REPORT: All-Ireland glory and cost savings help Tipperary GAA finish 2025 in better shape

Tipperary GAA’s All-Ireland hurling success in 2025 came with major costs attached, but County Treasurer Eleanor Lahart told Thursday night’s County Convention that tighter controls and early-season oversight ensured the county emerged in a stronger financial position than at any point in the past three years.

READ NEXT: Tipperary Gardaí probe surge in car thefts and burglaries across the county in recent weeks

Team administration costs totalled €2.48 million for the year, the single largest area of spending, but Lahart said sustained scrutiny of those figures was both justified and necessary.

“Our biggest cost annually is the team administration costs, and one which is homed in on rightly every year,” Lahart said. “At the start of the 2025 season some savings and oversight led to substantial decreases in some areas.”

Despite a longer championship calendar, overall team costs were kept in check through reductions across a wide range of operational areas. Mileage, traditionally one of the most significant expenses, fell by €40,000 year on year.

“Senior football mileage decreased by €45,000, while senior hurling mileage increased by €9,000 in a much longer season than 2024,” Lahart explained.

Spending on team managers, selectors and backroom personnel also fell sharply, decreasing by more than €48,000 across all squads, even with extended campaigns.

“Team managers, selectors and backroom personnel, taken together, decreased by over €48,000 year on year,” Lahart said. “Credit notes of over €12,000 are within this figure as an accounting clear-up from the previous year.”

Further savings were recorded in meals, catering and nutrition, down over €15,000, while strength and conditioning costs dropped by more than €26,000. Travel and accommodation expenses fell by over €58,000, with medical costs reduced by more than €24,000, all in what Lahart described as a significantly longer playing season.

The one notable increase came in gear and equipment spending, which rose in line with the demands of an All-Ireland campaign.

“That was expected for the additional gear and equipment required in an All-Ireland year,” Lahart said.

Senior hurling accounted for the largest share of team expenditure at €1.32 million, reflecting the scale and duration of the campaign, while senior football costs stood at €385,324. Under-20 and minor hurling expenses again exceeded their football equivalents, while development squads accounted for €190,072 of the overall spend.

Two exceptional costs were directly linked to the hurlers’ All-Ireland success. The senior team holiday came in at €373,300, while homecoming and function costs totalled €167,697.

“The homecoming and functions cost includes the team banquet and some attire costs of €57,000, homecoming costs of €43,000 and medals presentation night and additional medals of €45,000,” Lahart outlined.

Crucially, Lahart stressed that removing those once-off All-Ireland expenses from the figures revealed a significant underlying reduction in costs.

“Taking out these All-Ireland costs from the overall team administration cost shows a decreased cost year on year of over €232,000,” she said.

That cumulative saving had a direct impact on the county’s finances.

“While the individual decreases may seem small in light of the overall team costs of nearly €2.5 million, their cumulative effect has a huge bearing on cashflow,” Lahart added. “For the first time in three years Tipperary GAA could comfortably pay their bills throughout the year and carry some retained cashflow into 2026.”

Further reductions are planned for 2026, including the removal of divisional bus collections for minor team training nights, with future spending to be overseen by a new financial advisory committee and team costs committee, as Tipperary look to balance success on the field with sustainability off it.

READ NEXT: Tipperary Live player ratings - Tipperary vs Limerick Dillon Quirke Challenge Match