Ronan Maher: Whole of GAA is in awe of the Cliffords
WINNING TRIO: Kerry footballer Paudie Clifford, left, and Tipperary All-Ireland Hurling winning Captain Ronan Maher, with David Clifford in the background during the Pro AM ahead of the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship 2025 at The K Club in Straffan, Kildare. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ronan Maher may be a newly-minted All Ireland champion but the Tipperary hurler spoke of being in awe of Kerry’s golden football duo Paudie and David Clifford after playing alongside the brothers in Wednesday’s Amgen Irish Open Pro-Am at The K Club.
One wonders what South African 24-year-old Jayden Schaper made of being the professional around the Palmer North course front nine in such illustrious Irish company but such was the GAA trio’s sporting prowess on the fairways and greens in Kildare he must have been as impressed at the galleries which accompanied them.
The Cliffords certainly made their mark on Maher, who after a second-place finish in the Pro-Am for their team, said of the Fossa brothers: “It was unbelievable. Serious footballers but serious golfers as well. They’re top-class men and they’re great for the county of Kerry. I think the whole GAA are in awe of the two boys, they’ve been unbelievable.
“I even went up to the All-Ireland football final just to see the two of them play and they were unreal too. So they’re great for the GAA.”
As for the golf, Maher added: “We were happy enough and had a good bit of craic going around and the K Club is amazing, I count myself lucky to get on here today.
“I had an eagle putt on one of the holes so I was happy enough with that one.”
