Pat Spillane has never been one to shy away from an opinion, forging his reputation as a top GAA pundit on RTÉ's The Sunday Game for decades.
A few years have passed since the Kerry GAA legend parted ways with the national broadcaster, although he remains a prominent voice in the sport.
Now a columnist, Spillane has not held back in his scrutiny of the GAA programme which he believes has become increasingly analytical in recent years.
The nature of the programme has changed from what is used to be when the 'Three Amigos' - Spillane, Joe Brolly, Colm O'Rourke - and host Michael Lyster were on the broadcast.
2 September 2018; RTÉ Sunday Game presenter Michael Lyster, right, with panalists, from left, Colm O'Rourke, Joe Brolly and Pat Spillane ahead of Lyster's final Sunday Game broadcast prior to the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Dublin and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
In February, Spillane took aim at RTÉ for being 'too PC' with its punditry on the GAA show, indicating that its entertainment value had suffered.
Now he has added to his theory on why be believes the show is in decline, highlighting RTÉ's coverage of rugby as a contributing factor.
Pat Spillane claims Sunday Game suffering due to RTE prioritising rugby
Writing in his column for The Sunday World, Spillane shared his view that coverage of the United Rugby Championship - which he labels a 'second-tier' competition - has taken priority over the Sunday Game.
Right now, the URC, a second-tier rugby competition, is taking precedence over the GAA championship," he wrote.
"For example, on the day of the box-office Ulster SFC clash between Derry and Donegal, RTÉ were also showing two URC games from South Africa.
"As a result, the live coverage from Celtic Park began five minutes before throw-in. There was no time for a meaningful build-up.
"Last weekend was no different. There was no GAA championship match live on RTÉ on Saturday evening, but the station did show a live URC game involving Connacht later in the evening.
"Next month, one of the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals will start at 1.15. Why? RTÉ are showing the semi-finals of the URC later that day."
It is worth noting that Saturday's box office Munster Senior Hurling Championship clash between Cork and Limerick (2pm) will be behind the GAAGO paywall, with RTÉ instead set to show the URC meeting between Munster and Connacht (12.15pm).
While interpro fixtures are popular dates on the Irish rugby calendar, GAA fans will be displeased to know that they will have to pay to view Limerick vs Cork live.
