There was huge interest in the weekend's gaelic football games at Croke Park. The best players and some of the best coaches were putting the FRC's proposed new gaelic football rules to the test. One interesting, if seemingly minor, subplot from the weekend was the presence of Mickey Graham on Pádraic Joyce's coaching ticket for Connacht.
Graham joined Kevin McStay, Davy Burke and Galway coach John Concannon in Joyce's backroom team for the interpro series.
He can be seen third from back on the below photo.
19 October 2024; Connacht manager Pádraic Joyce during the Allianz GAA Football Interprovincial Championship Final match between Connacht and Ulster at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Little had been heard from Graham since he stepped down as Leitrim manager, citing "circumstances beyond his control", on 8 October.
It was one of the shortest-lived managerial reigns in intercounty history. Graham had been appointed as Andy Moran's replacement in early August.
Reports in Leitrim say Graham will join Galway
It's been quite a hectic few months on the GAA coaching carousel - it was announced in early September that highly-respected coach Cian O'Neill would be again linking up with the Kerry senior team.
O'Neill had been very successful with Joyce's Galway side for the past three seasons and his departure seemed to catch Galway off guard.
Joyce told media ahead of last weekend's games that O'Neill's departure had taken the Galway team by surprise, and said he'd expected next year would be O'Neill's last year with Galway.
There are reports today that suggest O'Neill's unexpected departure might have had a knock-on consequence for Leitrim.
It's been reported in Leitrim that Graham will be joining Pádraic Joyce's coaching ticket with Galway next season. John Connolly, sports editor of the paper, wrote on Tuesday that:
"the Leitrim Observer has learned that the appointment of Graham to Joyce’s management team will be confirmed in the coming days, a move that is sure to spark controversy among Leitrim supporters."
Leitrim great Emlyn Mulligan tweeted his two cents on the situation this evening and declared 'good riddance' to Graham.
Firstly, letting Andy Moran leave was the biggest mistake the county board could have made.
Then not advertising the job and having this mentality of ‘Mickey or no one’ has really shot them in the foot.
Huge set back but good riddance to him. Our players deserve better🟢🟡— Emlyn Mulligan (@emlynmulligan) October 22, 2024
Graham has built a hugely-respected coaching CV in gaelic football, leading Mullinalaghata of Longford to a Leinster title in 2018 and Cavan to an Ulster title in 2020.
Galway GAA have been contacted about this report.
