by Paddy Hickey

Ace forward David Tubridy has provided Clare football boss Colm Collins with a major boost by deciding to soldier on at the top level for yet another year.

Now 33 years of age, the free-scoring Tubridy first lined out for the Banner County back in July 2007 in a Tommy Murphy Cup clash against Tipperary, at Ardfinnan, an occasion which also marked the final outing for the host county’s two-time All-Star Declan Browne.

Back in late November, the Doonbeg clubman placed a degree of uncertainty over his inter-county future by revealing he was unsure if he would continue on in the 2021 campaign.

But just over two months later, the Clare veteran, who along with his father Tommy, runs the family’s “Tubridy’s Bar and Restaurant” business in Doonbeg, says he is willing to rally to the 2021 cause for the Banner County.

“I’d say it will be May or June before our bar and restaurant will be able to open again, so that means that I will have much more spare time on my hands than would normally be the case,” Tubridy pointed out.

“I’ve been pulling pints since I was 14 or 15, and I’ve been working full-time in the business since I was 18 or 19, and as well as all the matches, I was often making the two-hour round trip from Doonbeg to Ennis for training five times a week.

“But for the next few months I won’t be under the same amount of pressure as before and that was a factor in coming to the decision to give things a go with Clare for another year.”

Like thousands of people all over the country, Tubridy was unfortunate to contract the Covid-19 virus, in his case last October, but thankfully he has made a full recovery.

“I was isolation for two weeks, and when I went back training with the country my legs felt like jelly when I was doing a bit of running at the first session,” revealed the long-serving attacker whose father played with Clare footballers for 12 years up to 1990.

“As well, I lost between three and four kilos in weight, and I’d say that it took me at least a month before I was able to regain the burst of speed which is so necessary at inter-county level.”

With regard to Colm Collins, Tubridy says he is delighted that the Kilmihill native has decided to remain on at the Banner County helm for a remarkable eighth year.

“Colm is now the longest serving manager in football with the same county and it’s a great boost to Clare football that he will be involved with the team once more,” he enthused.

“He succeeded in bringing Clare from Division Four to Division Two, and, despite being a very busy man with his flooring business, he still manages to devote a considerable amount of time to the cause of Clare football.”

In addition, Tubridy had words of praise for long-serving duo, defender Gordon Kelly and midfielder Gary Brennan, who have both called time on their inter-county career.

“Both Gordon and Gary will be huge losses to Clare in the future, and certainly Clare football would not be in the healthy position that it is in now but for the tremendous contribution made by the two lads over the last 14-15 years,” he remarked.

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