Athlone Town secured the Sports Direct FAI Cup in Tallaght yesterday evening after a thrilling match was decided on penalties. One of the main talking points off the pitch however were comments from the Athlone Town director of football regarding the absence of the Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne TD, and funding for football from the government.
Shelbourne looked set for glory again when Jemma Quinn rifled one from the edge of the area, giving Katie Keane no chance away to her left. However, in just their third season, the Athlone side battled back from 2-1 down with 5 minutes left in extra time to score a crucial equaliser.
Pure drama in Tallaght! Gillian Keenan levels it late in extra-time for Athlone Town!pic.twitter.com/2kN8WsAn86
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 19, 2023
Athlone came out 4-3 winners on penalties after Shelbourne's final penalty smashed in to the crossbar. It is a phenomenal achievement for this team but the reaction from club director of football Michael O'Connor afterwards was not quite celebratory, as he stated, "Considering that they are doing it on their own, with absolutely no support from the government."
"We are drowning," he added.
O'Connor directed strong criticism at the government and its funding of League of Ireland football after last night's incredible win, in particular, the absence of the Minister for Sport.
READ MORE: Athlone Town Director Of Football Goes In Two-Footed On Government
The minister replies
Balls.ie asked the Minister for Sport if he had attended the match. Minster Byrne replied on Monday evening, saying:
“As Sport Minister, I do my best to make as many matches, tournaments and sporting events as possible but I was not in attendance at the Women's FAI Cup final on Sunday.
He also spoke about the government's support for women's football, and Athlone Town in particular. He said the club had received over €3 million in government support.
One of the earliest women's matches I attended this year as sport minister was the inaugural President’s Cup held in Athlone in February. At that match, I engaged with members of the club to hear their plans for the future. Athlone Town has received significant Government financial support to date. €2,850,000 in Government funding under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme was allocated to Athlone Town during the years that the new home stadium was built by the club. In addition, Athlone Town was allocated €200,000 by the Government in 2015 for an all-weather pitch and in 2020, the club was allocated €251,675 by the Government to provide suitable and appropriate accommodation for existing members of the club and in order to increase female participation.
Apart from Athlone Town, I have met a number of other League of Ireland clubs this year and I am always happy to engage with them. More generally, between the support package provided by the Government under the Memorandum of Understanding, Covid support funding, energy support funding, women in sport funding, and other various programme funding, almost €62 million has been provided to the FAI between 2019 and 2022. That is a very significant level of Government investment in a single sporting organisation.
The Government support package, set out under the Memorandum of Understanding, provided for the restoration and doubling of funding for football development to €5.8million, each year, from 2020 to 2023. This amount is more than is provided in comparison to any other National Governing Body of Sport. In July, Minister Martin and I also announced additional programme funding to the FAI of up to €500,000 to support women’s and girls’ football. This funding will be invested primarily in the areas of coaching, grassroots and female leadership.
At present, my Department and I are engaging with Sport Ireland in relation to the issues raised in the KOSI audit, which was carried out in connection with the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Government and the FAI. It is in the best interests of football to get these issues resolved soon and once the necessary clarifications are received from the FAI and are to our satisfaction, the current suspension of funds can be lifted quite quickly.”
