Bellaghy’s use of technology has meant that their lockdown training has went very well.

The Wolfe Tones purchased a set of GPS trackers last year, and the senior players have used them while they have been training in isolation.

The measure has meant that the players feel more confident about their preparation, and the management – headed by John McKeever – is happy that the players have more accountability for their work.

“We are lucky that the club invested in the GPS units, 19 units. The players are doing the running blocks at the moment and all the data comes back to us. So there is good accountability there,” McKeever said.

“You can actually see what players are doing, whereas last year they were just putting details of their run in, and pictures of them doing it.

“We are in regular contact with them.”

The management set a running plan at the start of the week. They have Zoom meetings with the players, and they answer questions that the players have.

The GPS systems are something that McKeever used when he was manager of Coalisland a couple of years ago.

“They are something that you’d hear more about at county level, but clubs are looking at them now. We found them very useful. Peter Donnelly was part of our squad. He had a good word for them and was up to date in how to use them. He knew how to set up the players. We saw a great benefit with them as players could see exactly where they were at in training sessions, and in games.

“It was an idea after coming off lockdown that Bellaghy club would invest in tem for the players. We didn’t think there would be another lockdown. We were investing in them anyway.

“Kieran Glackin (assisting McKeever in Bellaghy) used them with Derry development squads, so he was keen on them. We haven’t looked back. The players are very familiar with them now. They can see the benefits of them. A lot of clubs would have got them, or are looking at them.”

They are looking forward to April 12 when they can get out in groups of 15.

“That will be great just to get the boys out, and get them the social aspect of it so they can see each other. I don’t think we will get competitive games till June or July time. But we are making the best of difficult situation.”

The ambitions for this group is great.

“We have a great group of young players. They won that Ulster minor tournament a few years ago. The challenge for them now is to move from underage to senior.

“At the minute it is about developing these players over the next few years. They missed a league campaign last year. That would have helped the younger players. A lot of them were thrown into the heat of championship football. It would have been nice to get a league campaign. That is what we are hoping for in the next few months.”

Seven players made their debut. They had an average age on the senior team of around 22. Eoghan Brown is the oldest player but there are a lot more younger players than older ones.

“The future is definitely exciting in terms of the pool of players. They are a nice age. But they are in a process of development and they have to keep moving forward,” McKeever added.