The 2016 All-Star who had a stunning 2017 league campaign has now started the new championship in fine fettle.
It’s hard to say whether David Clarke was just bored or meticulous during Mayo’s 2-14 to 0-11 win over Sligo in the Connacht quarter-final but he put in another stifling performance – this one completely uncalled for and a little cruel, if anything.
Mayo announced the start of their summer with an absolute bang on Sunday.
- Diarmuid O’Connor scored a pretty impressive goal.
- Diarmuid O’Connor lost a scary amount of blood – and played on.
- And Aidan O’Shea was being talked about.
Yep, Mayo must be back alright.
Leitrim legend needs just one tweet to put the whole Aidan O'Shea debacle to bed https://t.co/z7JaJFS9tK
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 21, 2017
Whilst the job was eventually done on Sligo with a consuming outfield performance, David Clarke still grabbed the one, brief moment he got to shine with both hands.
The whole country knows by now what an excellent shot-stopper the ‘keeper is between the sticks.
Paddy Andrews knows that.
And Paddy Andrews knows that.
Paddy Andrews knows it, too.
Free-takers probably thought they wouldn’t have to worry about Clarke’s agile prowess though. At least not until he denied Sligo in the first half with an almighty leap above his crossbar to keep out Mark Breheny’s shot.
It looked like there were enough legs on the effort when Clarke jumped into the skies to pull the size five from out of them.
He came back down, ball in hands, of course.
And headed straight for the wing.
Just another string to his massive bow.
