GAELIC GAMES CONVENTION NEWS:  MEATH COUNTY board officials have reported a €205,000 profit for the financial year, an increase of €85,000 on 2007 figures.

County board treasurer Pat Clerkin reported a surplus of €204,796 to delegates attending last Sunday's annual convention, a significant jump from the €120,000 profit reported 12 months previously.

Income was down €12,000 to €1,555,000 while expenditure fell by €97,000 from €1,447,000 in 2007 to €1,350,000.

Clerkin explained: "That would be partly explained by the fact the senior footballers were knocked out of the Leinster championship in the first-round and the first round of the qualifiers in Limerick. The minors won the Leinster title and contested an All-Ireland semi-final, the juniors were in the Leinster final while the senior hurlers contested the Kehoe Cup, the National and the Christy Ring Cup."

Figures indicate gate receipts from club fixtures rose by €13,000 to €408,000 but Clerkin warned the true situation should give cause for concern. He revealed: "Included in that €408,000 is the replay of the 2007 county football final . . . and accounts for some €32,000. So whilst they look good on accounts, it's only right to point out gate receipts are down. There was also a replayed hurling final which would have brought in €11,000 so there is an actual deficit of over €40,000."

The cost of preparing Meath's intercounty teams dropped by € €72,000 to €601,000 while the cost of maintaining Navan's Páirc Tailteann and the centre of excellence at Dunganny came in at a massive €185,000. Clerkin added: "Borrowing of €750,000 remains the same as last year while to date . . . we have invested a little over €4 million in Dunganny. We have to look at what the next project in Dunganny is going to be. We have three Prunty pitches, an all-weather pitch along with dressingrooms and showers but there is scope for three more pitches."