Royals secure regal deal with Comer Group
by Conall Collier Updated: Wednesday, 10th February, 2010 5:00pm
Dunboyne businessman Luke Comer is backing the Royal County for success in 2010 and 2011.
Meath GAA Co Committee chairman Barney Allen unveiled the Comer Group from Dunboyne as the new sponsor of the county's football teams at Monday night's meeting in Navan.
The Comer Group are involved in property development, mainly in England and Germany, but also have business interests in the USA and Africa and have strong connections with the local GAA club in Dunboyne.
Luke and Brian Comer are the men behind the two-year sponsorship deal which will see the company logo replacing Menolly Group on the Royal County football jerseys,
The new-look jersey will be ready for the next home game in the NFL Div 2 when Meath take on local rivals Westmeath on Saturday, 6th March.
"I thought it was a good idea to get involved with the Meath GAA team although we don't have any significant business interests in Ireland, at the moment," Luke Comer told the Meath Chronicle on Monday.
"That might change in the future of course, but for the moment we are delighted with this opportunity which, I believe, will broaden our profile in this country.
"We have business interests in England and Germany and also in Uganda and the USA, so it's likely that the logo on the new jersey will reflct that, Comer Group International, perhaps, but we will be working out those details this week.
"There is also the possibility, although it might be remote at this stage, that Meath and Galway could clash in this year's All-Ireland SFC final next September," suggested the Galway native who has already seen his son, Barry, play for Meath in the 2002 All-Ireland MFC decider at Croke Park.
"Meath playing Galway in the big game of the year would be the perfect scenario for me, a sort of situation where I couldn't lose, I suppose.
"After Galway's display in the NFL Div 1 against Mayo on Sunday that would seem to be a remote prospect, but then you never know what way things will go in sport," he added.
The Dunboyne man was an interested spectator at Pairc Tailteann last Saturday night where Meath survived a stern challenge from Armagh to open their NFL Div 2 account on a winning note.
"I was at the game on Saturday night and I really enjoyed it, it was exciting and there certainly was plenty of drama and a few talking points.
"I thought Meath produced a great performance and were a bit unlucky not to win with a more in hand, Cian Ward was a bit unlucky from a few of those long-range frees in the second-half.
"The attitude of the players impressed me greatly and it was fine performance to beat Armagh, hopefully they can keep the run going this weekend when they tackle Down in the second round," he added.
Barry Comer was also involved in the opening round of the NFL at the weekend when he turned out for London in the corner back position against Limerick at Ruislip. The Munster side won by 0-17 to 1-4.
"Barry maintained his interest in the GAA when he went to London a few years ago, but I have another son, Robbie, and he plays juvenile football with Dunboyne at the moment, so there is lots of GAA activity in the Comer household every week," added the new sponsor of the Royal County who resisted the urge to disclose the amount of the deal which will be in place until 2011 with an option to renew for 2012.
"It's a substantial sponsorship, but I will leave it to the Meath Co Board officials to deal with the media on that particular issue," he quipped.
Luke Comer's main sporting passion is racehorses and he trains at an impressive facility at Brookville House, Dunboyne. He was in the winners' enclosre at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival when Kings Bastion won a hurdle race for Timmy Carroll, a grandson of Frankie Carroll from Kildalkey, on St Stephen's Day.
He also completed a quick double at Dundalk on the flat in November when Bashkirov won twice in two days while he also enjoyed some notable success with that versatile campaigner Chimes at Midnight which won the grade three Curragh Cup in 2001 and was ridden by Curraha jockey Martin Mooney in the 2002 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. That race was won by Hors La Loi.
This year, Comer may send Royal and Regal to run in the Champion Hurdle in his well-know maroon and white colours of his native Galway.
"We finished the year on a high with a winner at Leopardstown at Christmas and Bashkirov won twice on the all-weather at Dundalk in November," he remarked.
"I have entered Royal and Regal in the Champion Hurdle next month, but he suffered a small setback a couple of weeks ago, he is only swimming at the moment.
"He will only go to Cheltenham if he is right for the day as it would be a big challenge, especially with Noel Meade going for the £1,000,000 bonus with Go Native, it's a question of wait and see.
"Meath manager Eamonn O'Brien faces the same problems every week, trying to keep the players fit and injury-free for the big games, so I suppose there is a common link there," he concluded.
"I'm delighted that we have secured such a good deal with the Comer Group for the next two years with an option to renew for a longer period," stated Co Board chairman Barney Allen.
"I want to thank Cyril Creavin and Pat Clerkin for their assistance with this project, we talked to about 20 companies and had meetings with half a dozen."
The chairman refused to disclose the value of the sponsorship package and informed delegates that the information would be in the accounts next December.
"We learned that we were losing Menolly two days before the convention, we received great support from Seamus Ross for the last four years," stated treasurer Pat Clerkin.
"We are happy to have the Comer Group on board for the next two years, it's a great boost for us in the current economic climate."
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