Clarke scoops Ulster award

Armagh sharpshooter Ronan Clarke's week took an upturn yesterday when he claimed the Tennent's/Ulster GAA Writers' Merit award for July.

After Armagh's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat by Kerry last weekend, the 23-year-old's spirits were duly lifted as he collected the gong at a ceremony at the Ulster Brewery.

Clarke scored in all six of the Orchard men's championship games this summer.

A dominant force at full-forward, the Pearse Og clubman scored 0-3 (all from play) in each of his last three outings, including last month's Ulster final victory over Donegal and the loss to Kerry.

A graduate of St. Mary's College, Clarke is currently 'dispensing juice' in the hot weather and despite the Ulster champions' disappointing exit from the Sam Maguire race, he was back playing for his club last Sunday.

Clarke feels that both the Armagh players and management are sure to bounce back for next season.

He said: "I've no doubt we'll be back, firing on all cylinders for next season. I think that's the way Joe (Kernan), Paul (Grimley) and John (McCloskey) see it as well.

"Teams wrote us off after our All-Ireland win in 2002, but we keep coming back stronger and fitter."

Clarke beat off stiff competition from his county colleagues Francie Bellew and Paul McGrane to win the award, with hurlers Liam Watson (Antrim) and Paul Braniff (Down), plus Cavan footballer Paul Brady, who retained the US Handball Singles title – the first Irish man ever to win it even once – also considered.