David Clifford has no wish to be reminded of the correlation between his mother’s death anniversary and the upcoming repeat Munster football final between Kerry and Clare. David and his elder brother Paudie mourned the loss of their mother, Ellen, just before the final of the previous year. Despite their grief, both brothers played remarkably well in the 14-point victory over Clare at Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds. Last year’s captain, David, delivered an impressive performance, scoring 2-6 – his skills and spirit were commendable.
The Clifford brothers expressed that the idea of them not participating in the match was never considered. Now, a year later, as Kerry prepares for another face-off against Clare on the forthcoming Sunday on May 5th, David acknowledges that he had spent much of that day on autopilot.
David fondly remembers his late mother, Ellen, who had unwaveringly supported both her sons, never missing their games from the time they were little. He said, “A couple of weeks back, it was mum’s birthday”. He also mentioned how hard it is to celebrate the first of everything without her – whether it be the Christmas festivities or other special occasions. But he says he is now at a stage where he is able to reminisce, mainly about the happier times they shared.
David also explained that there are distinct stages of grief, acknowledging “it’s odd, but you just have to keep pushing through, as simple as that”. He also stated that the diversion of the game had been somewhat comforting. “The outcome of that game wasn’t crucial” he recalls, “While we aimed to play well and win, we were also profoundly aware of our emotional state at that stage of the year…Strangely, for a couple of weeks, it felt as if nothing else mattered because we were already at rock bottom…” He admitted it was challenging, but the game served as a necessary distraction from the painful thoughts that tend to creep in during quieter moments.
Clifford, a 25-year-old Kerry player now in his seventh season, believes contemplating alternative timings this season is subtly dismissed. He refutes the idea that Kerry was exhausted during last year’s All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin, stating that each season should be judged independently.
He argues that game schedules largely dictate training periods, noting that in the build-up to a league game, rigorous training is not feasible. He acknowledges that his own return to training was delayed last year due to the Fossa [Kerry intermediate final] setback, but insists players shouldn’t adopt a shadow boxing approach.
He believes taking a game-by-game approach is the best way forward. In contrast, having different commitments during the season influences his playing, as he continues to teach at St Brendan’s in Killary until late May.
Balancing between training, work and game days proves tricky for him. Especially in summer, when trying to keep busy is crucial despite being off work. Clifford emphasises the importance of having personal performance targets. The focus on this, he believes, reduces the stress of the occasion and provides a roadmap to success.
He shares the philosophy of renowned football manager, Pep Guardiola, that emotions must be kept out of a game for better outcomes. Furthermore, he advises against allowing a single weekend’s result to ruin the entire week, as it could make life rather challenging during one’s intercounty football career. He put forth his ideas at Croke Park during SuperValu’s inclusiveness campaign, of which he is a sponsor.
It’s essential to maintain a slight detachment from it all. Should you perform well and emerge successful, your spirits will be undoubtedly high. However, such outcomes cannot form your sole dependence. Equally important are the affairs beyond the field, which must be progressing nicely amidst other ongoing scenarios. Without that balance, matters can turn overwhelmingly demanding, which isn’t desired.
Moreover, I always set aside time for ‘The Sunday Game’ to catch up on the best bits. Viewing perspectives from outside when you’re in the thick of a bubble can provide intriguing insights.