Parting of way between Supermac’s and Galway GAA can’t be ruled out

Inside Track with John McIntyre

NO matter how the current conflict between the Galway GAA and their long-time sponsor Supermac’s pans out over the coming weeks, some bridges have been burned and a parting of ways can’t be ruled out down the road.

Supermac’s presumed it was taking the high-moral ground when demanding that the County Board clarify how exactly their sponsorship money was being spent and how the players and team managements were benefiting.

It was a bolt out of the blue and led to the rigidity of local GAA governance coming under the national spotlight again. Pat McDonagh and Supermac’s pulled no punches and concluded their statement by revealing how much the company has invested in Galway hurling and Gaelic football over the past five years.

The successful fast-food chain insisted that going public was in response to supporters and delegates’ questions in relation to their sponsorship, but judging from the reaction of local GAA people over the past few days, Supermac’s appear to have made a significant miscalculation.

Firstly, the company breached a confidentially agreement between the parties in relation to their funding of Galway GAA teams; secondly, the timing of the statement went down like a lead balloon given the county’s ongoing search for new hurling and football senior managers; while thirdly, Supermac’s total sponsorship of €1.5m since 2014 has been commonly dismissed in “is that all” tones.

That is a somewhat flippant reaction, however. Supermac’s have stood shoulder to shoulder with Galway GAA since 1991 and there have been some lean years during that time when the men in maroon were not All-Ireland contenders and sponsorship appealing. And, of course, the elephant in the room is what other company would have been prepared to plough so much money into supporting the hurlers and footballers?

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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