Patience the key to David Clifford's success in All-Ireland final - Eamonn Fitzmaurice

Many have attempted to solve the conundrum of how to stop David Clifford but few have cracked it.

This Sunday is another opportunity to see if the Fossa man can be halted. However, this time he could be up against someone who has done so before.

Sean Kelly, Galway captain, marked Clifford in this year's Sigerson Final, played in monsoon conditions earlier this year. The Kerryman was kept scoreless from play, his 1-2 coming from placed balls.

Speaking on the RTE GAA podcast, Kevin McStay expects that we will see the two players go up against each other directly on Sunday.

"Sean Kelly, I can absolutely guarantee that he will try to put almighty pressure on his citog," said McStay. "Never mind trying to drive him out, they’ll try to drive him right if they can.

"I know he has a right foot, but he is magical and is predominantly left-footed and surely on the man-marker, certainly in the act of shooting, they’re trying to get into his eye-line, trying to get across on that left foot."

The forward's former manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice believes that patience will be key to any Clifford success.

"He’ll have to be patient on Sunday, it's going to be a different type of game for him."

"There’s going to be a lot of traffic, there’s going to be a lot of trying to push him out towards the sideline and get him on ball out there. When he gets the ball, there'll be players doubling up on him. He might just have to be patient."

Clifford scored six points the last day out against Dublin, but it’s not just his accuracy that Galway will fear. It’s also his physicality and athleticism.

Midway through the first half against the Dubs, Clifford demonstrated all the physical attributes of a marquee full-forward. A long, raking high ball was delivered by