FORGET the Dubs and their three-in-a-row and don’t go fretting about the proverbial bridesmaids from the west. There was only one story in Croke Park this afternoon and that was the astonishing performance of the Kerry minor footballers who created history, in the most sensational fashion possible, on a memorable day for Kingdom Gaels all over the world.
It was a display that caused Kerry chests to expand with pride as a magnificent bunch of supremely gifted young footballers carved their names into the annals of sporting history in the most incredible manner.
To win an All-Ireland final by a whopping 24 points, scoring 6-17 in the process, is an unbelievable statistic in any man or woman’s language. For one player alone to notch 4-4, in just over an hour of football, on the greatest stage of all, is the kind of stuff that would make Roy of the Rovers blush.
It was a day when Kerry heroes stood up to be counted and none stood taller than team captain and marksman-in-chief David Clifford, a rare, once-in-a-lifetime underage talent who has all the qualities required – and more – to become one of the greatest players of his or any generation.
Not even Hans Christian Andersen could have penned a final act that would have ended with a personal haul of four goals and four points for the swashbuckling Fossa star who is already a household name throughout the country, thanks to his mind-blowing exploits with Kerry and St Brendan’s College that has now earned him four All-Ireland medals.
The IT Tralee student – who hit EIGHT GOALS AND FORTY ONE POINTS in this year’s campaign – ripped a highly rated Derry rearguard to shreds with what was possibly the most lethal display of precision since Willian Tell split the apple and, sooner rather than later, Dermot and Ellen Clifford will have to build a very generous extension to their home in Two Mile to accommodate their youngest son’s growing collection of man-of-the-match trophies.
It has to be stressed, however, that this was no one-man show – it was far from it. If Clifford was the automatic man-of-the-match then his namesake, Fiachra Clifford, was certainly running hot on his heels for that coveted accolade.
In addition to playing a part in two of this team captain’s three-pointers, the all-action Laune Rangers’ star pounced for two fabulously finished goals of his own – one in each half and both with his left boot – but it was his sheer workrate, not just today but throughout the campaign, that really caught the eye. There is scarcely a blade of grass in Croke Park this Sunday evening that doesn’t bear the mark of Fiachra Clifford’s studs and his fine contribution will certainly have earned another tick in Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s 2018 notebook.
Despite the Clifford double act, it seems wholly unfair to single out any of the Kerry players that took to the field this afternoon as each and every one of them played an instrumental part in what was surely one of the most comprehensive and convincing displays ever witnessed at headquarters.
Kerry controlled the game almost as will in every part of the field and even goalkeeper Deividas Uosis got an opportunity to prove what he could do with a spectacular point-blank save to deny Derry what looked a certain goal.
The all East Kerry backline six were resolute and tenacious, the midfield pairing of Mahony and O’Connor was heroic all afternoon and every one of the forwards got in on the act, with Rathmore’s Brian Friel and Donal O’Sullivan from Healy-Rae country finding the range with ease and regularity.
It was a great day too for team manager Peter Keane and his selectors as they called it right and ensured their charges were primed to deliver the performance of the season to ensure they will go down in history as the first minor side to win four-in-a-a-row.
“We came here to win and win we did. We’ll go home happy now,” beamed Keane.
And what a welcome will await them.
Kerry scorers: David Clifford 4-4, Fiachra Clifford 2-0, Brian Friel 0-5 (0-1f), Jack Griffin 0-2, Adam Donoghue 0-2, Donal O’Sullivan 0-2, Donnchadh O’Sullivan 0-1, Eddie Horan 0-1.
Kerry: Deividas Uosis (Dingle), Sean O’Leary (Kilcummin), Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), Cian Gammell (Killarney Legion), Patrick Warren (Gneeveguilla), Michael Potts (Dr Crokes), Niall Donohue (Firies), Barry Mahony (St Senans), Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil), Adam Donoghue (Castleisland Desmonds), David Clifford (Fossa), Donal O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan), Fiachra Clifford (Laune Rangers), Jack Griffin (Dr Crokes), Brian Friel (Rathmore).
Subs: Eddie Horan (Scartaglen) for Jack Griffin; Donchadh O’Sullivan (Firies) for Donal O’Sullivan; Ciarán O’Reilly (Austin Stacks) for Fiachra Clifford; Michael O’Leary (Renard) for Cian Gammell; Ryan O’Neill (Na Gaeil) for Niall Donohue; Michael Slattery (Austin Stacks) for Adam Donoghue.
KillarneyToday.com salutes the four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions
