Jamie Clarke not ready to close door on Armagh career

Former Armagh footballer Jamie Clarke is not ready to call time on his inter-county football days just yet as he feels that he is in a good position to revive his sporting career.

Having recently returned from living in Paris, Clarke has rejoined a Crossmaglen panel hoping to make up for back-to-back county final defeats over the last two seasons.

Clarke also joined Irish League soccer side Newry City earlier this month and will hope to make his Irish League debut at home to Linfield this afternoon at the Showgrounds.

The 33-year-old is keeping an open mind on his future, and that includes the possibility of remaining an option for Kieran McGeeney's Orchard side.

"There definitely is that kind of 'I’m not done yet’ attitude in me, perhaps with Armagh but even from a sporting context at an elite level," Clarke told RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport.

"I know from myself and my own body, I know I’m not done yet. The hunger is still there one way or another.

"It was a decent year for Armagh, tough at times, the Galway one was slightly intense. It was great watching but, essentially, I would have preferred to be on the pitch."

Clarke doesn't envision any issues when trying to combine Gaelic football and soccer duties, and puts that down to the understanding of his respective managers.

"I’ve been training rigorously with Cross and suppose building the fitness back up," he said.

"Stephen Kernan, who I used to play with, is coach at the moment. Everything’s very professional and organised.

"He would know Darren [Mullen] as well, the manager of Newry, so there's a good relationship there where you can balance the workload and manage it."

Clarke found the net a number of times in the Armagh Senior League on his return to Cross colours, something