The forward received 5,923 votes from the public, over 1,000 more than Tyrone’s Darren McCurry and Mayo’s Ryan O’Donoghue.

The older brother of fellow inter-county star David Clifford made his first start for Kerry earlier this year and has performed brilliantly so far in 2021.

His performance against Davy Power’s Tipperary continued this trend with the Fossa native leading the Kerry attack to an impressive 1-19 (22) to 1-8 (11) victory.

He controlled Kerry’s attacking tempo with 34 possessions underlining his importance as a playmaker in the final third, the most in the Kerry side.

His work allowed his brother David and Killian Spillane to shine, with the former grabbing a goal on the day to help Kerry gain control of the tie.

Sean O’Shea also benefitted from the East Kerry forward’s movement in the final third as he moved into scoring positions because of it.

Paudie’s point is the icing on the cake for a spectacular performance that earned him the Man of the Match award and solidified Kerry as one of the top sides in GAA this year.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Clifford acknowledged the strength of Ronan McCarthy’s Cork side, who beat them in last year’s Munster semi-final.

“These two games are going to give us a good template to go on but, obviously, we’re going to have to lift it another bit for Cork.”

Kerry will play Cork in the 2021 Munster Senior Football Championship Final, a repeat of the 2019 final which saw the Kingdom edge a tight game.

Cork will want to go one step further than they have been able to go in the past nine

The final will be held on Sunday, July 25th at 4 pm in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

The post Paudie Clifford Voted Footballer Of The Week appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Midfielder Brian Fenton won his second FOTY award in three years at a ceremony in February.

This capped off a record-breaker year for the Dublin football team. He beat off opposition from teammate Ciaran Kilkenny and Mayo man Cillian O’Connor for the award.

O’Connor would have been in contention to challenge for the title again this year if he did not suffer an Achilles injury this month.

Whatever county is crowned All-Ireland champions will inevitably be a major factor in who is picked as FOTY. But, can another county finally knock Dublin off their pedestal.

Could a weakened Mayo finally shine, or will a thrilling yet unpredictable Kerry team take the crown?

Who are the favourites for Footballer of the Year?

Kerry

The bookies have young Kerry forward David Clifford as the out-and-out favourite to win the award with odds of 11/4.

The 22-year-old from Fossa is the linchpin of the Kerry full-forward line. He has already scored 6-22 this year against teams like Dublin, Tyrone and Galway.

Hatrick for Clifford!! The #AllianzLeagues Football is back with a bang from @Kerry_Official's David Clifford with 3 goals against @Galway_GAA!! ( @INPHOjames) pic.twitter.com/eZuWG0ZJHX

— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) May 15, 2021

The only other Kerry man to appear in the Irish bookies’ top eight was centre forward  Sean O’Shea. He has odds of 14/1 to win the FOTY.

After a dreadful loss to Cork last year, the Kingdom has shown they mean business after some great displays in the league.

Dublin

The rest of the bookmaker’s favourites lie in the capital county as they go for seven-in-a-row.

Forward Con O’Callaghan from Cuala is set to be contesting for the title with Clifford with odds of 4/1.

The 25-year-old has been part of five of Dublin’s All-Ireland winning teams and proved to be a vital part of their league wins this year.

Next is Ciaran Kilkenny and current champion Brian Fenton both with odds of 8/1 to win it. They have been mainstays in the squad for many years now, being strong parts of the spine of the team.

The outside picks to win the FOTY award are James McCarthy, Dean Rock and Brain Howard with odds of nothing less than 18/1.

Excellent move and brilliant finish from Paddy Small at the weekend #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/TwQBjVGV3C

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 16, 2021

Other counties

Galway centre forward Shane Walsh has also been a very outside chance of winning the award if Galway can make an upset in the Championship.

With Cillian O’Connor injured, the reigns fall to Patrick Durcan to guide Mayo this year.

All eyes will be on David Clifford to see if he can light up the Championship this year with the Kingdom.

It all starts at 19:00 on Saturday, 26^th June as Clare face Kerry in the Munster quarterfinals in Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney.

The post Who will be 2021 Gaelic Footballer of the Year? appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The 22-year-old who plays his club football in Fossa has had an astonishing start to the year in the league.

Clifford has scored 6-22 throughout the competition. The highlight was a hat-trick of goals against Galway.

Standing at 6’2’’, the full-forward can score any goals from high punches to skilful ground football. His quick turn of pace has shown him to be troublesome to Dublin, Tyrone and Roscommon defences so far.

The bookies have noticed these performances and have him as a favourite to finish top scorer with odds of 3/1.

David Clifford buries a penalty in the bottom corner for @Kerry_Official v @TyroneGAALive in the Allianz Football League Semi-Final #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/38Cf5nnHcu

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 12, 2021

Can anyone beat him?

The highest scorer in the competition may not necessarily be from the Championship-winning side.

Last year’s winner, Cillian O’Connor has picked up an Achilles injury that looks to have him ruled out for most of 2021 along with Mayo’s hopes of winning the All-Ireland.

Ryan O’Donoghue is Mayo’s next chance at top scorer but that is very unlikely for the centre forward.

Dublin’s Cormac Costello scored the second-most in the League chipping in over 22 points as he took some frees. The corner-forward will be an important part of Dublin’s attack this year with him having odds of 13/2.

The Dubs have a very well-rounded side with Dean Rock as bookmakers preferring him to Costello to win top scorer, with odds of 4/1.

Rock finished third in the scorer’s list last year behind O’Connor and Conor McSweeney. The 31-year-old corner-forward managed 2-26 last Championship as Dublin won a sixth All-Ireland in-a-row.

Donegal’s Paddy McBrearty is the Ulster Championship’s most likely to win the scorer’s award. The corner-forward will have a say in how the Forgotten county does in the Championship this year.

After the League, it seems Clifford is the man to put your money on. Kerry begins their Munster Championship at 19:00 on Saturday 26^th June against Clare.

On the same day Mayo will face Sligo, on Sunday Donegal will face Down. On the 4^th July Dublin will face the winner of Wexford and Wicklow.

The post Can David Clifford become Gaelic Football’s Top Scorer for 2021? appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Saturday 15th May 2021. Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Kerry 4-21 Galway 0-11

Score-by-score

Peter Keane’s Kerry came out with a point to prove after a disappointing end to their Munster championship campaign last year. One got the impression that winter in the Kingdom was spent dwelling on that dramatic exit. The Tribesmen struggled badly to keep pace with Kerry’s tempo, particularly in the first half. To be honest this game was done and dusted by the interval as Kerry led by ten points despite playing against the wind.

First Half

Paudie Clifford got the scoring underway with a point into the teeth of the wind. Damien Comer fisted over a quick leveller from the kick out. David Clifford showed that anything his brother could do he could replicate. Killian Spillane notched Kerry’s third point. A Matthew Tierney free came back off the post at the far end as Galway struggled to cope with Kerry’s pace and movement in the early stages. David Clifford kicked his second of the game and Kerry led by 0-4 v 0-1 inside the opening five minutes. 

The pace of scoring slowed down after the frantic opening spell. Galway’s Damien Comer saw an effort from the left get pushed wide by the strong cross-field breeze. Kerry’s next score came from a well struck 45’ from David Moran which was dubiously awarded after Seán Mulkerrin knocked the ball off Seán O’Sheas hip. David Clifford drilled over his third from play on twelve minutes. 

A sustained spell of Galway possession inside the Kerry half led to Dessie Connelly wining a free which Shane Walsh duly converted.

The game was even enough in this early stage, however, that all changed dramatically on the arrival of Kerry’s first goal. A quick free caught out the static Galway defence. Quick hands from Seán O’Shea and Killian Spillane set up an effort which David Clifford calmly palmed into the net. Killian Spillane fisted over a point after Bernard Power made a point blank save from Dara Moynihan to prevent a second Kerry goal in as many minutes.

Water break: Kerry 1-7 Galway 0-2

Paul Conroy sent over a point from distance for Galway after a patient build up. Paudie Clifford drilled home the second Kerry goal after a clever reverse pass from  Moynihan. Shane Walsh hit another poor wide for Pádraic Joyce’s side. Gavin White missed a superb chance for a third Kerry goal as the Kingdom were cutting the Galway defence open at will. Paudie Clifford’s initial effort was well saved and White slipped at the crucial moment when the goal appeared at his mercy. 

Paul Conroy kicked his second and Galway’s fourth score. Joyce could see his side were struggling and he was quick to make changes on the sideline as Cooke and Heaney were replaced by Ronan Steed and Cathal Sweeney on 25 minutes. David Clifford was proving a handful for the Galway defence as he added another stylish point with his left foot from the right hand side. 

Dara Moynihan set up another goal chance for Paudie Clifford. This time the Fossa man dragged his right footed effort across the face of goal and wide. 

The Galway defence couldn’t lay a glove on their Kerry counterparts. Killian Spillane kicked over another score for Peter Keane’s men after a passing move which probed and tested for a gap before the space was created for Spillane. 

Dessie Connelly brought the Galway return for the half to five and Matthew Tierney made it six from the opposite side in first half stoppage time. There was still time for Spillane to add his fourth before the whistle for the interval. A ten point lead at the break was a fair reflection of the one sided nature of the half. 

Half-time: Kerry 2-10 Galway 0-6

The heavens opened in Tralee at the interval. Not that it bothered the home side. Kerry took up where they left off on the resumption. Sean O’Shea clipped over another free before David Clifford struck his second goal of the game. Damien Comer was repelled by debutant Fitzgibbon at the other end. The young shot stopper was a late replacement for Shane Ryan. The hat-trick was completed three minutes later with a soccer style goal. Clifford dummied his initial shot and a Cruyff style drag back left the defence bamboozled. Clifford then slotted the ball into an empty net. 

WATCH:

“That is special!”

Now, this is special! David Clifford scores a hattrick for @Kerry_Official

Live on eir sport 1!#AllianzLeagues #KervGal pic.twitter.com/3fLxxfMYBG

— eir Sport (@eirSport) May 15, 2021

Peter Keane then emptied his bench and replaced David Moran with debutant Paul O’Shea (Kilcummin), a cousin of the Clifford’s. Brian O’Beaglaoich was black carded for a foul on Shane Walsh on 45mins. Damien Comer clipped over a point for Galway. Finian O’Laoi came in for the injured Paul Conroy as the day went from bad to worse for the tribesmen. 

David Clifford dispatched another free from the left to bring his personal tally to 3-06 prior to the whistle for the second water break. It was to be his final contribution of a superb personal display as Tommy Walsh replaced the younger Clifford.

Second water break: Kerry 4-13 Galway 0-7

Substitute Paul O’Shea kicked his first senior point for the Kingdom as the drubbing continued. Shane Walsh who had been unusually quiet kicked his first score from play with a booming left footed kick. Tommy Walsh kicked a point from a mark as the game ticked towards 60 minutes. 

Sean Kelly pointed and brought Galway’s tally into double figures. A brace from Sean O’Shea and another from Paudie Clifford rounded out the scoring as Kerry opening their league campaign in stunning fashion. Bernard Power made another point blank save from Sean O’Shea to prevent a fifth Kerry goal. The resulting wind assisted 45’ was sent over by O’Shea. Robert Finnerty won a late free for Galway which he converted himself. The final whistle which sounded shortly after came as relief to the by now dispirited Tribesmen. 

Full-time: Kerry 4-21 Galway 0-11

Teams

Kerry: S Ryan; B Ó Beaglaoich, T Morley, J Foley; P Murphy, G Crowley, G White; D Moran, J Barry; Dara Moynihan, S O’Shea, P Geaney; D Clifford, K Spillane, P Clifford.

Replacements: K Fitzgibbon, G O’Sullivan, D O’Connor (for Geaney 50’), P O’Shea (for Moran 50’), A Spillane (for Gavin White 60’), T Walsh, M Breen (for P.Murphy 65’), R Buckley, J O’Connor, M Burns (for Moynihan 62’), K O’Sullivan (for O’Beaglaoich 60’).

Galway: Bernard Power, Jack Glynn, Seán Mulkerrin, Liam Silke, Gary O’Donnell, Dylan McHugh, Johnny Heaney, Peter Cooke, Paul Conroy, Paul Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Eamonn Brannigan, Dessie Conneely, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh. Replacements: Connor Gleeson, Johnny Duane, Sean Andy Kelly, Cathal Sweeney (for Heaney 25’), Kieran Molloy (for , Ronan Steede (for Cooke 25’), Mattius Barrett, Robert Finnerty 0-1, Finnian Ó Laoi, Tomo Culhane, Liam Costello.

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