However, he was subsequently given permission to play in Dingle\u2019s All-Ireland semi-final against Ballyboden St Enda\u2019s<\/a> on January 3rd and will now be available for the Kerry champions when they face St Brigid\u2019s of Roscommon<\/a> in Sunday\u2019s showdown.<\/p>\n Clarke made 73 AFL appearances for Collingwood between 2007 and 2014 \u2013 with a break midway through his Aussie Rules career during which he returned to Ireland to play for Down, helping them progress to the 2010 All-Ireland decider.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just such maturity and what a great club they are, Geelong, and they\u2019re so successful because of this,\u201d said Clarke on the permission given by the Cats for O\u2019Connor to play for Dingle.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they come to Ireland to pick a player, they know the difference between club and county and everything because they take the time to do that. And I was fortunate as well with Collingwood, they really got to know me, know my family, and then you can work to get the best out of your athlete. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s phenomenal for Mark to be able to experience this with his club and then he\u2019ll head back across to play in front of 90,000 at the MCG. Everyone\u2019s winning in that respect.\u201d<\/p>\n Geelong won the AFL Grand Final in 2022 and also contested last year\u2019s showpiece event Down Under, losing to the Brisbane Lions.<\/p>\n Clarke feels O\u2019Connor\u2019s stature in Aussie Rules is underappreciated in Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s absolutely so important to one of the best teams in the AFL, a team who have been consistently at the top level,\u201d added Clarke.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in their leadership group, it\u2019s definitely underestimated how good he is over there.<\/p>\n \u201cHe plays with authority, he\u2019s sometimes sent out to tag or man-mark the opposition\u2019s key players. He\u2019s just willing to do whatever it takes for the team. <\/p>\n \u201cHis head coach is a guy called Chris Scott, who would be well-renowned as being the top coach in the AFL. He always speaks so highly of Mark, so you can\u2019t get a bigger compliment in the game than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Clarke, who is currently a selector and coach with the Down senior footballers, has had reason recently to keep a close eye on sporting matters in the United States too.<\/p>\n Clarke was a selector with the Down under-20s when they won the Ulster title at that grade in 2021. The Down under-20 goalkeeper that season was Charlie Smyth, who has recently experienced a life-changing few weeks during which he became the kicker for the New Orleans Saints.<\/p>\n \u201cHe actually got Ulster Player of the Year as a goalkeeper (with the under-20s that year). So, you can imagine the quality he had then long before the two-pointer came in,\u201d recalled Clarke. <\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DIUKS644VQIJCOYFFEGKXWBFKQ.jpg\")
Former Down footballer Marty Clarke at the launch of TG4’s upcoming Laochra Gael series at the Light House Cinema in Dublin. Photograph: Tyler Miller\/Sportsfile <\/p>\n![\"Marty](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/O6SSJDIWG5BMTPTYXKLXH4ETHE.jpg\")
Marty Clarke in action for Down in the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final defeat to Cork. Photograph: Donall Farmer\/Inpho <\/p>\n
![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/UQYY3H4YMYHLGUZA27B6LFN6BY.jpg\")
Former Down under-20 goalkeeper Charlie Smyth is now making a name for himself in American football with the New Orleans Saints. Photograph: Chris Graythen\/Getty Images <\/p>\n