David Clifford returned to club action with a haul of 1-4 to help his East Kerry side land the Kerry County Senior Football title after a 2-15 to 0-9 win over fellow district outfit Mid Kerry at Austin Stack Park last night.
The Kerry captain - who missed their semi-final through suspension - fired a superb second-half goal to set the defending champions on their way to a comfortable victory.
David Clifford is good at football pic.twitter.com/sRHd8rEOWW
— Eoin Sheahan (@EoinSheahan) September 26, 2020
Contesting their first final since 2008, Mid Kerry's starting 15 included county stalwart Darran O'Sullivan at corner forward. Despite being major underdogs, they provided significant resistance in an opening half that resulted in the winners leading by just two at the break, 0-9 to 0-7.
Clifford's goal - coming from a shot from range - gave East Kerry some breathing room shortly after the interval and a second goal soon after from Darragh Roche gave the holders a lead they would not relinquish.
Elsewhere on Saturday evening, there was late drama in the Cavan Senior football final where Kingscourt and Crosserlough played out an entertaining 2-12 apiece draw.
David Clifford
A point deep into added time from Mark Stuart was enough to force a replay for Crosserlough after they led at one stage by six points.
However, a powerful second-half display from Kingscourt turned the game on its head with Kevin Curtis' goal putting them two points in front in the final quarter.
But Staurt's late heroics forced a replay.
In Clare meanwhile, Kilmurry-Ibrickane returned to the winners' enclosure with a 1-12 to 0-12 win over Cratloe in a keenly contested final at Cusack Park.
A goal inside the opening ten minutes from Mark Killeen proved to be the difference in the end, with Keelan Sexton kicking 0-5 for the winners.
Trailing by four at the break, 1-6 to 0-5, Cratloe had a goal disallowed when Conal O'Hanlon was adjudged to have been in the square as he fisted the ball to the net midway through the second half.