GAA star David Clifford returns to Laois with champs Kerry

Leonard Grey of Louth and David Clifford of Kerry during the All-Ireland GAA Football Minor Quarter-Final between Kerry and Louth at O’Moore Park in 2017. Pic: Sportsfile

placeholder image — Leonard Grey of Louth and David Clifford of Kerry during the All-Ireland GAA Football Minor Quarter-Final between Kerry and Louth at O’Moore Park in 2017. Pic: Sportsfile

It's not often that Laois people will have the chance to see the kingpins of Gaelic football Kerry play in the county but that's going to happen later in June.

Local GAA fans enjoyed a New Year treat in January when David Clifford played a club game in Portlaoise. On Sunday, June 18 he'll be back in Laois Hire O'Moore Park with a team of All-Ireland champions when Kerry play Louth in Round 3 of the All-Ireland Qualifiers.

The Kingdom won their 38th All-Ireland in 2022 when they defeated Galway in Croke Park. The Wee county has three titles to its name, the last of which was one in 1957 when they saw off Cork to claim the Sam Maguire.

Kerry's superstar forward Clifford and his brother Paudi played for Fossa in the All Ireland Junior Club semi-final in early January in Portlaoise. He was mobbed by supporters, many from Laois, at the end of the game. Fossa went on to win the Junior All-Ireland title in Croke Park.

Curiously Clifford and co will know some of the Louth lads as he was part of a Kerry minor team that defeated Louth in the All-Ireland GAA Football Minor Championship Quarter-Final match between the two counties in 2017.

Louth has enjoyed a resurgence under the multiple All-Ireland-winning coach Mickey Harte who seems to have been able to harness some of the young talents from 2017. As Tyrone's manager, he also got the better of Kerry teams coached by current coach Jack O'Connor.

Harte's troops have been competitive in 2023 in League and Championship losing out to Dublin in the Leinster Final.

They lost by just a point to a highly fancied Mayo, the Division 1 champions, on their home turf of McHale Park, while in round 1 they will have felt very unlucky not to have at least bagged a draw in Navan when falling to a two-point loss against Cork.

Kerry need to beat Louth to be certain of their place in the next round. Having lost to Mayo and needing a penalty to beat Cork, Kerry will be a tough ask for Louth.

The game throws in at 2pm.