Life outside top tier costs Limerick €700,000

Limerick officials estimate they will have lost out on close to €700,000 by the end of their senior hurlers’ seventh straight season outside Division 1A next year.

Analysis commissioned by the county board a few years ago demonstrated how costly Limerick were finding life in Division 1B. It was reckoned they were missing out on a potential €100,000 per annum not being involved in the top flight. The figures were based on home attendances, advertising, programme sales, and team sponsorship. After defeat to Clare on Sunday consigned them to yet another campaign in the second tier, questions are being asked about the financial sustainability of counties like Limerick remaining in Division 1B.

Between football and hurling, Limerick accrued just €74,614 in income from last year’s leagues, a drop of 30% from 2014. Should they beat Dublin in Parnell Park in Saturday week’s Division 1 quarter-final, their league revenue will rise, as the rewards for progressing in the competition are almost as lucrative as those on offer in the All-Ireland SHC.

However, after missing out on promotion for the fifth consecutive year, Limerick may now be forced to stage more of their home games in Division 1B next year outside the Gaelic Grounds. Last year’s round game against Laois took place in Kilmallock and secretary Mike O’Riordan has warned the Gaelic Grounds is becoming less viable for lowly league fixtures.

Meanwhile, Limerick vice-chairman Liam O’Sullivan has criticised the format of the league, which could see pointless Cork relegate a Galway team that lost just two of their five round games. Galway and Cork meet in a relegation play-off in Pearse Stadium on Sunday week, a day before Kerry and Laois battle it out in Tralee to avoid a Division 1B promotion/relegation play-off despite Kerry having won two of their games and Laois none of theirs.

O’Sullivan said on Twitter: “Cork lose 5 from 5 but could relegate a team who only lost twice. Kerry, who were admirable, could also drop.”

In a coin toss yesterday, Galway won home advantage for the crucial game against Cork. Kilkenny will host Offaly for their quarter-final on Sunday week while Clare welcome Tipp to Cusack Park. Dublin also benefit from the coin toss and face Limerick at Parnell Park.

Sat April 2: Div 1 quarter-final:

Dublin v Limerick, Parnell Park, 7pm; Division 1B relegation play-off: Kerry v Laois, Austin Stack Park, 5pm; Div 2B: relegation play-off: Wicklow v Donegal, TBC 2.30pm.

Sun April 3: Div 1 qtr-finals:

Wexford v Waterford, Wexford Pk 3.30pm; Kilkenny v Offaly, Nowlan Pk 3.45pm; Clare v Tipp, Cusack Pk 3.45pm; Div 1A relegation play-off Galway v Cork Pearse Stdm 3.45pm.