Laois GAA surplus drops to €95,642 as spending on county teams rises for fourth straight year

Laois GAA’s annual surplus fell sharply in 2025 following a significant rise in overall expenditure, according to the county board’s financial statements released this week.

The figures, covering the 12 months to September 30, 2025, will be presented at the county’s annual convention at the Midlands Park Hotel on Monday, December 8. The accounts, prepared by treasurer Paschal McEvoy and audited by Forvis Mazars, detail the board’s income and expenditure across all activities for the financial year.

Total spending for the year reached €2,633,589, up more than €140,000 from €2,493,146 in 2024. While income also rose slightly to €2,754,398 (from €2,696,170), the county’s year-end surplus fell from €218,733 to €95,642.

Expenditure increased in several key areas. Coaching and Games Development saw the largest rise, climbing to €660,840 from €517,843 in 2024. Team administration costs also grew, reaching €1,172,012, while overall administration expenses increased to €152,226.

The Laois senior hurlers reached the Joe McDonagh Cup final for the second year in a row, but were once again defeated, this time by Kildare. They were also relegated from Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling Leagues. They travelled to Corrigan Park to face Antrim and Walsh Park to face Waterford in the league. In the Joe McDonagh Cup, they travelled to Ballycran to face Down.

Meanwhile, the Laois senior footballers finished sixth in Division 3 of the Allianz Football Leagues and were beaten by Westmeath in the preliminary quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup. Laois' Division 3 campaign saw them travel to Ballinamore to face Leitrim and Enniskillen to face Fermanagh. The team stayed overnight for the game in Enniskillen. Their Tailteann Cup campaign included a trip to Aughrim to face Wicklow.

Team administration costs are divided into nine categories across seven inter-county grades: Senior Football, Senior Hurling, U20 Football, U20 Hurling, U17 Football, U17 Hurling, and Development squads.

Key figures include:

• Player Mileage: €149,341 (2025) vs €174,673 (2024)

• Team Manager, Selectors & Backroom personnel: €423,043 vs €425,086

• Meals/Catering/Nutrition: €254,043 vs €252,856

• Bus Travel & Accommodation: €91,414 vs €46,962

• Gear and Equipment: €199,759 vs €184,067

• Facility Hire: €21,069 vs €18,374

• Medical: €20,670 vs €28,560

• Player Injury Fund: €5,448 vs €4,928

• Sundry Costs: €7,225 vs €6,409

Some costs fell during the year, including matchday expenses (€100,513, down from €121,783), financial expenses (€56,600), and grounds upkeep, which dropped by more than €34,000.

The county board will present the full accounts to clubs at the annual convention next month.