Déise GAA board suffer €164,743 loss as senior hurlers cost €506,119
Waterford Senior hurlers cost over €506,000 to run in 2024. Photo: INPHO
The Waterford county board have recorded a deficit of €164,743 in their 2024 accounts.
The Déise spent €1,288,894 on county teams over the past twelve months. The senior hurlers came in at €506,119. The senior footballers cost €274,624 to prepare. €113,177 was the outlay on the Waterford minor hurlers while the Under 20s totalled €100,615. €72,315 was spent on the minor football team and €42,610 on the Under 20s.
While the overall spend dropped by €51,000, secretary Pat Flynn acknowledges that it is a substantial figure. "Rising costs for county teams in particular are placing extreme pressure on the day to day running of the board," he wrote in his report to convention. "I wish to commend Kieran Geary who since his appointment has initiated some excellent plans for additional income streams and fundraising opportunities. These initiatives along with Mark Radley’s role within the Commercial Committee show that we can be positive regarding the financial situation for the future."
Fundraising income dipped by almost €675,000 from €842,154 to €167,786. The Win A House In Dungarvan draw brought in €777,991 the previous year. The new Déise Draw yielded €106,787 in 2024 but the new Waterford supporters club only raised €10,332. €64,618 was also paid in loan interest under financial expenses.
Gate receipts at club games increased by €57,320. The senior hurling championship returned €163,706 including €41,573 from the county final between Ballygunner and Abbeyside.
Flynn believes that the split season is working for club players. "The commentary around the split season continues but it would appear that a definite fixture schedule for club players along with full access of county players remains the argument with the stronger reasoning. Any interference with those two areas would be a retrograde and detrimental step to our games at club level. The fixtures calendar within our own county also generates ongoing debates where there are calls for breaks between rounds and codes. Unfortunately, we are constrained by time frames at both ends of the calendar, therefore preventing any flexibility around fixtures. This is why there can be no further erosion of the time allocated for club activity."
An Rinn and The Nire expressed their anger with the fixture congestion in the county senior football championship this year. Both clubs played three group games in the space of eight days. "This year was the final phase of reducing the number of teams in the Senior Football Championship to eight. The CCC received criticism for scheduling games midweek even though clubs were advised in advance of the structures meeting in January this would be the case."
The shortage of referees in the county is a major concern for Flynn. "Due to the increased level of abuse and questioning of referees, it is getting more difficult not only to recruit new referees but to retain the loyal band of referees we have at present. Therefore, it is vitally important that clubs, with the assistance of the Referees Administration Committee, identify and encourage individuals to take up refereeing as there is a crisis point regarding numbers fast approaching. This was an issue this year where several championship games had to proceed without linesmen due the lack of available referees."
117 walkovers and withdrawals were recorded in Waterford up to November 7.
Neil Moore (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty) will take over as county board chairman from Sean Michael O'Regan at next week's convention. O'Regan has completed his five-year term and will now chair the National Infrastructure Committee. Brendan Tobin (Sliabh gCua/St. Mary's) is the only nominee for vice-chairman.
