Joe Brolly was not surprised to see his "great friend" and former colleague Des Cahill step down from his role on The Sunday Game.
Cahill announced on Monday that he he had made the decision because he wants to be able to attend live games again, revealing he will now work on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTE Radio 1.
He said in a statement: "The reason I want a change is very straightforward - I want to go to live games again!
READ MORE: Des Cahill leaves The Sunday Game after 15 years on RTE's GAA show
"It's been a privilege to host The Sunday Game for the past 15 seasons, but I miss the sense of fun and anticipation as you make your way to a match, the feeling of tension and excitement, the roar of the crowd.
"I can't wait to experience that again when I'm fronting Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport live from some of the most iconic venues in the country".
He continued: "I'm hugely grateful and in debt to the fantastic team on The Sunday Game, who work so hard to bring the programme to air every week throughout the Championship.
"I've no doubt that their passion and commitment to deliver for the audience will continue in the seasons ahead with a new presenter in the hot seat."
Highlighting an interview Cahill did during the summer, in which he said he used to enjoy working on The Sunday Game "a lot more", Brolly stated he believed this was "the beginning of the end for him".
Brolly tweeted: “I think this interview my great friend Des gave to Vincent Hogan was the beginning of the end for him.
“He talked of the fact the laughter and fun had gone. The spontaneity. The enjoyment. The robotification of analysis. Under the new head of sport, everyone has now gone.”
RTE said that Joanne Cantwell will continue to anchor The Sunday Game Live and that a new presenter for The Sunday Game will be announced in 2023.
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