Weather hits GAA financial forecast

The GAA are set for a major financial hit because of the recent cold snap with hurling gate receipts expected to be affected most.

Easter Sunday’s three games were anticipated to be major crowd pullers with each of the six teams fighting it out for the three semi-final spots.

However, approximately 15,000 attended the fixtures with the Kilkenny-Cork game attracting the biggest crowd with 6,711 as the chilly weather deterred several supporters from turning up.

The 5,459 attendance in Thurles was almost half the 10,150 crowd that was in Semple Stadium for last year’s final round fixture between Tipperary and Cork, a game played in sunshine.

A total of 5,697 witnessed Tipperary’s home win over Kilkenny last month compared to the almost 10,000 recorded in Nowlan Park for the corresponding fixture in 2012.

Last year’s 15 league proper games brought in just shy of €600,000 in gate receipts and the league was deemed a financial success for the GAA with €1.293 million reaped compared to €1.172 million in 2011.

The Football League has also been affected by the inclement weather with numbers down in this year’s Spring Series in Croke Park. Dublin chairman Andy Kettle insisted last week the initiative still has a future.

A bumper crowd is expected in Healy Park for Sunday’s Division One clash between Tyrone and Kerry with the recent derby against Donegal in Omagh having attracted 9,676 spectators