KERRY WERE UNDOUBTEDLY the biggest winners from the opening weekend of the Super 8s.
The Kingdom impressively tore Mayo apart in Killarney, enjoying a 10-point victory that catapulted them up the list of challengers to Dublin’s crown.
It was a game that highlighted just how costly Mayo’s Connacht semi-final exit to Roscommon was. James Horan’s team looked fatigued by their run through the backdoor, which has seen them in action for the last four weekends on the bounce.
As it stands, Kerry and Donegal look most likely to progress from Group 1 and both promise to give Dublin a stern examination in the knock-out stages of the All-Ireland series.
The single biggest reason for Kerry to believe they can be the team that stops the Dublin juggernaut is the form of the young prince in their attack.
And it was the performance of David Clifford that left the home fans purring as they poured out of Fitzgerald Stadium yesterday.
Still only 20 and in his second season out of minor, Clifford rubber-stamped his status as the elite forward in the Kerry attack and, arguably, in the country. He has already been anointed as the heir to Colm Cooper’s throne, at an age when most youngsters are still getting to grips with inter-county football at this level.
Just 18 months into his senior career, Kerry’s charm offensive to convince the Fossa star to turn down overtures from the AFL proved to be a wise one. That’s not to say that Aussie Rules scouts won’t come calling over the next few years, but for the moment Clifford seems content with lighting up the All-Ireland SFC for the green and gold.
Clifford has already usurped Paul Geaney as the primary score-getter in the Kerry attack.
The Dingle forward plus former Footballer of the Year James O’Donoghue were more than happy to drop deep and get themselves involved in Kerry’s build-up play while Clifford held his position as their most advanced attacker.
Kerry wisely looked to isolate Clifford in one-on-one situations with Brendan Harrison.
Five minutes into the game, the number 13 had two points to his name already. The first arrived from a Geaney kick-pass that bounced into his chest, the second from a strong Stephen O’Brien run down the left where Clifford came around on the loop.
The hosts had 0-7 on the board after 10 minutes, their attack clicking nicely through the gears.
Kerry’s aggressive press on David Clarke’s kick-outs, allied to David Moran ruling of the airwaves, gave Peter Keane’s team a solid platform to attack. After 21 minutes, flying wing-back Gavin White burst down the flank and again Clifford glided into a pocket of space behind him, received the hand-pass and guided the ball between the posts.
That was his third point from four shots, but the best was yet to come. The comparison with Maurice Fitzgerald is natural considering Clifford’s languid style. The 26th minute free he stroked stroke over from near the sideline bore more than a passing resemblance to Fitzgerald.
David Clifford delights the home fans with this brilliant strike from the sideline. Kerry lead by eight and it's not half-time.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 14, 2019
Watch highlights on #sundaygame 9:30pm pic.twitter.com/AAZ5THdtF4
If that score reminded Kerry supporters of Fitzgerald’s sideline point in Thurles, then his through ball to Geaney that almost produced a goal earlier in the half smacked of Gooch against the Dubs in 2013.
(Click here if you can’t view the clip above)
Clifford had 16 possessions in total, finishing with 0-7 from 10 attempts at the posts. He assisted a further two scores and was fouled for another converted free, meaning he was directly responsible for 0-10 of Kerry’s 1-22 tally.
By the 56th minute, the Kingdom were 1-18 to 0-10 and in cruise control. They let their foot off the gas in the final quarter, understandable given they’ve got a quick turnaround before they face Donegal at Croke Park next weekend.
The prospect of unleashing Clifford on a Dublin defence that shipped 1-17 to Cork no doubt gives Keane hope they can end a five-year wait without the Sam Maguire next month.
Defensive issues still need to be sorted and Kerry have a few fish to fry before they can even countenance taking down the Dubs, but it’s nice to know they’ve got a genuine shot with a forward of Clifford’s class in their ranks.
Kerry failed to progress from the Super 8s in 2018, yet Clifford did enough over the three games to deliver the Young Footballer of the Year gong and his maiden All-Star. He scored 4-14, including a dramatic last gasp equalising goal against Monaghan in Clones.
And he has started this year’s All-Ireland quarter-final phase in a similar vein of scoring form.
He’s less than two years into his senior career, but already this is Clifford’s team. It’s up to the rest to find a way of stopping him.
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Savage player, on his way to becoming one of the greatest. On a side note, Horans words came back to bite him in the ar#e
@Sam Walsh: you’re not allowed to say such things. The Mayos don’t like it
@samsyourman: In fairnesss I don’t think yesterday’s game was a fair reflection of Mayo it’s just Kerry player out of their skin. I’m sure Horans words did play some bit of a motivating factor for the Kerry lads.
@Sam Walsh: it was brilliant to see Kerry playing the old days again, or close to it anyway.
@Sam Walsh: what did he say?
@Ned Flanders: they could have scored 10 goals in the league final against kerry
@samsyourman: ha ha de mayos
What a joy to watch this fella. All the skills of the game he has such ability. Must be some dose having to mark him.
Hope that referees protect players like Clifford and umpires and linesmen speak up if players are being black guarding off the ball…instead of being “the 3 monkeys”…
@James Dore: wait till Philly mahon gets at him. I hope Clifford will be wearing protective goggles
@@at: you’ve jokes tonight, not a peep after the Tyrone game though…
@samsyourman: no joke at all. He nearly ripped the eyes out donaghys head a few seasons ago. Did not hide before or after Tyrone match. See my comment before the match. I said we are a good bit of Tyrone and that if we could keep it to a few points, I would be happy with that for a developing team
@samsyourman: got you protective of your beloved dubs
@@at: no comments after the defeat though?
@Aidan Butler: I sure am
@samsyourman: no need when I said it before hand
@samsyourman: not much of a joke in that
https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2359960.1442827044!/image/image.jpg
Donaghy was lucky he did not lose an eye
@@at: ah to be fare now it doesn’t look intentional
@Aidan Butler: how about these ones
https://media.balls.ie/uploads/2013/09/cooper.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJ74xwOXUAAYsyR.jpg
@@at: was he? Was that in the post match medical report or is this your own specialist opinion? Saint Kieran didn’t come close to losing an eye. In fact he received no on-field treatment at all, such was the lack of injury.
@@at: Ya I see your point there
@@at: https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/kieran-donaghy-opens-up-on-how-close-he-was-to-eye-injury-after-philly-mcmahon-incident-45201
From the man himself
@GrumpyAulFella: ah lads, it does say a lot about yourself and Sam when ye defend eye gouging, it really does
Why do ye have to stoop so low to defend this
One of our county players did it to a mayo player in the league a few months ago and I was on here saying he should get a 1 yr ban for that sort of behaviour
It cannot be defended in any shape of form.
@@at: you’re taking this worse than the man it allegedly happened to buddy
@samsyourman: there can be no defence of it. Simple as that. It says a lot about your character as a person when you defend it.
@samsyourman: ye are on here giving out about lee keegan throwing a gps at a player. At least when keegan sees an opposition player down on the ground injured he goes over to see if he is ok (he did this twice against roscommon in 2 different games). When Rory o Carroll sees a man on the ground (cooper in the image above) he goes over and gouges him.
@@at: you’re not even talking sense now. Did you read what Donaghy had to say? No eye gouge took place my friend. None
@samsyourman: did you listen to the ref mic doc for that match. Donaghy ran over to the ref and it was clearly picked up on the mic what he said
“He gouged my eye on the ground”
@@at: http://traleetoday.ie/video-rte-documentary-uncovers-what-donaghy-said-to-ref-after-eye-gouge/
@samsyourman: http://traleetoday.ie/video-rte-documentary-uncovers-what-donaghy-said-to-ref-after-eye-gouge/
@samsyourman: here is another one for your scrap book to show your grandkids how to play the game
https://www.independent.ie/incoming/article34577617.ece/ALTERNATES/h342/James.jpg
@@at: so you’re just going off topic now. On an article about a Kerry man who’s star is rising you bring your anti Dublin agenda to the 42 yet again. Donaghy was asked in person after the game what his thoughts where on the subject yet you’re ignoring them completely because it doesn’t suit you.
I wish Roscommon all the very best in their next game, and can’t wait to see what you’ve to say after the Dublin game. Every excuse in the book and a few not yet there.
But knowing you, there won’t be a peep out of you if Dublin win
@samsyourman: of course Donaghy would say that. He is old school thinking ‘what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch’ . The discussion here is what happened on the pitch. You defended that and that is a stain on your character
Of course Dublin will hammer Roscommon, we all know that, I don’t see what your point is here to be honest
It is not off topic by the way, a poster above highlighted the fact that Clifford will be in for some rough treatment and I highlighted what ‘rough treatment’ means when you are playing Dublin by showing eye gouging by 4 different Dublin players
@@at: off topic as usual. The stain is on your character here. The players involved have said nothing happened.
Your posts are off topic because as off yet neither Dublin nor Kerry have qualified from their groups. You’re disrespecting every team in the Super 8’s including your own.
David Clifford is shaping up to be one of the best the game has seen & you cannot add to that discussion here
@samsyourman: the player involved ran over to the referee during the match and said to him “he gouged my eye, Dave” . I don’t think he could be be clearer than that, even for you.
You defended this, remember. You cannot take it back now. You should be ashamed of yourself or maybe you think gouging is ok.
I suppose Carroll gouge on cooper never happened in your little world either or O gara gouge on colm Boyle
You are the one that is keeping this going by your constant defending of it. A picture paints a 1000 words. The images above are as clear as day and yet you defend it
@@at: I’ll finish on this. I’ve time to waste here. Donaghy was asked face to face what happened and gave an answer. A player of his standing in the game says what happens, that’s what I go with. If you could point out where I’ve defended anything here, I’d appreciate it good lad.
You have yet again shown your true colours and have sprouted out nothing but anti Dublin nonsense. But you know what, that’s fine pal. You do what helps you sleep at night if that puts a smile on your face. I’m sure I’ll see you on the next non Dublin article doing the exact same thing.
I wish David Clifford a brilliant career & I hope this is the start of great things for Kerry football. Back where they belong. A great footballing county with brilliant support
@@at: no you just don’t get it. Keegan and Cillian O’Connor are absolute thugs. They fell out of the womb looking for a bit of sculthuggery. Word is keegan only left his mother’s passage as she teased him with a GPS as she began to dilate. And O’connor made a claim against the hospital that he twisted his ankle as he hit the floor. Pure thugs!
@samsyourman: have a commomile and go to bed, Sam.
@Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer: *chamomile :/
@GrumpyAulFella: amazing how when even given photo evidence you still can’t accept what happened.
@Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer: ooh, you’re hard.
@Skimothy: I’m a pure tough b@ stard, hai!
Superstar!
You win nothing in July
“Kerry were the big winners over the weekend with ten point win over mayo”, how is a ten point win bigger than a thirteen point win ?
@Shane O Malley: Because Kerry were playing the League Champions, a team that had beaten them twice this year, one of the supposed “contenders” Dublin played Cork, a team relegated to Division 3.
@Brian Curtin: how can a team chasing 5 in a row and history be supposed contenders?
@Mel Roberts: I was talking about Mayo
@Shane O Malley: beating Cork was hardly a bigger deal than beating mayo was it?
@Skimothy: not if you’re salivating this incredibly sycophantic article. It’s a young fella who scored some typical points against a terrible mayo team. Even the highlight shown was a missed pass. Compared to McCaffrey, mcbrearty or rock, clifford is untested, but I guess kerry gaa need to keep promoting these kind of individuals (surely they have a nickname picked for Spillane to keep bringing up on rte?) to take the pressure of the team.
@Shane O Malley: meh
It was a free. Why?
@Seamus Walsh: was thinking of it was a line ball he was 6 yards in from it. Some score all the same
@Seamus Walsh: biggest winners??by 10 PTS?? The dubs won by 13.
10 point win, not 9
Was that point from the sideline a free or a sideline ball?
@Mel Roberts: free
@Mel Roberts: ah fup off
@Mel Roberts: Ah Mel, St Peter was some man for the stolen yardage too!
From that phoemonal goal he scored in the minor final David Cliiford has been one to watch. Gifted skillful forward who reminds me a bit of Maurice Fitzgerald in terms of his kicking style (underlined with his point from the sideline). He will be an immediate target to be stopped at whatever cost. Colm Cooper got savage treatment over his career with little protection from the officials and my worry is that the game has progressed in that fashion. Kerry in Donegal will be a different prospect and while Kerry had Mayo pretty much beaten half way through the game, they had serious trouble with their knockouts and midfield for the last 20 mins. Kerry are not the finished article yet.
@Norris Kevin: *kickouts- God I hate auto correct
@Norris Kevin: wonderful player a real force of nature but sadly will be in for lots of hugs from opposing teams
Listen mayo made Kerry look great cos they all played rubbish but it’s no harm to give Kerry false hope & of course the gaa laps it all up cos they will again want Kerry v Dublin final, why don’t know cos we all know dubs will take them in 4th gear
If he was man marked out of it by a defender
@BMJF: Dónal keogan will annihilate him