Bubbles O'Dwyer Says Marty Morrissey & RTÉ Forced An Apology Over All-Ireland Interview

When it comes to post-match interviews in the GAA, there is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing a player accidentally curse live on television after a big win.

It always leads to a sudden moment of realisation as to what they've just said, as well as an apology from the broadcaster. Of course, nobody watching at home is actually offended by the language that is used, but broadcasting regulations state that it must be done.

While GAA fans can just about tolerate an on-air apology in such circumstances, it seems that broadcasters go above and beyond what is required on occasion.

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Tipperary's John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer has long been thought of as one of the best characters in the GAA, with his interview after the county's 2016 All-Ireland triumph a prime example as to why.

On that occasion, he would scream 'we're the champions of f*****g Ireland' during a brilliant post-match interview.

While supporters in Croke Park and around the country would have thoroughly enjoyed his comments, they actually landed him in a bit of hot water with RTÉ.

Speaking on talkSPORT Ireland, O'Dwyer would recall how he was coerced into giving an on-air apology to the national broadcaster when being interviewed by the national broadcaster from Crumlin Hospital the following morning.

I got absolutely scaled for it like in 2016. After winning the All-Ireland, a microphone and camera up into my face 30 seconds after, and I said 'we're the champions of fucking Ireland'.

I had to do a live apology on RTÉ from Crumlin Hospital the next morning. I thought I would have to go to the President to make an apology!

Swear to god. I remember afterwards, I brushed it off. You go out and celebrate your All-Ireland.

The next morning, county delegates with Marty Morrissey come up and go 'RTÉ are looking for you to do an apology'. I'm just like 'right, yeah okay, if you just leave me alone, I'll do it'.

People are saying there is no characters in the GAA and stuff like this. A lad goes off and he says something, you might call it a slip of the tongue or whatever. Leave it be.

That certainly seems like a very over-the-top approach from RTÉ, especially when you consider that there was likely to be very few offended by the Tipp man's words on the day.

As O'Dwyer points out, reactions such as that one will do nothing to encourage the emergence of genuine characters within the GAA.