Kerry
2019
In 2019,Clifford again won the Munster Senior Football Championship with Kerry,scoring 0–03 in the semi-final versus Clare and scoring 0–04 in the final versus Cork. [15]
In the Super 8 group stage,Clifford scored 0–07 against Mayo,0–03 against Donegal and was rested against Meath. He scored 0–05 in the semi-final against Tyrone. [16] [17] [18]
Kerry went on to reach the All-Ireland senior final versus Dublin. Clifford scored 0–02 in the drawn match and 0–05 in the replay,as Dublin ran out 1–18 to 0–15 winners. [19]
He ended the year with an All Star. [20]
2021
He scored a hat-trick against Galway in the opening round of the 2021 National Football League. [24] Kerry would go on to share the National League title with Dublin this year delivering Clifford his second league title.
He won his third Munster Senior Football Championship defeating Clare (1–06),Tipperary (1–02) and Cork (0–01). [25]
Kerry reached the All-Ireland semi final in which they faced Tyrone. Clifford scored 0–08 on the day,however,due to injury he could not take part in extra-time. Tyrone ran out winners 3–14 to 0–22. [26]
He ended the year with an All Star. [27]
2023
Clifford was selected as captain for the 2023 season. [34]
He made his season debut as a second-half substitute in Kerry's round 3 league match against Mayo. He played in 5 league games as Kerry finished 5th in the Division 1 league. [35] [36]
Clifford was named at full forward for their Munster semi-final against Tipperary. He scored 0–02 in their 0–25 to 0–05 win. [37]
Clifford was awarded the man of the match award in their Munster final against Clare. He scored 2–06 in their 5–14 to 0–15 win. He played in the match alongside brother Paudie as a tribute to their mother,Ellen Clifford,who died the previous day. [38]
In Kerry's first All-Ireland round robin match versus Mayo,Clifford scored 0–08 (0-03f) in a Kerry loss. Clifford scored 1–05 (1–00p,0-01f) in their second round win versus Cork. He scored 2-04 (1-00p) in their final round robin win versus Louth. This guaranteed Kerry top spot and direct progress to the quarter finals. [39] [40] [41]
Clifford contributed 0-05 (0-03f) in the All-Ireland quarter final victory over Tyrone. Kerry winning on a score line of 2-18 to 0-12. [42]
A man of the match performance in the All Ireland Semi Final ensured Kerry's progress. He contributed 0-09 (0-04f) in a 1-17 to 1-15 win. [43]
In the All-Ireland Final,it was Dublin who emerged victorious on a score line of 1-15 to 1-13. Clifford scored 0-03 (0-01f) in his tussle with Mick Fitzsimmons. [44]
He won his fifth All Star and was selected as GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year for a second time. [45]
2024
Kerry finished third in the National League with Clifford featuring in six games and scoring 1-25 in the process. [46] [47] [48]
Clifford won his sixth Munster medal,scoring 0-04 in the semi-final against Cork and 0-04 against Clare in the final. [49] [50]
In the All-Ireland group stage,Clifford scored 0-05 against Monaghan,2-02 against Meath and 0-07 against Louth. [51] [52] [53]
Kerry progressed through the All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Derry,with Clifford scoring 0-03. [54] In the All-Ireland Semi-Final versus Armagh,Clifford contributed 0-04 as Kerry exited the championship to Armagh after extra time. [55]
2025
Clifford won his fourth National League. He scored 3-22 across five Division 1 group fixures. [56] [57] His 0-8 in the final against Mayo assisted Kerry in becoming the first team to win the Corn Mhichíl UíMhuircheartaigh,named for Mícheál ÓMuircheartaigh. [58]
Clifford won his seventh Munster medal,scoring 0-09 against Cork in the semi-final and 2-05 against Clare in the final. [59] [60]
In Kerry’s first All-Ireland group match versus Roscommon,Clifford scored 1-3 in a 3-18 to 0-17 win. [61] In a 1-28 to 0-20 second round win versus Cork,Clifford scored 1-08. [62] In their final group game,Clifford scored 0-05 as Kerry lost 1-22 to 0-16 to Meath. [63]
In the preliminary quarter-final win against Cavan,Clifford scored 3-07 in a man of the match performance. [64] After the Cavan game,Clifford issued a rallying call to the Kerry supporters. “I’d like to call for our supporters to get behind us. I’m not sure they realise the impact they can have on us in Croke Park. When we hear that Kerry crowd behind you it’s worth five and six points to you in a game.” [65]
On their return to Croke Park Kerry knocked out reigning champions Armagh in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final. In a 15-minute spell in the second half,Kerry scored 0-14 without reply. Clifford contributed 0-07 in a 0-32 to 1-21 win. [66] In the All-Ireland semi-final versus Tyrone Clifford scored 1-09 as Kerry progressed to the final on a 1-20 to 0-17 scoreline. [67]
On the 27th of July,Clifford won his second All-Ireland medal with a 1-26 to 0-19 win over Donegal. He did not touch the ball for the first 9 minutes of the match,however with his first touch he scored a 2-pointer and contributed 0-07 from 6 possessions in the first half. [68] He scored 0-09 in total with all his scores coming from play. [69]
Remarking on the new rules implemented for the 2025 season. Clifford offered the view that ‘it brought a great freshness to the game;it brought people back talking about and watching the game…teams go for it. Teams have a crack off it. That is all we want to see,really,in the game…seeing the new rules and looking back,you're probably saying this is a bit more enjoyable’. [70]
He scored 8-62 (8-48 from play) over the course of 9 championship matches,finishing as the leading 2025 championship scorer in points,goals,2-pointers,from play and in total. [71]
The Sunday Game panel awarded him his second Footballer of the Year and a place on his fifth Team of the Year. [72]
On the 7th of November 2025,Clifford made history as he won a record breaking third GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year and his sixth All Star. [73] [74]
2026
Clifford made his seasonal debut in the 0-16 to 0-15 McGrath Cup loss to Cork. [75]
Clifford scored 1-08 in Kerry’s opening round 2-18 to 1-20 win against Roscommon. [76] This was followed by 1-06 against Galway in their draw in Austin Stack Park. [77]
East Kerry
Clifford plays with East Kerry in the Kerry Senior Football Championship.
At underage level he won two Kerry Minor Football Championship titles in 2016 and 2017. He won a Kerry Under-21 Football Championship title in 2018.
He is four time county champion,winning in 2019,2020,2022 and 2023.
In 2019 he scored 1–06 in the quarter-final,0–09 in the semi-final and 1–03 in the final. [102] [103]
In 2020 he scored 1–05 in the quarter-final and 1-04 in the final. [104] [105]
In 2021,a straight knock out championship was in place. Clifford scored 0–02 as East Kerry lost to eventual champions Austin Stacks. [106]
Clifford made his 2022 debut as a substitute in the win against Spa. He scored 0–3 after being introduced in the 40th minute. He scored 0–07 in the quarter final versus Kenmare Shamrocks. [107] He won his third Kerry Senior Football Championship beating Mid Kerry in the final,scoring 1–09 in the process. [108]
In 2023,Clifford made his debut in a ten minute cameo against Templenoe. He started the quarter final against St. Kierans and scored 1-05 in a 4-19 to 0-12 win. [109] His 1-03 helped ensure progression to the Kerry senior final at the expense of Rathmore on a score line of 1-16 to 1-10. [110] East Kerry defeated Mid Kerry 2-10 to 0-15 in the final with Clifford contributing 0-03. [7]
East Kerry began their 2024 campaign against Rathmore,Clifford scored 1-07 in 4-16 to 2-12 win. [111] In Round 2,Milltown/Castlemaine were defeated 0-16 to 0-06 with Clifford contributing 0-04. [112] In the Quarter-Final against St Kieran's,Clifford scored 0-06 in a 1-14 to 1-12 win. [113] East Kerry's title defence ended at the Semi-Final stage,in an extra-time loss Clifford scored 1-02 as Kerry fell to Dingle on a 2-16 to 1-14 scoreline. [114]
In the preliminary stage,Clifford scored 1-05 in a 2-18 to 1-10 win against St Kieran's. Clifford contributed 0-05 as East Kerry won their 2025 first round clash against Templenoe 3-23 to 1-10. [115] East Kerry were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Rathmore in a sensational 1-20 to 0-09 loss. Clifford scored 0-05 as Rathmore scored 14 unanswered points in the second half. [116]
Player Profile
Transition from underage to senior
Clifford was marked out as an underage star during his Kerry minor career and according to the Irish Times was ‘widely expected to be a mainstay in the senior county team for years to come’. [122]
Movement
Former GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue described Clifford’s playing style as ‘he plays low;he plays kind of hunched-over…he’s so nimble on his feet when he’s playing. So if you get too tight to him,he has the footwork to go around you,and the pace to go around you. Also,if you get too tight with him,he can just paw you off with a hand and keep you at arm’s length…he has incredible balance,incredible footwork,for a man who’s six-foot-three’. [125]
Broadcaster and former Kerry captain Dara ÓCinnéide remarked that he saw ‘this kind of quick-step that Clifford has,and…just went,‘Holy f**k! What is he doing there?…that’s where I am with Clifford. I want to be at these games where I’m just saying,‘What’s he going to do today?’And that’s the privilege. And that’s the thrill.’ [126]
Kicking
Clifford is known for his distinctive kicking style which physical therapist Gerard Hartmann attributed to his ‘range of motion…there is a genetic factor. We are all born with an inherited flexibility hyper mobility,which Clifford has clearly maintained’. [127] Sports scientist and former London GAA football manager Ciarán Deely [128] compared how Clifford adapts his kicking technique depending on distance,‘for closer shots,he tends to get his head and chest in over the ball to ensure optimal accuracy…(for longer shots) his right toe is barely touching the ground,his body is completely upright,even his head tilted back,and his left foot is a good six inches above his hairline. This is not the typical kicking technique!’ [129]
James O'Donoghue summarised his kicking style,‘he puts hand to foot in terms of kicking the ball so quickly. He gets one step;he puts the hand out and it’s over the bar’. [130]
Scoring
Clifford has produced impressive scoring feats since his underage gaelic football days,including 2-05 in the 2016 Hogan Cup final and 4-04 in the 2017 All-Ireland Minor final. Dara ÓCinnéide noted that when ‘he's fully fit and there's a supply line there,he'll deliver because he always does.’ [131]
2024 All Star corner back Barry McCambridge remarked that ‘when David Clifford gets a score I find it almost counts as double because their fans get such a buzz out of it,so do their players.’McCambridge also referenced Clifford’s use of the backdoor cut and his goal threat,‘he’s so good on the backdoor cut and scoring goals so you don’t want to get caught. But if you step off slightly to block out that backdoor cut that’s when he starts going into the space in front and scoring,and there’s one-point and two-point options there. It’s about weighing that up.’ [132]
Personal life
Clifford and his girlfriend Shauna O'Connor have one son named Óigí,born in September 2021. [133] His brother Paudie Clifford is also a member of the Kerry team and a fellow All-Ireland winner. [134]
He studied in Institute of Technology,Tralee and graduated with a degree in health and leisure. In August 2022,he graduated with a Masters in PE teaching at the University of Limerick. [135] [136] Clifford is a teacher in his alma mater St Brendan's College,Killarney. [137] [138]
He supports Celtic. [139]
In November 2025,Clifford became the first Gaelic games player to release his own brand of clothing and apparel. In collaboration with McKeever Sports,Clifford released an apparel range complete with a logo featuring the ‘iconic Clifford kicking image with his left leg cocked up in the air beside his left ear’. [140]
