DONEGAL spent just shy of €1m on preparing county teams last season, tonight’s county convention will be told in Ballybofey.
The preparation of county teams in football and hurling cost €952,697 – up just over €50,000 on the 2016, with the vast majority spent on the senior footballers.
Players’ travelling expenses, team administration, sports gear and equipment and medical expenses are the high cost items for the bulk of the €952,697, which will be part of treasurer Cieran Kelly’s annual report.
Overall, both income and expenditure for 2017 are up considerably on 2016. Income is up €90,000 to €1,492,224, while there was an even greater increase in expenditure – up by €113,000 to €1,428,072.
Player travelling expenses were €245,710, team administration was €102,884, sports gear, equipment and laundry costs were €193,041, medical expenses were €144,597 and catering was €160,118. On the plus-side the accounts show that income exceeded expenditure by €64,152.
The accounts also reveal Donegal GAA owe individual and business creditors €315,518, while individual and business debtors owe the county €80,667.
Another interesting note from the accounts is that income from gate receipts of club games – €147,412 – was down by nearly €50,000 from 2016.
This figure chimes with county secretary Aideen Gillen’s concerns that clubs who are playing without county players are not as well supported.
She claimed that this is damaging internal competitions and the finances of clubs.
Meanwhile, Aodh Ruadh clubman Mick McGrath looks to be almost certainly returned as county chairman. The former county PRO, development officer and child protection officer is likely to be returned unopposed in Ballybofey tonight.
