“Marty wasn’t in the 26 today.”
Down manager Conor Laverty has offered a blunt explanation on the Marty Clarke situation as it was widely reported last week that the former county star would return as a goalkeeper.
The ex All-Star hasn’t represented his county in 13 years, but with the evolution of the game meaning that goalkeepers are an extra outfield player when your team is in possession, then a trend was formed where forwards and midfielders would hop in nets.
Ethan Rafferty is probably the most notable one in recent years, after representing Armagh in the forward line in the past he is now their number one, but still chips in with scores from play.
Then last week it was reported that Down were going to deploy Clarke in this area, despite his time away from the county panel with the thinking being that his age profile, and perhaps lack of match fitness, would not be as crucial a factor in this position.
Throw in the fact that he was one of the deadliest players in the game at one stage, and his technique is probably just as lethal as ever, so it certainly does seem like a viable option for Laverty.
Conor Laverty on Marty Clarke situation as former Down star didn’t feature despite reports.
However, as the Mourne county lined out against Westmeath, people were disappointed to see that Clarke was on the sidelines in his usual role as a coach, rather than on the bench or part of the match day panel.
Instead John O’Hare took the number one spot, and has retained the position ever since Kilo’s Niall Kane walked away from the panel before the start of the season.
Speaking after the match about the situation, Laverty played it very coy with reporters.
“Marty wasn’t in the 26 today and hasn’t been in the 26 this year,” said Laverty, commenting for the first time on the situation.
Asked if that means he’s unlikely to recall Clarke, Laverty shrugged.
“He hasn’t been in the 26,” he repeated. “John’s been doing reasonably well for us. John’s been brilliant all year actually.”
The goalkeeping position didn’t seem to be an issue during the match, as much as their lack of accuracy up front as they went in at half time with four points to Westmeath’s three, and had kicked six wides.
“You don’t want to know my thoughts or what I said at half-time,” assured Laverty. “I just felt we were very lacklustre. We didn’t have that edge that we showed over the last number of weeks.
“I thought we started the second-half very well, we were a wee bit more clinical. Then once we got in front, we seemed to sit off again and that’s not what we’re trying to do.”
The game itself resulted in a draw, and Down will have to wait until next week to find out if they will get promoted to Division Two when they take on Clare.
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