Clifford brothers star in entertaining interview with local Killarney councillor for Clubber

Niall McIntyre

Paudie Clifford says Fossa knew always knew that, if things were to go their way, there was a lot of potential in their ranks.

They delivered on that potential last year, shooting through the county and provincial junior championships before winning an All-Ireland back in January.

But they weren’t done there.

The Fossa fast-track has continued into this season as now, with momentum on side, they’re just sixty minutes away from becoming a senior club. The rise is something remarkable, and compares only to that of Kilkenny hurling club Bennettsbridge a couple of years back.

But it was never impossible, especially when you’ve the Clifford brothers on your team, and they were in top form on Sunday.

Paudie and David were sensational, scoring 0-18 between them as Fossa took down Kerry’s joint-most-successful-club Austin Stacks after a penalty shoot-out.

Speaking to Clubber TV after the game, Paudie Clifford said that in Fossa, they always knew they had the players.

“Aw it would be unbelievable (to get up senior,) he said.

We couldn’t have dreamt of it, but at the same time, we knew we had the players if we were to put it all together.

“We had done penos in the last two training sessions, we had a lot of faith in our goalie Shane, and we have good penalty takers. We’d have preferred that to a replay.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s been a long few years I suppose. People had us written off saying our journey was over but it’s not over yet anyway. We have a good few weeks left.”

"They were saying our journey was over, but it's not!"

Paudie Clifford after @FossaGaa's DRAMATIC penalty shootout victory over Austin Stacks in the @Kerry_Official IFC Semi-Final 🏆

Watch back that INCREDIBLE game in full NOW on Clubber TV 👉 https://t.co/8RTIDVIpju pic.twitter.com/h1PLV6GqjA

— Clubber (@clubber) September 10, 2023

Paudie, who turned 27 a fortnight ago, hailed his brother David for kicking what was an incredible levelling score deep in injury time.

“There were some elements of that game we wouldn’t be happy with. We gave away three soft frees when we were three up.

“We went into our shells a bit for Shane’s kick-out. Other than that, we showed great resolve. Obviously, David’s point at the end, unbelievable, but not surprising,” he said.

In what was an entertaining interview with local councillor Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan, Paudie jokingly revealed that he was disappointed not to get the call-up to the Irish Open pro-am along with his brother David. After all, he plays off a handicap of five which, for those unfamiliar with the game, is a fair undertaking.

“No I’m actually a good golfer, I haven’t played in a while though,” said Paudie.

“I know they’re going to have to look at that for next year! David’s a bit of a bandit, but he’d never beat me, not a hope.”

Later on, with his son Ógie in his arms, David was given a right to reply and he told Botty that it’s all about timing.

“Look, it’s all about timing, he didn’t get the nod and that’s it,” he laughed.

"At the end of the day we're delighted to win but it's a semi-final.. It's all about a final now"

The one and only David Clifford, and son Óige, after @fossagaa's UNBELIEVABLE win in the @kerrygaa_official IFC Semi-Final 🏆

Full game available here 👉 https://t.co/8RTIDVIX92 pic.twitter.com/tDCeYtQYGq

— Clubber (@clubber) September 10, 2023

Jokes aside, David was very clearly speaking from the heart when he told of his pride in his fellow Fossa players.

“The big thing is, right, we know we are coming in against bigger teams, and we were being written off, but we have huge belief in ourselves, we have huge confidence in everything that we get from the management, huge belief in every player that we have.

“There’s probably something out there that we are weak on wings and the corners. I think the last five or six games have shown that’s definitely not the case.”

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