Kerry hanging on as Clifford keeps the Kingdom in it

IF Kerry do somehow manage to sneak their way through to an AllIreland semi-final they will have one man to thank for it — 19-year-old star forward David Clifford. The rookie sensation from Fossa has had more of an impact on the Kingdom’s Championship campaign than any other player — particularly in the Super 8s. His injury-time goal in Clones brought Kerry back from the brink of elimination, but his other injury-time goal against Galway at Croke Park in the opening round may prove just as crucial. Should the Kingdom make it through — they will need to beat Kildare handsomely next week and hope Galway beat Monaghan in Pearse Stadium — it will come down to points difference. And his lastgasp goal against the Tribesmen could well prove vital in that regard, even if at the time it felt like little more than flattering the scoreline. Clifford has amassed 2-7 in total from 12 shots in two games. His two critical goals being added to seven points from 10 shots — three points from his right boot, four from his left. That’s All-Star form if ever we’ve seen it. He is 5/4 on to win an award in the full-forward line according to Boylesports, but that won’t even be good enough as things currently stand — he has three men ahead of him in the betting, with only three awards to be given out. Depending on what happens next weekend, he will have to overhaul Monaghan’s Conor McManus (2/5), Donegal’s Micheal Murphy (2/5) and Galway captain Damien Comer (4/7) if he is to be holding silverware come season’s end. Should he fail to do so, it is unlikely that any player from a Munster county will win an All-Star this year. The last time that happened was way back in 1991, when Down beat Meath in the All-Ireland final. And as things stand four-in-a-rowchasing Dublin are on for six awards (four backs, one midfield and one forward), with Galway and Monaghan on three each, Tyrone on two and Donegal on one. No Munster man in sight apart from Clifford. It has proven dangerous to write off Kerry at any point, and somehow they are still very much alive this year. Should they get through next weekend’s challenge, and then overcome Dublin in a semi-final before going on to win the most unlikely Sam Maguire in quite some time, there may be more awards heading south. As things stand right now, Clifford is the leading light of football in the southern province by some distance.