GAA director general Tom Ryan sounds alarm over rising costs, urging for spending controls to avoid an unsustainable situation. Ryan's call to action comes as the total expenditure on inter-county team preparations in 2024 reaches €44 million, a significant increase on previous years. He proposes solutions like centralized procurement and stricter contact hours for players. Additionally, Ryan discusses potential changes to the inter-county season and All-Ireland final format.
GAA director general Tom Ryan has issued a stark warning about the escalating costs associated with inter-county teams, urging for immediate action to curb spending before it becomes irreversible. Ryan presented his annual report at Croke Park yesterday, ahead of the GAA Congress in Donegal later this month. The report revealed that the total expenditure on inter-county team preparations in 2024 reached €44 million, a significant increase of 11.6% from the previous year.
This figure has nearly doubled in five years, prompting Ryan to express his concern that the current trajectory is unsustainable. He emphasized that this issue requires a collective effort from both counties and the GAA itself. Ryan highlighted the importance of common commitments with the GPA regarding players' contact hours and creating a more reasonable workload for them. He argued that this is not solely a financial consideration but also a matter of player well-being and the long-term health of the inter-county scene. Ryan acknowledged that finding a solution to this challenge is complex, stating that if he knew how to solve it, it would have already been addressed. He suggested exploring alternative approaches, such as centralized procurement of services and shared responsibilities for expenses like travel and ancillary services. He stressed the need for a different way of thinking about managing costs and emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that if the same conversation is being had in five years, it will be too late. In other developments, Ryan proposed extending the inter-county season by a couple of weeks, potentially moving the All-Ireland finals to August. While the hurling and football finals have been held in July since 2022, Ryan ruled out a return to the traditional September schedule. He expressed openness to minor adjustments to the current format, but emphasized the importance of establishing a summer All-Ireland tradition. Ryan also revealed that a motion will be presented to Congress proposing that All-Ireland finals ending in a draw after 70 minutes should proceed directly to a replay instead of extra time. This follows last year's Clare-Cork hurling final, which concluded in extra time and generated dissatisfaction among some stakeholders. Ryan acknowledged that this proposal might not be universally welcomed, but he believes it represents a good attempt to balance competing priorities. He admitted that the financial benefits associated with a replay are a factor in this decision, but stressed that it is not the primary consideration. Ryan underlined the importance of ensuring that the finals are concluded in a way that satisfies everyone and promotes the game effectively. He noted that the abrupt end to last year's hurling season due to the extra time finish felt like a missed opportunity
GAA Inter-County Teams Spending Tom Ryan All-Ireland Season Contact Hours Replay Financial Costs
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