Pushy sideline parents and over competitive clubs are putting children off sport.

Betting firms will be prohibited from engaging in any form of GAA sponsorship from 2019 onwards if a motion to the 2018 Annual Congress is passed later this month.

The introduction of a gambling ban is a necessary step to protect GAA players, according to the GAA's Community and Health manager Colin Regan.

The GAA is to make a proposal to the Government seeking to prevent bookmakers from offering odds on games involving players under the age of 18.

It is not unusual for club and inter-county players diagnosed with chronic illnesses to first approach the GAA in seeking help, a leading official revealed.

Maintaining mental fitness requires work and skill development in the same way as maintaining our physical fitness does.

Everyone welcomes the new focus and openness on mental health within the GAA – recent efforts to remove the stigma about discussing such issues are doing wonders for people facing these challenges all over the country.

The GAA will today launch a new campaign to help tackle the stigma surrounding talking about mental health.

The GAA dealt with what it deemed were 26 “critical incidents” relating to mental health last year that clubs themselves felt unable to respond to across issues such as death by suicide, problems with addiction and Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

The GAA and the HSE launched a joint venture yesterday in Cork which seeks to address the problem of stress in Irish society.

GAA president Liam O’Neill has denied that the association values money over players.

When Colin Regan and his fiancée, Siobhan Grace, moved into their new home on the outskirts of Carrick-on-Suir in 2009, they were assured that the houses in Hazel Close were the best-built in town.

COLIN REGAN never expected to be in this job. On February 21, 2010, his mind was only on football as he jogged out onto the pitch for the first run out of the year with Melvin Gaels, a day after firing 1-1 for the Leitrim senior footballers in a league game against Kilkenny.

THE GAA should continue accepting sponsorship from drinks companies until the government tells them not to, according to the association’s alcohol abuse prevention co-ordinator.

FORMER Armagh footballer Oisín McConville, who highlighted his chronic gambling problem in his autobiography and who now counsels addicts, says it is far from ideal that his club is now being sponsored by a bookmaker.

A SPORTS psychologist who deals with GAA players who have alcohol addiction problems has disclosed that the youngest person she is dealing with is just 15.

Leitrim manager Mickey Moran has handed Wayne McKeon and Ray Mulvey their Championship debuts for Sunday's Connacht SFC semi-final against Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Leitrim have been hit with two massive injury setbacks, as forward duo Emlyn Mulligan and Colin Regan have both been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Leitrim boss Mickey Moran has drafted in six players to debut in championship football.

TIPPERARY GAA officials have approved in principle the appointment of senior football boss John Evans as the county’s new director of Gaelic Football.

Wicklow 0-15 Leitrim 0-12

The Leitrim team was announced last night in advance of the Connacht Senior Football Championship encounter against Galway in Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

LEITRIM 1-09 MAYO 1-10

Dublin face Leitrim in the second round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers today at Carrick-on-Shannon

Leitrim manager Declan Rowley has rung the changes for Saturday's daunting All-Ireland football qualifier against Dublin in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Roscommon 1-9 Leitrim 0-5