*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of match played 30 June 2024.
David Clifford (Irish: Daithí Ó Clúmháin) (born 22 January 1999) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a corner-forward or full-forward at club level for Fossa and East Kerry and for the Kerry county team. He is widely regarded as the best player in the game at present.[1]
Clifford first came to prominence when he scored 2–05 in the Hogan Cup final 2016 as St Brendan's College, Killarney saw off St Patrick's College, Maghera to deliver their first title in 24 years.[2]
Soccer
In addition to Gaelic football, Clifford also played underage soccer, as a centre-half.[3][4] The future professional English Football League players Shane McLoughlin and Dara O'Shea alongside future musician Ryan Meaney were his opponents at under-age level.[5]
Minor
Clifford made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he was selected for the Kerry minor team. He enjoyed two championship seasons with the minor team and won back-to-back Munster and All-Ireland medals in 2016 and 2017. He was captain of the 2017 winning teams scoring 6–27 in six games, including 4–04 in the All-Ireland final win over Derry. He ended the 2017 season as the Minor Footballer of the Year.
A week after his first All-Ireland win with Kerry, Clifford scored 1–9 versus Listowel Emmets.[6] In his second match of the 2022 club championship, he again scored 1–9 versus Castlegregory. In their third group match he scored 0–10 against Listry. Against Annascaul in the quarter-final he scored 1–6 in Fossa's victory. In their semi final win over Ardfert, he contributed 0–9 of their 0–14 total. The Junior Premier final brought Fossa and Listry together again. In Fossa's 4–15 to 0–22 win, Clifford scored an incredible 2–12.
Fossa went on to win the 2022 Munster Junior club football championship. Clifford scoring 0–04 (0-02f) versus Feohanagh-Castlemahon (Limerick) and 0–10 (0-07f) in the final versus Kilmurry (Cork).
In the All-Ireland series Clifford scored 0–07 (0-01f) in the semi-final versus Castletown from Meath.
He guided Fossa to their first All-Ireland Junior win in a man of the match performance versus Stewartstown Harps GFC. He scored 0–11 (0-03f) and was sent off in the dying moments having received a second yellow card.[7]
From left to right: Templenoe's Tom Spillane, Fossa chairman Dermot Clifford, former GAA president Seán Kelly, David Clifford and Fossa secretary Merry Talbot, in 2017
In 2019 he scored 1–6 in the quarter-final, 0–9 in the semi-final and 1–3 in the final. [1][2]
In 2020 he scored 1–5 in the quarter-final and 1–4 in the final. [3][4]
In 2021, a straight knock out championship was in place. Clifford scored 0–2 as East Kerry lost to eventual champions Austin Stacks.
Clifford made his 2022 debut as a substitute in the win against Spa. He scored 0–3 after being introduced in the 40th minute. He scored 0–7 in the quarter final versus Kenmare Shamrocks. He won his third Kerry Senior Football Championship beating Mid Kerry in the final, scoring 1–9 in the process.
In 2023, Clifford made his debut in a ten minute cameo against Templenoe. He started the quarter final against St. Kierans and scored 1-5 in a 4-19 to 0-12 win. His 1-3 helped ensure progression to the Kerry senior final at the expense of Rathmore on a score line of 1-16 to 1-10.
In 2019, Clifford again won the Munster Senior Football Championship with Kerry, scoring 0–3 in the semi-final versus Clare and scoring 0–4 in the final versus Cork.
In the Super 8 quarter final group stage, Clifford scored 0–7 against Mayo, 0–3 against Donegal and was rested against Meath. He scored 0–5 in the semi-final against Tyrone.
Kerry went on to reach the All-Ireland senior final versus Dublin. Clifford scored 0–2 in the drawn match and 0–5 in the replay, as Dublin ran out 1–18 to 0–15 winners.
Kerry won the 2020 National Football League after winning 5 of their 7 matches. This was Clifford's first national league title.
Clifford scored 0–4 in the shock Munster Senior Football Championship semi final loss to Cork. The 2020 championship was straight knock-out and as such was his only championship game that year.
2021
He scored a hat-trick against Galway in the opening round of the 2021 National Football League.[9] Kerry would go on to share the National League title with Dublin this year delivering Clifford his second league title.
Kerry reached the All-Ireland semi final in which they faced Tyrone. Clifford scored 0–8 on the day, however, due to injury he could not take part in extra-time. Tyrone ran out winners 3–14 to 0–22.
Clifford won his third National League to start the inter county season. In the final versus Mayo he scored 1–6, 1–5 from play.
His fourth Munster championship arrived in 2022. In the semi-final he scored 0–4 however, injury prevented Clifford from playing in the final versus Limerick.
The All-Ireland quarter final versus Mayo saw Clifford return from injury. He scored 1–3 in the win. A semi final win over Dublin was secured on the back of his 0–6.
Clifford was selected as captain for the 2023 season.
He made his season debut as a second-half substitute in Kerry's round 3 league match against Mayo. He played in 5 league games as Kerry finished 5th in the Division 1 league.
Clifford was named at full forward for their Munster semi-final against Tipperary. He scored 0–02 in their 0–25 to 0–05 win.
Clifford was awarded the man of the match award in their Munster final against Clare. He scored 2–6 in their 5–14 to 0–15 win. He played in the match alongside brother Paudie as a tribute to their mother Ellen Clifford who passed away the previous day.
In Kerry's first All-Ireland round robin match versus Mayo, Clifford scored 0–08 (0-03f) in a Kerry loss. Clifford scored 1–05 (1–00p, 0-01f) in their second round win versus Cork. He scored 2-04 (1-00p) in their final round robin win versus Louth. This guaranteed Kerry top spot and direct progress to the quarter finals.
Clifford contributed 0-05 (0-03f) in the All-Ireland quarter final victory over Tyrone. Kerry winning on a score line of 2-18 to 0-12.
A man of the match performance in the All Ireland Semi Final ensured Kerry's progress. He contributed 0-09 (0-04f) in a 1-17 to 1-15 win.
In the All-Ireland Final, it was Dublin who emerged victorious on a score line of 1-15 to 1-13. Clifford scored 0-03 (0-01f) in his tussle with Mick Fitzsimmons.
He won his fifth All Star and was selected as GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year for a second time.
Personal life
Clifford and his girlfriend Shauna O'Connor have one son named Óigí, born in September 2021.[10]
His brother Paudie Clifford is also a member of the Kerry team and a fellow All-Ireland winner.
He has worked alongside Shane Enright for the Bank of Ireland, where he was hired for the summer in 2018.[13]
Clifford is a teacher in his alma mater St Brendan's College, Killarney.
^"'I don't know where that came from but when they go in it's always nice'". Hogan Stand. 16 May 2021. 'I played a bit of soccer in my younger days', he told eir Sport when asked about that sublime piece of skill. 'I was a centre half though so I don't know where that came from but when they go in it's always nice'.
