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Keane names both Clifford brothers in dynamic Kerry forward line

Published

5 years ago

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Kerry manager Peter Keane. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.
Kerry senior football manager Peter Keane. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.

Kerry manager Peter Keane has named his first starting 15 of 2021 and the big news is that star forward David Clifford will be joined in attack by his older brother, Paudie.

The elder Clifford made his first appearances for Kerry as a substitute against Monaghan and Cork towards the tail end of last year. Keane will hand the Fossa native his first start in tomorrow's National League opener against Galway (3pm, Live on Eir Sport).

Paudie has impressed while representing East Kerry in recent seasons and the stylish half/centre forward was instrumental in his divisional side's County Championship triumphs of 2019 and 2020. He will line out at No. 15 for Kerry in Austin Stack Park tomorrow, with his sibling reverting to his favoured No. 13 jersey. (The younger Clifford wore No. 14 as he played a captain's role for Kerry in 2020, with some observers speculating that this was due to the old piseóg, or superstition, that no Kerry captain has won an All-Ireland wearing 13.)

It is a very attack-minded front six with veteran Paul Geaney being named at left half forward alongside Seán O'Shea (centre) and Dara Moynihan (right half).

Killian Spillane, who scored the winner against Galway the last time the teams met, lines out at full forward.

In defence, Brian Ó Beaglaoich starts at right corner back behind Paul Murphy, who will lead his teammates out as Kerry's official captain for the first time. The experienced Rathmore defender has captained the side previously but only in a temporary capacity.

Gavin Crowley starts at centre back in place of the now-retired Peter Crowley while Tralee pair David Moran and Jack Barry have been named at midfield.

In a departure from past team announcements, Peter Keane has also named his substitutes from 16-26. There's a place on the bench for newcomers Kieran Fitzgibbon, Paul O'Shea, Mike Breen and Kevin O'Sullivan.

Galway, meanwhile, will be glad to welcome influential full forward Damien Comer back into the fold. Comer sustained a hamstring injury in his side's 15-point defeat to Mayo in the league last October and subsequently missed Galway's only championship match of the abbreviated season: the Connacht final, when Mayo, once again, were the victors.

Manager Pádraic Joyce has named two debutants in his first line-up of the year. U20 All-Ireland-winning captain Jack Glynn starts at corner back while Dylan McHugh of Corofin is named at centre back. Two more of that successful U20 team will start in attack as both Paul Kelly and Matthew Tierney get the nod in a forward line that also contains Eamonn Brannigan, Dessie Conneely, and team captain Shane Walsh.

Kerry team to face Galway

1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)

2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)

3. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)

4. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)

5. Paul Murphy (Captain - Rathmore)

6. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)

7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)

8. David Moran (Kerin's O'Rahilly's)

9. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil)

10. Dara Moynihan (Spa)

11. Seán O'Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks)

12. Paul Geaney (Dingle)

13. David Clifford (Fossa)

14. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)

15. Paudie Clifford (Fossa)

https://twitter.com/Kerry_Official/status/1393280165430583299?s=20

Galway team to face Kerry

1. Bernard Power

2. Jack Glynn

3. Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin

4. Liam Silke

5. Gary O’Donnell

6. Dylan McHugh

7. Johnny Heaney

8. Peter Cooke

9. Paul Conroy

10. Paul Kelly

11. Matthew Tierney

12. Eamonn Brannigan

13. Dessie Conneely

14. Damien Comer

15. Shane Walsh (Captain)

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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2 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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2 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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