Every intercounty star's sporting journey begins with the club, rooted with their family, community and friends. For Clare's David Tubridy, Doonbeg is his place and his club is rightly proud of their intercounty scoring machine.

These are heady days for Clare football. A successful spring, which culminated in a dramatic Allianz League Division 3 final victory over Kildare at Croke Park, has been followed by an exciting summer run to the last 12 of the All-Ireland SFC. On Saturday, the Banner will take on Connacht SFC runners-up Roscommon in their Round 4A qualifier at Pearse Stadium. If the fairytale is to continue and a first ever All-Ireland quarter-final appearance is to be secured, Clare will need a big performance from David Tubridy, who has long been recognised as one of the finest attacking talents in Munster, but has rarely had the opportunity to showcase his array of skills on the big stage.

This weekend's game is one of the biggest of his career. In his 10 years as a Clare senior, the only honours Turbidy has won are a McGrath Cup medal in 2006 and an Allianz League Division 3 medal this year. Success has also been in short supply for the 29-year-old at club level, a cousin of RTE Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy, though he did manage to emulate his father Tommy by winning a Clare SFC medal with his beloved Doonbeg in 2010.

"If David was 10 years older, he'd have a collection of county championship medals," contends Tommy, who won the Jack Daly Cup six times during his own playing career with the Magpies.

"The club had a terrific run in the 1990s, but unfortunately for David, those successes came before his time. But at least he got to experience the thrill of winning a county championship in 2010 when we beat Liscannor in the final. Hopefully, he'll have more of that to look forward to before he eventually hangs up the boots."

Tommy has been a huge influence of his son's football career. He has been involved with Doonbeg as a player, manager, selector and administrator for the past 41 years and played senior for Clare for 13 years between 1974 and '87.

"We reached the National League Division 3 final in 1976, only to lose to Armagh by a point after a replay," he recalls.

"The likes of Tom McCreesh, Joe Kernan and Paddy Moriarty went on to play for Armagh in the following year's All-Ireland final against Dublin. We also ran Cork to four or five points one year in the Munster championship. But we probably lacked belief against the big teams and Clare had to wait until 1992 to make the breakthrough when they shocked Kerry in the Munster final. That team was captained Francis McInerney, who is a third cousin of David's, with fellow Doonbeg clubmen Padraig Conway, Gerry Killeen, Kieran O'Mahoney, Pat Blake and selector Pat Hanrahan also playing a part in the win."

Fittingly, when Doonbeg became the first Clare club to win the Munster club SFC in 1998 at the expense of Tipperary's Moyle Rovers, Tommy was a selector, just like he is now.

"I was lucky enough to be part of the team management during what was a very successful era for Doonbeg. The club was founded in 1954 and won the first of its 18 senior championships the following year. We haven't been as successful in recent times and last year was a real struggle with injuries [David was among those to spend time on the sidelines with a groin problem]. But we've bounced back well this year, beating Gary Brennan's club Clondegad in the first round of the championship.

"The team is managed by Brian Shannon with Padraig Dillon acting as coach and Mickey Conway and I as selectors. David is the only Doonbeg man on the Clare panel at the moment which is surprising because we have a number of players who are well fit to be on it."

Shanahan McNamara Memorial Grounds in Doonbeg

David first donned the black and white hooped jersey as a seven-year-old, having honed his skills in the kitchen of the family home.

"I got him to kick the ball with both feet and that has stood him in good stead," his father proudly points out.

"In 2006, I built an Astroturf pitch out the back which allowed him to develop his skillset further. The pitch cost €145,000 to develop and people were saying I was mad, but I could see an opening for it, and 10 years on, there's still a good demand for it from the local GAA and soccer teams.

"When David was coming up through the underage ranks, his coaches were Seamus Lynch, Liam Hayes and Declan Nugent. They played a big part in making him the footballer he is today."

The Tubridys are as well-known for their business acumen as their sporting prowess. Tommy was just 17 when he reopened the family pub in Doonbeg. With the help of his wife Bridget, David and daughters Suzanne [who is married to Doonbeg's 1998 Munster club SFC winning captain Padraig Gallagher] and Lorraine, he has turned the business into a successful pub, restaurant and caravan park. When David isn't kicking a football, he runs the bar and restaurant along with Suzanne and Bridget.

Like the rest of the football-mad West Clare village, Tommy is eagerly looking forward to Saturday's game.

"I'd give Clare a 50-50 chance," he says.

"Roscommon will be sore after last Sunday's defeat to Galway and will be looking to get back on track. I haven't been surprised by Clare's progress this year. They have exciting players like Pearse Lillis and Keelan Sexton coming through, while the management team of Colm Collins, Mick Bohan, David O'Brien and David Downes is top class. If Clare are to hold their own in Division 2 and continue to make strides, it's vitally important that they remain at the helm next year."

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