RONAN Clarke’s All-Ireland winning team-mate Oisin McConville has said he thought that the Pearse Og star forward was on his way back to becoming the player he was when he won the 2002 Young Player of the Year award.
McConville was speaking after news that Clarke’s condition has improved following his head injury after colliding with a goal post while playing for his club Pearse Og in a Senior Club Championship game against Maghery.
The Crossmaglen manager recalls Clarke entering the Armagh squad and his early signs that he would be a success.
“Not only did he clean Seamus Moynihan out in the 2002 All-Ireland Final but you have to remember that he was only 19-years-old back then,” said McConville.
“The thing I remember about Ronan coming onto the panel is that he never got fazed by anything, he took everything in his stride, and he was a real good lad to have about the place and a breath of fresh air.
“Most players that come into the Armagh squad back then would have been happy to sit on the bench for a year or too but he wasn’t one of those players. He wanted to come in and play and if he didn’t feature he wasn’t happy and I always thought that is a great sign for such a young player.”
McConville also feels that his determination to come back from several injuries and set-backs over the years speaks volumes for Clarke and in a club game against Cross earlier this season, the Pearse Og forward caught McConville’s eye.
“His inter-county career was cut short with an Achilles injury but he has always battled back to be fair to him,” said McConville.
“We played them a couple of times in the league over the past two years and this year, and he looked to be back to how he used to be. He had that touch of class and it is just a pity that he has been rocked by another injury.”
McConville added that the GAA have taken steps to address the issue of head injuries but it will take time before this work filters down to clubs.
“The GAA has done a lot of work in concussion but we are never going to get a hundred percent of it right. Most of the work being done is aimed towards inter-county level but as it feeds down to club level there probably isn’t the resources or the same know how,” stressed McConville.
“The thing about a head injury it is not the actual impact but how it affects the head later on. I am glad the signs are that he is improving all the time and I just wish him a speedy recovery.
“A lot of people would have thrown the towel in long ago, but he has battled back time and time again to play for his club and I am sure there were dark days and that he thought he would never play for Pearse Og [again] but he kept battling and that is the measure of the man.”
Meanwhile, news of the unfortunate injury to befall the Armagh man prompted many messages of support on social media. Among them, Clarke’s former Armagh team mate, Steven McDonnell, who tweeted: Hoping my ex team mate and partner in crime in the full forward line stays strong and pulls through. #Clarkie #Legend.
Ballinderry footballer Coilin Devlin also tweeted his support saying: Thoughts and prayers still with Ronan Clarke and all his family at this unimaginably tough time #KeepUpTheFight.
Kerry legend Tomas O’Se commented: Desperate news about Ronan Clarke. Great fella. Hope he makes full recovery. No doubt he will. Best wishes fella
And ex-Wexford footballer, Matty Forde said: Terrible news regarding Ronan Clarke, here’s to a quick and full recovery #topplayer #topman.
