Northern Ireland

'Anyone a spare ticket?' GAA pundit Joe Brolly reacts to RTÉ snub

GAA pundit Joe Brolly, and inset, how The Irish News reported on his omission from RTÉ's coverage
GAA pundit Joe Brolly, and inset, how The Irish News reported on his omission from RTÉ's coverage GAA pundit Joe Brolly, and inset, how The Irish News reported on his omission from RTÉ's coverage

JOE Brolly joked about needing a spare ticket for the All-Ireland final replay as GAA fans reacted to his omission from the RTÉ commentary team.

"If anyone has a spare ticket for the replay, I've just been let down," he posted yesterday on Twitter – prompting a flurry of responses from GAA supporters.

Brolly's RTÉ career is over following his omission from the punditry team for this weekend's coverage of the replay between Dublin and Kerry, The Irish News understands.

It is understood that despite remaining under contract with the national broadcaster, the country's most high-profile sports pundit will not be returning to the screen.

Joe Brolly on Sean Cavanagh

When contacted yesterday, Brolly deliberated for some time over whether to comment on the matter, but eventually declined to speak publicly.

"I better not say anything," the usually outspoken Dungiven man said.

The 1993 All-Ireland winning Derry forward has been a regular fixture on both The Sunday Game's live show and highlights programme for almost two decades.

However, on Saturday he will be replaced by Donegal coach Stephen Rochford.

Brolly's tweet following his omission from the RTÉ punditry panel received a raft of responses from other Twitter users.

Joe Brolly insults Marty Morrissey

Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes tweeted: "If there's two floating about I'll go with you Joe."

One Twitter user described Brolly's absence from the panel as a "moronic decision", while another said: "The treatment you're getting is a disgrace Joe if you ask me."

Others were more supportive of RTÉ's decision while some joked that Brolly – a fervent critic of the GAA's deal with Sky Sports – could move to the subscription-based broadcaster.

Brolly also shared online a post by impressionist Oliver Callan, who had tweeted a video of the GAA pundit.

"Worth watching to understand just how nuts RTÉ's decision is to drop Joe Brolly from the All-Ireland final replay coverage. Entertaining and fearless #FreeJoeBrolly," Callan tweeted.

In light of the decision, soccer pundit Eamon Dunphy said he was concerned about a "trend in punditry" that "forthright and honest appraisal of what is going on in a match is not so welcome anymore".

"Instead, there seems to be a growing tendency for panellists to 'keep the peace' when it comes to making observations," he said.

Brolly has been involved in several controversies in recent years, with the latest coming during the final between Dublin and Kerry.

In his half-time comments on The Sunday Game, Brolly said referee David Gough "must have been clearly influenced by the propaganda coming from Kerry" in his decision to send off Dublin defender Jonny Cooper.

Brolly revealed that he contacted Gough last week to apologise. It is understood the incident was not related to his time on RTÉ coming to an end.

An RTÉ spokesperson said: "Joe remains under an RTÉ contract and we can't comment beyond that."