WHEN your brother is on the same team as you, family is always important, but Kerry star David Clifford took time after Sunday's All-Ireland Football Final triumph to remember one particular supporter.
His uncle Barry Clifford passed away two summers ago, just days short of his 50th birthday, having been revered around his club Derrynane and the Castlecove area of south Kerry.
The Kingdom full-forward was delighted to share the immediate post-match celebrations with his aunt Ann and cousins Jim and Tom, saying afterwards: "Absolutely, I mean, Barry was, I suppose, more than an uncle to use, he was a massive supporter of us. And he was a character so it was great to meet his two lads Jim and Tom and his wife Ann at the end of the game, that was special. It's really, really special."
The 23-year-old sought out those particular supporters, but despite already enjoying/ enduring iconic status in the Kingdom, even before winning his first senior All-Ireland against Galway on Sunday, David insists adulation is not a problem for him:
"Look, I suppose it is difficult at times to shut it out but I've always said it - whether it's being from Kerry or being from Killarney, people are really good at keeping you grounded, there's footballers everywhere down through the generations and there's always someone who has done more than you, and obviously a lot more than me so, ah, it's ok down in Killarney."
For all the pressure and expectation that comes with being Kerry's number 14, there's also plenty of assistance from living legends, including a predecessor who also ended a long wait in Kingdom terms to reclaim 'Sam', the hero of 1997, Maurice Fitzgerald.
Clifford revealed that the Cahirsiveen sharp-shooter had given him advice which helped him nail the tricky free that put Kerry 17-16 ahead late on at Croke Park:
"I missed a few frees at the start in the Cork game in 2020 and I did a lot of work with Maurice Fitz last year on it trying to get into the right head space and not be too causal standing over it so I was quite confident and went back to my routine and thankfully it went over."
Clifford's determination to improve also stemmed from defeat in this year's Sigerson Cup Final, when his University of Limerick side lost out to a NUI Galway team including his marker on Sunday, Galway captain Sean Kelly.
"He was one their nine sweepers that day, I'd say," quipped Clifford, with a laugh. "No, he was unbelievable that night Sean Kelly, carrying ball, and that was disappointing for me. I didn't perform at all that day and that's always in the back of your head, to try and get back and perform in a final."
David Clifford definitely did that, for Kerry and for family.
