ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
HE is too young. He doesn’t need the extra responsibility. He is high-profile enough in the national spotlight as it is. Let him concentrate on his own game.
Just a selection of some of the probable views among those who feel that, as he only turns 21 years of age today, the perceived burden of being named captain of the Kerry senior football team for 2020 could have a hugely negative impact on the continued development of David Clifford.
In the general scheme of things, the doubters may have a point. You can understand their way of thinking. Is all this a case of ‘too much, too soon’?
Maybe. If we were dealing with the majority of people at such a young age. But this is different. The Fossa superstar is different. He is one of a kind, a phenomenon, a relative freak of nature, and those who know him best are comfortably the most capable of articulating what makes Clifford stand out.
Mike Cahillane is the chairman of Coiste na nOg in Fossa and, speaking to Radio Kerry on Tuesday morning, he spoke about the huge honour they feel in the club.
“We’re over the moon, very, very happy altogether. We’re thrilled. There’s no other word for it. The club is so proud of him.
“David is a very calm individual, he takes everything in his stride. I have yet to see him fazed, on or off the field. He’s a calm, cool person who knows what he is about. That’s what you want in a captain.”
Cahillane then summed up, in a nutshell, why there is really no need for Kerry football fans to worry about their star player being weighed down with any extra pressure from leading the team out onto the fields of Ireland. Put simply, it has always been water off a duck’s back for such a composed young man.
“We first really noticed David when he was thirteen, and he was on our Under-16 team. We were playing Glenflesk In an East Kerry Final, and naturally we were a bit concerned that he might be too young for that age. He scored 3-3 in the first ten minutes! It was breath-taking. He is a special, special talent,” stressed Cahillane, with total pride in watching one of their own on their journey to the pinnacle of their sport.
David Clifford has always been special. From that performance as a 13-year-old for his club, to Hogan Cup glory with St Brendans Killarney (where he scored 2-5 in the final against St Pat’s Maghera), and onto his two All-Ireland minor football titles with the green and gold.
Who will ever forget the 4-4 he scored from play to take a highly-rated Derry defence to the cleaners in the 2017 decider? Without hesitation, it was one of the greatest individual performances we have ever witnessed on the sacred Croke Park sod. Clifford was the Kerry captain that day. Pressure? Not even the slightest hint of it.
After scoring 8-54 in his two minor campaigns, the media focus was immediately fixed on Clifford as he embarked on his debut senior season in 2018. Many precocious underage talents fall flat on their faces when they move up a level. Did that happen to the Fossa man? No chance.
In the last two seasons, Clifford has registered 4-75 in his 20 league and championship games for the Kingdom. He is a two-time All Star. He was named Young Footballer of the Year in 2018. He has already played well in two All-Ireland senior finals.
When he met the press on Monday evening in his first official duties as new Kerry skipper, the son of Dermot and Ellen Clifford was completely relaxed in his surroundings. While understandably guarded in his answers, there were little nuggets that gave us an insight into the undeniable strength of his personality.
Any regrets over not beating Dublin in either of the two finals?
“I suppose there was, of course. Any time you are only two or three minutes away from winning an All-Ireland, you’re going to have regrets. But it was great to have the county championship to fall back on, to take your focus away from the happenings of the previous few weeks. There’s great learnings to take from the Dublin games and we hope to take them forward into this year,” he said.
Ability to bounce back from adversity? Check. After the heartbreak of seeing the Dubs clinch the five-in-a-row, Clifford inspired East Kerry to win their first county title in 20 years. Eight points against Kerins O’Rahillys, 1-6 against Dingle, nine points in the semi-final with St Brendans and 1-3 against Dr Crokes in the final.
On whether Dublin’s physicality was too much for a young, callow Kerry?
“I don’t know if we noticed it too much. Of course they are a very physical team and they’re in great physical condition. But, at that stage of the summer, nearly every team is in a fairly similar condition.”
No inferiority complex towards any supposed superiors? Check.
On the congested GAA schedule at this time of the year?
“There are so many competitions going on, that these fixtures issues are never going to be easy to resolve. But they are trying to look at them. For players though, the training is important but it’s all about the games. That’s where you get to ply your trade.”
On the new rules?
“They will probably be tough for the referees, more than anything. There’s still a bit of confusion around but, whenever it gets cleared up, it will probably start to work itself out and it might not make as much change as people are thinking.”
An ability to roll with the punches and take whatever the fixtures planners and rule-makers throw at him? Check.
While hugely honoured to be named Kerry captain, Clifford said something that epitomised his outlook on life. “There’s not a whole pile involved in it, to be honest.” There is not an ounce of disrespect in that reply. Just the matter-of-fact response that it won’t change him. In any single way.
David Clifford is a leader every time he wears the colours of every team that he represents. If this is the last Kerry captain to be selected by the county champions, then East Kerry must be commended for making the perfect choice.
As Peter Keane admitted on Monday: “David has a great temperament. That’s probably the best way I could describe him. Things rest lightly on his shoulders, which is a great trait for any person.”
The 2020 vision for Kerry football is in very safe hands.