A crowd of more than 28,000 gathered at Croke Park on Saturday night for a double header to launch this year’s Allianz National Football League.
There were fireworks to celebrate the centenary of the Association’s presence on the Jones’ Road site, a moving tribute to former Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan and two strong games that suggest it will be a fine season ahead.
It was perhaps not noticed by many but one of the perimeter advertising boards in front of the Cusack Stand was for the O’Connell Street gaming emporium of Dr Quirkey’s.  The prominent location features slot machines and has generated millions for the Quirke family, one of which, Wesley is engaged to be married to Rosanna Davison.
The GAA is one of the very few national sporting associations to eschew a close national relationship with a betting or gaming partner.  In the English Premiership over half a dozen clubs carry betting company sponsorship.
High above the Davin Stand Paddy Power has a corporate box, shadowed in the Hogan Stand by Boylesports and Ladbrokes has just extended it’s interest in Ireland with a purchase of BETDAQ, the betting exchange based in Dublin’s IFSC.
It is an area of significant growth and may yet provide a fresh source of sponsorship income should the ‘moral’ question that appears to prevent greater involvement at present begin to pass.
There have been many instances of player problems with gambling in recent times but even Oisin McConville who was very open about his problems plays for Crossmaglen in a shirt that adorns a bookmaker sponsor in Bar One Racing.
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