Former Kerry player and Dublin's nemesis, Colm Cooper, believes that Dublin would be unwise to focus solely on stopping David Clifford when they meet in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on Sunday.
Clifford has garnered attention as the player to watch and contain, having scored an impressive 5-39 in this year's Championship. Pat Spillane, the former Kerry pundit and eight-time All-Ireland winner, has likened Clifford to 'Kerry's Messi,' while Dublin's Michael Darragh MacAuley predicts a fierce battle among Dublin defenders to contain the current Footballer of the Year on Sunday.
Cooper, a five-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry, holds a different perspective, asserting that Kerry has more strengths than just Clifford. He highlights players like Gavin White, Seán O'Shea, and Diarmuid O'Connor, who has shown tremendous improvement. O'Connor, in particular, has been identified as a key player to fill the void left by David Moran's retirement, and his performances against Tyrone and in the previous game have been outstanding.
"There's plenty to Kerry's bow, I don't think they're that one-dimensional," Cooper remarked on the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
Regarding Dublin's defensive strategy, Cooper believes that Mick Fitzsimons remains the best man marker for the job. He emphasizes the need for Dublin to apply pressure on the delivery of the ball to Clifford. While acknowledging Clifford's scoring ability, Cooper suggests that limiting the quantity of his scores will be crucial for Dublin's success.
David Clifford of Kerry celebrates. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)"A lot of it will depend on whether they can get support over to him [Fitzsimons] without leaving themselves exposed for others to hurt them because Séan O'Shea did damage Dublin last year [and] there are other talented Kerry forwards that will do damage if there's too much focus on Clifford," Cooper explained futher
Cooper also highlights the importance of putting pressure on the ball delivered to Clifford, forcing him to take difficult shots. He believes that giving the defender marking Clifford a chance to intervene can make a difference in limiting his impact.
"The reality is that Clifford is going to score; it's how heavily he scores and can you limit that to a certain extent. If you can keep him to 0-04 or 0-05 rather than 1-07 or 1-08, then you're doing well.
"A lot of it will depend on whether they can get support over to him [Fitzsimons] without leaving themselves exposed for others to hurt them because Séan O'Shea did damage Dublin last year [and] there's other talented Kerry forwards there that will do damage if there's too much focus put on Clifford.
"It's the pressure on the ball coming in. He's a big man but he still prefers that one bounce [ball] into his chest, or something in front of him. Can they get a press on the ball being delivered in, reduce the quality, to give whoever it is who is marking him the chance to get a hand in?
"From a Dublin perspective you don't need to other think it. Mick is the guy and you give him every opportunity."
The highly anticipated All-Ireland final is scheduled to start at 3.30pm
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