Building blocks for success are being put in place – Tipp CEO

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary GAA CEO Murtagh Brennan had admitted 2024 was a year of mixed fortunes for the county but the structures are being put in place to ensure more success on the field going forward.

The Loughmore/Castleiney clubman was commenting in his second report which will be presented to annual County Board Convention in Thurles on Sunday evening.

In a comprehensive overview of GAA activities, the standout on the field in a positive sense were the successes of the U17 and U20 hurling teams with “our U17s delivering a thrilling All-Ireland victory in Kilkenny that will live long in the memory,” he said.

He added: “These achievements are a testament to the tremendous work undertaken at underage level across our schools, clubs, and divisional teams under the dedicated guidance of Kevin Halley and his Games Development staff.

“In my 2023 report, I reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening underage structures as a foundation for future success.

“I am pleased to report that, through our partnership with Setanta and the expansion of our Games Development Team, the seeds sown in spring are beginning to blossom. It is now our collective responsibility to nurture this growth and harvest its full potential.”

Commenting on the marquee senior hurling teams difficult campaign where they failed to win any of their four Munster Championship games, Brennan was supportive of the building blocks manager Liam Cahill has in place.

“While the season did not deliver the results we aspired to, it provided key learnings and the opportunity to introduce four new debutants into championship hurling.

“This reflects the commitment of the management and backroom team to developing talent and laying the groundwork for future success,” he says.

Success on the field doesn’t come cheap and Brennan revealed that the two main challenges facing Tipperary GAA are in terms of Finance and Infrastructure.

In terms of Infrastructure, the CEO admitted the governments decision against allocating LSSIF grant funding to the TUS project was “a major setback”.

“Despite this disappointment, we remain committed to exploring opportunities to bring this project to fruition and deliver its intended benefits for the County,” Brennan said.

The financial commitment required to prepare and support inter-county teams is approaching €2 million annually. When combined with an investment of €200,000 in underage development, the impact on the local economy is considerable.

Brennan highlights the significant funds Tipperary GAA channels into local businesses, benefiting the local community. Key examples include: Catering services including Hotels; Gym facilities; Recovery hubs; Facility rentals; Physiotherapy; Architectural and engineering services for facility upgrades; Bus companies, and Medical specialists/hospitals.

However, he is concerned at the continued rise in costs and how Tipperary can raise the money to sustain what they are doing.

“The worrying reality is that the costs associated with delivering this product to the people of Tipperary is increasing year on year and unless we arrive at a sustainable financial model, we shall continue to live beyond our means,” he said.

“If and when we arrive at that point, we must not just consider the impact this will have on our games, but also on our society and on our local economy.”

Brennan revealed that over the past twelve months, no topic has singularly dominated most meetings more than that its current financial situation.

Last February, a Finance Committee was established to address the financial challenges facing the County. Following months of detailed research and coordinated planning, they assisted Tipperary GAA in launching the ‘Win a House in Tipperary’ draw.

This is an initiative to raffle a house in Cashel and raise funds for future facility development in Tipperary. This venture benefits both club and county as €30 out of every €100 sold by the clubs can be kept.

Tipperary GAA have also partnered with OKC consultancy in an effort to review, analyse, and enhance fundraising capabilities with the objective to increase fundraising revenue in 2025.

Convention

It is set to be a low-key convention with no elections for officer positions while there are just five motions to be debated, all relating to rules and regulations