Twenty-fourteen will be Clerkin's last hurrah January 10, 2014





Monaghan's Dick Clerkin. INPHO Monaghan's Dick Clerkin. INPHO

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Dick Clerkin admits that 2014 will probably be his last season on the intercounty stage.The 32-year-old midfielder has represented Monaghan for a decade-and-a-half and he intends to sign out in style by winning back his starting place after an injury-disrupted 2013:"This year is more than likely going to be my last year with Monaghan and I'm realistic enough to know that I mightn't have the same level of fitness that I had five or six years ago," the Currin clubman says in The Irish News."If my best benefit to the team is as an impact sub, then so be it. Whatever it is, I'm happy to do it, but first and foremost I'm looking to get back into the starting XV."I'm always looking to start. It was great to see last year - and it was probably too long coming - that there was that competitiveness in the panel."In previous years, fellas would have been able to carry injuries and they wouldn't have lost their place. Last season, there was that competitive element in the squad."There was good men to come in when I wasn't fully fit. It's great; it keeps you fresh and it gives you that wee bit more motivation to try and win back your place and cement it down."