Jack O'Connor welcomes back 'calming' Cliffords as Kerry rebound in Clones

SURGING: Kery captain Paudie Clifford in action against Kevin Loughran at St Tiernach's Park in Clones.  Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Jack O’Connor had reason to be worried at half-time in Clones on Sunday.

His Kerry side led Monaghan by four points but they had conceded one goal and could have shipped a few more. Shane Ryan had sprinted from his line to thwart two chances alone and the visitors were facing into a wind after the break.

The next 35 minutes were much better. Kerry introduced David Clifford, Paudie Clifford and Tadhg Morley for the first time this season off the bench, shut up shop and pulled away for a handsome 3-15 to 1-12 win to earn their first points of the league.

“We were very disappointed after last weekend. While Derry played very well, we certainly felt like we left something after us, either a point, maybe two points. The lads reacted well during the week, we trained well. We addressed a few of the issues. And I thought particularly in the second-half here we were much more controlled. We had a good idea of what we were doing, both offensively and defensively. Any day you come up to Monaghan, come home with two points, that’s a good day.” 

If the sight of the Cliffords and a superb performance from Sean O’Shea that produced 1-7 and a host of assists caught the eye the most then that extra defensive steel and nous was the bedrock for all the fireworks at the other end.

“The defending in the first-half was a bit individual, whereas in the second-half we blocked the middle, didn’t allow runners through the middle,” said O’Connor whose next task is a home tie against Mayo in two weeks' time. “Monaghan had three goal chances in the first half, at least three goal chances. That’s something we have to look at. But we went after it more in the second-half, much better.” 

The squad is still operating without a handful of players but the return of the Cliffords, who had not initially been expected back until that game against Mayo in Tralee later in the month, was no small thing on the day. David claimed 1-1 and Paudie a point.

“Well they’ve been back doing a bit of training for three weeks. We just looked at them during the week, and they were mad for road, straining at the leash. It’s great to have them back with the group.

“Paudie is captain, he wants to be with the lads, and David is just a great calming influence around the place, so delighted to have them back.”