GAA counties have this week been completing a number of sponsorship deals on the eve of the Allianz National Football League.
Galway footballers will for the first time carry the same logo as the senior hurlers with locally based Supermacs extending their 20 year relationship with the county board to include both codes.  The new deal is believed to be worth over €120,000 with possible bonuses bringing it to €200,000 a year.
The initial contract is for two years with an option to extend to five.  Subsidiary brand Papa John’s Pizza will be worn on all under age county jerseys.  This extends the value for the parent company and also averts the concerns that might have been raised about a fast food retail chain being promoted on younger player’s jerseys.
“This new inter-county sponsorship gives us certainty that for the next few years all of our inter-county teams can be well resourced and supported in modern amateur games,” said Galway GAA County Board Chairman Noel Treacy.
Kildare has also signed up with local meat company Brady Family Ham and the largest single outstanding deal on the table is now with Cork GAA.
The county footballers will wear a slogan promoting awareness of testicular cancer for this Saturday night’s floodlit opener of the season at Croke Park.
The message will be on the jerseys as part of an agreement with the Mercy Hospital Foundation.
It follows a similar charitable initiative in the corresponding game last year when Dublin sponsor Vodafone gave over the jersey for one night to ‘Talk, Listen, Change’ a suicide awareness campaign.
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