Sligo garda retires from Mayo team
A SLIGO-based garda has retired from the Mayo GAA Senior inter-county panel after two decades of service. David Clarke, 37, announced his retirement on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a career which included the joy of frequent provincial success and the disappointing of not breaking the infamous ‘curse’ hanging over his county’s side in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final.
The talented netminder contested seven All-Ireland finals, including a replay in 2016, with his final appearance coming in last month’s decider against Dublin, who won 2-14 to 0-15 at Croke Park. His eight Connacht Senior Championship titles included final victories over Sligo in 2012 and 2015.
As well as being a highly-regarded figure in his native county, David Clarke is also known in Sligo as a garda. He is well-known to communities in south Sligo having been stationed in Tubbercurry Garda Station and in more recent times he has become an immigration offer at Sligo Garda Station.