Returning Down star Clarke happy to live for the moment
The An Ríocht player called time on his career with Collingwood to return home to his native amateur code in Ireland last year and financial issues were the least of his concerns as he looked forward to the National League in Belfast yesterday.
“Those were the figures he was getting offered. Players on my team were getting the same type of figures. If you are motivated by money then it is definitely a brilliant place to be. I certainly wasn’t as good a player as Tadhg over there. He is one of the best players in the whole league.
“But the money I could be making is not money I could be making here. It is a great lifestyle but I decided to come back and so far I have not regretted it. Whatever I am doing I won’t be thinking about what I could be doing.
“While I was over there I was thinking of here but I wasn’t saying: ‘What would happen if I was here?’ Whatever I am doing I am committed to that and think that is the best way to go, instead of looking over your shoulder all the time.”
The extent of their remuneration packages isn’t the only difference between Clarke and Kennelly. The latter has spent 10 years to Clarke’s three down under and, when the Listowel man returned, it was to a county challenging for the ultimate honour.
That said, Clarke has come home to claim some silverware too.
“I have come back to win, absolutely. Kerry are All-Ireland champions and one of the best teams. Down aren’t at that stage but we have a lot of talent and, with hard work, I believe down the line we can certainly challenge for leagues and titles.”
He will be joining men like Paul McComiskey, Conor Garvey and Kevin McKernan – colleagues from the All-Ireland-winning minor side of 2006 – but Clarke will, nonetheless, stand out this season as the county’s Prodigal Son.
No pressure then?
“The only time you feel pressure is if you read the hype in the media but it is not something I do. The changing room is the only place I care about and I am only another one of the lads, as I should be. I don’t feel any added pressure at all.
“I just concentrate on playing. It was something we were told when I first went to Collingwood, don’t get involved reading your own media. It has ruined a lot of young players’ careers.”
He has had to reacquaint himself with the lie of the land since he came home. Gone is the life of a full-time, professional athlete. Instead, he is working as a games promotion officer for the Down County Board.
He had envisioned a career in teaching before he left for Australia and the plan next year is to pick up on that path again by attending college in St Mary’s where he should also get his first taste of Sigerson Cup football.
That too will further his education but he has already soaked up a sea of life lessons in Australia. Ask him the most important thing he learned in the AFL that the GAA could benefit from and the answer is one that goes far beyond the boundaries of sport.
“They are both team sports but the way players are in training sessions and games in the AFL – Aussies are big into friendship and they are not afraid to tell their friends that they think a lot of them or give them a good hug if they have done well.
“In Irish society we are not as open. On the ground in Australia, if you did something well, four or five guys would come up to you and say: ‘Marty, keep it going’. Or if you made a bad error they would say: ‘Keep the head up mate, keep going’.
“The instructions you get on the field from the older players were so beneficial when I was starting out. They were telling me where to run, who to kick it to. It is something I have been doing since I came home.”
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