By Michelle Crean

There was fierce excitement and celebrations in Fossa at the weekend as the Sam McGuire finally made its way to the Clifford brother's home place.

Conor O'Mahoney, Jack Hallissey and Fionn Doyle, pictured with the Sam Maguire cup which the Clifford brothers took home to the Outback, Golden Nugget, Fossa on Friday night. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Anna and Pat Coffey, welcome Sam Maguire home to the Outback, Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant, Fossa. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Paudie Clifford, together with Liam and Betty Walsh, pictured at the Outback, Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant to welcome Sam Maguire home on Friday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Delighted to have Sam Maguire home in Fossa at the Outback, Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant from l-r were: Caoimhe, Cillian and Aoife Giles. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Taking Sam Maguire to the Outback at the Golden Nugget in Fossa from l-r were: David Clifford, Padraig O'Donoghue, Mossie Prendiville, Paudie Clifford and Padraig Devane. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Michael Murphy (centre) pictured with Kerry footballers, Paudie and David Clifford at the Outback, Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant on Friday evening with Sam Maguire. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Home to Fossa GAA, The Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant welcomed Sam Maguire on Friday night. Front row l-r were: Ethan Kennedy, Ciara Griffin and Susan O'Keeffe. Back row l-r were: Caroline and Mark Hallissey (owners), Sophie Dennehy, Emer Furlong, Nathan Counihan, Grainne Clifford and Con O'Sullivan. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Welcoming Sam Maguire home to The Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant on Friday evening clockwise from l-r were: Padraig Devane, Kevin McCarthy, Francis Moran, Bryan Myers, Lee Lenihan, Ryan Sheehan and Alan Buckley. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Old school to Two Mile National School attended by the Clifford brothers, school friends welcome home Sam Maguire to the Outback at The Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant, Fossa on Friday evening. Clockwise from left: Kevin Myers, Mick O'Connell, Padraig Devane, Eoin O'Connell, Paudie Clifford, Shane Kelly, David Clifford, Taghg Kelly, Colin Myers and Kenneth Clifford. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

SAM: The children and staff at Two Mile School were delighted to welcome past pupils Paudie and David Clifford and the Sam McGuire.

Senior Kerry footballers Paudie and David Clifford were elated to get the long awaited cup back on home soil first on Friday to Two Mile National School where they themselves attended as children.

Then it was off to the Outback at the Golden Nugget Bar & Restaurant later that evening where the atmosphere was electric as locals posed for photos with the brothers and Sam.

"Since the final whistle blew on July 24, staff and pupils wondered when they might see Paudie and David Clifford walk through the doors of Two Mile CNS with Sam – and it was certainly worth the wait," Stephanie O'Carroll, Class Teacher at Two Mile CNS, said.

"2014 was the last time Sam Maguire was in Kerry and at that time half of the pupils weren’t yet in school while the other half hadn’t even been born! On Friday they gathered in the hall a cacophony of colour, and the roar when the lads walked in with Sam. We’re hoping this homecoming will hold such a place for our pupils in their schooldays memories."

The goalpost where the brothers once practiced their frees and 45s at break-times still stand in the yard, she added.

"It was wonderful to welcome parents and members of the community to the school to share in the children’s excitement," Stephanie said.

"There were flags, headbands and Kerry jerseys of nearly every iteration. We had a fantastic morning, unperturbed by the showers of rain, as all classes waited patiently for their chance to have their photo taken with Sam. The children chatted eagerly to Paudie and David, about football in Two Mile, looking for tips and the ‘inside track’, no doubt hoping to follow in their footsteps."