GalwayÕs heroics valued at Û12,000

Dara Bradley

GALWAY hurling received a risible grant of just over €12,000 from the Leinster Council this year, even though the senior team illuminated the provincial championship by claiming the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the first time.

Despite Anthony Cunningham and Co’s Leinster championship heroics over the title-holders Kilkenny in particular, and wins over Offaly and Westmeath, it was confirmed that the Galway Hurling Board was granted just €12,020 from the Leinster Council in 2012.

Chairman Joe Byrne told last Wednesday’s meeting that the Hurling Board, now a hurling committee that comes under the auspices of the County Board, received only travel and meal expenses money from the Leinster body.

Galway revived the provincial championship this year in particular, beating Kilkenny by ten points in the final at GAA HQ, which was arguably the fairytale of the hurling Summer, however, they were not given any gate receipts monies from any of the three Leinster championship matches the county was involved in this year.

Byrne told the meeting that the Tribesmen were “very disappointed” by the grant from the Leinster Council, and that “we got nothing for winning it (Leinster Championship)”. He said Galway needed “better financial support” from Leinster “considering the financial windfall we are worth”. He said the grant received was “in the gesture category” but, he added, that he looks forward to playing Leinster championship matches in Galway “in the near future”.

The Connacht Council granted Galway just over €10,000; the board was granted over €37,000 for its participation in the National Hurling League; and was awarded a central grant from the GAA of €322,602 for the year.

The central funding included an €80,000 holiday fund from the GAA, which was awarded due to the gate receipts boost as a result of the Tribesmen’s participation in the All-Ireland final, which went to a replay, generating big profits for Croke Park.

The Hurling Board’s finances are in a fairly healthy state, given that gate receipts for club games in Galway this year generated €347,460.

That figure does not include between €80,000 and €100,000 earned from the Galway senior, U21 and intermediate finals, which took place in November.

The accounts explain income and expenditure up to October 31, not the full calendar year, which is why the finals windfall was not included, the meeting heard. Last year’s accounts were up to December and so comparisons were difficult. The change in accounting was introduced by Croke Park.

Bryne said: “Considering our November club gates are excluded from the income, 2012 represents an excellent year financially”.

Some concern was expressed at the meeting that €108,144 was paid this year for interest on a loan on lands bought at Mountain South; and it was confirmed that interest would be payable for the next five years.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.