David Tubridy has played in Division Four, he’s won Division three and from where he stands now, in the Division Two semi-finals, he’s eyeing up the promised land of the top tier.
Some trek.
Should Clare pull off another almighty shock, and beat Mayo on June 12, it would mark a remarkable achievement for the county’s footballers and their manager Colm Collins, who took over some seven years ago, when Clare were in Division Four.
Ever since, the Banner have been steadily, quietly rising through to the ranks and with fellow stalwarts Gary Brennan and Gordon Kelly having opted out this off-season, David Tubridy would become the only player to have taken every step on their way.
That’s far from the only distinction the Doonbeg club-man has to his name, having become the top scorer in National Football League history, across the four divisions, when he hit Cork for 1-8 on Sunday afternoon in Cusack Park to bring his tally to 22-412.
Outstanding for some. For Tubridy, that was just another day at the office.
“He was playmaking from wing forward. He’s just a phenomenal player,” said Colm Parkinson on Monday’s GAA Hour Show.
“He wasn’t getting up and down the field doing a load of work, but I think when you have the respect that he has in a team like Clare, you get the ball whenever you want it.”
Think ye spelled David Tubridy wrong there lads.
— Brendan Bugler (@brendanbugler) May 31, 2021
What makes Tubridy’s form, and indeed his desire, all the more impressive is that it was only a couple of months ago when he was down and out with the effects of Covid.
Parkinson is blown away by his hunger to represent Clare, having made his debut a good 14 years ago when the Tommy Murphy cup was still around.
“David Tubridy’s not going to win anything, realistically. There’ll be no League final this year because of the way it’s after working out. They’ve drawn Kerry again this year in Munster, but he’s still doing it. I don’t know how he does it. Playing with Laois down through the years, especially with Dublin dominating Leinster, I’d be looking at this going, ‘what’s the point of this now?’ 35 to be still doing it, without much chance of winning…”
Colm Cavanagh was just as complimentary of the 34-year-old, who was keen to stress that he’s not as old as some have him down for.
“I have to take my hat off to anyone playing at that level at that age. I’m still only 33, coming 34 and watching this guy, he just has everything,” says Cavanagh.
“He might not be working up and down the field as much, but he’s able to do damage, from frees and from play. You just have to admire him, what a class act – a Division One player playing in lower divisions.”
@colmcooper13 @Woolberto thanks very much for your compliments about the game yesterday. But will ye do me a favour and give me a year of my life back, I only just turned 34😁
— David Tubridy (@davidtubs) May 31, 2021
“It’s remarkable leadership to be still going at that age, to be kicking those scores, to being such an important player on that team,” added Alan Brogan.
On the back of his display, Tubridy took home the GAA Hour’s performance of the weekend award. No doubt he’ll treasure this one.
