No one in Irish sport believes money is the only key to success and yet few things cause greater stir among the governing bodies than the announcement of the high-performance grants.

Yesterday the Irish Sports Council allocated €4.25 million to 14 different governing bodies on top of the €1.92 million allocated under the carding scheme, with the idea of at least partly buying their way to medals at major championships.

As always, they haven't pleased everyone, but unlike last year, at least the governing bodies knew what was coming. The Athletics Association of Ireland, for example, only submitted athletes they were sure met the Sports Council's criteria, and as a result all those applications were accepted.

But across all sports there are probably more losers than winners. Maria McCambridge joins the long list of Irish athletes to find themselves outside the loop, and there's no room either for long jumper Ciaran McDonagh. However. the young blind sports sprinter Jason Smyth, though still in school, has been given one of the new contract grants worth €40,000.

Olympic rower Sam Lynch, who got €30,500 last year, is dropped as he doesn't have any competitive plans for the year ahead, while fellow rowers Richie Archibald, Paul Griffin, Tim Harnedy and Eugene Coakley got new contract grants worth €30,000 each. Paralympic sports have also benefited significantly this year, with cerebral palsy athlete Derek Malone getting €40,000, swimmer David Malone getting €38,720, and thrower John McCarthy getting €35,700.

Triathlete Bobby Behan is also rewarded for working his way up the world rankings with a €12,000 grant, with Ireland's two most promising boxers - Darren Sutherland and Kenneth Egan - getting €20,000 each.

According to Finbarr Kirwan, the Sports Council's high performance director, the grant system continues to evolve, reflected in the introduction this year of the performance bonus. "The bonus will be 25 per cent of whatever the agreed payment, and that's for any colour medal, based on criteria agreed with the sport. That's laid down as part of application.

"And with the performance bonus there is the chance to make more than last year. What we're saying is we want to give you a certain amount of support at this point, but there is the opportunity to step up based on performance.

"To a certain extent we're asking the athletes to prove themselves, but at the same time we have to be reasonable as well, and if it doesn't happen because of injury or whatever we'll take that into account.

"The grants are also contingent on quarterly meetings, so it is conceivable that an athlete could lose their grant three-quarters of the way through the year."

Overall breakdown: Athletics Association of Ireland €445,000; Badminton Union of Ireland €130,000; Cycling Ireland €200,000; Equestrian Federation of Ireland €480,000; Golf Union of Ireland €320,000; Irish Amateur Boxing Association €480,000; Irish Amateur Fencing Federation €10,000; Irish Amateur Rowing Union €470,000; Irish Canoe Union €275,000; Irish Hockey Association €330,000; Irish Ladies Golf Union €90,000; Irish Sailing Association €370,000; Paralympic Council of Ireland €270,000; Swim Ireland €210,000.