Born in Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath, Clarke first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Westmeath minor team, before later joining the under-21 side.
Born in Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath, Clarke first played competitive hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Westmeath minor team, before later joining the under-21 side.