But the fact that he has turned in four successive staring roles with the Magpies has not been lucky for An Riocht, his former club team in Down. It had been expected that Clarke would be able to make a late summer return home to the Mournes in order to help An Riocht in the Down championship.

But such is the upward spiralling value of Clarke's contribution to Collingwood that the Aussie Rules outfit has invoked a special clause in his contract. The word from An Riocht is that apparently Clarke will now not be able to play any dangerous sports while a signed Collingwood player. The added irony in the debate is that the An Riocht side is managed by Pete McGrath. That's the same Pete McGrath who had to watch his Ireland team suffer such severe physical punishment in the bloodbath Compromise Rules series last year.