GALWAY GAA Chairman Paul Bellew says the county will make no apologies for their record €2.15 million spend on inter-county teams in 2022.
In what was a hugely successful year for Galway, the Tribe became the first county to crash through the €2 million per annum barrier.
€1.7 million was invested on the senior hurlers and footballers - but Galway still recorded a surplus of over €400,000.
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Bellew went on to confirm that as part of new sponsorship deal long time supporter, Supermacs would pump a cool €2.25 million into county coffers over the next five years with the potential for that figure to rise to €3.25 million.
The bumper deal comes in at a basic €450,000 per annum.
The remaining €1 million is effectively a win bonus spread across five years and the county’s six flagship teams - county senior, under-20 and minor in both codes.
This comes in at a maximum of €200,000 per annum and is structured on how far the various teams progress.
Speaking at today’s launch in the Loughrea Hotel and Spa, Bellew said: “Figures (for spending on inter-county teams) came out last Friday and we knew what was going to happen.
“We report the figures as they come in but those figures include everything attached to an intercounty team across six of them.
“We basically played 49 games last year between the six teams, football and hurling.
“We won the minor football (All-Ireland). We got to the All-Ireland football final. Our three hurling teams lost to the eventual All-Ireland champions by a combined total of six points.
“There is not too many counties can say that. We make no apologies for the spend.
“It all goes to the players. A lot of it is mandated in terms of gear and expenses.
“I think if you compare to other counties and show where they didn’t get to, it doesn’t compare too unfavourably at all.”
Bellew praised Pat McDonagh and his Supermacs company for their continued support.
“That’s a significant show of faith and investment in us, in the climate we are in,” he said.
“The size and scale of the deal I think puts us at the very top in terms of GAA.
“To invest €2.25 million in Galway GAA irrespective of performance over five years is a serious commitment, rising to a potential €3.25 million over that time.
“It’s a brilliant deal for us and I think a good deal for Supermacs.
“We are very grateful to Pat, to Una and to the team at Supermacs for it.
“No pressure on us to deliver given that scale of confidence but it is a confidence in our six flagship teams and I have to say in fairness in the board in general to deliver on that.”
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