On the weekend where David Clifford was crowned PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Year for 2023, he and his club Fossa fell just short of achieving back-to-back promotion. Foss lost the Kerry intermediate final to Milltown/Castlemaine by a score of 2-13 to 0-18.
The reigning junior All-Ireland champions were chasing an incredible promotion to senior and pushed their mid-Kerry rivals to the limit.
David Clifford had two shots that drifted wide in the final minutes: they were Fossa's only wides of the game but they were ultimately the difference in this nail-biter in Tralee
The Footballer of the Year was still utterly magnificent.
While he was on the losing side today, the 2023 Footballer of the Year, David Clifford, put in some performance for @FossaGaa in the @Kerry_Official IFC Final 🙌
12 points, some of them were simply incredible 🏳️😅
Watch back that CRACKING Final, here👇
📺https://t.co/8RTIDVIpju pic.twitter.com/rXrkwBROqD— Clubber (@clubber) November 19, 2023
The result will have a range of consequences, both in Kerry and beyond. It means the Fossa crew can also play for East Kerry as they go for a 3-in-a-row in the Kerry County Championship next year.
It also effectively means both David and Paudie Clifford won't have to play a competitive game until the start of Kerry's league campaign in early February.
The Cliffords have endured a relentless fixture load between Kerry, East Kerry and Fossa over the past 18 months. The rest is well-deserved, and will position Kerry perfectly for a run at Sam Maguire in 2024.
Read also: David Clifford Pays Touching Tribute To Late Mother After Making All-Stars History
Read also: Some Dublin Fans Unhappy After David Clifford Named Footballer Of The Year
Could Jack O'Connor's son be a future Kerry teammate of David Clifford?
Interestingly, Milltown/Castlemaine's top scorer on the day was Éanna O'Connor, son of Kerry manager Jack O'Connor, who was man of the match on the day.
Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Club Champions are Milltown-Castlemaine.
Pictured here is captain Cathal Moriarty receiving the Cup from Kerry GAA Chairperson Patrick O’ Sullivan and MOTM Eanna O’ Connor receiving his award from Anthony Clifford of Kerry Petroleum. pic.twitter.com/YSLLnx7Aa9— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) November 19, 2023
O'Connor scored 0-8 from full forward. He can add the Kerry intermediate medal to the Kildare senior winners medal he won for Moorefield back in 2018. O'Connor transferred to Milltown/Castlemaine last year when his partner took up a teaching job in Killarney.
21 October 2018; Moorefield players Éanna O'Connor, second from left, and his brother Cian, and their parents Bridie and Jack with Dermot Bourke Cup after the Kildare County Senior Club Football Championship Final match between Athy and Moorefield at St Conleth's Park, in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
It's been a stellar club season for O'Connor on the back of driving Mid-Kerry to a county final as well. The Radio Kerry broadcast team were effusive in their praise for O'Connor and touted him and teammate Cillian Burke as a possible additions to the Kerry panel for 2024.
