Kerry manager Jack O'Connor salutes bereaved Clifford brothers after Munster SFC final win over Clare

Jack O'Connor paid tribute to David and Paudie Clifford after the brothers starred for Kerry just a day after the death of their mother.

Ellen Clifford died on Saturday after a long illness but Kingdom boss O’Connor said that the family decided she would have wanted her sons to line out in the Munster final victory over Clare.

Captain David was man of the match, scoring 2-06 (4f) and Paudie also raised a green flag.

"A tough, tough weekend for the Clifford family," O’Connor told RTÉ Sport.

"A great sign of the boys that they wanted to play. It was a family decision.

"They felt it was the best way to honour their mother and they did so in style.

"They’re a great family, a football-mad family. I spoke to the boys yesterday and [their father] Dermot as well. They were all adamant that they wanted the boys to play, they felt that their mother would want that.

"They wanted to be with the boys. I think there was a bit of solace in coming in today and meeting the group.

"But it’s going to be a tough few days. My own mother passed away 20 years ago and I still miss her, so they will miss their mother. We’ll give them as much support as we can."

"They're Kerry to the core. That’s the way they were raised and it’s a credit to them"

Seán O’Shea, accepting the man-of-the-match award on behalf of David, said Ellen Clifford’s death "puts sport into perspective. There are a lot more important things in life than football.

"It has been an incredibly tough day for the two boys. It shows the character of them to come out and play like they did there.

"We’re thinking of the two lads especially, Dermot, [their sister] Shelly and all the extended Clifford and O’Shea families.

"They’re Kerry to the core. That’s the way they were raised and it’s a credit