The following year Justin managed St Brigid's GAA (Dublin), who was narrowly beaten in the 2007 Dublin County Final by St Vincent's who went on to win the All Ireland. In late 2009 he was appointed as an Armagh selector under the management of Paddy O'Rourke.[2]
In August 2010, after Seán Dempsey resigned as Laois manager, McNulty was appointed as his successor.[3][4] McNulty's first season proved a success as Laois gained promotion to the top tier of the National Football League, despite losing the league decider to Donegal.[5] McNulty left Laois in August 2013.[6]
While still an MLA, McNulty was reappointed as Laois manager in 2023.[7]
McNulty was elected to the 6th Northern Irish Assembly on 3 March 2017 for the SDLP. In the general election of 2017, McNulty saw his share of the vote drop to 16.9% Newry and Armagh with his Sinn Féin rivals vote increasing by 6.8%. In the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, McNulty's vote share fell further to 10.8%. The impact of independent candidate Gavin Malone standing in the election, appears to have both candidates fighting for the same share of the vote in the Newry area.[10]
On 3 February 2024, which saw the restoration of the Executive, McNulty left Stormont "without seeking permission" to attend a GAA match in County Wexford as the manager of the Laois football team. The SDLP subsequently suspended McNulty and he sat as an Independent Nationalist.[11] McNulty had the SDLP whip restored on 20 August 2024.[12]
