Inside Track: Paddy Clarke won championships in five counties

It’s always good to get a response to a request. Last week, I put out one seeking to expand on the topic which has helped fill these pages over the past couple of weeks – people who have made a mark in Gaelic football beyond this county’s borders.

No sooner had it appeared in print than regular Ardee correspondent, Colm Ross, was in contact. However, what he had to tell me was welcome, but, at the same time, embarrassing.

READ NEXT: Inside Track: Ange not the only manager to have a short stay

“This could go on forever,” he opened with, but, in truth, Colm could have asked something like, “How did you miss this one.”

How, indeed, did I not think of the late Paddy Clarke, the most travelled and successful coach this county has produced? And aside from all of his exploits here and in other counties, he was a great friend of mine and a wonderful source of information.

No matter how much club managers are paid, or the sources that are available to them, none will ever match the Drogheda man’s achievements.

He won senior championships in Louth, and when he travelled, tasted success in four other counties. He also earned recognition on the international scene, coaching the Ireland team for the two of the once-popular series with Australia.

Clarke’s Louth championship wins were with Stabannon Parnells and Mattock Rangers. In Meath, he claimed a title with Kilmainhamwood, and on moving to Cavan, guided Kingscourt (the club Colin Kelly won a championship with recently) to victory.

He was in charge with a winning Castleblayney Faughs side in Monaghan; but it was in Dublin he had arguably his finest achievement.

Teaming up with Meath All-Ireland footballer, Gerry McEntee, he led St Brigid’s to a county win, and then added a Leinster, brigid’s having beaten Louth’s St Patrick’s by a point in the opening round.

When asked by this paper a number of years back about his involvement with the Louth senior side, Clarke said that “amazingly” it lasted four years, 1997 to 2001. For some unknown reason, he had came under pressure to hold on to his job.

“Luckily, Louth didn’t have an Abramovitch (former Chelsea owner) as chairman. A few tried his tactics, but I had Peter Brannigan (County Board chairman) on my side, so I survived.”

During his spell with the county team, assisted by Eugene Judge – “a man who I had great respect for” – he won the now-defunct All-Ireland “B” Championship, and led the team to the league’s top tier, beating Offaly in the Division Two final at Croke Park.

He was asked by Brian McEniff, the team manager, to coach the Ireland team for the 2000 meetings with the Aussies soon after Louth’s win. The Donegal man, however, would have other reasons for calling on Clarke.

The two had been on coaching courses together, and there was never a doubt that they would gel as a team. They were in unison again the following year, and of a game in Melbourne, Clarke said it was a privilege to be working with the best players in the country, and also, standing for Amhrán na bhFiann in one of the great sporting venues in the world, Melbourne Cricket Ground.

I hope this piece does justice to a great Louthman.

Thanks to Colm Ross, who also mentioned that Kevin Beahan won a Hogan Cup medal with St Patrick’s, Armagh. Which brings to mind another win worth recording – Séamus Jordan’s, with UCG in the 1962/’63 Sigerson Cup.

A Ravensdale man, Jordan played on the St Patrick’s junior championship-winning team of 1960.

As always, don’t hesitate to get the information in if there are other ‘outside’ achievements worth recording. The address is alongside the mug-shot at the top of this page.