Joe Brolly Says Jim McGuinness Still Owes Him A Pint For Role In 2012 Donegal Triumph

Joe Brolly claims that Jim McGuinness still owes him a pint for an unexpected role he played in Donegal's All-Ireland triumph of 2012.

Brolly was in the news this week, after Kerry admitted they used a pointed article of his as motivation before their quarter-final demolition of Armagh.

Ahead of the game, Brolly had said that he did not feel this Kerry team was fitting of the iconic name, saying that David Clifford was the only man who lived up to the green and gold jersey.

His column was referenced by Jack O'Connor in the post-match interviews, with the Kerry manager saying that the team were not only aware of the article but had used it as direct motivation.

Brolly nonetheless has no regrets about that article, and joked on his podcast Free State on Friday that he wanted to be thanked by Kerry should the kingdom go on to win Sam Maguire.

As he discussed the fallout with Dion Fanning, Brolly said that he would like to see a "Thank you, Joe" banner on the Kerry open top bus if they go all the way to All-Ireland glory.

The outspoken pundit went on to reveal that, in a similar vein, he was promised a pint by Donegal manager Jim McGuinness after he indirectly helped them win the 2012 All-Ireland final. It is a pint Brolly is still waiting for.

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On Free State this week, Joe Brolly revealed the Donegal camp had thanked him after comments he made about Mayo in the build-up to the 2012 All-Ireland final.

Joe doesn't ask for a lot - just a nice, tasteful acknowledgement on the side of the Kerry team bus if they win the All Ireland this year. Oh, and that pint that Jim McGuinness owes him for causing Mayo's downfall in the 2012 final.#FreeState pic.twitter.com/gXra6bG8ZN

— Free State with Joe Brolly & Dion Fanning (@freestateirl) July 4, 2025

Specifically, Brolly had called out the cynical fouling of Mayo in their semi-final against Dublin, a rant that occurred on national radio with Pat Kenny.

Such was its reach that even referees chief Pat McEnaney got in touch, and Brolly admitted he had received a note of thanks from Jim McGuinness after Mayo's fouling was snuffed out by the officials.

Maybe I'll do Jimmy McGuinness a turn, maybe I'll do Donegal a turn.

After all, let me just remind listeners - but the 2012 final, who was it who set the ball rolling on Mayo's cynical fouling?

I got on Pat Kenny on the Wednesday morning - "25 times they pulled down a Dublin player in the semi-final. It was missed in the euphoria of their victory and if they're allowed to persist with this - it's clearly systematic - they will beat Donegal because Donegal will be disrupted and not be able to find any rhythm."

Big challenge for the officials. We'd six minutes on Pat Kenny.

I was no sooner off Pat Kenny than I got a phone call from Pat McEnaney, the famous referee, who was head of the referees' association.

He goes, 'Bud, Jaysis we hadn't noticed that. I'm having a look at that video now, I'll be telling the boys about that.'

First two pull-downs? Yellow card, yellow card. The rest is history.

Jimmy McGuinness did say, 'I owe you a pint.' Which I never got!

A quick glance at the 2012 final shows Brolly's recollection to be correct, with both Jason Doherty and Lee Keegan yellow-carded within the first five minutes due to cynical fouls.

It could well be Kerry or Donegal climbing the Hogan Stand steps come the end of the month - they could yet play each other in the final.

If either team go all the way, Joe Brolly will be expecting his flowers.