Clifford, Kobe and the pursuit of excellence

Perhaps it’s a measure of the lofty standards David Clifford has set, but in what was considered a quiet day for the Kerry forward in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin, he still finished with 1-5 to his name.

Ever since making the Gaelic football world sit up and take notice as a teenager with 2-5 in a 2016 Hogan Cup [All-Ireland schools] final for St Brendan’s, Killarney and 4-4 later that year in the All-Ireland minor final for the Kingdom, the spotlight has rarely strayed from the Fossa man.

With that focus brings pressure, but Clifford – now in his ninth year with Kerry’s senior team – has consistently delivered, helping the Kingdom to two All-Ireland titles, two further final appearances, eight Munster Championships, two league titles with six All-Star awards collected along the way.

Heading into Sunday’s final against Mayo, he leads the 2026 championship scoring charts with 6-44 to his name with just 13 points coming from frees, adding further weight to the argument made by those who consider him the greatest of all time.

“David was double and triple-marked,” Kerry manager Jack O’Connor said of the attention the 27-year-old received against Dublin.

“We anticipated that but he still played quite well, scored 1-5 which isn’t too bad any day.”

Quite well for Clifford can still surpass what many of his peers can do on their best day, with comparisons to the stature of Lionel Messi following him around, yet that tag is a cause for motivation rather than celebration.

“To be honest, I nearly take it as a hit because I think there are people who say it but it isn’t coming from the right place,” Clifford told BBC Sport NI after kicking nine points in Kerry’s All-Ireland victory over Donegal last year.

“I think they are trying to build you up and hope that you will fail. That was a massive motivation for me today.”

McDonald and Mayo’s young guns

The destination of Sam Maguire could well come down to what Clifford produces on Sunday, but there are plenty of others in green and gold who can and have stepped up.

In the other corner, a new wave of attacking talent has emerged who are ready to make their mark.

Darragh Beirne, 19, has contributed 2-15 on the run to Sunday’s final but it is a man one year his junior, Kobe McDonald, who has captured the imagination.

Perhaps that is down to the 18-year-old being the son of Mayo great, Ciaran, who produced so many magic moments during his own playing days that saw him reach three All-Ireland finals and his help club Crossmolina to the 2001 All-Ireland title.

Or maybe it’s because of his impending move to Australian Rules club St Kilda, meaning this Sunday may well be the last time he wears his county’s colours.

It has created added intrigue around a young star whose resemblance to his father is not restricted to looks, but also a playing style that has won admirers.

“He’s just his own guy,” said Mayo boss Andy Moran.

“You wouldn’t even know he was around the place until he puts on the pink boots and starts to play a bit of football.

“He’s a quiet, humble young man and plays with that bit of 18-year-old freedom.”

Quiet he may be, but on the field is where McDonald has come alive in 2026, kicking 1-25 in Mayo’s run to the final as he, Beirne and young defender Eoin McGreal proved in the semi-final win over Louth at a packed out Croke Park, the big occasion holds no fears.

“You wouldn’t notice those guys around the place as they are so composed, no egos of distractions, just very focused,” said Mayo defender Stephen Coen, a veteran of four All-Ireland finals.

“Of course, I’ll try to give guidance and learnings of the past, but these guys have their own way of doing things and you just support them as much as possible.”

‘The Aussies aren’t after them because they’re average’ – Moran

With the AFL calling, this could be the one and only year McDonald plays senior inter-county football as he follows his dream of a career in professional sport.

He’s not the first to swap the round O’Neills ball for the oval Sherrin and more than likely won’t be the last.

While some have returned after a number of years including Derry’s Conor Glass or even Dublin’s Ciaran Kilkenny who quickly decided his ambitions lay closer to home, others including Jim Stynes, Conor McKenna, Zach Tuohy and Tadhg Kennelly – the only player to have won an AFL Premiership and All-Ireland title – have forged successful careers in the Australian code.

“I was very close to the last one [Mayo player to move to Australian Rules] in Oisin [Mullin] who is a tiny bit different,” Moran recalled.

“He is a defender, will take you out of the game and has that burst going forward, but the two that I’ve seen like that are him and [Roscommon’s] Pearce Hanley.

“Ciaran Kilkenny went over there and came back a few months later, played against us in 2012 in an All-Ireland semi-final, so these boys bring something different.

“The Aussies aren’t after them because they are average players, they’re after them because they are the best.”