clarkes seniors stayin in grade 3 another year. after talks at the start of the year of a junior all-ireland. bit off the mark with that prediction

seamustresc (Tyrone) - Posts: 42 - 17/09/2009 13:07:19    428744

It is a sad day to see a proud club like Dungannon in Division 3 considering the player population they have. It is not an urban thing, if you look at what Omagh is able to do with parishs of Drumragh, KC and the tatts taking players on the fringes of the omagh district. Grass roots job it would seem. Dungannon should'nt worry about where their senior time resides. Get the youth sorted out and the next generation will bring them back to the top table.

John Boss (Tyrone) - Posts: 865 - 17/09/2009 16:55:09    429014

this just shows the standard of footballers and teams that are presently playin in the third division. Tyrone third division would be a lot better than most other counties intermediate divisions, and even some senior teams. Watched alot of third division football and dungannon were not near the best team in that division. Glenelly should of beaten them in the 1st round of the championship in my opinion. there are a couple of quality players in each, i.e owen roes- decy mccrossan, brendan boggs, Drumquin- lele patterson, ryan mccallion, brocagh- the donnelly bros. Glenelly- seamus harkin, conal mccullagh aghaloo- stephen donelly Brackaville- rouse Tattyreagh- colin harkin castledrg- aidan lynch Derrytresk- mickey rea beragh- rodgers not bad for a third division.

keepherlow (Tyrone) - Posts: 127 - 17/09/2009 17:27:08    429080

I fully expect the Clarkes to bounce back. What they need is a strong management team to do the business. I heard a rumour that they were approaching the current Eglish manager John Feeney who would work wonders for them. Apart from this year, he has done sterling work with Eglish taking them from almost being in Junior football to Senior football. A great coach and manager.

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 18/09/2009 09:54:07    429587

Is John an expert at making silk purses from sows ears

Mick O Connell (None) - Posts: 1231 - 18/09/2009 10:51:13    429639

Mick O'Connell, yes he is.

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 18/09/2009 11:53:50    429695

Is that why Eglish are heading for intermediate?

Mick O Connell (None) - Posts: 1231 - 18/09/2009 12:27:37    429723

18/09/2009 09:54:07
Rio Bingo
County: Tyrone
Posts: 613

Apart from this year, he has done sterling work with Eglish taking them from almost being in Junior football to Senior football. A great coach and manager.


Mick O'Connell - read. He has one bad year with us, and most of the fault there lies with the players and not the manager.

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 18/09/2009 12:59:40    429747

How about this one- you're only as good as your last game.

Mick O Connell (None) - Posts: 1231 - 18/09/2009 13:19:18    429761

the clarkes will be back, they have to much talent coming through not to..

budlight (Tyrone) - Posts: 540 - 18/09/2009 14:07:12    429823

Mick O'Connell, how about this one - actually name what club you are associated with for a change????????

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 18/09/2009 15:14:38    429918

Have you ever heard of Windmill?

Mick O Connell (None) - Posts: 1231 - 18/09/2009 15:25:46    429941

Have the Clarkes hit rock bottom?
Mick O'Connell, how about this one - actually name what club you are associated with for a change????????
Rio Bingo , 18/09/2009 at 15:14

From Glenelly Rio Bingo

luther (None) - Posts: 44 - 18/09/2009 15:49:04    429978

only time will tell.....the clarkes have some excellent youth coming through!

ThomasClarke1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 392 - 18/09/2009 20:09:50    430177

Maybe it's yourself has hit rock bottom seamustresc if the fortune of another club is a concern of yours. I don't see the Clarkes in grade 3 past next year though, big turnaround at the end of the year, fell for Newtownstewarts cynical play in the semi ( by the way, they were at it again tonight against brocagh and managed to get a man sent off and worked it to their advantage ).

northernpower (Tyrone) - Posts: 40 - 19/09/2009 02:49:17    430325

I think we're going like the windmill. Our last championship game would say that anyway..lol

DUNGANNONABU (Tyrone) - Posts: 511 - 19/09/2009 11:20:51    430393

Who are these big players coming through the youth teams in Dungannon? This club right now deserves to be where it belongs, they were too arrogant thinking something like this could not happen to them. None of their recent teams have been serious challengers for grade 1 youth titles and the outlook is bleak. Cookstown had far more success at youth level over the years and theyre in division 2!!! For the size of the place they serve, the club is a disgrace and the Tyrone county board should step in before Tyrones third biggest town is lost by the GAA.

oil.beef.hooked (Tyrone) - Posts: 34 - 20/09/2009 11:05:12    430868

Challanging year for the clarkes but id say there is better things to come, i hope no changes will be made on the managment teams. Good luck

maninthecrowd (Tyrone) - Posts: 7 - 20/09/2009 18:49:42    431121

rio bingo:firstly: i cant see john feeney managing the clarkes and secondly: the clarkes managment team will be staying firmly put.

maninthecrowd (Tyrone) - Posts: 7 - 20/09/2009 19:02:38    431138

oil.beef.hooked
County: Tyrone
Posts: 6

430868 Who are these big players coming through the youth teams in Dungannon? This club right now deserves to be where it belongs, they were too arrogant thinking something like this could not happen to them. None of their recent teams have been serious challengers for grade 1 youth titles and the outlook is bleak. Cookstown had far more success at youth level over the years and theyre in division 2!!! For the size of the place they serve, the club is a disgrace and the Tyrone county board should step in before Tyrones third biggest town is lost by the GAA.
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Totally agree. In the 80's and early 90's the Clarkes were regularly winning Grade 1 under age titles, whereas now they are a million miles from that sort of conveyor belt.

The sad truth of the Clarkes is that they were almost there, in terms of being one of the tops sides in the County. The hard work done in the 70's, 80's and early 90's was beginning to take effect with the seniors, culminating in a championship semi-final defeat in a replay to Carrickmore in c.1993, under Adrian McGuckian's management. There was a large split in a the club straight after that, and a lot of important clubmen either left or became marginalised in the years that followed. The ramifications of that are still there today, as there isn't the same goodwill towards and interest in the club among the people of Dungannon that there used to be.

Another factor has been the lack of strong links between the club and the local primary school, which was always such a great provider of keen young Clarkes' players in previous decades. In the past there was a real culture of gaelic football in the school, but that has gradually eroded and, as a result, has hurt the Clarkes. It isn't that the talent isn't there, the law of averages means that you will have some talented young athletes every year, but they aren't becoming Clarkes players anymore, as there is no longer anyone in the school driving them in that direction.

There are a lot of hard-working Dungannon club members, and everyone is keen to see things improve. but we need help. The County Board have an obligation to promote gaelic games in the County, and it is time that they took a close look at Dungannon. Whether the Committee ask for it or not, we need support and advice from them across all aspects of the club, from youth development, to fund raising and marketing, and we need the help quickly. As for who is Senior manager next year, it's not actually that important. There are bigger issues at stake for the Clarkes.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 21/09/2009 10:40:20    431650