Clarke - The Markets Field Has To Become A Fortress

Dean Clarke says the Markets Field must “become a fortress where teams are afraid to come”, with Limerick’s new striker hoping to put a forgettable year behind him in the coming season.

The 21-year-old played just six times in the league for UCD last term, his season ended as early as April due to a back injury from which he recently got the all-clear.
 

That had come after a 2013 campaign where at one stage he was averaging a goal every two games under Martin Russell, who he will now again work under at Limerick.

And Clarke is hoping to bounce back to that type of form and “prosper” under a boss he says has a “unique management style”. The young striker is also looking forward to playing at the spiritual home of the Shannonsiders, the Markets Field, where they will return in March after a 31-year absence.

“I’ve been looking into it a lot lately,” Clarke told LimerickFC.ie. “Thomond was an unbelievable venue for Limerick but they always had to make the change and go back to where they truly belong.

“I was looking at the media stuff, how John Delaney called it the spiritual home of Limerick, so I think that’s what it has to be and it has to become a fortress where teams are afraid to come.

“It’s great for me personally to sign here. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, play full-time football for a big club in Ireland. After the year I had last season, riddled with a back injury, it’s great to be back fit and I’m looking forward to a new year.

“I think I had a good time at UCD. I came up from the Under-19s, Martin gave me a chance when I was very young and I really prospered under him. That’s why it’s great to be playing under him again now.

“I had a good start and once Dave McMillan left UCD and I got my chance up front, that’s when I really started to show. I think I got nearly a goal every second game in the last half of the season. All in all it was a good time for me. I became one of the big players at UCD.

“Last season started off well and then once I got my injury, I was told different things by different doctors – that I’d be back in four weeks, six weeks, two weeks – and then it turned out to be a couple of months.
 

“It was harder mentally just to get over it because I had prepared myself to be back, I felt like I was fit and I’d get another scan and the doctor would say maybe not yet. It feels great now to finally get the all-clear and be ready to go again.
 

“I’ve been doing a lot of work since the season ended. Funny enough I was ready to go by the end of the season and I just kind of ran out of time. The last couple of weeks I’ve really been putting in the work in the gym and doing everything I can to get myself fit again.”
 

Having been appointed last July, Russell enjoyed a number of standout results – most notably away to Saint Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City – and his impact came as no surprise to Clarke.
 

“Once you know someone, you always keep an interest in what they’re doing,” he said. “Once Martin went to Pat’s I would keep an eye out and see what role he’s doing.
 

“I remember I even went to watch Pat’s play and I was watching him do the warm-up with the players. Once he took the Limerick job I always thought he’d do well, because I know him well.
 

“I had high regard for him so when I saw he was getting a lot of results straight away, I thought ‘no surprise there’.
 

“He has a unique management style. He loves attacking play which suits me down to the ground. I think he’s different to any other manager I’ve played under. I really prosper under him.”
 

Clarke signed on the same evening as former Student teammates goalkeeper Conor O’Donnell and midfielder Seán Russell, and he is excited about joining up with the duo again, as well as Paul O’Conor.
 

“Conor, in my opinion, last year was the best ‘keeper in the league so there’s no surprise that there was a lot of demand for him and that he has come here,” Dean said.
 

“Seán has a left foot like I’ve never seen before. I think because he’s the manager’s son he might not get the praise he deserves. In my opinion, he’s a great player.
 

“Paul as well, I played with him at UCD two years ago and he has really developed as a player. He came from Leinster Senior League level and he’s now one of the top midfielders in the league. The way he trains, the work he puts in and how he eats, it’s no surprise to where he is now.
 

“I think when you’re at UCD you’re always trying to develop and get to this sort of level. When you get to this level you really have to take your chance and really put everything into it and make sure you’re doing all the right things to really bring this club and yourself to the next level.
 

“I want to play as many games as I can and score as many goals as I can. Every year, I kind of set targets for myself. Last season with the injury, I couldn’t really do it.
 

“But this year I’ll be no different – I’ll set myself targets for goals and for the team to achieve success like a good Cup run.”