Sarah Lavin: Limerick hurling success shows funding works

“If you look at any sport – Formula 1, football teams, Dublin football or Limerick hurling – the more funding a sport gets, obviously success becomes easier to achieve.” 

1 June 2022; World indoor 60m hurdles finalist Sarah Lavin was on hand to launch the 150th edition of the Irish Life Health National Track and Field Championships which will take place in Morton Stadium on June 25th and 26th 2022. For more information on the Irish Life Health Track and Field Championships please visit www.athleticsireland.ie. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

When it comes to funding, Sarah Lavin is not one to waste her time or energy complaining about what the situation in Irish athletics should be. All the same, the Tokyo Olympian knows the relationship that exists between money and medals, and if there’s an area she’d like to see improved it’s the way Irish coaches are compensated.

For the past 20 years, the sprint hurdler from Limerick has been guided by Noelle Morrissey, who juggles full-time work with family life and copious hours of coaching each week at Emerald AC. Due to Lavin’s breakthrough season last year, when she became the second Irishwoman in history to break 13 seconds for 100m hurdles, international-level funding of €18,000 will come her way via Sport Ireland’s International Carding Scheme in 2022, but the 28-year-old can’t help feel such supports should extend to the chief driving force behind her performances.