The GAA Social: ‘When I woke up in intensive care I was scared’ – Clarke

Clarke has used the difficult circumstances he has experienced to influence him as he now studies at Magee College to become a social worker.

“If you look through your own life and the traumas you went through yourself there is always someone to help you. I just want to be a professional and go out and help people.

“In my playing days you went through a lot, some tough days, especially the injuries. I went through a period of lying in the house with my leg up, no-one calling at the door. You go to dark places and I suffered from depression, but good people came round you.

“That professional environment you are in and then it’s taken away from you, you’re told you need to go under the knife and you think that’s you finished. You have to get yourself motivated.”

Clarke will be among tens of thousands of Armagh fans at Croke Park on Sunday as his native county attempt to become All-Ireland champions for the second time and he reckons Kieran McGeeney’s team will come out on top against Galway.

“I think they are very evenly matched teams and it depends on the day,” he said.

“Armagh will be coming up against a forward line they think they know. The Kerry game played a bit into Armagh’s hands I think. [Damien] Comer is going to get a bit fitter, [Shane] Walsh, his movement off the ball, and he’s a totally different type of player than Clifford. What a player Clifford is but Walshe is completely different.

“He’s very evasive, gets on the end of balls, he takes people into the game, doesn’t try to do it all himself.”