Donegal GAA ladies player Shannon McGroddy has welcomed the sponsorship deal between LIDL and the LGFA as a massive breakthrough for the sport.
Last month, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association announced that LIDL will pump €1.5 million of funding into the game for the coming season.
by Enda Coll
The store chain will pump €1.5 million in the first twelve months of the three-year deal they signed.
The intent is to raise the awareness for Women’s sport and improve the sport to a higher stage.
A spokesperson for the LGFA believed that the prestige brought by this sponsorship could be a stepping-stone for the elevation of the sport.
“With a partner like Lidl we know that we can continue to develop the sport and continue with the impressive growth that the game has experienced over the past decade.
“This will be an exciting three years for all associated with Ladies Gaelic Football.”
However, is enough being done to help elevate the sport to a level that would encourage more sponsors like LIDL to come in?
Donegal senior county player and multi-Ulster All Star award winner Shannon McGroddy believes that whilst the sponsorship deal is a massive step forward that more can still be done for the sport.
McGroddy told Donegal Daily, “I think with a major sponsor such as Lidl getting behind us is a major breakthrough for ladies football. It’s exactly what the association and the players need. We need support.
“The Lidl campaign has been talked about very highly in the media, not only is it promoting their business but it is also giving ladies football the recognition it deserves which is often not there.
“It is one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland so therefore I couldn’t see why other companies wouldn’t want to get on-board in the future.”
“If I had the choice I would invest the money into the very roots of the association in developing and coaching young and upcoming players at club and county.
“Secondly I would ensure the smooth running of ladies county squads where the availability of suitable pitches and facilities are not an issue. And overall promote the game itself.”
“Anyone who is an avid follower of the game will understand the time, effort, commitment and sacrifice that is essential in producing the top quality football that is there.
“I agree that we can do more to elevate the sport, especially with regards to getting viewers.
“Some of the biggest games held throughout the season are not shown on TV and think this is really degrading for the players who dedicate so much of their life to the jersey.
“In fairness to TG4 they show some games throughout the year, but if we are trying to promote our sport, do viewers really want to be watching qualifier games?
“They want to be watching the highly contested games, the ones which are make or break, do or die and things are at stake- provincial finals, all Ireland semis etc – Lidl took the first step forward in leading the way for future investments and so will continue to benefit the sport in the future”
“In some ways women’s football doesn’t receive proper attention. In my own experience at county level we struggle to get the good pitches and facilities for both training and games in comparison to the men.
“Sometimes we are given half a pitch for a squad of 30 players and it’s just impossible for coaches and managers to get substantial work done with that. At the end of the day ladies football is marginalized.
“There isn’t enough funding to give players what they need to perform to the best of their ability and there certainly isn’t enough media coverage. When you open the paper there is a lack of in-depth analysis on games in comparison to a four page write up on a men’s county match.
“I reached an all Ireland final with my club in 2014, we played our game in Tuam stadium. No disrespect to the club, their facilities were spot on. But why couldn’t we play in Croke Park?
“It’s the home of Gaelic football and the place where any footballer can only dream about playing the whole way through their career. Bruce Springsteen and the likes have had the privilege and yet ladies are denied access to these privileges.”
“At the end of the day it’s all about exposure, if we get the exposure we will get the support and if we get the support, we will overcome the inequality. Simple.”
Given the opportunity, increased funding and more attention, there’s no reason why ladies GAA could not reach the level of men’s. But to get there, it requires years of patience while proper foundations can be set in place for it.
“The sponsorship deal is but a stepping stone on a long road for ladies football and more than likely it won’t be last big company to invest in the future of the sport.”
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