Former Kerry footballer Darran O'Sullivan has expressed his belief that David Clifford is unmatched in Gaelic football ahead of the highly anticipated Dublin v Kerry clash in the All-Ireland Football Senior final this weekend.
The impending showdown at Croke Park has put the spotlight on Kerry's David Clifford, who has been in formidable form, scoring an impressive 5-39 in this year's Championship. Dublin's top scorer, Con O'Callaghan (2-28), will also be a key player to watch in the final.
While both O'Callaghan and Clifford are regarded as top talents in the country, O'Sullivan sees a significant gap between the two players. Speaking to Betway, the Kerry legend said, "I’m a big fan of Con O’Callaghan but, for me, David is out on his own with the stuff he’s doing.
"The one thing is that David has had a long year, he has had a tough year from a personal point of view as well, same as Paudie. But to keep doing what he’s doing, the level of performance, the way when the whistle goes he’s able to come straight down to this level-headed place and speak about the game as honestly as he does with very little emotion is a massive skill that I don’t think many other people have."
Dublin , Ireland - 16 July 2023; David Clifford of Kerry celebrates at the final whistle after his side's victory in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Derry and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Reflecting on Kerry's previous victory over Dublin in last year's All-Ireland semi-final and their on triumph in the 2022 event, O'Sullivan, who won four Sam Maguire Cups with 'The Kingdom,' acknowledged that winning one All-Ireland title changes the dynamic in Gaelic football. He emphasised that victory brings newfound confidence and makes the team a target for others to beat.
"Once you win one, it brings a new confidence. All of a sudden, you are the team to be beaten, to be shot at. Once you win one and come through tough games like they did against Dublin, you take so much from it. I’m 100 per cent convinced that if Kerry weren’t All-Ireland champions in that semi-final, they wouldn’t have won it," he added.
Regarding his prediction for the final on Sunday, the 37-year-old has unsurprisingly thrown his support behind his former team, Kerry. However, he also admitted that it won't be an easy contest. O'Sullivan said, "I genuinely believe it’s 50-50. I'm finding it really hard to call." For Kerry to secure the win, he believes they need to display bravery and enter the last 10 minutes of the game with a lead. He envisions Kerry winning by a narrow margin of a couple of points, assuming they maintain their advantage in the last quarter.
The highly anticipated All-Ireland final is scheduled to kick off at 3.30,
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