David Clifford (Irish: Daithí Ó Clúmháin) (born 22 January 1999) is a Gaelic footballer who plays corner-forward or full-forward for the Kerry county team and at club level for Fossa and divisional side East Kerry. He is a two-time Senior Football All-Ireland winner, a six-time GAA/GPA All-Star and has won the GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year a record three times. He is the second highest scorer in the history of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He is widely regarded as the greatest player of his generation and as one of the best of all time.
In a decorated underage career he won two All-Ireland Minor Championships and 2 Munster Minor Football Championships with Kerry; and the Hogan Cup with his school, St. Brendan's College, Killarney.
At club level with Fossa he has won the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship, Kerry Premier Junior Football Championship, Munster Junior Club Football Championship and an All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship. With Divisional side East Kerry he has won 4 Kerry Senior Football Championship.
Kerry
2018 National Football League Clifford made his senior debut on January 28 against Donegal in Round 1 of the NFL. Starting left corner forward, he scored 0-01 before being replaced by Jack Savage. He scored 0-21 across 5 starts and 1 substitute appearance, as Kerry finished fifth in Division 1.
Munster Championship Clifford won his first Munster Senior Football Championship title later that summer after over coming Clare (0–02) and then Cork (0–02) in the final.
All-Ireland Championship Kerry failed to progress from their Super 8's group stage. Clifford scoring 1–05 against Galway, 1–03 against Monaghan and 2–06 against Kildare.
Awards He ended the year with an All Star and as GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year.
2019 Munster Championship 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.
All-Ireland Championship 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.
Kerry went on to reach the All-Ireland senior final versus Dublin. It was Clifford’s first appearance in the senior final, having played in two minor finals. He scored 0–02 in the drawn match and 0–05 in the replay, as Dublin ran out 1–18 to 0–15 winners.
Awards He ended the year with an All Star.
2020 Clifford was selected as Kerry captain due to the Kerry Senior Football Championship being won by his East Kerry side.
National Football League Kerry won the 2020 National Football League after winning 5 of their 7 matches. This was Clifford's first national league title.
Munster Championship Clifford scored 0–04 in the shock Munster Senior Football Championship semi final loss to Cork. The 2020 championship was straight knock-out and as such was his only championship game that year.
2021 National Football League Clifford scored a hat-trick against Galway in the opening round of the 2021 National Football League. Kerry would go on to share the National League title with Dublin this year delivering Clifford his second league title.
Munster Championship Clifford won his third Munster Senior Football Championship defeating Clare (1–06), Tipperary (1–02) and Cork (0–01).
All-Ireland Championship 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.
Awards He ended the year with an All Star.
2022 National Football League Clifford won his third National League to start the inter county season. In the final versus Mayo he scored 1–06, 1–05 from play.
Munster Championship His fourth Munster championship arrived in 2022. In the semi-final he scored 0–04 however, injury prevented Clifford from playing in the final versus Limerick.
All-Ireland Championship The All-Ireland quarter final versus Mayo saw Clifford return from injury. He scored 1–03 in the win. A semi final win over Dublin was secured on the back of his 0–06.
Clifford scored 0–08 against Galway in the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final and in the process won his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He was chosen as man of the match due to his performance.
Awards He won his fourth All Star and was selected as GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year and The Sunday Game Footballer of the Year.
2023 Clifford was selected as captain for the 2023 season.
National Football League 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.
Munster Championship 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.
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.
All-Ireland Championship 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.
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.
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.
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.
Awards Clifford won his fifth All Star and was selected as GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year for a second time. He became the first player to win back to back Footballer of the Year awards. With the win he also joined at the time, Trevor Giles and Brian Fenton as the only players to win multiple awards.
2024 National Football League Kerry finished third in the National League with Clifford featuring in six games and scoring 1–25 in the process.
Munster Championship Clifford won his sixth Munster medal, scoring 0–04 in the semi-final against Cork and 0–04 against Clare in the final.
All-Ireland Championship In the All-Ireland group stage, Clifford scored 0–05 against Monaghan, 2–02 against Meath and 0–07 against Louth.
Kerry progressed through the All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Derry, with Clifford scoring 0-03. In the All-Ireland Semi-Final versus Armagh, Clifford contributed 0–04 as Kerry exited the championship to Armagh after extra time.
2025 National Football League Clifford won his fourth National League. He scored 3-22 across five Division 1 group fixtures. His 0–8 in the final against Mayo assisted Kerry in becoming the first team to win the Corn Mhichíl Uí Mhuircheartaigh, named for Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
Munster Championship Clifford won his seventh Munster medal, scoring 0–09 against Cork in the semi-final and 2–05 against Clare in the final.
All-Ireland Championship In Kerry's first All-Ireland group match versus Roscommon, Clifford scored 1–3 in a 3–18 to 0–17 win. In a 1–28 to 0-20 second round win versus Cork, Clifford scored 1-08. In their final group game, Clifford scored 0–05 as Kerry lost 1–22 to 0–16 to Meath.
In the preliminary quarter-final win against Cavan, Clifford scored 3–07 in a man of the match performance. 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.”
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. 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.
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. He scored 0–09 in total with all his scores coming from play.
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".
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.
Awards The Sunday Game panel awarded him his second Footballer of the Year and a place on his fifth Team of the Year.
On 7 November 2025, Clifford made history as he won a record breaking third GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year and his sixth All Star.
2026
Clifford made his seasonal debut in the 0–16 to 0-15 McGrath Cup loss to Cork.
National Football League Clifford scored 1–08 in Kerry's opening round 2–18 to 1–20 win against Roscommon. This was followed by 1–06 against Galway in their draw in Austin Stack Park. Playing in his first away league game of the season, Clifford contributed 0–04 in a win against Dublin. In a Round 5 win versus Monaghan, Clifford was introduced as a second-half substitute, scoring 1-03. In a dominant Round 6 home win against Mayo, Clifford scored 0–09 in a 2–29 to 0–19 win. Kerry secured their place in the Division 1 final thanks to a 0-24 to 1-21 draw in round 7 against Armagh, Clifford contributed 0-10. Donegal produced a clinical league final display in Croke Park, defeating Kerry 3-20 to 2-10. Caolan McColgan was tasked with man-marking duties and limited Clifford to 1-01. Clifford finished the league as Division 1 top scorer with 4-41, including 3-35 from play.
Munster Championship
In the Munster semi-final in Ennis, Kerry beat Clare on a 2-19 to 1-14 scoreline. Clifford started corner-forward and contributed 1-07 before receiving a black card in the 66th minute.
Kerry dispatched of Cork in the Munster final in Fitzgerald Stadium on a scoreline of 1-23 to 1-15. Clifford was named as captain on the day due to the absence of team captain Paul Geaney and contributed 1-06 in a man of the match display. With the win Kerry became the inaugural winners of the Corn Pháidí Uí Shé, recently named in honour of Kerry great, Páidí Ó Sé.
All-Ireland Championship
In a repeat of the 2025 All-Ireland final and 2026 league final, Kerry were drawn at home to face Donegal in Round 1 of the revamped All-Ireland Football Championship. Clifford scored 0-04 as Donegal won 2-20 to 0-16 in a dominant display. The match was overshadowed by a half-time melee and a number of smaller flashpoints during the game.
As a result of their loss to Donegal, Kerry were drawn on to the losers side of the All-Ireland draw. In Round 2B they beat Kildare in St. Conleth’s Park by 3-22 to 0-17 with Clifford scoring 1-04, all from play.
Kerry received a home draw in Round 3 as they were drawn against the 2024 All-Ireland champions Armagh. Clifford scored 1-10 and was named man of the match as Kerry kept alive their All-Ireland title defence with a commanding 13-point victory.