Dublin to get less funding

The plans of the Strategic Review Committee (SRC) for Dublin GAA are finally ready to be implemented, although with considerably less funding than was originally recommended.

Dublin county secretary John Costello has outlined in detail the evolution of the SRC in his report to next week's county convention.

The plan, as it now exists, focuses on a three-region approach to games development, but with a considerably less financial backing which he says "reflects an acceptance on Dublin's part, as of present, that additional commitments from Leinster Council and Croke Park will not be forthcoming in the short term.

"Leinster Council have agreed to commit €600,000 over three years to the programme and Central Council have agreed to commit €1.6 million over three years.

"An outline proposal to fund the balance of the operating programme from Dublin's own resources and from Government/Sports Council funding is being drawn up and all units have agreed to support Dublin's application for the necessary level of Sports Council funding to enable the programme to reach its full potential.

"In addition Central Council and Leinster Council have agreed to provide an initial financial injection of €500,000 towards capital projects in Dublin, primarily relating to improvements at Parnell Park."

The original SRC proposal included the appointment of a strategic development officer, dedicated coaching, hurling, marketing and regional development officers and 50 coaches of which two thirds would be club based. This would have entailed an investment of €19.3 million over five years.

Plans by the Limerick County Board to switch sponsorship from "Red Cow" to "Red Bull" have been abandoned.

When the four-year sponsorship package with Moran's Red Cow Hotel ended, Limerick entered into negotiations with the Red Bull energy drinks company regarding a three-year-deal believed to be worth almost €1 million.

Although the Limerick board had not officially presented details of the proposed deal to the GAA, it is understood that Croke Park were not enamoured by the possibility of Red Bull sponsoring the county.

Meanwhile, Limerick board secretary James Hartigan has confirmed that the county's new senior hurling manager, Pad Joe Whelehan, would be concentrating all his efforts on Limerick next season and would not have any involvement with his club Birr.