The Late Michael (Mick) Clarke …

The sad news reached Mullingar during the week of the death in Melbourne of Mick Clarke.

Mick was an outstanding Mullingar Shamrocks footballer in the late 1970s to the mid-1980s and is remembered by Ritchie O’Donoghue ‘as one who gave me great encouragement when he came back to Mullingar during the summer of 1986’. Mick was a substitute on the team that won the 1986 senior title and played in the 1979 county final when Shamrocks were defeated by Athlone. He represented Westmeath at all levels and played in the Leinster senior championship in 1982 and 1983 with the county. A free spirit who loved to travel, football was just one of many Mick’s many interests. He also loved the college life and was a member of the UCG team that won the Sigerson Cup in 1980,1981 and 1983 and he also played in the 1978 and 1982 finals. Mick was the outstanding player for UCG in the 1980 victory over a UCD team that included Meath’s Colm O’Rourke and Gerry McEntee at midfield.

Mick Clarke was also a key player in the Mullingar Shamrocks team that broke a long trophy -less sequence at senior level in 1982 when Mullingar Shamrocks defeated Moate All-Whites on an 0-12 to 0-7 scoreline 10 July 1983 in Cusack Park to win the ACL League title. That particular team lined out as follows: Denis Larkin; Patsy Fagan, Joe Brady, Mick Conlon; Peter Ledwith, Michael Fagan (Captain), John Corroon (Dominic Flynn); Seán Murphy (0-3), Gerry Nohilly; Denis Shields (0-1), Noel Dempsey, 0-1), Denis Corroon, Brendan Conlon; Mick Greene (0-4), Michael Clarke (0-1), Seán Hynes (0-2).

We send our sympathies to the members of the Clarke family.

Ar Dheis Dé go Raibh a Anam.