Two-time footballer of the year David Clifford showed his class this weekend when he congratulated Gavan Curran for his incredible injury-time save that denied East Kerry a late-win.
In what was a showdown of Kerry's finest, Clifford and Dylan Geaney brought everything to their side's Kerry SFC semi-final which saw the two sides trade blow for blow from start to finish.
Thanks to their efforts nothing could separate the sides as the end of regulation time honed in. Yet, when the ever-reliable David Clifford stood over the penalty spot for East Kerry in injury time, defeat for Dingle looked inevitable.
Dingle goalkeeper Gavan Curran had other ideas however, waving Clifford's well-taken spot kick to the right to deny the two-time footballer of the year and guarantee extra time in Kerry.
WATCH: The moment Gavin Curran of @DingleGAA denied David Clifford from the spot in added time 😯👏https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 📺 pic.twitter.com/ZwperGHveA
— Clubber (@clubber) October 13, 2024
Inspired by their goalkeeper's heroics, Clifford and co. were fighting an uphill battle from there, with extra-time proving too much for East Kerry as an emphatic Dingle advanced their lead to five and booked themselves a date in the final.
Yesterday's result finished off a tough season for David Clifford that saw Kerry handed a shock defeat in the All-Ireland semi-finals against Armagh before his local club side Fossa fell at the same stage of their intermediate Championship ventures.
David Clifford praised for post-penalty sportsmanship
While East Kerry's senior championship run was the star forward's last opportunity to get his season back on track, Curran's heroics ensured that didn't happen.
Despite the heartbreaking nature in which Clifford's season came crashing to an end, the Kerry forward was praised for his show of sportsmanship after having his penalty saved.
Still visibly disappointed at missing the opportunity to send East Kerry into a county final, Clifford wasted no time looping back to his adversary Gavan Curran, congratulating him on his incredible save.
Another view of the David Clifford penalty and his sportsmanship afterwards acknowledging Gavan H Curran's brilliant save.
Full game, and it was brilliant, on @clubber TV@Kerry_Official pic.twitter.com/EE4D81KBiw— John C. O'Shea (@jcoshea) October 13, 2024
While it was undoubtedly a tough moment for the 25-year-old, his decision to congratulate Curran is a testament to the type of competitor Clifford is.
With reigning champions East Kerry now eliminated from the county's Senior Championship, either Dingle or Dr Crokes will be the new champions when they meet in the decider next weekend.
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