Jamie Clarke has been flattered by comments comparing him to Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper, but insists that he is his own player and not the same.
Clarke and Cooper are set to share the pitch for the first time on Saturday afternoon in the AIB All-Ireland club semi-finals in Portlaiose, and while Cooper has been hailed as the greatest forward in the game over the past few years, Clarke appears to be stepping out of his shadow and creating his own mark on the game.
“When Kerry play obviously you know that he’s a flair player,” said Clarke.
“There are things he does like nobdoy else can do.
“It’s obviously nice to be compared to player like Colm but I take it with a pinch of salt. I like to think of myself as my own player.
”There are certain points in a game where it’s just about understanding the game and there’s certain times I just seem to be in the right place at the right time. I don’t know if it’s instinct or what, but it happens.”
While Clarke has yet to really prove himself at inter-county level, his potential and skill has already caught the eye of the Armagh supporters, who hope that he will help the county win some trophies once he begins to play competitively at the top level.