Counties' inter-county team spending hits record €43m total

It's an increase of 8% from the previous 12-month accounting period, Irish Examiner analysis shows.

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025 - 15:03

John Fogarty

The GAA’s inter-county team spending in 2024 ballooned to a new record of over €43 million, €3.2m more than in ’23.

Analysis, which will be published in Saturday's Irish Examiner, reveals the 32 counties spent a whopping €43,350,330 on preparing their sides last year, an increase of 8% from the previous 12-month accounting period.

The average spend for each county has climbed to €1.354m. In Munster, where the six counties’ combined outlay was over €11m, the average was higher at €1.839m.

Twenty-two of the 32 counties last year contributed more to the preparation of their teams than in 2023. All-Ireland SFC champions Armagh, Donegal, Cork, Tipperary and Derry experienced the greatest increases.

Galway remain the biggest spenders with €2.7m followed by Cork (€2.38m) who have climbed to second largely as a result of reaching last year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final at the expense of Limerick who replaced them in fourth position (€1.98m).

Tipperary are third on the list with €2.175m and it is the second successive year that three counties have exceeded the €2m mark after Galway and Limerick became the first to do so in 2022. Tipperary were among the first counties to break the €1m barrier when they spent €1,106,630 in 2008.

All-Ireland SFC champions Armagh’s team expenditure rose the highest from 2023, just short of €700,000 to €1.982m. Following them were Donegal whose additional spend was nigh on €600,000 to €1.861m.

Some counties have been implementing new accounting procedures, which have to be considered in comparing their accounts with 2023. However, with the exception of the pandemic years of 2020 and ‘21, it can be ascertained that the total spend on teams has risen year-on-year since 2012 when it stood at €17.4m.

The amateur status review committee has been charged with finding solutions to the escalating costs associated with preparing teams. Recommendations, which are likely to centre around enforcement, are expected in the first quarter of this year.

In his annual report last year, GAA director general Tom Ryan said the urgency to spend heavily on teams has spread to counties’ second codes. "Success starved counties will struggle to attract sponsorship, fundraising and general support because the lesser code does not have the same exposure locally or nationally,” wrote Ryan, who has regularly bemoaned the overspending on teams.

"The trend of having backroom teams armed with numerous specialists has become the norm for all county teams - senior, U20 and minor. This is a main driver of the increased inter-county team costs as it is paid professionals carrying out these services.

"The team doctor is now one of the few remaining professionals to typically offer their services voluntarily - ironically the most important care we can offer a player in extreme need."

Total spending (2010-present):

2024 €43.35 million

2023 €40.06m

2022 €32.77m

2021 €19.77m

2020 -

2019 €29.72m

2018 €26.38m

2017 €25.26m

2016 €23.31m

2015 €21.87m

2014 €20.39m