Clarke on verge of making teen dreams come true

Aged just 16, Mayo people knew there was something special about David Clarke.

He was spending all his spare time at James Stephens Park in Ballina practising his kick-outs, working on flexibility and getting the results on the field.

JP Kean called him up to the county minors who reached the All-Ireland MFC final in 2000. People started to take notice of the fourth year St Muredach’s College student and the local paper, the Western People, interviewed him.

Back then it was a simpler time. His favourite bands were Oasis and The Corrs, The General was his film of choice while Cindy Crawford occupied a special place in his heart. On the field, JP set a goal he is still trying to achieve — to win an All-Ireland.

Though they lost to Cork by five points, there would be bigger disappointments to follow. He joined the senior panel in 2001 but spent his time playing second fiddle to current goalkeeping coach Peter Burke. In fact, he spent most of his early years vying with Fintan Ruddy for the spot on the bench.

The position was never truly his and then Kenneth O’Malley came along. Although he started the 2006 final he says he barely remembers the experience because he was moving from life as a trainee garda in Templemore to the full job in Galway City. Last year, plagued by injury, he lost his spot to Robert Hennelly.

But his biggest disappointment was losing his place to John Healy for the All-Ireland club final win over Portlaoise in 2005. A rota system counted against him and he didn’t even come home for the celebrations.

“At different stages I got different setbacks and wasn’t playing on certain teams but it’s down to the individual,” he said.

“It’s all right when things are going well for you, you can float along. But when you get a setback with injuries and get that bit older you ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this? Do I really want to make this the most important thing for the majority of the year? Or do you want to do something else’?”

Looking back now though, on the verge of leading his team out on an All-Ireland final weekend, he views those moments as formative. From the day he lined out in the town leagues he always wanted to be Mayo’s No 1.

He had great aids to help him achieve that ambition. His National School teacher Liam Higgins was a goalkeeper for Ballina and coached one of his first teams. His underage trainer and neighbour Barry Murphy also played senior for the club. Both men’s influence was crucial but his main inspiration was Alex Ferguson.

Like many things from that 2000 interview, fashions may have changed but icons and ideals remain the same. Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel was and is still his greatest influence while “anything to do with history” occupies his reading space.

So he will know that no Mayo captain has hoisted Sam above his head for 61 years and for all his hard work to pay off, he has to break that depressing streak.

He says: “It’s all there for us, it’s down to us now to perform.”