David Clifford Hits 0-16 as Fossa Edge Beaufort in Kerry IFC Semi-Final Classic to Reach County Final
David Clifford produced one of the great individual club championship performances of the season, hitting 0-16 from play and frees — including five two-pointers — as Fossa survived a ferocious Beaufort challenge to win 2-25 to 2-24 in a Kerry Intermediate Football Championship semi-final at Dr Crokes Park on Saturday that will be talked about in the county for years to come.
Background
The Kerry Intermediate Football Championship is one of the most competitive club competitions in the country, drawing on a county that has produced more All-Ireland senior football champions than any other and where the standard of play at intermediate level would be the envy of most counties' senior competitions. Fossa, a small club from the Killarney area, have been one of the stories of the 2026 championship, with David Clifford — the reigning All-Ireland senior footballer of the year — returning to lead his club's campaign after a summer of inter-county duty.
The rivalry between Fossa and Beaufort is one of the defining fixtures of Kerry club football. The two clubs are separated by a few miles of road in the Killarney valley, and their encounters carry the intensity of a local derby combined with the high stakes of championship football. Saturday's semi-final was the second consecutive year that the two clubs had met at this stage of the competition, with Fossa having prevailed on the previous occasion as well — a fact that added an extra edge to Beaufort's determination to reverse the result.
Clifford's brother Paudie, who plays alongside David at both club and county level, was also in outstanding form, with the two brothers combining for 0-21 of Fossa's total score. The Clifford family's contribution to Fossa's championship campaign has been immense, and the sight of the two brothers combining in the closing stages of a tight game is one that Kerry football supporters have come to regard as one of the great pleasures of the club season.
Key Developments
The match was a high-scoring, end-to-end contest that swung back and forth throughout. Beaufort led at various stages of the second half, and with five minutes remaining, the sides were level. It was at this point that Clifford produced the moment of individual brilliance that separated the teams: receiving the ball thirty metres from goal, he turned his marker and drove over a point that proved to be the winner. The final score of 2-25 to 2-24 reflected the extraordinary quality of both teams and the fine margins that separate success from failure at this level.
Clifford's five two-pointers — a relatively new scoring option in Gaelic football that rewards accuracy from distance — were a particular feature of his performance. His ability to convert from range, combined with his more conventional scoring from frees and play, made him virtually impossible to contain. Beaufort's management tried three different markers on him during the course of the game, but none was able to limit his influence. "David is just on a different level," Beaufort's manager acknowledged afterwards. "We did everything we could, but when he is in that form, there is very little you can do."
Why It Matters
The Kerry IFC semi-final is significant not just as a sporting event but as a demonstration of the extraordinary depth of Gaelic football talent in the county. The fact that a player of Clifford's calibre — widely regarded as the best Gaelic footballer of his generation — is competing at intermediate level reflects the structure of the Kerry club championship, which is organised on a divisional basis that means even the most talented players must work their way up through the grades with their home clubs. This structure has been credited with maintaining the strength of club football in Kerry and with ensuring that the county's best players remain connected to their local communities throughout their careers.
Local Impact
For the Fossa community, the victory is a source of enormous pride. The club, which draws its membership from the townlands around Killarney, has a long and distinguished history in Kerry club football, but the current generation — led by the Clifford brothers — represents one of the strongest squads the club has ever fielded. The county final, which will be played in the coming weeks, will be the biggest occasion in the club's recent history, and the community is already preparing for what promises to be a memorable occasion. Tickets for the final are expected to be in high demand, with supporters from across Kerry and beyond anticipated to attend.
What's Next
Fossa will now prepare for the Kerry IFC county final, which is expected to be played in late September or early October. Their opponents will be determined by the second semi-final, which takes place next weekend. David Clifford is expected to be available for the final, having completed his inter-county commitments for the season. The county final will be played at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, and a large crowd is anticipated given the profile of the players involved.
