The GPA can’t afford to lose funding fight

Four weeks into the championship and there is no getting away from that underwhelming feeling. At this juncture last year, the average winning/losing margin in provincial football games was 8.5 points. This time around, it’s slightly better at 7.4 but the truth is the best game of the summer thus far came not in Ulster, as is usually the case, but in New York.

Away from the excitement-killing fields is a more fascinating battle that, for all the diplomacy and restraint shown by both parties, shows no signs of abating. On one side is the GPA, determined to improve the €2m funding they received from the GAA last year. On the other is the GAA hoping to basically get more bang for their buck.

Earlier this month, new GPA chairman Seamus Hickey gave a most insightful interview to Newstalk in which he made a number of revelations. One of his most interesting comments concerned taking a slice of the upcoming media rights pie. “Who’s to say that’s not on the table?” said Hickey before adding, “We’re renegotiating. What we’re getting now, regardless, is still tied to income from the GAA. It’s technically called a donation from the GAA at the moment. That’s not something I would agree with.