 Martin Clarke will travel to Australia for an AFL club trial |
The GAA could be set to lose one of its most promising young talents to Australian Rules football. Down teenager Martin Clarke will begin a five-week trial in Australia with an unnamed AFL club early next month.
The All-Ireland minor winner was among a number of young footballers invited to attend a Limerick training camp last year organised by AFL clubs.
Clarke will meet with the AFL's chief talent scout in Ireland Paul Earley later this week.
The Down travel will spend most of July in Australia but intends to return for his club's Down Championship game in the second week of August.
Tyrone midfielder Sean Cavanagh turned down an offer to join Aussie Rules club Brisbane Lions last October.
An Riocht ace Clarke played a key role in Down's All-Ireland minor triumph last year.
The 18-year-old was also the driving force behind the St Louis Kilkeel team which has reached the MacRory Cup final for the past two years.
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