David Clifford looking forward to Cork test
Kerry Footballer David Clifford helped launch the brand-new Blueberry flavour Avonmore Protein Milk, just in time for a busy summer of sport. Avonmore Protein Milk is proud to partner with GAA players as part of their training regime. A contribution from each litre of Avonmore Protein Milk sold is redirected towards GAA initiatives to fund grass roots GAA and GPA player development programmes.
By Cian O'Connell
Relieved to have survived a second half scare against Clare in the Munster SFC Semi-Final, Kerry's David Clifford is relishing the opportunity to perform in another southern decider against Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Ronan McCarthy's Cork produced a fine display to defeat Limerick so Clifford is looking forward to the challenge on the banks of the Lee.
"Cork had a massive win," Clifford says. "As you can see with Tipperary in the hurling, they probably didn't have a brain-storming league, but they've been unbelievable so far in the championship so it's very hard to know what you're going to get with teams until you see them in the Championship so it'll be a massive challenge now going to Páirc Uí Chaoimh."
Clifford acknowledged it was a difficult finish in Cusack Park when a Gary Brennan inspired Clare starting launching a comeback mission. It was a disjointed second half for the Kingdom.
"Yeah possibly you could say that," Clifford admits. "Clare got a massive foothold.
"Gary Brennan played across and had a massive impact on it, a player like him I suppose is always going to have an impact on a game so just trying to limit him really to what damage he can do."
Kerry's David Clifford in Munster SFC Semi-Final action against Clare at Cusack Park.
That so many promising young players are emerging in Kerry is a source of optimism for Clifford.
"Yeah that and I suppose along with the, obviously the experienced players are great and just basically showing you the ropes," Clifford states. "But I suppose when there's so many young players coming together having played together at underage level and stuff, they know their games a lot. It's probably a seamless transition.
"A lot of the enjoyment probably comes from success I suppose, but yeah it's great having played or playing with players you've played with before. You already have a good relationship with them."
Who helped Clifford integrate into the senior set-up when he arrived into the panel before last year's Allianz Football League?
"I suppose the likes of Kieran Donaghy and I used to travel to a lot of trainings with Kevin McCarthy, he'd been on the panel for a few years before it," Clifford replies. "So they were very big, showing me the ropes and basically just getting, telling you what was in store.
"When I was growing up, Kerry were blessed with a few unbelievable forwards, probably some of the best forwards to have played the game, the likes of Colm Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan, these type of fellas. Sean O'Sullivan from Cromane was a our development squad trainer, obviously he won All-Ireland medals and stuff, so anyone like him would have been role models."
