Clifford role as Kerry captain worries Keane

THE pressure of being team captain on young Kerry star David Clifford is a ‘worry’, Kingdom boss Peter Keane has admitted. It was confirmed yesterday that Clifford, who celebrates his 21st birthday next week, will lead the Kingdom this season — the honour bestowed on the youngster as a result of his divisional team, East Kerry, winning the county championship. Although confident the backto-back All-Star winner would carry the burden of his new role, Keane did express his concern. ‘That is always something you would have to consider and worry about especially with a young man but that is the system we have in Kerry in this moment in time. ‘I know there are hopes to change that in time as it is something that has been handed down to a young player and that has been the case for the last number of years. ‘That is something that I cannot control and all I can do is wish him the best with it,’ said Keane at a press conference ahead of this Saturday’s Allianz League opener against Dublin in Croke Park. A motion which has been drawn up by Kerry club Beaufort and seeks to end the practice of allowing the

county champions nominate the captain is expected to be passed in time for 2021, but in the interim Keane expressed confidence that Clifford (below), who becomes the first player from the Fossa club to take on the role, will handle the pressure. ‘He has great temperament and that is probably the best way I can describe him and things rest lightly on his shoulder which is a great trait for anyone to have, no matter what age they are. ‘So I would suggest that temperament is his outstanding quality so that will, I am sure, be an outstanding trait of his captaincy,’ added Keane. Meanwhile, Clifford claimed he was extremely excited by the news. ‘It’s a great honour for me and it’s a great honour for my club Fossa and my family so I am thrilled,’ declared the star forward. Meanwhile, it has emerged that midfielder David Moran will miss the bulk of Kerry’s spring campaign, while Peter Crowley, who tore his cruciate ligament while on club duty with Laune Rangers last year, will also be unavailable.