Mayo’s catering expenses for 2016 show just how much it costs to feed their amateurs

The inter-county game is basically just a professional set-up moonlighting as amateurism.

Mayo GAA have released their administrative expenses for 2016 and they are up a whopping 46%. This is quite literally the cost of success and, in the case of the junior and senior footballers, reaching finals. In 2016 the county board paid out €1,632,448 in expenses - up from €880,316 in 2015. The county had an extremely good year in terms of teams excelling in competition. Mayo's U21 side won an All-Ireland, their juniors reached a final and the men's senior side contested an All-Ireland final and final replay before being pipped to the post by Dublin. Mayo's hurlers reached the finals of the All-Ireland U21 B and Nicky Rackard Cup. The lengthy, winning runs, fundraisers, GAA grants and improved commercial deals saw income soar too, in numbers seen by The42. The county board's total income is up 44% from €2,130,781 to €3,076,988. Two of the big increases, in terms of expenses, were for catering, and 'sportsgear and equipment'.

Catering: €172,367 in 2015 and €447,280 in 2016. Up 160%.   Sportsgear and equipment: €31,227 in 2015 and €360,785 in 2016. Up 1,115%.

Medical expenses also climbed by just over €76,000 over the past year. Again, this is primarily down to the fact that the intercounty sides went deep in several competitions and required more treatment and procedures. All told, Mayo ended the year with a surplus of €87,329. Michael Lundy joins Wooly for a wide-ranging discussion that starts with a chat about Ger Loughnane, dodgy transfers and Davy Fitzgerald's training methods. Subscribe here on iTunes.