David Clifford

David Clifford (born 22 January 1999) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who currently plays as a corner-forward or full-forward for the Kerry senior team.

David Clifford

Personal information
Irish name	Daithí Ó Clúmháin
Sport	Gaelic football
Position	Full Forward
Height	1 ft 1 in (0.33 m)
Occupation	Student
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Fossa East Kerry
Club titles
Kerry titles	2
Colleges(s)
Years	College
2017–	IT Tralee
College titles
Sigerson titles	0
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2018–	Kerry	13 (4–51)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	2
All-Irelands	0
NFL	1
All Stars	2
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 12:42, 2 January 2021.

Raised in Fossa, County Kerry, Clifford played his schools football with St. Brendan's College, winning an All-Ireland medal in 2016. He simultaneously came to prominence with the Fossa club at juvenile and underage levels before joining the club's adult team. Clifford has also played with divisional side East Kerry, winning the Kerry Senior Football Championship.

Underage career

Schools

Clifford first came to prominence when he scored 2–05 in the Hogan Cup final 2016 as St Brendan's College Killarney saw off St Patrick's College Maghera to deliver their first title in 24 years.

Soccer

In addition to Gaelic football, Clifford also played underage soccer, as a centre-half.[1] The future professional English Football League players Shane McLoughlin and Dara O'Shea alongside future musician Ryan Meaney were his opponents at under-age level.[2]

Minor

Clifford made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he was selected for the Kerry minor team. He enjoyed two championship seasons with the minor team and won back-to-back Munster and All-Ireland medals in 2016 and 2017. He was captain of the 2017 winning teams scoring 6–27 in six games, including 4–04 in the All-Ireland final win over Derry. He ended the 2017 season as the Minor Footballer of the Year.

Senior

Clifford made his senior debut during the 2018 National Football League.[3] He won his first Munster Senior Football Championship title later that summer after over coming Cork in the final. He played five championship games scoring 4–39. He ended the year with an All Star and as All Stars Young Footballer of the Year. In 2019, Clifford again won the Munster Senior Football Championship with Kerry, and went on to reach the All-Ireland senior final.

Career statistics

Division

As of 26 September 2020.

Team	Season	Kerry SFC
		Apps	Score
East Kerry	2017	4	2-01
	2018	4	5-13
	2019	5	2-29
	2020	3	2-15
Career total		16	11-58

Inter-county

As of 8 November 2020

Team	Year	National League			Munster		All-Ireland		Total
		Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
Kerry Minor	2016	—			3	1–14	3	1–13	6	2–27
	2017	—			2	2–14	2	4–13	4	6–27
	Total	—			5	3–28	5	5–26	10	8–54
Kerry	2018	Division 1	6	0–21	2	0-04	3	4–14	11	4–39
	2019		2	0–07	2	0–07	5	0–22	9	0–36
	2020		7	2–32	1	0–04	—		8	2–36
	Total		15	2–60	5	0–15	8	4–36	28	6–111

Honours

St. Brendan's College

• Hogan Cup (1): 2016
• Corn Uí Mhuirí (1): 2016

East Kerry

• Kerry Senior Football Championship (2): 2019, 2020
• Kerry Under-21 Football Championship (1): 2018
• Kerry Minor Football Championship (2): 2016, 2017

Kerry

• Munster Senior Football Championship (2): 2018, 2019
• National Football League (Ireland) (1): 2020 (c)
• All-Ireland Minor Football Championship (2): 2016, 2017 (c)
• Munster Minor Football Championship (2): 2016, 2017 (c)

Individual

• Minor All Star Award (1): 2017
• Minor Footballer of the year (1): 2017
• All Star (2): 2018, 2019
• All Stars Young Footballer of the Year (1): 2018

References

1. "Byrne: I played for Ireland with lads who saw us as a B team". Irish Independent. 5 September 2018.
2. "'I went against the grain by not playing GAA ... but it wasn't what I wanted to do'". Irish Independent. 16 February 2019.
3. "David Clifford in line to make senior Kerry debut in 2018 National League". Irish Independent. 18 December 2017.