Multiple reports on Monday afternoon say that Naas GAA Club have reversed their decision to appoint Rory Gallagher as a coach for their senior men's football team amid a sizable backlash on social media.
The Leinster Leader first reported on Saturday that the former Derry manager was set to be appointed as a coach with manager Joe Murphy, who himself was re-appointed this weekend for the 2025 club campaign.
The news sparked a notable backlash on social media on Sunday, with calls to boycott the club from some quarters.
Gallagher resigned as Derry manager on the eve of the 2023 Ulster final after his former wife made serious allegations of abuse against him.
In September of that year, the Fermanagh man was subject to a 'temporary barring order' as a coach while an investigation was carried out and last February, the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority gave him the all-clear to coach again.
Since leaving the Derry job, Gallagher had worked as a coach with Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney for the Corduff club in Monaghan.
He was linked with a return to the Derry coaching set-up following Mickey Harte's exit last July. Ultimately Paddy Tally was given the position.
Backlash in Naas to the Rory Gallagher appointment
The comments under Naas's announcement that Murphy had been reappointed give a sense of the reaction to the news from some.
One commenter wrote: "Is it true Rory Gallagher will be a coach? If so that's a terrible decision and must be upsetting for the female members of the club and I'm sure the majority of the males in the club too."
The news of Naas's reversal was first reported by Tommy Callaghan of the Leinster Leinster on Monday.
John Fogarty of the Irish Examiner meanwhile reported that GAA HQ had contacted Naas over the weekend about the potential appointment.
Naas have established themselves as the leading club in Kildare over the past decade, having won four consecutive Kildare SFC titles.
