TREVOR CLARKE WAS named man-of-the-match last Friday night as Shamrock Rovers got the better of rivals Bohemians in the SSE Airtricity League.
Still “buzzing” after what was a fine performance — both individually and collectively as a team — the teenager was brought into the bowels of Tallaght Stadium for the obligatory post-match interview and award presentation.
It was clear just how much the win meant to Clarke as he took questions from reporter Tony O’Donoghue, but when they cut back to studio, RTÉ were forced to apologise to viewers for the “colourful language” used.
In the hours and days that followed, the clip quickly spread as it was liked and shared hundreds of times across various social media channels.
“I wasn’t even thinking,” Clarke told The42 earlier today. “It was just straight off the pitch and in there. My adrenaline was still high after beating Bohs in a Dublin derby. I was just speaking the way I normally speak really!
“It meant everything to me, especially after getting man-of-the-match. The interview has gone all over the internet. It’s mad.”
Clarke is among a number of exciting, young players in this new-look Shamrock Rovers side. A schoolboy with Crumlin United and St Kevin’s Boys, the Dubliner was signed up by Middlesbrough and moved across the water to chase his dream.
Despite developing as a winger, however, he lasted a year with the Championship club’s academy and opted to return home in 2015 — initially joining Rovers’ U19s before progressing to the senior side.
And while the 18-year-old is open to giving English football another shot down the line, he feels it was the right decision at the time.
“It was a good experience to get away but it wasn’t really my thing,” he says. “I came home and I think it has worked out better for me. If you’re over in England you’re just playing academy football whereas you’re up against men here.
Some lads come back and don’t even end up playing League of Ireland. I’ve worked my way into the first team so it will stand to me in the long run.
“If anything was to happen in the future, I’d think about going back over.”
He is still a raw talent but Clarke has come on significantly since replacing the injured Luke Byrne last season and making the left-back position his own.
Byrne finally looks set to return to first-team football in the coming weeks after tearing cruciate and lateral ligaments 11 months ago, but he has a real battle on his hands to regain his place.
Having struck up a good understanding with left-sided midfielder Brandon Miele — who he says is “a good mate on-and-off the pitch” — Clarke is likely to pose a real attacking threat to opponents.
And Hoops boss Stephen Bradley is certain that the youngster can go far in the game if he keeps his head screwed on and puts in the work.
Trevor has been excellent, but I think there is so much more in him and that’s why I’m hard on him,” said Bradley.
“People said to me in the first half against Bohs that he looked good because he had two chances. If you really watched though, he was nowhere near what he can be. In the second half, it was more like him in terms of both defending and attacking.
“His ability is right up there with the best players that have left this country. He needs to go and put his mind to it but the sky is the limit for him.”
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Would be great for the league of Ireland if they progresed
FH looked an average loi team who got a goal against the run of play last week. We were the better team but they might have been keeping it tight.. but if they play like they did last wed and we play like we can then we will advance.. i firmly believe we will score tonight. Garts is a massive loss in the centre of defence but barrett is a good replacement… we are playing FH for €1.2m and a guaranteed 4 more games minimum in Europe.
Who’s we ?!
“We”… Are Ireland’s number one. The Black & White army.
Not doubting you. They really are Ireland’s number 1. Just asked for the craic because my uncle always mocks me when I use ‘we’ when talking about cork city lol
Massive game for Fundalk given the money at stake , great for the town and club . Really well run club these days with a super manager leading the team. Cmon da town !!
Get the name right pal. They’re fun to watch but I wouldn’t go that far
Says the plastic Irish supporter. Take down that Irish cover photo please if your not willing to support your own Irish league.
I’m supporting them no doubt.
Disappointed there isn’t a LIVE ticker thread for this game. It’s only the champions of Ireland playing in the world’s most lucrative competition. RTE not broadcasting it is a disgrace. And they claim to be supporters of domestic football. (Yes I know it’s on Eir Sport).
Dundalk playing some nice football here, they’ve been the better team so far, unlucky to be behind. Horgan & McMillan are doing very well. They’re just lacking a bit of composure in the final third.
Still nothing up about the match tonight disgraceful from the 42
And still nothing. Surely a live ticker wasn’t beyond them. They are the champions of Ireland and our only representatives in champions league. Fair dues to Eir for covering it, super game and even better performance from Dundalk.