Windsor Park's pitch came in for more stinging criticism on Saturday as title rivals Linfield and Cliftonville went toe-to-toe at the international stadium.
The game would be decided by Kris Lowe's own goal, the midfielder inadvertently knocking Kirk Millar's cross into his own net.
The clash was the feature game on BBC Sportsound, with Joel Taggart on commentary alongside former Blues hero Paul McAreavey.
Read more: Johnston weighs up Lafferty arrival and makes bold Linfield prediction
And it's fair to say the state of the playing surface came into the conversation more than once during the 90 minutes.
Taggart labelled the pitch "brutal", with the playing surface appearing to be heavy with sand.
Last month Linfield manager David Healy described the state of the pitch as "atrocious" following his side's Irish Cup win over Warrenpoint Town.
https://twitter.com/TaggartJoel/status/1624437520883765248?s=20&t=r37Lzxpmnz70oZy3HL6mBA
And the quality of the international pitch hasn't improved since then.
Taggart said on commentary: "I know we mention it a lot, but the pitch is brutal."
He added: "We have already seen players struggle to control the ball at their feet. It could embarrass someone today with an attempted touch, but we will see how things progress. Bit it's not good."
Northern Ireland are due to return to competitive action next month when the European qualifiers kick-off.
Finland are the visitors on March 26, and Taggart believes new NI boss Michael O'Neill would be livid with the current playing surface.
"I can't believe there is going to be a European Championship qualifier played on this pitch next month. They need a miracle worker between now and then," Taggart said.
""If Michael O'Neill turns up and sees a pitch anything like this condition, he will have a canary."
Former Linfield midfielder McAreavey was equally as scathing, saying: "It is absolutely terrible today. Nearly every part of it there's sand on it, and there are tractor marks all over it that haven't disappeared either.
"For the National Stadium it's not good."
He added: "It is our national stadium and it is in the middle of winter when a lot of football is played. But at the same time you have got to expect better and there has been a lot of money spent on this stadium."
McAreavey - who spent six years at Linfield - said players looked like "Bambi on Ice" as they attempted to perform on the uneven pitch.
He said: "Both teams are trying to play football and getting it out wide. Unfortunately for both sides the final ball hasn't been there.
"And the playing surface is up there with the worst I have ever seen at Windsor Park. They have to ask why this keeps happening.
"It has happened a few times now, and they have ripped up the pitch and laid a new one a few times now. It is not good enough for the national stadium, not good enough for Linfield and not good enough for Northern Ireland."
Watching the action unfold back in the BBC studios, Larne defender Tomas Cosgrove said: "It doesn't look good at all. From the pictures we are seeing, the boys are slipping.
"And some of the passes are coming in and bobbling around the players' knees. It isn't good enough."
READ NEXT:
- Ex-teammate highlights key to Paddy McLaughlin's Cliftonville success
Gary Haveron believes Larne are a different animal this season
Lafferty opens up on 10-game ban for sectarian slur and Kilmarnock regrets
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
