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Fossa's David Clifford is dragged back by Darren Devlin of Stewartstown Harps. Bryan Keane/INPHO

David Clifford one of six sent off but still inspires Fossa to All-Ireland victory

The reigning footballer of the year finished with 11 of his team’s 19 points in a win over Stewartstown Harps of Tyrone.

Fossa (Kerry) 0-19
Stewartstown Harps (Tyrone) 1-13

Paul Keane reports from Croke Park

A REMARKABLE ALL-Ireland club junior football final ended just about as everyone had predicted, with a David Clifford-inspired Fossa walking away with the silverware.

That Clifford finished with 11 of his team’s 19 points, and was comfortably the man of the match, surprised nobody though a red card for the reigning footballer of the year, one of six brandished by referee Thomas Murphy, was a shock.

Tyrone and Kerry teams traditionally love to hate eachother and it was no different this time with Stewartstown finishing with just 11 players on the pitch following red cards for Darren Devlin, Kyran Robinson, Gareth Devlin and Anton Coyle.

For Fossa, both Clifford brothers, David and captain Paudi, both 2022 All-Star recipients, were sent off while the Kerry representatives also lost Cian O’Shea to a black card late in the second-half.

It told a tale about David Clifford’s display that it was still more memorable than the half a dozen dismissals with the full-forward torturing the Harps defence throughout, kicking points for fun off right and left.

Darren Devlin man marked David Clifford, until his dismissal, while Robinson swept in front of the duo but it still couldn’t stop the Kerry man from filling his boots, eight of his points coming from play.

David scored five first-half points though former All-Ireland winning Tyrone minor Gareth Devlin was even more prolific with 1-3 in the opening half, his goal a 24th minute punched effort, to leave the Ulster side 1-7 to 0-7 clear at the break.

Fossa took over in the third quarter and reeled off four points in a row to take the lead for the first time at 0-11 to 1-7.

Dan Lowe levelled it up for the Harps but it was all about Fossa from there on and David Clifford in particular as he picked off a series of points to secure the silverware, consigning Stewartstown to their second defeat at this grade.

A number of skirmishes broke out around the field at various stages in the closing 20 minutes or so though it wasn’t until stoppage time that Stewartstown lost their last three players in what was a dramatic conclusion as both Cliffords also walked.

Fossa scorers: David Clifford 0-11 (0-3f), Emmett O’Shea 0-3 (0-1f), Harry Buckley 0-3, Paudie Clifford 0-2.

Stewartstown Harps scorers: Gareth Devlin 1-5 (0-3f), Dan Lowe 0-3 (0-2f), Stephen Talbot, Macauley Quinn 0-2 each, Conor Quinn 0-1.

FOSSA

1. Shane O’Sullivan

2. Bryan Myers
3. Fintan Coffey
4. Kevin McCarthy

5. Daniel O’Keeffe
9. Paddy Sheehan
7. Daniel O’Connell

6. Paudie Clifford

8. Eoin Talbot
12. Cian O’Shea

10. Harry Buckley
11. Matt Rennie
17. Ruairi Doyle

14. David Clifford
15. Emmet O’Shea

Subs:
18. Rian Colleran for McCarthy (h/t)
13. Tadhg O’Shea for Doyle (55)
23. Killian Buckley for Harry Buckley (63)
22. Cian Doyle for Paudie Clifford (63-64, blood)
20. Mark Dennehy for O’Keeffe (67)

STEWARTSTOWN HARPS

1. Greg Kelly

2. Jason Park
3. Darren Devlin
4. Connor Quinn

5. Kyran Robinson
6. Mark Rooney
7. Gerard O’Neill

8. Stephen Talbot
9. Macauley Quinn

10. Dylan McElhatton
25. Cumhai O’Neill
12. Tiernan Rush

13. Dan Lowe
14. Gareth Devlin
15. Theo Lowe

Subs:
24. Anton Coyle for Theo Lowe (47)
11. Cathal Devlin for Dan Lowe (53)

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).

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    Mute Patrick O'Sullivan
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    Nov 26th 2024, 9:40 AM

    Nice article, Murray,
    I don’t think any of us who believe crowley is #1 for now, would say crowley is the finished product. He’s got a long way to go yet in his career. And being a poor defensive set off lineout away for winning a grand slam on his first attempt is really promising even though he had ups and down during the tournament.

    Wanna be careful saying things like crowley being ahead of sexton at this age.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:28 AM

    @Patrick O’Sullivan: I don’t think Murray has to be careful about anything he says. It is rarely controversial, always balanced and very well researched.

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    Mute Patrick O'Sullivan
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    Nov 26th 2024, 3:41 PM

    @Paul Ennis: it has been said in the comments section of an article previously that crowley is ahead of where sexton was at this stage. Unsurprisingly, it drew negative replies.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 7:05 PM

    @Patrick O’Sullivan: There will always be negative comments. Murray doesn’t need to worry about that & I don’t think he does. Murray’s opinion will carry more weight than some of us mere mortals expressing our tuppence worth.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 9:37 AM

    Great article Murray (as always). I think there is a supreme inner belief and self confidence that Jack has that cannot be taught or learned. He has had it since day one. When I think about Ireland’s other 10s since ROG, maybe the only other with the same trait would have been Paddy Jackson. Johnny had to fight his demons and succeeded despite his early doubts and issues with self esteem. Sam might just have the same trait as Jack and explains why many of us have high expectations of him.

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    Mute Dolores Scully
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:25 AM

    A good balanced and objective article. All three 10′s bring different attributes to the game ( i.e muti position play, better defensive tackles, kicking etc). Perhaps the era of a dominant 10 holding that position for a long number of years as seen in the past is now over…In any event great to have such an abundance of young talent.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:26 AM

    @Dolores Scully: Definitely

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:35 AM

    @Dolores Scully: Exactly, well said! I really don’t buy this perceived anti-Crowley guff that is going around, “he’s not being backed.” He has to fight and earn his place like everyone else. All the other big sides don’t have a really set in stone option at 10. Look at the world champions! You can’t say who is first choice between Libbok, Pollard, Feinberg-Mgomezelu and most recently Hendrikse at the weekend. Ramos has been starting ahead of Ntamack. England have several options there. Why should Ireland be any different. Our 10 has to earn his place, just like every other position.

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Nov 26th 2024, 1:14 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: very good point. Fin will soon be putting pressure on Marcus in England. Mo’unga / Barret t / McKenzie in NZ. It seems to be Ireland where we make a big deal of the OH and the need to have 1 single option. You can see it on this site already, the need to find faults with the other player as an argument for your own favorite. The thing I hate the most is when the TV camera goes to the sub OH on the bench during the game to see what the reaction is to a good / bad bit of play from the guy on the pitch. That really gets on my nerves.

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    Mute Cormac McCarthy
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    Nov 26th 2024, 2:59 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: Agree 100% let Harry Byrne, I mean Ciarain Frawley, I mean Sam Pendergast fight and earn his place like Crowley did. Playing the full 160 minutes in a URC South African tour, and on turning 22 start and play the full 80 in France against the team that topped the French Pro 14 the previous year. Never getting near Irish camp until he forced his way into the reckoning. This article from Murray is better balanced than some of his previous attempts. Take for example his analysis of Pendergast Fiji performance. The overcooked penalty, refs fault, the pass to the wing, Casey’s fault, the kick out in the full Osbourne (shock a Leinster players fault), the yellow card etc. etc.
    .

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    Mute Petter Sellberg
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    Nov 26th 2024, 7:03 PM

    @Cormac McCarthy: how can someone with an unbalanced perspective recognise a balanced article? I think we’re just going to have to accept that it’s not very likely

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    Mute David Lynch
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:47 PM

    @Michael Corkery: Great point. I agree 100%. They did it with Frawley last week. Pure shit.

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:21 PM

    @Michael Corkery: yeah I don’t get it why it seems that only Ireland have to have a lone option at 10. I don’t understand it personally. And you’re right the cameras planning to Frawley every 2 mins the other week was infuriating. Crowley is the current incumbent. I’d start him at the weekend, and barring a massive dip or injury, I’d probably be starting him in the first 6N game. However if Leinster continue going well and Frawley and Prendergast are playing well at 10, then surely they deserve to be in the reckoning too come the 6N. No player has a divine right to the 10 jersey now.

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    Mute Kevin Ryan
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:00 AM

    Regrettably the Munster/Leinster relationship is now so toxic that what used to be seen as entirely conventional – bringing on the 22 for the last 20 minutes of a game – has now become a huge sleight on the starter and which has to treated as an existential threat

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:25 AM

    @Kevin Ryan: it was always thus – but it just gets acerbated in the social media age. Ward v Campbell, Humphries v ROG, ROG v Sexton. Thé unlucky one is Frawley really, no one is even talking about him as a starter anymore

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:26 AM

    @Kevin Ryan: Hopefully it will all settle down when 6N comes around. Johnny was only ever taken off with 10 or 15 mins to go if the game was won or if he was injured. It is not the way we want the next 10 years to be. Hopefully these 2 boys can battle it out for the 10 jersey and the head coach can pick the 10 based on the opposition. For example, Jack offers a running threat that might be suited to playing v Scotland or England and Sam offers a kicking threat that will break down France (not saying that is the case, just as an example). Wouldn’t that be wonderful? If we know the replacement can be trusted, the starter can push himself to the limit for 55 / 60 mins and the finisher closes the game out with a bit of variation. What is not to like?

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    Mute Keno
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:19 AM

    @Michael Corkery: couldn’t agree more – that sort of competition for the starting slot was good for both sets of players keeping them on their toes unfortunately there was a ‘twin’ for Sexton.

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    Mute Keno
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:20 AM

    @Keno: wasn’t

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:37 AM

    @Kevin Ryan: Exactly! The same cohort who were crying and moaning about Sexton not being taken off in the WC vs NZ are now moaning that Crowley is being taken off with an hour gone. Is that not what they wanted in the World Cup? What’s the point in having a sub 10 if you’re not going to use it? Competition for places is good. We’re in a different era now, we’re going to get another Sexton who will make the position his own for 15 years.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Nov 26th 2024, 12:52 PM

    @Michael Corkery: Frawley is a super replacement option and no problem to start at 10 or 15. His versatility is what keeps him in the 23, which I think he’d prefer than being outside of it. Lots of potential still. S Prendergast and Crowley most likely to back up each other at 10 when the other starts. Frawley for 12-15 realistically.

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    Mute Dolores Scully
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    Nov 26th 2024, 3:37 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: I agree. But I was/am of the opinion that Sexton should have been replaced in the WC v NZ. It was clear he was out on his feet for the last 10 – 15 mins ( understandably) and felt Crowley was well up for it. Perhaps AF feared a backlash if we lost ( which we did anyway) but at that stage, a drop goal was not gonna win us the match and the imho dubious decisions to kick to the corner earlier rather than take what seemed achievable penalty kicks ( unlike NZ) seemed to be a feature of our game. Anyway, hindsight is a great thing and as Leo says we’ll take the ” learnings”. Having such young quality 10′s should negate that happening in the future.

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    Mute Adrian Breen
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    Nov 26th 2024, 9:57 AM

    Interesting stats:

    Sam Prendergast had 59 touches in 70 minutes v Fiji

    Jack Crowley had just 12 vs New Zealand and 30 vs Argentina

    Ireland have played off 9 with JGP, off 10 with Casey

    Love to see Crowley get that service

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:21 AM

    @Adrian Breen: What were the possession stats? How many times did Ireland kick the ball downfield v NZ & Argentina compared to Fiji. Ireland dominated the ball versus Fiji and kicking was more dinks and chips than territorial. Your 9 & 10 will always touch the ball more against Fiji or even Italy than NZ, SA or France.

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    Mute Mark O'Keeffe
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    Nov 26th 2024, 4:52 PM

    @Paul Ennis: yeah the Fiji game was much ‘wider’ if I can put it like that. We didn’t see as much of Izzy on the ball as I would have liked as a result

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    Mute PatN
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:54 AM

    With the Osbourne injury, you would have to expect that Frawley will be picked to back up Crowley on Saturday. He covers outhalf, centre and full back. I think the biggest question about selection is not OH – Crowley will definitely be picked – but who will be left out in the centre.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Nov 26th 2024, 12:48 PM

    @PatN: There’s no reason all three cannot be in the match 23. The best cover from 10-15 is Frawley, however, there’s no reason that either Crowley or S Prendergast cannot back each other up. If recent history is anything to go on there’s a higher likelihood that Frawley will be needed across the back three than at 10. So there’s still an option to have all three.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Nov 26th 2024, 3:47 PM

    I’ve a feeling Murray knows who has been selected at 10 and is putting out a Crowley article to soften the blow for certain fans when he doesn’t start this weekend …

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    Mute Johny doyle
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    Nov 27th 2024, 8:03 PM

    Hm

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