The drop off in attendance figures at club football matches contributed to a reduced surplus, according to the financial statement for the year issued to clubs prior to Monday’s night's Meath county convention.

The income and expenditure account shows a surplus of €219,589 compared to €308,077 for 2023. Gate receipts fell to €482,918 compared to €567,212 for the previous year.

The breakdown of those figures show that gate receipts for football championship matches came to €297,369, a massive drop from the figure of €404,500 for 2023. Gate receipts for hurling championship matches increased to €131,648 from the 2023 figure of €106,653. Underage matches rose slightly to €37,051 while the sale of season tickets was down to €16,850 compared to €19,550 in 2023.

This year’s championship finals are not included in the accounts but the 2023 ones are and the triple header of the Junior B, Junior and intermediate final on the Saturday brought in a combined total of over €46,000 while the senior final (Summerhill v Ratoath) and the minor final which was the curtain-raiser realised €28,552.

Commercial income which includes sponsorship, royalties, advertising and signage, rental income and programme income was €737,227 up from the €704,346 figure. Sponsorship was €553,950 up slightly from the previous year.

Income from associated bodies, which included various grants increased to €898,556, compared to €712,751 for the previous year this despite Meath’s share from the Allianz National League, €155,698 down by almost €50,000.

Fundraising income was down significantly mainly due to the €151,496 from the house draw which was included in the 2023 figures. The supporters club €17,019, Golf Classic €39,905 and Race Day €137,380 were similar to the previous year.

The income from Cúl Camps was €463,565 up considerably from the €327,649 of the previous year.

Meath received just €52,931 in Government Grants compared to €310,637 for 2023.

On the expenditure end match day costs were down slightly to €215,903 as was the figure for team administration which totalled €1,244,945. A breakdown of that figure shows player mileage (football) €100,606, and hurling €100,448. Team manager and selectors (football) €62,250 and hurling €26,012. Backroom personnel (senior football) €163,197 and senior hurling €69,289. The team holiday for the senior footballers to Portugal before the start of the 2024 All-Ireland series cost €82,740.

Coaching & Games Development costs came to €754,995 compared to €548,595 in 2023. Cúl Camp costs were €372,199.

Administration expenses of €125,420 were down on the previous year.

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