Paul Clarke
Encyclopedia
Paul Clarke is an All Star
winning former Gaelic football
er for Dublin
. He played football with his local club Whitehall Colmcille in Dublin and was a member of the Dublin
senior football team for a number of years, starting in 1985. He earned his first and only All-Ireland
medal in 1995, the same year in which he won his only All Star award.
as captain. In 1983, he went on a tour of Australia
with a colleges team, where try-outs for Australian Rules Football
were held, but he was not selected.
in a National League
fixture. Over the course of the next decade, he would play in many positions in the backs, midfield and forwards. In 1995, playing in his fourth All-Ireland final, Clarke finally won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
medal, and also won an All Star
award the same year.
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
winning former Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er for Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. He played football with his local club Whitehall Colmcille in Dublin and was a member of the Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
senior football team for a number of years, starting in 1985. He earned his first and only All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal in 1995, the same year in which he won his only All Star award.
Playing career
Having played soccer as a child up to Under-14 level, Clarke began playing Gaelic football while at school at St Aiden's CBS, in Dublin. He went on to join Whitehall Colmcille's, his local club, and was quickly noticed and selected for the inter-county Under 14 side, with whom he went on to win an under-14 leinster title. Clarke joined the Dublin minor football team in 1983, and in 1984, led them to an All-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
as captain. In 1983, he went on a tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with a colleges team, where try-outs for Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
were held, but he was not selected.
Inter-county career
Clarke joined the Dublin senior panel in October 1985 and had his debut in a win against DonegalDonegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
in a National League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
fixture. Over the course of the next decade, he would play in many positions in the backs, midfield and forwards. In 1995, playing in his fourth All-Ireland final, Clarke finally won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal, and also won an All Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award the same year.