Champions League: Defeat for Arsenal; Chelsea top Group F

After a bumper weekend of GAA action, JOE looks at Marty Clarke's possible return to Oz, an inquest into Mayo's shame in London and Cork's mistakes at Semple Stadium.

By William Nestor

Marty needs to stay

For the good of his game more so than the good of his career, Down’s illustrious centre-half forward Marty Clarke should reconsider if he's tempted to move back to Oz. He’s reportedly heading Down Under to negotiate a contract with his old Aussie Rules side Collingwood and his loss would be a major blow to the GAA en masse.

Down manager James McCartan is confident the 23-year-old ace will see out the Championship campaign but the speculation that Clarke’s immediate thoughts after the defeat to Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday night switched to a return to professional athleticism, in a country jam-packed with fellow Irish youngsters, is a concern for all Down followers.

“I would assume he’ll be available for the next match,” the Down boss said. “You need to ask Martin [about his plans]. I’m only his football manager. I don’t look after his agency work.”

Mayo played with a seventh defender against  a Division 4 team who lost six out of eight games prior to the Championship and haven’t won a Championship match in 34 years.

There was one particular moment in the second half on Saturday night which epitomised Clarke's style and swagger – a rarity in Gaelic football.

Without ever arching his back, Clarke jabbed the ball off the carpet along the sideline, into his hands, cut inside his man and swept the ball over the bar with his deadly left foot. Moments like those showcase the game in a positive light around the country and further afield.

Don't go Marty.

A tribunal for Mayo

As Mayo return home from Ruislip with their tails between their legs I’d expect James Horan will be in for a grilling from the hardcore fanbase.

Before we look at where it all went so wrong for Mayo, here’s what a couple of disgruntled tweeters have been saying:

@paulcawley: After the weekend and #mayogaa performance, Galway are going to hammer us. Stuff needs to change.

@TerReilly: What do Mayo GAA and FIFA have in common? Neither one will carry out an investigation into a farce #mayogaa

In fairness, TerReilly may have a point since James Horan brushed over a dour display in post-match interviews and chose to draw on the “positives” and how well they played in extra-time.

The stark reality is that the two-time All-Star played a seventh defender as a sweeper against a Division 4 team who lost six out of eight games prior to the Championship and haven’t won a Championship match in 34 years.

Some players were out of position, there was no accomplished free-taker on the field in the latter stages of the game and there was a real sense of lack of leadership. In fact, just to break it down a little further, Peader Gardiner – an experienced half-back – was brought on and played in the half forwards, Trevor Mortimer also came on and operated in an unorthodox wing back role and at midfield they were slaughtered all afternoon.

Get your boots, son. You're coming on

Credit does have to go to London for a lung-bursting effort, however. Their manager Paul Coggins had the Exiles well drilled, fit and with a few additions in the last month or so they came close to springing the biggest surprise of this or possibly any other GAA season.

As for Mayo, they will go into a Connacht semi-final with Galway as underdogs and many will view it as an advantage. Going by Sunday's dour display, though, it's difficult for Mayo supporters to jump on that train of thought.

Cork could have and should have

I watched Cork claw their way back against Tipp at Semple Stadium on Sunday – and the All-Ireland champions were there for the taking.

The final scoreline flatters an inconsistent display from Tipperary and going to sleep for 15 or 20 minutes in the Championship will be punished sooner rather than later.

It was frustrating to watch the Rebels drop at least five balls into the palm of Brendan Cummins’s hand during the second half. They hit wide after wide and they’ll be kicking themselves all week.

I suspect they weren’t prepared for delivering a clinical edge which would have ousted the All-Ireland champs

Did Denis Walsh really believe they’d be toe-to-toe with Tipp going into the final quarter of the game? I doubt it. They dropped in and out of a game plan and I suspect they weren’t prepared for delivering a clinical edge which would have ousted the All-Ireland champs.

Don’t get me wrong though. Ultimately, the Premier County deserved the victory and won’t be easily beaten from here on. Eoin Kelly showed why he’s one of the best hurlers in the country with a brilliant individual goal and the return of Seamus Callanan to the fold will bolster prospects for righting the wrongs of last year’s Munster Championship.

A word of caution for Tipp, though. Don’t switch off; the Cats will be lurking soon enough.