Superstar Clifford was marked for stardom from young age

David Clifford celebrates another goal in county colours

Stardom and the pressure to deliver can make or break a player, but temperament must compliment talent - and David Clifford is lacking in neither area.

The 26-year-old - who bids for his second All-Ireland senior title on Sunday when Kerry take on Donegal - was once described as Gaelic football's answer to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Johnny Sexton.

Hyperbole or a fitting comparison?

As a teenager, Clifford was marked for stardom.

His tally of 2-5 helped St Brendan's College to the 2016 Hogan Cup (All-Ireland schools) title and he found the net later that year in the All-Ireland minor final as Kerry beat Galway.

However, it was in the following year's minor final when a remarkable haul of 4-4 in victory over Derry made the wider sporting public sit up and take notice.

"I was at that game and you were thinking, 'no minor can deliver under that pressure', but he did at 17," Dara O Cinneide, a three-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry, told BBC Sport NI.

"The year before when they beat Galway he produced exceptional stuff. Sean Mulkerrin marked him well, but 50 minutes in, he goes on a crazy solo run and puts the ball into the top corner - one of his quieter games that year."

Dara O Cinneide (left, pictured with manager Jack O'Connor) captained Kerry to his third All-Ireland title in 2004

The man from Fossa - who has hit 8-53 in eight championship games this year - is the latest in a long line of Kerry forwards who have lit up Gaelic football.

The lineage is quite remarkable as prior to Clifford's emergence, there was Colm 'Gooch' Cooper, preceded by Maurice Fitzgerald, Mikey Sheehy, Pat Spillane and Denis 'Ogie' Moran to name but a few.

O Cinneide, now chairman of his club An Ghaeltacht, is another whose name is firmly enshrined in the Kerry hall of fame - how does the county continue to produce generational talents?

"I don't think it's coincidence," says O Cinneide.

"A young David Clifford is in St Brendan's in Killarney and there's a picture of Colm Cooper up there - I'm sure a hero to him and his vintage when they were kids.

"When 'Gooch' was there, he'd probably look up to Maurice Fitzgerald.

"I know his father is a GAA obsessive and a great supporter when I was playing. His uncle went to college with me and, again, they obsess about the game."

'There is pressure to deliver in Kerry'

Clifford won his only All-Ireland senior title in 2022

Clifford was added to the Kerry senior panel in 2018 as an 18-year-old, and although that summer was far from vintage with an early championship exit for the Kingdom, he proved his worth by scoring a clutch last-gasp goal against Monaghan to secure a draw.

His performances earned him the Young Player of the Year award that season as well as the first of his five All-Stars that have also been complimented with Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2023.

But it was in 2019 when he first got to grace the Croke Park pitch on All-Ireland final day - twice in fact. Taken to a replay, Kerry were beaten by Dublin, who completed an unprecedented five in-a-row.

Success on the grandest stage would come three years later as Clifford scored eight points in Kerry's 0-20 to 0-16 victory over Galway, although to date that is his only Celtic Cross in a county where success is measured only in All-Ireland titles.

The Kingdom lead the roll of honour having lifted Sam Maguire 38 times and, aside from Dublin, their 24 losses on final day is more than any other county's wins.

Two of those losses came in the past three finals and, should they fall short again this week, it would represent a poor return in the eyes of the Kerry public.

"You need that bit of fear going into a final and knowing what needs to be addressed," O Cinneide stressed.

"I like to tell people who love to eulogise Kerry football that nobody has lost more finals than Kerry.

"We know that feeling of waking up on the Monday morning having lost, the vitriol that pours down when supporters turn on you. We saw that five or six weeks ago [after defeat to Meath], so it should motivate them even more."

Clifford is often mobbed by Kerry fans after games

Perhaps it is unkind to say Clifford has just one All-Ireland title as, aside from his underage exploits, there was an All-Ireland Junior Club win for Fossa in 2023.

It is striking to see after many of those club games, and indeed countless outings with Kerry, that young supporters make a beeline for him at the final whistle. He may be a superstar on the pitch, but his humble nature is also part of the appeal.

It still comes down to talent and Clifford has it all: left foot, right foot, balance, power, pace and poise.

There is also a bravery in his play as although there are periods in games where the radar is off, he continues to back himself, just as he did in this year's All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone when a couple of misses were a prelude to a superb goal which formed part of his haul of 1-9 on the day.

"Before that [goal] he kicked a couple of wides but you know he's the type of fella who processes that and there will be something exceptional coming," O Cinneide added.

"Like all of the great forwards, the strategy is to get them on the ball.

"I don't know what Donegal's plan is for Clifford but provided he's fully fit and there's a supply line there, he'll deliver because he always does."