A local volunteer has highlighted the importance of making sure that young people continue to play sports as they get older.
That’s according to Colm Connolly, an underage coach with Clones GAA.
He highlighted that in rural areas, facilities are essential to keeping young people involved with sport.
It comes as the club has outlined ambitious plans to renovate and expand its facilities.
The upgrade to the clubs facilities includes a full-size GAA playing field, a dedicated juvenile playing field, new clubrooms featuring a multi-purpose sports hall, and a new perimeter walking track.
Mr. Connolly explained how keeping young people in sports can benefit clubs in the future.
He said: "Where I am at under six and under eight, you could have on a busy night, close to 35 or 40 in an indoor hall, other clubs would have similar numbers, if not more.
"If those numbers continue, and you'd love to keep those numbers throughout the age groups, that's going to translate into significant senior teams as you go up, and you're going to need the facilities to support that.
"It's really important, whether the area is densely populated or rural, that the facilities are there for young people to access sports, all sports. To give them the area where they can train and play and enjoy themselves," Mr. Connolly added.
