I don't think he is funny himself....but it can be funny at times watching how deranged he becomes when commenting on Derry. In my opinion he has such a blinkered view of his team that he looses the run of himself completely when asked to give his analysis of them. He's like the man utd or liverpool supporters that you'd see on a bar stool in any pub accross the country.

superfarney (Monaghan) - Posts: 260 - 12/06/2009 10:15:24    309180

In my opinion Brolly and Spillane should both be sacked. I put the TV on mute when they're on. Have to say I think O'Rourke is very fair and honest in everything he says. Heard a story about a letter that was posted and RECEIVED by Spillane. Apparently it was addressed to the following: Spillane The ****** Co. Kerry

derfil1 (Kildare) - Posts: 1612 - 12/06/2009 10:55:27    309207

Have to agree with patrique on this one. The likes of Brolly and Spillane are what makes the programme interesting. I wolud rather watch paint dry than listen to half of them.

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 12/06/2009 11:39:35    309261

When he makes a cutting comment against your county, like all people you become defensive. But i think he is a bit of a genius, almost too clever, but witty par excellence. I heard him on Drivetime last night and you can hear the programme yourself on RTE Drivetime Sport
If I was a Monaghan fan I would be unhappy that he pointed out other serious incidents involving their player which were viewable on the BBC master tape - unseen footage that was also used to get the Derry bans reduced. Lets remember also that Brolly didn't get the bans reduced, he just made an arguement which the GAA agreed with. If Monaghan believe Freeman should get his ban reduced, get Brolly involved, because if Freeman in inocent that Brolly will get him off.
Anyway, last night on Drivetime Des Cahill ends the piece by saying 'thank you Joe Brolly Queens Council' - quick as a flash Brolly comes back with 'Hold on, I don't swear allegience to the queen, she may be a lovely lady, but I won't be swearing to her." Priceless.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 480 - 12/06/2009 12:36:40    309332

Not a fan of Brolly but his final comment was priceless.

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 12/06/2009 12:43:12    309339

Good article in the Irish News today comparing Peter Canavan on TV3 with the boys on RTE. Basically said a pundit should be insightful, Canavan and the other pundits give good tactical analysis while Pat Spillane talks about Quinn's. Anyone with TV3 able to comment?

How did Des PC Joe's comments on Drivetime? Send it straight to commercial or try and laugh it off? Would've been nicer if it was on TV to see Des' face while the lawyers choke on their tea in his earpiece.

Benandonner (Antrim) - Posts: 459 - 12/06/2009 12:44:29    309341

he brings a bit of comedy which is always a good thing

rexbanner10 (Cavan) - Posts: 396 - 12/06/2009 12:55:52    309363

As a tyrone man i used to hate brolly when he was on the pitch But as a pundit i think the man is a genius!
Insightful and halarious!

Had the pleasure of being in sally o briens in omagh when there was a radio show broadcast live in the build up to last years final, brolly happened to be one of the pundits, very funny but yet predicted the game would go the way it actually ended up.

After a skinful we nearly had him wearing a super dooher t shirt! Mans a genius

dergboi (Tyrone) - Posts: 373 - 12/06/2009 14:24:07    309460

Brolly is a good laugh and knows what he is talking about (most the time).

With regards to defending his own , seriously, who wouldn't?

With regards to him being able to defend mass murderers, I liked the way he put his view on his job once in his column, referring to it as "Defending the innocent".

With regards to the whole Tyrone love in, I like to think he is building them up for a fall (sometime soon hopefully).

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 12/06/2009 16:59:22    309676

the fact that we are discussing him makes him effective

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 12/06/2009 17:22:47    309708

Its the same reason as why people tune in to see Dunphy and George Hook. Its because they are controversial. There are much more reasonable and politically correct people covering soccer and rugby on BBC/SKY but most people in Ireland prefer the lads they love to hate.

Most of the posters are probably too young to remember the time when there was a lot of wrestling on ITV and all the 'good ole boys' tuned in on Saturday afternoons and Wednesday nights to see the guys they hated (eg Mick McManus) get their comeuppance. But no one tuned in to see the good guys who did everything by the book.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 12/06/2009 20:47:22    309886

with Brolly, Spillane & O'Rourke, i think its a case of 'better the devil you know' when it comes to pundits. Yeah they all have there moments, but there is a certain comic value with Brolly & Spillane, with O'Rourke playing the straight role.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 12/06/2009 23:47:45    310050

They are all wind up merchants. It keeps everyone interested and entertained, and keeps RTE ratings up! If they over analyse things like Setanta Sports then it gets boring

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 13/06/2009 11:27:26    310163

His mum is a Tyrone woman, that might explain the 'Tyrone love in'. Or it might just be he respects the best team that the whole of Ireland has to offer.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 13/06/2009 14:02:43    310255

I have never liked him,derry this and derry that and them not even playing in the game he would be in the studio for.boring most of the time says the same auld rubbish nearly every game and still goes back to the line,"WHEN I PLAYED FOR DERRY" we did this and that,he had one good year playing for derry blew a few kisses at the crowd when he scored a goal that another players made for him,stood most of the time in the corner with his socks pulled up to hes knees talking to the man who was marking him,while magilligan bet all round him and tohill drove them to sam!! brolly as a footballer was just average!!

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 13/06/2009 14:05:23    310256

hardcore, would that be why he is in the possession more than a quarter of the total number of All Stars Monaghan possess as a whole? Neither of while were the year he won the All Ireland

SouthDerryGael (Derry) - Posts: 159 - 13/06/2009 18:49:29    310393

SouthDerryGael,

Why didnt you add the fact that he has 1/7th of the amount of Ulster titles that Monaghan has?
Another useless fact to add to your arguement.

Omen (Monaghan) - Posts: 205 - 13/06/2009 19:46:48    310425

Come on now, the Irish have always been well liked due to their upfront attitude, Brolly and Spillane make for good TV, and to be fair, they both have done enough in the game to deserve the mainstream audience.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 13/06/2009 20:41:38    310445

Brolly is a rare one out of the pundits on the Sunday Game but it is worth having him on for his bias towards Derry and other talk. On a related topic i notice some people dont like the Sunday Game panelists for match days(Spillane,Brolly, O'Rourke) because they make alot of negative comments. I think it is great that we have panelists who call it how they see it.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1661 - 14/06/2009 00:16:34    310565

Brolly is the best pundit by a mile in my opinion. Identifies the systems and tactics that teams are adopting easily. Great insight into the Ulster mindframe. Brilliant use of the english language. I could listen to him all day. Probably shouldn't be used when Derry are playing though.

Dan_Toal (Leitrim) - Posts: 244 - 14/06/2009 01:11:47    310589