David Clifford made his first impact of the 2025 season, scoring 3-3 as Jack O’Connor’s side secured their second win of the campaign beating Tyrone 3-13 to 2-13 in a thriller.
It was looking like Kerry would make it three losses in a row when the Kingdom found themselves five points down and without two men due to black cards approaching the hour mark, including Clifford who was given his marching orders for a trip. While Darragh Canavan looked lethally dangerous on his return from Errigal Ciarán, even his heroics were morphed by Clifford.
Nearly instantly upon his return, Clifford added to his two earlier goals with a third, drawing the affair level and providing Kerry a launchpad from which they would hold Tyrone scoreless and add a further three of their own to claim the three-point win.
65 nóim #TYRvKER @TyroneGAALive 2-13 @Kerry_Official 3-10
Cad é mar cúl faighte ag cé eile ach David Clifford!😱
Clifford returns after a black card and slots his third goal of the game!
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/WlJrWod62q— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 23, 2025
Diarmuid O'Connor hails Kerry after Tyrone 'battle'
Speaking to TG4 after the game, Kingdom skipper Diarmuid O’Connor was just happy to have make up for last weekend’s mistakes, which cost them against Dubin as they bizarrely have a better away record then home one in the league so far.
“Yeah, it was a total and utter battle,” O’Connor said.
“Of course, we knew what we would get up here, especially the way the conditions are at this time of the year, and with the new rules, it’s 100% a game of two halves. We found that out as we were on the wrong side last week, but thankfully, we came out on the right side this weekend.
We are doing it a tiny bit backwards by winning our away games and losing our home ones. We were unhappy with certain aspects of controlling the game last weekend. We said that as long as we brought that this weekend, hopefully, we would do the job, and we did, thank God.”
#TYRvKER
'It's great to be back and great to get a win up here'.🗣️
Labhair Diarmuid O'Connor agus Laoch na hImeartha David Clifford linn tar éis an chluiche.@Kerry_Official
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/FL2jNMSQx7— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 23, 2025
David Clifford loving new rules after Tyrone defeat
Clifford was happy to be back performing, as he wasn't sure what level his game was at after a prolonged break after the club season.
The Fossa man believes the change to the FRC's kick-out rules with the ball having to travel outside the 40 meter scoring arc preventing the short option brings more excitement to the game, as it allows teams to press the kick-out.
“Yeah, 100%, “ Clifford said.
“I suppose after an enjoyable break, you're not sure where you are, even after doing a lot of training by yourself. It's hard to know until you come to the health of the battle where your form is, so it’s great to be back, and it's great to get a win up here.
It was different the last couple of weeks. It has been a straight downwind in either goal, but this was a crosswind, so it wasn’t easy to kick into either goal. Obviously, a right-footed kicker where we were playing in the second half seemed more straightforward, but we still didn’t get that many. Pressing on that kick-out makes a massive difference to the game's drama; it's excellent.”
Kerry plays Mayo next and a win there could see them secure safety in the top flight for another season while Tyrone looks to get their first win against a red-hot Galway side who are pushing for a league final.
