Armagh legend takes charge of Cavan Gaels

Damian McCarney

Armagh legend Ronan Clarke has taken charge as manager of Cavan Gaels, The Anglo-Celt can reveal.

The All Ireland winner replaces Jason Reilly, who left the Gaels after a successful spell to join the Leitrim county set up with Terry Hyland.
In a glittering football career which coincided with Armagh’s glory days, Clarke won one All Ireland (2002), five Ulster Championships (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008), and a National League title (2005). The talented, bustling forward’s career however was blighted by serious injury.
After retirement he turned to coaching. He coached with Pearse Óg, his home club and Monaghan Harps, and also helped Armagh club Tullysaran win their first ever Junior Championship.
Cavan Gaels believe Clarke - a two time All Star - is the manager to wrestle the Oliver Plunkett Cup from Castlerahan.
Cavan Gaels Chairperson Mary McCarthy confirmed the town club approached Clarke.
“We were aware that he was available as a manager,” said Mary of the appointment. “Given the calibre of the player he was, and his career, we met with him and we were very impressed by what he brought to the table. We then met with him a couple of more times and engaged him as manager.”
Despite his impressive haul of silverware at county level, when reflecting on his favourite footballing memories in an interview with The Irish News this summer, his first recollection was: “I was playing minor football with my oldest brother and we kept getting beat in the semi-finals of the Ulster Minor Football Tournament at St Paul’s, but in 2000 we eventually won it. We beat Cavan Gaels in the final, and that was a big achievement.”