ARMAGH MANAGER PAUL Grimley has hit back at the criticism of him by RTE pundit Joe Brolly and described the former Derry player as ‘not an analyst, he’s an entertainer’.
Grimley was heavily criticized by Brolly after Armagh suffered an Ulster preliminary round championship defeat to Cavan in May.
But after the Orchard County bounced back with a comprehensive victory in yesterday’s All-Ireland round one qualifier clash against Wicklow, Grimley responded to Brolly’s criticism.
Speaking on The Sunday Game last night, Grimley likened Brolly to ‘a child in the school yard (trying) to be popular at making fun of other people’.
“I think whenever your a pundit on TV, or whether you’re an expert pundit as I would class Colm O’Rourke because he’s been a manager and a footballer.
“But somebody like Brolly who criticizes managers and hasn’t worn them shoes, he’s not an analyst, he’s an entertainer.
“He thinks that he can be popular, like a child in the school yard (trying) to be popular at making fun of other people. But the time will come when he has to stand by them remarks again.”
Speaking to BBC after the game, Grimley insisted he had no problem with criticism as long as it is constructive.
“About the criticism, it is par for the course now. But the thing I find about the criticism is that as long as it’s constructive and it makes sense, it’s fine.
“When it becomes personal and insulting and mocking and potentially done to make fun of somebody, that’s a different story.
“That’s something I don’t think any manager or any player should have to accept in any shape or form.”
Armagh ran out victors by 2-21 to 0-2 yesterday in the Athletic Grounds and will now travel to Carrick-on-Shannon to face Leitrim in the next round of the qualifiers after this morning’s draw.
