Paul Flynn says David Clifford being "smoked" by Dublin in Sunday's All-Ireland final between Dublin and Kerry, along with having a "poor" game against Tyrone in the quarter-final, means that James McCarthy should be named Footballer of the Year.
Clifford scored three points in the final, two coming from play, and also set up Paul Geaney's first half goal with a superb pass.
However, he also missed chances that he would usually have scored with ease. Michael Fitzsimons, with the help of others, managed to shackle Clifford as his performance fell below the expectations of him which were held going into the game.
30 July 2023; David Clifford of Kerry is tackled by David Byrne and Eoin Murchan of Dublin, left, during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
In the quarter-final against Tyrone, Clifford scored five points with one coming from play, one from a mark and three from frees. Clifford, the reigning Footballer of the Year, is often judged by unfairly lofty standards.
"Clifford was smoked against Dublin and poor against Tyrone yet still ppl think he is footballer of the year," former Dublin footballer Flynn tweeted at 12:37am on Tuesday morning.
"Not for me - James Mc led Dublin to glory without having his best day yest! He’s a born winner and leader."
Flynn has received plenty of criticism for the tweet.
"'Clifford was smoked against Dublin' is as loose a comment as you will ever come across," said former Tyrone footballer Kyle Coney.
"Score 3 points (2 from play) & directly assisted 1-2. David Clifford is a victim of his own massively high standards. His radar was off, simple as that!"
Jerry O'Sullivan, host of Radio Kerry's Kerry Today show, said "I thought this was a parody account at first. Pathetic. How is this guy on RTE as a supposedly serious analyst?"
Immediately following Sunday's final, Flynn told RTÉ Radio One that "Coming into this game, it was a flip of a coin between [James McCarthy] and David Clifford to get Player of the Year."
"Because both players didn't play well today, it has to be [James] because he's on the winning team. It's still a marginal call," he added.
Clifford was smoked against Dublin and poor against Tyrone yet still ppl think he is footballer of the year. Not for me - James Mc led Dublin to glory without having his best day yest! He’s a born winner and leader.
— Paul Flynn (@Flinto23) July 31, 2023
McCarthy was voted Sunday Game Player of the Year following the game. Though that was a decision which former Kerry footballer Tomás Ó Sé felt was incorrect. Clifford received his vote.
McCarthy won his ninth All-Ireland SFC medal on Sunday, one of a trio of Dublin players - along with Stephen Cluxton and Fitzsimons - who surpassed Kerry's quintet of eight-time winners - Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy, Páidí Ó Sé, Ogie Moran and Ger Power - from the 70s and 80s.
30 July 2023; Team captains James McCarthy of Dublin and David Clifford of Kerry before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
"I don't know," McCarthy said when asked after the game if he'll continue for another season with Dublin.
"Croke Park is one of the most amazing places that you can play sport. Look around here, it's special. It's not a bad way to go if it's the time - I'm not sure. I'll see how it goes in the next few months."
Flynn said that whether McCarthy plays on or retires will come down to his "mindset".
"Physically, he can get up and down that pitch," said Flynn.
"You can see that. He might be nursing these chronic injuries that lads build up over time. He's not showing it for sure. He was still running hard until the end there. It's about whether psychologically he wants to go to the well or not. That's really what it comes down to."
See Also: Ex-Tyrone Footballer Says James McCarthy 'Crossed Line' Against Kerry
