Income rising, so is expenditure with a deficit recorded

By Noel Dundon

Tipperary County GAA Board spent just short of €5 million in the last year – an increase of 22% on the previous year – with the biggest increases coming in the areas of coaching and games costs.

Having run a deficit of €78,203 in the previous year, the deficit for 2024 increased again and amounted to €126,312 – a fact which concerned delegates at the annual Convention on Sunday night.

Treasurer Eleanor Lahart presented the accounts alongside Auditor Ronan Spain of Spain, Fewer and Quinlan Accountants and they pointed to the deficit increasing as a result of hikes in spending exceeding the jump in income received compared to 2023.

Total income amounted to €4,863,073 – an increase of 21% and the majority of this was accounted for with increases in funds from Munster and Central Councils – a 29% increase on the previous year resulted in €1,026,012 with games development grants and a higher share of Central Council revenues being very welcome.

While county games receipts amounted to €800,000, this figure was down on the previous year by 3%. Commercial income rose to €800,000 while fundraising initiatives yielded €589,736.

Costs continue to rise though and team costs in particular have passed the €2million mark at €2,175,088 – up from €1,797,274 and a 21% increase on last year. Player mileage jumped from €296,888 in 2023 to €413,106 in 2024 while team managers and selectors costs rose to €289,061. Travel and accommodation more than doubled to €187,493.

It cost the Board more than three quarters of a million euro to prepare the senior hurlers in 2024, while the senior footballers cost just over half a million euro. It cost €197,730 to win the All-Ireland Minor hurling final while getting to the runs to the Under 20 final cost €204,582.

Wages and salaries jumped as a result of additional full-time coaching staff being employed. €419,000 approximately was spent on coaches during the year with an additional €200,000 being spent on Cúl Camp coaches during the summer, thereby providing a much-needed cash boost to the many students who are employed over the course of the county-wide camps.

CEO Murtagh Brennan also mentioned the increased costs in his annual report to Convention and with administrative costs also rising by 18% as a result of hikes in salaries and employment costs, IT expenditure and other admin charges, he cautioned that the Board “cannot live beyond its means.” There are plans to increase fundraising initiatives in 2025 too, the CEO said.

Streaming and media income rose to €85,024 while sponsorship income rose by €50,000 to €409,185. Income from the County Tipperary GAA Board Draw rose to €239,500 – up from €153,140 and the Board also earned €50,000 more from royalties and retail partnership with O’Neill’s sports and Elvery’s Sports.

The four divisions and Tipperary Coiste na n-Og also contributed a total of €110,000 to the Board – a figure mentioned by Ronan Spain as having reduced the deficit for the year quite significantly.

Eleanor Lahart said: “In my 2023 report I noted two figures of importance that would influence the entire year of 2024. Based on the 2024 budget prepared in November 2023 I predicted that €100,000 would be needed to bridge the gap in our finances this year and that team cost would rise to €2.184 million. Team costs ended up just €9,000 lower than predicted this year.

“While our longer-term financial plan was being developed, the Executive had no choice but to turn to the divisional boards, and clubs for contributions to enable us to pay our suppliers at the end of the year. Gladly, commercial income was increased this year through new sponsorships and partnerships, and a larger body of work should come to fruition in 2025 to ensure Tipperary GAA is adequately funded going forward,” she said adding that Clubber TV had an impact on gate receipts - tap and go sales for the County Finals in the stadium were nearly double the previous years.

The Treasurer described as “massive” the increase in player mileage of over €116,000 which was not budgeted for and was mainly due to increased panel sizes in senior hurling and senior football in 2024.

“This is clear evidence that panel sizes must be kept to an agreed reasonable level going forward. Apart from mileage additional players incur additional costs in gear, food, injury costs and other sundry costs,” she said revealing that assistant treasurer John Delaney has been appointed to assist the team liaison officers in the monitoring of team costs and any specific requirements teams may have.