David Clifford interview: 'We were delighted to be distracted by the games. It's the downtime when thoughts can creep in'

The Kerry star chats in real terms about the loss of his mother a year ago and how football insulated the family from the grief - at least for a while. 'In a weird way, you were nearly invincible for a few weeks because it didn't really matter what happened'

DARK DAYS: 'The first of everything is very tough – Christmas and all of that', reflected Kerry's David Clifford, who was chatting at SuperValu’s continuing sponsorship into a 15th summer of the All-Ireland SFC. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

It goes without saying that Munster football finals will forever have a tinge of poignancy for the Clifford family.

Two days after David and Paudie’s mother Ellen passed away last May, the pair lined out, as per her wishes, and scored 3-6 between them. David lifted the Munster cup without a speech. On an ever so bittersweet day, everybody understood.