Joe Brolly has aired his stern opposition to Paddy Tally’s appointment as Derry manager - claiming the county had “traded away” the chance to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in choosing the Tyrone man.
Tally was confirmed as the new leader of the Oak Leafers last week, bringing a four-month search for Mickey Harte’s successor to a belated close ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Ex-Derry forward Brolly was strongly opposed to Harte’s position as manager throughout his solitary season in charge of the county, and it appears his ire won’t be eased as Derry look to turn over a new leaf.
Welcome to our new Senior Football Manager, Paddy Tally! 💪
📷 Margaret McLaughlin pic.twitter.com/pNRBMLPCDj
— Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) November 15, 2024
Having won the National league under Harte, Derry badly capitulated as anticipation around the team grew heading into the cut and thrust of championship action.
Two losses out of three in the All-Ireland group stage put their season on ice before they eventually scraped through to the last eight via a preliminary quarter-final win on penalties against Mayo.
An All-Ireland quarter-final loss against Kerry ended hopes of a revival at the business end of the year, and Harte departed soon after – much to Brolly’s relief.
However, the ex-RTÉ GAA pundit hasn’t been soothed by the succession plan.
He claimed the Derry County Board were “not easily humiliated” as he questioned the appointment of “weak link” Tally – who he said ought to have “more self-respect."
"They [Derry] have now hired Tyrone man Paddy Tally, a journeyman manager who coached with Mickey Harte until they parted ways in 2004," Brolly wrote in the Irish Independent.
"He was unveiled at a press conference in the same manner as a soccer team’s new striker, wearing his Derry tracksuit, swearing loyalty to us until another job comes along.
"Maybe Offaly after Mickey Harte moves to Carlow (maybe they’ll throw in a Mercedes to sweeten the deal) or Leitrim (assuming Mickey Graham doesn’t change his mind again).
"The essential component in sport, and in life, is loyalty. In the sacred crusade for Sam Maguire these Derry players want to embark on, Tally, like Harte before him, is the weak link.
"I have nothing against Paddy Tally, but he should have more self-respect.
"The Derry board has traded away any hope of an All-Ireland. More importantly, they have traded away our honour and integrity, and without that, Gaelic football is as soulless as soccer."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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