Where the hell did this come from?
David Clarke could be in line to lose his starting place for the All-Ireland final replay.
SportsJOE understands that the Mayo goalkeeper is set to be replaced by Rob Hennelly between the posts despite his fantastic form all season.
Clarke produced two crucial saves two weeks ago to deny Dublin further goals in the decider and he was actually only undone in the end by freak deflections off his own team mates.
The Ballina man was also instrumental in the win over Tyrone with a couple of point-blank saves and he has started and finished the last six games for his county since Hennelly lost his place after the Galway defeat back in June.
Towards the end of the drawn match with the champions on September 18, Clarke was guilty of a few hurried kickouts that gifted Diarmuid Connolly a score and very nearly handed the Dubs another but his form has, for the most part, been lauded in the county.
Sources have suggested however that the stopper learned on Thursday night that he was set to be dropped to the bench for Saturday evening’s replay. He is said to be physically fine and ready to play but manager Stephen Rochford is opting for the return of Hennelly who started the 2013 final.
David Clarke is odds-on favourite to be named goalkeeper of the year at the end of the season but looks set to miss out in the most crucial clash of the campaign.
The word is starting to get out too.
David Clarke dropped. Rob Hennelly starts in goal for Mayo. Strange decision
— Meath Man (@MeathisSpecial) October 1, 2016
Clarke spoke with SportsJOE before the first final and admitted that Hennelly possesses qualities which he necessarily doesn’t – not as well at least.
“He’s a fine ‘keeper,” he said. “He’s probably ahead of me in some aspects of my game and he’s helping me work on that. Rob is a fine kicker of the ball – left or right foot, he can ping them out with either.
“The way the game has gone, kickouts has become a major part of the game so it’s something I’ve probably had to redevelop. I’ve spoken with Rob about it and we bounce ideas off each other but there’s no point in me trying to copy someone. I can only be what I can be.”
Perhaps the management are valuing kickouts more than shot-stopping this time around.
Who will win, Mayo or Dublin? Wooly, Paul Galvin and Conán Doherty preview Saturday’s All-Ireland final replay.
