Rónán Clarke

Rónán Clarke is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player who represented Armagh. His club football career has been with Armagh city's Pearse Óg GAC.

Rónán Clarke
Personal information
Irish name Rónán Ó Cléirigh
Sport Gaelic football
Position Full Forward
Born (1982-10-05) 5 October 1982
County Armagh
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Occupation Sales executive[1]
Club(s)
Years Club
?-Present
 Pearse Óg GAC
Club titles
Armagh titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2002–2010
 Armagh
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 5
All-Irelands 1
NFL 1
All Stars 2

Ross Carr, the former Down manager, said: "Armagh have the best forward in the country in Rónán Clarke".

Playing career

Inter-county

Clarke was called up to the Armagh senior panel at a young age and made his inter-county debut against Antrim in 2002.[1] He made his Championship debut in May 2002. That year he helped Armagh win the Ulster Senior Football Championship[2] as well as the county's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[1] He scored in seven out of Armagh's eight Championship games that year and contributed three points in the All-Ireland Final. For his performances he was named 2002 Young Footballer of the Year.[1]

In 2003 Armagh once again reached the All-Ireland final, but were defeated by neighbours Tyrone. 2004 saw Clarke and Armagh again win the Ulster Championship.[3]

In 2005 Clarke helped Armagh win the National League, beating Wexford in the final.[4] Later that year he helped Armagh win another Ulster Championship.[5]

Clarke helped Armagh win the 2006 Ulster Championship and was named Irish News Ulster All-Stars Player of the Year.[1] It was the second time he had been selected on the Ulster All-Stars team. He was awarded an All Star award for his 2006 performances with Armagh. He was also named in the 2006 GPA Team of the Year and nominated for GPA Footballer of the Year.[1]

Clarke missed the 2007 season due to a cruciate ligament injury suffered in the 2006 season. He won another Ulster Championship medal with Armagh in 2008[6] and was awarded another All Star for his performances throughout that year's Championship.

Club

Clarke helped Pearse Óg win the 2000 Ulster Minor Club Football Championship, which he described as his greatest moment in sport.[1] Clarke has reached the Armagh Senior Football Championship final with Pearse Óg on a number of occasions, but they have been defeated by Crossmaglen each time until 2009, when Clarke helped Pearse Óg defeat Crossmaglen in the quarter final of the Armagh Senior Football Championship ending Crossmaglens 13-year win streak in the competition. Pearse Óg went on to win the Championship defeating city rivals Armagh Harps on a scoreline of 0–8 to 0–4 earning Clarke his first Senior County medal.

International rules

Clarke has in the past represented Ireland in the International Rules Series.

School

Clarke attended St Brigid's High School, moving to Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh where he was on the team that won the Ulster Colleges Championship, the MacRory Cup[1] in 2000. His teammates included Sean Cavanagh, Peter Quigley and Brian Mullen.

Managerial career

In January 2021, having previously managed the Cavan Gaels and Silverbridge clubs in Cavan and Armagh, the Antrim senior football club St James' Aldergrove announced Clarke as their new manager.[7]

Honours
Armagh
Pearse ÓG
Awards
Ireland
School

References
  1. "cul4kidz profile on Clarke". Cul4kidz website. 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  2. "Armagh win Ulster final". BBC Sport. 7 July 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  3. "Armagh outclass Donegal". BBC Sport. 11 July 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  4. "Wait is over for Armagh". Newry Democrat. 4 May 2005. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  5. "McConville fires Armagh to glory". BBC Sport. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  6. "Armagh 1–11 0–8 Fermanagh – Match report". BBC Sport. 27 July 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  7. "Former Armagh All-Ireland winner takes over Antrim club". Hogan Stand. 24 January 2021.
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