How do you solve a problem like David Clifford?
That’s the conundrum facing Ger Brennan and his Dublin management team on Sunday, where the success of their plan could decide Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.
That’s according to seven-time All-Ireland winner with the sky blues Brian Fenton, who was speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
Football’s biggest rivalry will see the counties meeting for the 34th time in championship at Croke Park.
The Munster men have the upper hand overall, with 18 wins to the Dubs’ 12, with three draws, the most recent of which came in the All-Ireland final of 2019.
Since 2011, though, it’s the Metropolitans who’ve been on top in clashes between the pair, with six wins from eight games; Kerry’s solitary victory in that time came in 2022.
If Ger Brennan is to mastermind another surprise, off the back of triumphs over Donegal and Galway, then limiting the damage Clifford does will, for Fenton, be key.
“Naturally, you’re looking at your best man marker, like for like, in terms of skills and ability,” the Raheny clubman said.
“Sean McMahon, maybe, has the size and the pace to stick with David, but is he fit?
“If he’s not, then you’re looking at maybe Theo Clancy for size and pace, but how do you match up on his attributes?
“Your individual man markers, the best you have around, hopefully he does well. Like Mick Fitz a couple of years ago, although David kicked a couple of wides.”
Clifford hits six points – four from play – in Kerry’s last win over Dublin four years ago, and followed it up with three points – two from play – in the following year’s All-Ireland final.
Most teams who take on Kerry accept that the Fossa star will score something, with the key being to keep that number as low as possible.
In that vein, Fenton reckons Brennan will have a plan in place.
“It’s backup defence, Dublin do it very well,” he said.
“If it’s a slower play or if David is isolated in the corner or deeper inside, when David looks up and takes the solo, does he see a Dublin man in behind?
“That he’s saying, ‘there’s just not the space there for me to take on my man here’, to get some space, he’ll revert it around.
“Dublin are quite aggressive at that, cheat across, you’ll see them, they’ll almost come to the goalpost to cheat across and then they’ll shift back across if the ball has been swapped around.
“So that ability to get in his eyeline, beyond his individual marker.
Brian Fenton and David Clifford after the last meeting between the counties in 2023
“Kerry have the kickers, Kerry have the plan. Paudie (Clifford) will look up and hit David every time, so the supply, can we get heat on them?
“We were lucky to have John Small, who didn’t give Seán O’Shea an inch, back in 2022 or 2023, so you’re trying to slow the supply.”
But, while Clifford’s ability to perform will go a long way towards deciding which county makes it to football’s biggest day, Fenton warns that the Kingdom are far from a one-man show.
“He has magic in every part of his game. He’ll be running in and you’ll think he’s pulled up and he’ll just create a bit of magic.
“There’s nothing that hasn’t been said about him, he’s unbelievable. You’ll obviously have a plan and he’ll consume all of Dublin’s plans this week, don’t get me wrong.
“But Kerry have so many threats everywhere else, the likes of Dylan Geaney. The supporting cast have come on so well this year.
“They’re scoring goals, they’ve scored the most goals in the All-Ireland series since the provincials, they’ve unbelievable two-point shooters, they’ve threats from everywhere.”
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