DUBLIN CEO John Costello says that, if the GAA are to even up how they distribute the association’s finances, then it must be through new revenue and not taken from the All-Ireland champions’ coffers.
In his report to the annual county convention, which takes place on Wednesday night, Costello said he understood the need to increase the revenue available to weaker counties, but argued that it should not be at Dublin’s expense.
To do so would reopen the door to soccer and rugby, according to the county’s chief executive: “There is much talk of funding equalisation in the GAA, how the finances at our disposal must be curbed to ‘level the playing field’,” said Costello.
“But this presupposes that Dublin GAA is awash with cash [we aren't] or that you could slash our funding from central coffers without any negative effect.
“At the most basic level, this is about jobs - that funding is diverted to coaches operating at the juvenile and club coalface throughout the county.
“Let me stress, I fully support efforts to bolster the central funding available to so-called weaker counties - they aren't blessed with some of the advantages that Dublin possess and they need help.
“However, it behoves Croke Park to find ways and means of generating more resources, instead of settling for a division of the same cake.
“Put bluntly, extra funding for other counties should not come at the direct expense of Dublin's games development initiatives. Bleed that well dry and it won't be long before soccer and rugby make inroads back into terrain that Dublin GAA has fought, tooth and nail, to colonise in the first place.”
Costello also hit out at "targeting" of Diarmuid Connolly, alleging the Dublin forward was “struck about six times before the ball was even thrown in” for one of their Championship games during the summer.
“Okay, they were not Mike Tyson haymakers he was hit with but, never-the-less, each blow was an infraction of the rules and worse still happened right under the gaze of one of the referee’s linesmen.
“At most breaks in play, this action continued with the perpetrator turning his back to the play and repeatedly striking Diarmuid, with one intention only, i.e. provoking a reaction that may get him in card trouble. The linesman’s attention was brought to it but again no action taken.
“In conclusion, to clean up this aspect of our games which often culminates in messy pushing and shoving contests and, ultimately, the odd ripped jersey or two, it is important for the welfare of the game that action is taken to cut it out at source i.e. the original instigator.”
