Down to leave door open as Clarke jets off

DOWN County Board secretary Sean Óg McAteer insists the door will always remain open for Marty Clarke to return to the Mourne County’s football ranks following confirmation yesterday that the An Ríocht player is returning to Australia to resume his AFL career with Collingwood.

Clarke, who played 46 games in his first stint with the Melbourne club between 2007 and 2009, has opted to rejoin his former club after lining out for Down for the past two seasons.

The attacker, who was central to the county’s run to last year’s All-Ireland final, has been heavily linked with a move back to Collingwood this year and McAteer is adamant that Clarke’s switch had always been well-flagged.