Football

Jamie Clarke opted out of Armagh fold - McGeeney

Jamie Clarke in action against Galway last summer - that Qualifier looks likely to be Clarke's last in Armagh colours for some time
Jamie Clarke in action against Galway last summer - that Qualifier looks likely to be Clarke's last in Armagh colours for some time Jamie Clarke in action against Galway last summer - that Qualifier looks likely to be Clarke's last in Armagh colours for some time

JAMIE CLARKE won’t play for Armagh this season, Orchard county manager Kieran McGeeney has confirmed.

The Crossmaglen forward has told McGeeney he intends to return to the USA after the conclusion of his club’s All-Ireland championship campaign, which begins with a semi-final against Connacht champions Castlebar Mitchel's on February 13.

“Jamie has indicated that he is gone for the year,” said McGeeney after Armagh lost their Dr McKenna Cup opener to Cavan last Sunday.

“He’ll probably go back to the States.”

Clarke wasn’t at his best last season, but he did produce two match-winning displays: 1-5 against Tipperary in the first game of the league and 2-4 against Wicklow in the Qualifiers. His rare ability will be difficult to replace, but McGeeney is confident his club colleagues will return to the fold at the end of Crossmaglen’s All-Ireland run.

“We just let Crossmaglen batter away,” said McGeeney.

“Tony Kernan is just after getting married, so we have to let him settle into that as well. James [Morgan] will be back and then Aidan Rushe is playing very well and Paul McKeown. It depends, when you ask a player they have to want to play for the county too, so hopefully we’ll have a few of them in. Touch wood, they’ll go on [and win the All-Ireland] because it’s good to have winners on your team.”

Until their return, McGeeney will focus on a panel that includes several new faces, including Wolfe Tone clubman Ruairí McCaughley, who started at corner-back against Cavan.

“Ruairí sort of got a baptism of fire in the first-half but did okay,” said McGeeney.

“Niall Grimley, Joe McElroy, Jemar [Hall]… there was a few out there and Rory Grugan was back in there. There’s a few other fellas who are showing well but were with their colleges today, but we have a lot of improving to do. Ciarán [McKeever] did well and Brendan Donaghy came on and did very well. It’s getting game-time for your experienced players too.”

Donaghy scored a rare point - one of only 11 Armagh managed in the game. In the end, they had more wides than scores and McGeeney says they need to improve on their finishing to be competitive in Division Two.

“We average around 12-13 scores and that’s not going to be enough to win,” he said.

“In the third division, we were getting goals with those 12 or 13 scores and you won’t get them in the second division, so we have to try and expand that and see if we can get more on the board.”

Armagh are one of five Ulster sides in the eight-team Division Two this year. The ‘Ulster dogfight’ clichés are already being rolled out, but McGeeney doesn’t buy into the stereotypes.

“I see a lot more teams on the other side of the border playing a more physical game and being allowed to play that game,” he said.

“There’s a constant talk about Ulster football and it’s type and it gives us a name. It’s unfortunate that we listen to, what would you call them? Experts, I suppose -  that’s the best word I’m allowed to use - who tell us that’s what the football is.

“There’s even one who likes to call it ‘puke football’ and things like that. He tries to influence and nobody can see that, nobody can ever catch on that he only has one description for one type of football and we’re worse than mad for listening to it and writing about it.

“Don’t get me wrong, we have teams that are quite even, they’re always going to be competitive and aggressive but, as long as it’s refereed right, that’s the way Gaelic football should be played.

“We’re not looking a non-contact sport, we’re looking to see hard hits, but hard hits going for the ball - punching off the ball is no good for anybody. It’s stupid for the players and makes a referee’s job harder, so there’s a responsibility on both sides.”