GAA coffers boosted by hurling gate receipts

The strength of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship has been underlined in the GAA’s 2012 annual accounts.

Last September’s replay between Kilkenny and Galway ensured total championship gate receipts for last year across both games were up on last year’s €24.2 million to €26.7m, the game bringing in €2.8m.

Irrespective of the replay, the 13 All-Ireland SHC games accrued just over €8m compared to the €10.9m gained from the 31 All-Ireland series matches in football, meaning the average hurling championship game returned €615,000 as opposed to a football return of €353,000.