David Clifford hits 1-9 as Fossa beat Desmonds

Clifford had been kept scoreless from play in his side's narrow defeat to Beaufort last weekend. 

David Clifford of Fossa. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Kerry IFC: Fossa 1-18 Desmonds 0-16 

Form is temporary, but class is permanent, as David Clifford proved in inspiring Fossa to a crucial victory over Desmonds in an intriguing Kerry IFC Group C (Round 2) encounter at the former’s home venue earlier this evening.

Having been held scoreless from play in his side’s narrow defeat to Beaufort last weekend, the Kerry attacking sorcerer notched 1-9 (1-5 from play) as Adrian Sheehan’s side looked more like their true selves in eclipsing the Castleisland outfit.

Indeed, had Clifford, and brother Paudie, not managed to spurn at least four other goal opportunities in the course of the 60 minutes, the 2023 All-Ireland junior champions would have been able to breathe a little bit easier down the home straight.

As it was, Desmonds, who had an opening round win over Ballydonoghue, doggedly stayed in the contest from start to finish, driven on by the Brosnans, Isaac and Luka, Dominic Finnegan, Adam Donoghue and Tomás Lynch.

Fossa were dominant in the opening quarter, building a four-point cushion (0-6 to 0-2), Emmet O’Shea and Paudie Clifford (despite missing the proverbial sitter) firing over four points between them, but Desmonds responded positively, with Luka Brosnan making some surging runs from midfield.

The game’s key score arrived in first half injury-time when a speculative effort for a point by Cian O’Shea dropped short and, showing trademark opportunism, David Clifford gathered, rounded goalkeeper Steven Bartlett, and tapped into the empty net.

Four points to the good at the break (1-8 to 0-7), midfielder O’Shea thundered into proceedings in the third quarter with a quick-fire double, with Luke Curtin rattling the woodwork for Desmonds, and David Clifford sending a low drilled shot wide of the far post.

The goal chance squander-mania continued when Clifford ballooned a right-footed effort high and wide from close range, as Desmonds hung in for dear life, reducing the deficit to two points on a few occasions. Sensing danger, however, Fossa’s star man had the final say, with two late, late scores.

Scorers for Fossa: D Clifford 1-9 (0-4fs), E O’Shea 0-3, P Clifford, C O’Shea 0-2 each, M Rennie, M Dwyer 0-1 each.

Scorers for Desmonds: G O’Connor 0-4 (0-3fs), L Brosnan, T Hickey (fs) 0-3 each, D Finnegan, I Brosnan 0-2 each, A Donoghue, B Leonard 0-1 each.

FOSSA: S O’Sullivan; R Doyle, R Colleran, B Myers; D O’Keeffe, K O’Sullivan, P Sheehan; C O’Shea, D Ryan; H Buckley, M Rennie, E Talbot; P Clifford, D Clifford, E O’Shea.

Subs: K Buckley for O’Keeffe (47), M Dwyer for H Buckley (53), C Doyle for Talbot (58), F Coffey for R Doyle (60+4).

DESMONDS: S Bartlett; L Curtin, I Brosnan, D Finnegan; D O’Connor, R Burke, M Hickey; L Brosnan, B Leonard; A Donoghue, T Lynch, S Prendiville; C H O’Connor, T Hickey, G O’Connor.

Subs: M Walsh for Prendiville (28), C Roche for C H O’Connor (41), G Leonard for Burke, inj (44), K Downey for G O’Connor (52), S O’Connell for Downey, inj (58).

Referee: E Moriarty (Dingle).