”
While he’s synonymous with Derry GAA, Knockmore have become his local club since marrying Mayo native Laurita Blewitt in 2022.
Brolly is said to be one member of a 15-strong backroom team for the county championship runners-up.
The club count current inter-county stars Colm Reape and Darren McHale among their ranks, while longtime Mayo half-forward Kevin McLoughlin is probably their most high-profile player.
The outspoken ex-RTE analyst has long been in the habit of ridiculing the modern trend of bloated backroom staffs at club as well as county level.
For instance, he mocked the extent of fellow former Sunday Game pundit Kevin McStay’s Mayo support staff when that became public knowledge in September 2022.
While retweeting an image of every person named on the ‘Mayo senior backroom team’, he sarcastically queried ‘No gynaecologist?’
So his surprise involvement will ensure far more eyeballs are glued to how the Ballina outfit far in the 2025 Mayo club championship.
Among the instant reaction to today’s news breaking, Antaine Lud O’Dochartaigh quipped on X: “Time to see if he can walk the walk…”
Similarly, Fionn Moules added: “My condolences to Knockmore GAA.”
Lastly, Damian Hagan expressed his surprise in blunt fashion, commenting: “Sweet holy f***!”
