Funnyman pays the penalty for football skit

Top British comic Michael McIntyre may have had his Irish audience in stitches but he ended up on crutches during his hit show this week after injuring his leg while carrying out an energetic skit.

The funnyman came a cropper when he launched himself into the air during a hilarious imitation of English goalkeeper’s Joe Hart’s ill-fated attempt to save the cheeky chipped penalty by Italian ace Andrea Pirlo.

McIntyre came back out of the stage wings holding his leg in pain and called an early interval but gamely arrived back on stage 20 minutes later on crutches.

He sat down for the remainder of the show but told the audience they could get their money back.

“You can search your souls. You are all entitled to your money back. Don’t mind me. I am very rich,” he joked to his audience, “This is not the show you paid for — unless you enjoy casualty waiting rooms.”

His three nights at the Cork Opera House were entitled Work in Progress, as he was testing material for a tour in August, which is being billed the biggest of his career.