Goggins: Distribute GAA funding evenly across the country

FORMER Dublin footballer Coman Goggins has called on the GAA to distribute funding equally across the country in the wake of his county’s four-in-a-row success.

Over the past decade Dublin have received the lion’s share of games development funding, their total coming in at €16.6m between 2007 and 2017, with Cork the next highest county at €1.1m, and Goggins believes that should be spread more evenly across the 32 counties.

“The money has laid a foundation for what can be achieved and it needs to be distributed fairly around the country so everyone has an opportunity,” said Goggins at the launch of the Dublin Sportsfest.

“They need to sit down and look at the overall mapping of sports funding to ensure we’re creating a fair playing ground for everyone across all sports, not just the GAA.”

However, Goggins (pictured) rejected the assertion that investment has been the prime reason for Dublin’s success.

“It might support development and trying to keep people in sport and gain numbers across the GAA, but this group and what they’re trying to achieve is down to want and desire.

“When you look at the team and what they’re achieving, no money can buy the commitment, the passion, the resilience that these guys have, the ability to learn and develop.”

Goggins highlighted the lack of success by Dublin’s minors as proof that investment doesn’t automatically translate to success and paid tribute to those who have developed this golden generation.

“Their coaching has been phenomenal from the time they were 13 or 14 because the people coaching them voluntarily invested in their time and energy to the best of their ability. Dublin’s success at minor level is quite poor compared to other counties so you can’t say that money is going to guarantee you minor All Irelands. It’s attitude, coaching, teaching guys to perform to the best of their ability.”

Goggins admitted Dublin’s success may be bad for the game’s popularity but he believes they will have no shortage of genuine challengers in the years ahead.

“I can understand the argument that it takes the excitement out of it but from a Dublin perspective, all they can focus on is how they can get better.

“They stood still one year and got caught cold by Donegal but they haven’t stood still since. I appreciate that it’s difficult for others to follow but they’re the benchmark that you have to try and get to.”