National Forum

David Clifford The Goat

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To sligo joe:  "Con made his championship debut in 2016 and became a regular in 2017, yes he has had recurring hamstring trouble in the last 15 months but in 9 seasons before that he won 6 All Irelands with Dublin and 3 All Irelands with Cuala and played in virtually every game in those years, so injured a lot is incorrect. When he was Clifford's age he had basically never had an injury of any significance."
Con has been injured for a lot of the past 3-4 years, to suggest otherwise is to detract from his ability, he hasn't won an All Star award in 5 years, 6 presuming he won't win one this year, it's unfortunate as he's the only player playing currently remotely close to Clifford

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2728 - 31/07/2026 14:52:09    2688298

Link

Replying To Claretandblue:  "Con has been injured for a lot of the past 3-4 years, to suggest otherwise is to detract from his ability, he hasn't won an All Star award in 5 years, 6 presuming he won't win one this year, it's unfortunate as he's the only player playing currently remotely close to Clifford"
Well it's not a suggestion, Con started and finished all 9 of Dublin's championship games in 2023 and all 7 of their championship games in 2024.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1173 - 31/07/2026 15:23:27    2688302

Link

Replying To Claretandblue:  "Con has been injured for a lot of the past 3-4 years, to suggest otherwise is to detract from his ability, he hasn't won an All Star award in 5 years, 6 presuming he won't win one this year, it's unfortunate as he's the only player playing currently remotely close to Clifford"
So including 2017 the first year he became a regular up to and including the 2024 championship, out of 54 championship games Con played in 48 of them!

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1173 - 31/07/2026 15:34:41    2688303

Link

Replying To Claretandblue:  "Con has been injured for a lot of the past 3-4 years, to suggest otherwise is to detract from his ability, he hasn't won an All Star award in 5 years, 6 presuming he won't win one this year, it's unfortunate as he's the only player playing currently remotely close to Clifford"
And just to labour the point Con played all the way through the Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland club football championship 2024/25 with the final on 19th January 2025.
That's only a year and a half ago, he did miss a small number of games with a shoulder injury at one stage but for a player that has played so many high intensity matches (a lot more thanDavid), doubling up top grade club football and hurling I think King Con has been remarkably durable, has played in 9 All-ireland finals (6 with Dublin, 3 with Cuala) and won them all and a Sigerson to boot.!

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1173 - 31/07/2026 15:53:01    2688304

Link

Replying To Thejampot:  "Divid didn't enhance and reputation sunday. Second half was a poor display from one for the best in the game. When was needed most to lead he just stood up and watched. No work rate."
David was class on Sunday. Kerry shouldn't look to the Cliffords and point any bit of blame at them for Sunday. He's never been known for his great workrate. He lets the piano shifters do the workrate while he plays the piano. He's an unbelievable scorer and man to set up scores by setting them up or his presence creating space for others to score. Stood up to kick the 2 pointer near the end when most other Kerry playees, bar Paudie, weren't screaming for the ball to try and get them back into the game. It's not his fault that Kerry's attacking balance is weighted heavily on him, with Séanie O'Shea and Paudie being a bit behind his influence on results. He's carried that responsibility since minor in Kerry, where standards are set.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8679 - 31/07/2026 16:38:14    2688317

Link

Replying To GreenandRed:  "David was class on Sunday. Kerry shouldn't look to the Cliffords and point any bit of blame at them for Sunday. He's never been known for his great workrate. He lets the piano shifters do the workrate while he plays the piano. He's an unbelievable scorer and man to set up scores by setting them up or his presence creating space for others to score. Stood up to kick the 2 pointer near the end when most other Kerry playees, bar Paudie, weren't screaming for the ball to try and get them back into the game. It's not his fault that Kerry's attacking balance is weighted heavily on him, with Séanie O'Shea and Paudie being a bit behind his influence on results. He's carried that responsibility since minor in Kerry, where standards are set."
People keep missing that point. Only equivalent I can think of recently in GAA is Joe Canning who kept Galway in games they had no business winning before they eventually won one and with with better players and manager but with him key to that too.

Fact that DC has brought his own club Fossa to such heights is testament in itself. And same with Kerry minors. This Kerry team would not have won in 2022 and 2025 without him. There are very very players you could say that about. Christy Ring maybe!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4525 - 01/08/2026 09:24:06    2688351

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "Well Connolly got very little protection in games back then.

Certain players these days get away with so much."
Any names for these players who get away with so much?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2728 - 01/08/2026 10:08:08    2688357

Link

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "People keep missing that point. Only equivalent I can think of recently in GAA is Joe Canning who kept Galway in games they had no business winning before they eventually won one and with with better players and manager but with him key to that too.

Fact that DC has brought his own club Fossa to such heights is testament in itself. And same with Kerry minors. This Kerry team would not have won in 2022 and 2025 without him. There are very very players you could say that about. Christy Ring maybe!"
Obviously a great player but I'm not sure I would rank winning the junior club All Ireland as an indicator of his merit.
Certainly winning the Kerry junior title was an achievement for DC and Fossa but after that in the provincial and all ireland club championships Kerry clubs have a big advantage.
While in the Senior club championship which has a relatively level playing field Kerry clubs have a 12% success rate contrasting with a 40% and 50% Kerry success rate in intermediate and junior due to the small cohort of senior clubs in Kerry

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1173 - 01/08/2026 14:27:56    2688384

Link