Counties face challenge to play the name game

Dublin bucked the economic trend this week with a €6m sponsorship deal with mobile phone giant Vodafone. But are companies still as keen to have their names and logos emblazoned across the front of county jerseys? Brendan O’Brien investigates

IDEALLY, there would be a Patsy Tracey in every county. Tracey Concrete was among the first wave of shirt sponsors when the GAA green-lighted such a thing in 1991 and the company has been there every year since, their name stitched across those forest green jerseys.

The Enniskillen firm confirmed its association with the Fermanagh county side for a 20th consecutive year last month and, for Tracey, handing over that cheque came as naturally as getting out of bed.