RTE have released a statement following the "inappropriate" comments made by pundit Joe Brolly about RTE colleague Marty Morrissey last Sunday.

The former Derry player opened the channel's coverage of the Ulster championship tie between Cavan and Monaghan by comparing the ugliness of the "black death" of Ulster football (Cavan) with experienced GAA Correspondent Morrissey.

“Somebody said it’s as ugly as Marty Morrissey, their football... maybe I should apologise to the people of Cavan,” said the controversial Brolly.

The comments caused an angry reaction on social media, leading to Brolly apologising during the half-time interval. Well kind of;

“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.”

On Wednesday afternoon RTE’s head of sport, Ryle Nugent said in a social media-released statement that “Joe has spoken at length with and offered a heartfelt apology to Marty Morrissey which was graciously accepted.

“I have spoken with Joe about the comments he made on last weekend’s Sunday Game Live broadcast. Joe is acutely aware that his ill-conceived attempt at humour was both inappropriate and extremely hurtful and had no place in any broadcast.”

RTE also added that they would not accept any repeat of such behaviour from the former All-Ireland winner who has in the past aggravated numerous players and coaches with his comments. Yet nothing to the same extent as last weekend’s unprompted remark.

“Joe is fully cognisant of the fact that similar comments in any future broadcast cannot and will not be tolerated.

“All parties now consider this matter closed,” the statement concluded.

The Irish Times' Jim McGuinness referred to the creaking standards of RTE's Sunday Game coverage as becoming "more crass than class", talking in his column this week.

Morrissey himself has yet to comment on the incident.