Armagh talisman Clarke set to miss club championship and league campaign on extended break

Fresh from Armagh’s gut-wrenching defeat to Donegal in last week’s All-Ireland quarter-final, the

Orchard County captain Jamie Clarke is to take an extended break from the game.

Having travelled extensively last year, Clarke is set to spend the next nine months in Spain, according to reports.

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The decision by the Armagh talisman is a blow to incoming manager Kieran McGeeney who will be without Clarke for the opening of next year’s National Football League campaign when they will look to escape the clutches of division three.

Even more concerned than McGeeney will be Clarke’s club Crossmaglen who begin the defence of their Armagh senior title against Sarsfields this weekend.

Clarke had a disappointing outing against Donegal failing to score in the 70 minutes having been expertly marshalled by Neil McGee as Armagh lost out by a single point.