CLIFFORD IS THE KING

JACK O'Connor says he doesn't know how David Clifford deals with the pressure, as he hailed the Kerry superstar's “unique temperament” following yesterday's stunning All-Ireland final triumph at Croke Park.

- BY KARL O'KANE

Clifford spent long spells out of the game, being man marked by Donegal's Brendan McCole, but he still finished with nine points from play.

The Fossa man's haul included three two-pointers from play — and from a total of seven shots he hit the target six times.

Already a double Footballer of the Year, the 26-year-old looks nailed on to land the biggest personal gong in Gaelic football for a third time.

O'Connor (64) also spoke about the aftermath of Kerry's All-Ireland round robin defeat by Meath, a time when “life wasn't pleasant for me,” and addressed his own future, saying it could be his 'last hurrah.

But he was fulsome in his praise for Clifford, who was winning a second Celtic Cross.

The five-time All Star, who has a sixth in the bag, was criticised in some quarters for his display in the 2023 All-Ireland final defeat by Dublin - unfairly, in the eyes of many.

That added to the pressure on him coming into his first final since then, but he fairly came up with the goods when it mattered most.

And now it seems certain he will go on to win more All-Irelands under the new rules.

"David has a unique temperament," said O'Connor. "He just takes it all in his stride. Of course he must have felt pressure and he knew he was going to get a lot of heat.

"But we spoke about it during the week and he said, look, if I'm double-marked and triple-marked, I'll just win it and slip it.

"He's humble enough to create scores for other people and he was a massive part of our win out there because he kicked two two-pointers.

"Particularly the one on the stroke of halftime was just inspirational for us going in. Just gave an extra pep in our step.

"But how he deals with the weight of expectation, I have no idea. He's a unique temperament."