Paudie Clifford delighted that Fossa will compete at senior in Kerry next year

By Cian O’Connell

More than a decade spent playing adult football, has taught Paudie Clifford many valuable sporting lessons.

When Kerry lost the All-Ireland SFC Final, Clifford’s attention turned to Fossa. A county intermediate title was gleaned. Then, attention shifted to East Kerry, who lost in the senior championship at the weekend.

An AIB Munster Club IFC semi-final is on the agenda in November. “It's like anything, you take on the next challenge as it comes,” Clifford says.

“You put everything into that. Now the next challenge is the Munster semi-final on November 22. You need a bit of time to let the body recover for the next week or so. Then, we will build ourselves back up for that game on the 22nd.

“It isn't too bad; we have around five weeks. We put a lot into the intermediate, a lot mentally and physically. So, just taking the few weeks to get ourselves back up again. We will try to get ourselves to peak again for November 22. Hopefully, we will be able to.”

That Fossa will operate at senior level in Kerry is a remarkable achievement. “It's unbelievable, to be fair,” Clifford responds instantly.

“I started playing around 2013, in Division Five and Novice. We won our first Novice game that time, and we actually played Templenoe in the second game, they've went on a serious run similar to us, but they did it a bit before us. They hammered us.

“After that hammering against Templenoe, I definitely wasn't thinking that we were going to be a senior team in 11 or 12 years. It's been an unbelievable rise.

“A lot of people have done a lot of hard work. You've a lot of people that aren't with us today, like Gene Moriarty, fellas like that, who did a lot of work throughout the years. It's just great that we were able to get there. It's great for the parish and the families in the parish.”

Manager Jerome Stack has stepped down which is a blow according to Clifford. “Jerome did unbelievable work with us, we definitely wouldn't have won the intermediate without him,” Clifford says.

“He put a lot of work in over the last two years. It was disappointing, but the club are working on things in the background.

“The players are just ready to play, we're ready to train whenever the club has come to a decision on whatever they're going to do next. We will be ready. Luckily, we've a bit of time before the 22nd, anyway.”

Throughout the past decade, the Clifford brothers desire for the Fossa cause has never wavered. The All-Ireland SFC Final defeat to Mayo hurts, but returning to Fossa helps. “You're still disappointed, of course,” Clifford says.

“It's such a big game to lose. You look for the next challenge; it does take your mind off the All-Ireland then. Our Dad is so involved in the club, our Mam was so involved in the club, all of our best friends are in the club and play. We just love going back playing. It's a special club. We're just delighted to be a part of it and to be born in Fossa.

“So, we don't take it for granted that we get to go back to play with the lads, to give it a go at whatever level we're at. We are obviously very committed to the club, but that is probably down to our Dad, who has put so much into the club.”

Dermot Clifford remains an influential figure in Fossa. “Unbelievable, he has obviously coached teams, he's involved in logistics with us now, at the moment,” Paudie Clifford remarks.

“He was the chairman when we won the All-Ireland. He'd been chairman a few years before that.

“It's unbelievable for him and about four or five of them, who've put work in. It's great for him. We're delighted that we can help make a lot of people's dreams come true, getting the club to senior.”