KERRY are once again basking in glory after they lifted the Sam Maguire Cup for the 38th time on Sunday afternoon last in Croke Park, defeating a battling Galway side by four points (0-20 to 0-16).
It's a first title since 2014 as the Kingdom were pushed all the way by a determined Galway outfit who gave it everything but ultimately Kerry remained composed and with a big impact from the bench, they finished the game strongly to emerge deserving winners.
All the talk in and around Croke Park (and I was lucky enough to be up in the higher echelons of the Hogan Stand myself) was about two men, two warriors going at it, scoring for fun and putting one two of the greatest display in All-Ireland Final history, you know we are talking about David Clifford and Shane Walsh.
Clifford (still only 23) kicked eight points for the winners, while Shane Walsh gave his best display in a maroon jersey nailing nine points for his side, flawless stuff from two quality players.
Former Waterford captain Tony Grey was in awe of what he saw on Sunday afternoon as he joined us on last night's "On The Ball" to reflect on the showpiece event as the 2022 GAA inter-county season ended in exciting fashion; "It was just fantastic to watch the two of them (Clifford and Walsh), I don't know who was better on the day, the man of the match - Clifford gets it because he's on the winning team, if Galway win, Shane Walsh gets it I guess. I'm lost for words about what I saw on Sunday, I actually couldn't believe it".
The moment every Kerry fan has been dreaming of. David Clifford lifts the Sam Maguire with his brother Paudie. Beautiful! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Yc5lWF8M6c
— Adam Moynihan (@AdamMoynihan) July 24, 2022
I suppose we've all come to expect quality every time we see David Clifford who claimed his first senior All-Ireland medal, Tony Grey feels he's already up there as one of the greatest ever players to grace the game; "I thought Clifford was good against Dublin and you know we wee the free-flowing scores and that but he gave it every way you wanted it on Sunday, and then Shane Walsh on the other side. To have two of them at it on the one day, an All-Ireland Final, it'll go down in history. It'll just be remembered for the two lads just shooting it out and just giving the best display ever seen in Croke Park probably".
A 38th All-Ireland for the Kingdom, Jack O' Connor guiding them to Sam for the fourth time (his 3rd stint in charge) and this is a victory that no doubt will spur them onto further success in the future. Galway played their part too, they had a brilliant season and will be back again in 2023. An exciting end to the football Championship.
"This is something that I've dreamt of all my life," says an emotional David Clifford
The king has his crownpic.twitter.com/fQ7Fpv0Yd1— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 24, 2022
