Treasurer flags impending cuts

County board treasurer Martin Cahill warned gravely of the need for the association in this county to "target further reduction [in expenditure] in every way possible" at the convention last Thursday night. With an operating deficit of over €60,000 in 2009, Cahill admitted that Cavan GAA must "tighten its belt" in order to weather the economic storm. While expenditure was reduced by €120,000 on the previous year, income was "severely reduced", said Cahill. "On the day to day running of activities, we almost broke even," said the Denn clubman. "However, we have to look at everything very, very seriously next year." The Denn clubman revealed that he will meet with all sub-committees "in the next ten days" and that there will be "upwards of a 10 per cent cut in spending going forward". On a positive note, the board's long-term loans are reducing steadily, said Cahill. While, €1.6m is still owed on Kingspan Breffni Park, 120,000 was paid off in 2009. In all, €795,000 was spent on the new 3G pitch, with €275,000 of that being spent in the six weeks prior to the convention. Of the 1.1m that project will cost, 1m will come from Croke Park, confirmed Cahill. Surprisingly, gate income was up, and Cahill acknowledged the work of assistant treasurer Tom Moore in organising the turnstiles and clubs for returning money in timely fashion. Overall, there was what Cahill referred to as "an alarming fall" in Cavan's National League share, which the treasurer said was explained by the fact that Cavan were in Division Three rather than Division Two of the league. Three home league games against Tipperary, Limerick and Roscommon brought in just €20,000, it was revealed, whereas the corresponding matches against Meath, Dublin and Cork 12 months previously has taken in 100,000. In the championship, there was a 13,000 fall in attendance figures between the Armagh match in 2008 and the Fermanagh game in June 2009, hosted in Breffni Park. Cahill acknowledged the work of Niall Brady of the commercial committee, stating that without his work the board "would be in really big trouble". The board has decided to reduce rates for advertising in Kingspan Breffni Park by 15 per cent, he said. The Supporters' Club, a loyal friend to Cavan GAA for a long number of years, "haven't been able to contribute as keenly in the past" said Cahill, noting that while they had raised €30,000 in 2008, they were still in a position to hand over 10,000 this year. There was no corporate night but the formation of Club Breifne, which is approaching 200 members, had helped to compensate for that and raised €82,000 from June to the end of October. In a full year, Cahill said, he would expect the club to generate €140,000. The World record attempt in June also raised €25,000 for the board.