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undisputed number one

From getting dropped for the All-Ireland final replay to being Mayo's best player in the league

Lee Keegan has hailed David Clarke’s comeback this year.

SIX MONTHS ON after being dropped for the 2016 All-Ireland final replay, and David Clarke is Mayo’s undisputed number one.

Indeed, only for Clarke, Mayo might have dropped more points in their Division 1 campaign this year.

The 33-year-old Ballina Stephenites stopper became the county’s oldest All-Star last November, and continues to go from strength-to-strength between the posts.

He first joined the senior set-up in 2001, while he was still a minor, and had to wait until 2005 to make his Mayo debut.

Over the years he has battled it out with Fintan Ruddy, John Healy, Kenneth O’Malley and Rob Hennelly for a starting place, while also suffering various serious injuries including Gilmore’s groin, a torn hamstring and torn cruciate knee ligaments.

Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps 2017 Launch Seamus Callanan, Patrick Kielty and Lee Keegan were at Croke Park to launch the 2017 Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

But Clarke has bounced back from each set-back and 2017 was no different. That comes as little surprise to his team-mate Lee Keegan.

“It’s a testament to his character,” said Keegan. “He’d be one of our massive leaders too, on and off the pitch for years. It’s great to see Clarkey get the plaudits he fully deserves because he’s really a top, top, keeper.

“The amount of work he does in training is insane. He’s there half an hour before anything even starts, himself and Robbie (Hennelly), the two of them would be training hard and are good friends as well. Although they’re in a battle, they really bounce off each other.

“Clarkey works on everything to the best of his ability to make him a better ‘keeper. He’s always bouncing off Robbie to get tips for kick-outs or bits like that.”

“He was definitely our best player in the League. I think he saved us a good few times when we were in trouble. Just his character, I find him a massive leader myself and I know within the squad he’s hugely respected. It’s a testament to him that he gets all the credit he deserves.

“I think without him I think we were poor enough in the league.”

There was some speculation over the winter that Clarke might decide to call it a day, but staying on has proved a wise choice.

“He was never leaving whether he liked it or not!” laughed Keegan.

“No, delighted to see him come back because he actually came back in better shape than all of us It just showed he was really to go again. He’s a real character for us.”


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