Paudie Clifford taking Kerry journey one step at a time

Paudie Clifford has twice scored headed goals in Gaelic football.

Once for UCC in a Sigerson Cup clash against Athlone IT in 2019, which manager Billy Morgan let slide without comment.

And once in his younger days for his club. That one wasn't allowed to slide. "The manager lost the plot," Clifford says now. "But Billy didn't say anything."

Maybe Morgan appreciated that such flourishes were simply part of the Clifford make-up.

Paudie's brilliance went under the radar for so long - at county level at least - before a breakout 2021 finally launched him into the heart of the Kingdom set-up.

The rise of his younger brother David (above) always felt inevitable given his exploits at minor level, but Paudie, now 25, had to bide his time.

Intense speed and weight training, coupled with Corkman Morgan showing real faith in his capabilities at UCC, helped to change his path.

Consistent excellence at club level with East Kerry also turned a lot of heads, with Tomás Ó Sé lamenting on The Sunday Game after his performance in the Munster SFC final last July: "I think he should [have been in the Kerry team] the last three years. He is a great bit of stuff.

"I do think he has been overlooked by that management the last three years. This year he has kicked on and nearly every game he has been man of the match."

Last year ultimately ended in deep disappointment for Clifford and Kerry as Tyrone ended their quest for Sam Maguire at the semi-final stages but the return of Jack O'Connor, in place of Peter Keane, has invigorated the panel.

Kerry are top of Division 1 in the Allianz Football League, and Clifford continues to impress.

"Deep down I always kind of thought I had a chance, but there would have been days where I thought that I'd stop pursuing