He was discussing Cavan football in recent years and remarked: “Somebody said it's as ugly as Marty Morrissey, their football”.

“Maybe I should apologise to the people of Cavan,” he added immediately.

Brolly, or the production team, quickly realised the comment would not go down well and he backtracked at half-time.

“On the other thing, I just wanted to say obviously that what I said about Marty Morrissey earlier was said in the spirit of affection.” Brolly said. “It wasn't meant literally.”

The apology wasn’t enough to stop some viewers complaining about the insulting comment, particularly given Brolly had devoted a column in a national newspaper yesterday to highlighting the dangers of abusing people on the pitch.

Joe Brolly writes about Sledging in his column in the @IndoSport today & then insults both the Cavan team & Marty Morrissey.#Sundaygame #Gaa

— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) May 24, 2015

Bit harsh there from Joe Brolly saying Cavan football was as ugly as Marty Morrisey @TheSundayGame

— Michael O'Brien (@mob19961101) May 24, 2015

Cavan football as ugly as Marty Morrissey says Joe Brolly, the Dungiven George Clooney.

— Roy Curtis (@RoyCurtis68) May 24, 2015

But plenty more found the notoriously outspoken Derry man's comment highly amusing.

Haha Brolly..... "Cavan football is as ugly as Marty Morrisey"... Then apologies to the people of Cavan for the comparison!!

— Paddy Meagher (@p_meagher) May 24, 2015