Sponsor row overshadows final build-up

A LIMERICK businessman has expressed his displeasure at being replaced as sponsor of a star ladies GAA football team by rugby legend Peter Clohessy.

When the Limerick junior ladies football team line out for the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on Sunday against Antrim, the Clohessy’s Bar logo will be blazoned across their team shirts as sponsor.

But Matthew Histon, who runs the Drivewise school of motoring in Newcastle West said his company name should be on the team shirts, claiming he entered a three-year sponsorship deal in 2007 with the then GAA county board secretary, Gerry Molyneaux.

Mr Molyneaux, who stepped down from the county board last April, supports Mr Histon’s claim.

While no contract was signed, Mr Histon insists the agreement was entered into the minutes of an official meeting.

But a spokesperson for the Limerick ladies county board said it was a one-year arrangement which expired last May.

Last April, the Limerick ladies still wore the Drivewise logos in the semi final against Louth. But photos of the team taken in September showed the Clohessy’s Bar logo had taken over and this will be seen at Sunday’s final which will be televised on TG4. Clohessy’s Bar, located at Howley’s Quay in Limerick city centre, has entered a three-year logo contract for an undisclosed sum.