Clarke adds to Down joy with poc fada win

Goalkeeper Graham Clarke completed a stellar day for Down GAA when he won the overall title in the M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada competition at the Annaverna Mountain.

With the Down footballers dethroning All-Ireland champions Kerry, Clarke continued the winning theme by becoming 'King of the Mountain' for the first time.

In the best weather conditions witnessed at the Cooley, Co Louth venue in many years, he beat Clare's Brendan McNamara into second, finishing the five-kilometre course in 51 pucks.

However, Clarke missed out on the Comortais Beirte title. Partnered by Tipperary forward Eoin Kelly, he had to be content with second place in the pairs event.

Last year's overall winner Gerry Fallon claimed a stake in the pairs title for the second year in-a-row, as the Roscommon captain teamed up with Galway's James Skehill to win with a final tally of 113 pucks. They had 65 metres to spare over the second-placed Clarke and Kelly who finished with the same number of pucks.

Meanwhile, Waterford's Patricia Jackman won her second successive Senior Camogie Poc Fada crown in 28 pucks.

Fionnuala Carr, daughter of former Down senior football manager Ross Carr, finished second with 29 pucks.

Galway's Owen Treacy was the Under-16 boys winner, with a final tally of 26 pucks - two ahead of Munster champion Sean Barry from Waterford.