FORMER ARMAGH STAR and All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville says that Jamie Clarke is right to travel and leave Gaelic football behind him if it’s what he wants in life.
It was reported yesterday that the All-Star nominee has opted out of the Orchard county’s set-up for 2018, and is planning to travel long-term again.
The 28-year-old forward was absent for last weekend’s Armagh SFC semi-final as his club Crossmaglen Rangers lost out to Maghery. It’s said that he’s in Australia, working in Melbourne.
And his clubmate McConville believes that the decision is right for Clarke, if that’s where he’ll find happiness.
“Football for me was a massive part of my life when I was playing and I loved every minute of it,” he told RTE Sport.
“Then when I finished up I found that I enjoyed other things outside of football as well.
“Jamie seems to be seeking something outside of football and I have always said — if something brings you happiness in life you should go for it. Life is more important than football, no matter what Bill Shankly said.”
McConville, who helped Armagh to All-Ireland glory in 2002 and has won six club crowns with Cross, admits that he will be a loss to Kieran McGeeney’s charges.
This year, Clarke returned from New York and was pivotal as the Ulster county reached the All-Ireland quarter-final but fell at that stage to provincial champions Tyrone.
“It will definitely be a blow to Armagh,” said McConville of Clarke’s departure.
“In Cross we haven’t seen much of him for the past five years or so because he has been away, but to lose a player like him from any team is pretty devastating.
“Armagh had an encouraging year for the first time in a long time, albeit on that ended with a bit of a beating off Tyrone, and there was a lot of enthusiasm there. I thought that feeling would make sure everyone would buy into the thing.”
McConville has echoed the words of former Armagh manager Paul Grimely, who said that Clarke will be a ‘major loss,’ but he can’t be criticised for doing what’s right for him.
“Jamie is an absolutely great lad,” he said yesterday. “I always had plenty of time for him, still do.
“But he has a different outlook on life in general, as opposed to your run of the mill county player. He can’t be lambasted for that – that’s his own choice and good luck to him.
“In fairness to him, there are a lot of lads taking the same option, taking a year out to travel or whatever it may be. He’s searching for something else in life – and I hope he finds it.”
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