National Forum

David Clifford The Goat

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Replying To endgame:  "Missed a two pointer near the end when his team needed him most. He's a great player no doubt. The greatest is Matt Connor Offaly."
"Missed a 2 pointer when his team needed him most" what a pathetic statement! Maybe they should have took him off for kicking a wide I didn't see any other kerry players taking on them shots.
How many shots did mayo miss in the 2nd half ? From far easier positions? Ryan o donoghue got motm but dropped a 2 pointer free into the keepers hands with the breeze at his back. Kobe Missed shots. Don't see anyone calling them bottlers

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 150 - 30/07/2026 08:56:49    2688109

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Well let's compare like for like.

The general consensus was that both Clifford and Con had "quiet" games in their semi final a couple of weeks. Agreed?

Con returned 0-2(tp) while Clifford notched 1-5."
Con has been injured all season.

Look how well those Kerry players returning from injury fared in the final. Not good at all.

So those games are not like for like…!

As an all rounder player Con is better.
He can play in multiple positions and more importantly tracks back when needed.

Anyway, this argument could go on forever.

I stand by my opinion.
Others will stand by theirs.

Both players are phenomenal but I prefer Con.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5251 - 30/07/2026 10:16:37    2688123

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Replying To endgame:  "Missed a two pointer near the end when his team needed him most. He's a great player no doubt. The greatest is Matt Connor Offaly."
Football is constantly evolving and there is always new footballers coming along taking their place on the Pinnacle of the ladder. Some brilliant players were unable to stay on top of their game due to distractions and I am sure you can all name at least 10 to 15 that fall into that category. Matt Connor was a brilliant, brilliant player and due to the sad way his career finished people definitely look at him through Rose tinted glasses. In the All Ireland final of 82 he didn't have a particularly good game and only scored one solitary point from play. Yet Clifford scores 1.6 last Sunday from play and people say where was he in the second half?
Clifford will never get enough recognition for what he is doing while he is still playing football. He will need to be retired 10 or 15 years before his greatness will be appreciated. I don't believe there is any such thing as a GOAT. Just appreciate every good footballer and enjoy the entertainment they provide.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2529 - 30/07/2026 10:58:50    2688130

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Id honestly prefer 6 scoring forwards playing with variance then doing what Kerry do or what Clifford brings.

As nice as it is to watch and as good as he is at it, its telegraphed and one dimensional on a team, over all i think its undermining.

From that point of view i wouldn't have him in the conversation.

Good player though."
So because the other kerry forwards don't contribute enough, that means Clifford is not one of the best?
Ok im sure that sounds logical to you?!!!

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 150 - 30/07/2026 11:07:10    2688131

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Replying To Fionn:  "Look everyone is going to be defensive and protective of their own county and club, and players from their own county and club. It is only natural.

For me the King Con is better than King David.
And Prince Kobe has the potential to be better than both.

My personal view on rating how good a player is his ability, skill, scoring, creativity, defensive attributes, team work and workrate.
For me overall Con is better.
Add to that what Con has achieved in Both codes.
Phenomenal.

DC is one of the best forwards of all time.
Better than Con in the scoring charts for sure.
But the GOAT - nope.

Maybe I am biased but that is my opinion."
I think your dislike of Kerry is tainting your vision a little Fionn.Con is a great player but nearly every former great and pundits from outside Kerry reckon young Clifford is the best they seen and all say he is the best right now by a country mile.He has done things that even Dermo could nt do.Speaking of Dermo.Dermo thinks same and I think Dermo was better than Con.Young Cliffords scoring is off the charts.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 766 - 30/07/2026 11:16:48    2688134

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Replying To brayballer:  "I think your dislike of Kerry is tainting your vision a little Fionn.Con is a great player but nearly every former great and pundits from outside Kerry reckon young Clifford is the best they seen and all say he is the best right now by a country mile.He has done things that even Dermo could nt do.Speaking of Dermo.Dermo thinks same and I think Dermo was better than Con.Young Cliffords scoring is off the charts."
Dermot's career was ruined by the witch hunt that went on.
It was shocking…!

Still doesn't sit well with me tbh.

He was the most skilful player I have seen play for Dublin.

The abuse he got both on and off the pitch was ott.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5251 - 30/07/2026 11:54:12    2688143

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Replying To Fionn:  "Con has been injured all season.

Look how well those Kerry players returning from injury fared in the final. Not good at all.

So those games are not like for like…!

As an all rounder player Con is better.
He can play in multiple positions and more importantly tracks back when needed.

Anyway, this argument could go on forever.

I stand by my opinion.
Others will stand by theirs.

Both players are phenomenal but I prefer Con."
He tore Galway asunder in the game before, convenient that injury didn't come into it then?

You have your opinion but it's clearly biased. Mine and those outside of Dublin and Kerry is unbiased.

In fact, I would agree with your county man above that Connolly was better than Con.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1709 - 30/07/2026 11:54:19    2688144

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Replying To eoinog:  "Football is constantly evolving and there is always new footballers coming along taking their place on the Pinnacle of the ladder. Some brilliant players were unable to stay on top of their game due to distractions and I am sure you can all name at least 10 to 15 that fall into that category. Matt Connor was a brilliant, brilliant player and due to the sad way his career finished people definitely look at him through Rose tinted glasses. In the All Ireland final of 82 he didn't have a particularly good game and only scored one solitary point from play. Yet Clifford scores 1.6 last Sunday from play and people say where was he in the second half?
Clifford will never get enough recognition for what he is doing while he is still playing football. He will need to be retired 10 or 15 years before his greatness will be appreciated. I don't believe there is any such thing as a GOAT. Just appreciate every good footballer and enjoy the entertainment they provide."
Thats actually a very good post Eoin.
I agree with all of your scribe.Impossible to say who is best ever .Its different eras and most of us never saw alot of older players.Also maybe defenders were better or worse in days gone by.However forwards did have only one marker years back whereas the likes of David nearly all have two marking him.
In the 2021 Munster championship v Cork there were 3 men on Clifford nearly non stop.One each side of him and one in front.They did blot him out but the rest of the Kerry forwards had a field day free and Kerry won by 22 points.
You are correct abour Matt Connor.One of my favourite players ever and top class but scored little from play in his two finals.
In this era David has shown his credentials but still wont get his deserved kudos from some but cest la vie.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4237 - 30/07/2026 12:08:31    2688145

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Replying To Fionn:  "Dermot's career was ruined by the witch hunt that went on.
It was shocking…!

Still doesn't sit well with me tbh.

He was the most skilful player I have seen play for Dublin.

The abuse he got both on and off the pitch was ott."
Damn predictive text…

" Dermo's "

;o)

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5251 - 30/07/2026 12:25:49    2688151

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In last years final David Clifford scored 9 points from play, and still didn't get motm. There's never been a player b4, or will be in the future who put up such a crazy score in an all Ireland final but didn't get motm.
Canavan got 11 or 12 in 1995 but only one of those were from play.
The Dublin poster questioning his workrate is nitpicking, every player has their strength and weaknesses. Jack o Connor doesn't want his marquee forward out around the 65 .
As it happens he actually won the last kick out against Tyrone when kerry were under pressure.

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 150 - 30/07/2026 12:40:14    2688159

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Replying To brayballer:  "I think your dislike of Kerry is tainting your vision a little Fionn.Con is a great player but nearly every former great and pundits from outside Kerry reckon young Clifford is the best they seen and all say he is the best right now by a country mile.He has done things that even Dermo could nt do.Speaking of Dermo.Dermo thinks same and I think Dermo was better than Con.Young Cliffords scoring is off the charts."
Clifford has incredible atheticsm etc. but I think what makes him stand out is his temperament. Take his goal on Sunday. Look at the array of skills need to execute that.- strength, power speed balance etc. Think of his ability with 2 pointers. But his greatest asset is his mental toughness and I think its this quality that separates him from the others. Has any single player in the history of IC football made such a contribution to his team? I'm not saying that Kerrynis a one man team but without Clifford they are undoubtedly a less fearsome prospect. I'll say it again: he is the best I've seen

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 2082 - 30/07/2026 12:52:07    2688161

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