Analysis: the Kerryman is the latest manifestation of how the superstar effect plays out in Gaelic football
Being the best in a field makes you immensely impressive to the outside world. When a relatively small number of people dominate the activities in which they engage, it is called the superstar effect. Gaelic football has had the superstar effect play out with many individuals: Cavan's John Joe Reilly, Dublin's Kevin Heffernan and now, Kerry and Fossa's David Clifford.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, journalist and activist Joanne O'Riordan discusses the David Clifford effect
What exactly makes a player have the superstar effect? Even in team sports like Gaelic football, individuals are prominent. From the beginning of the All-Ireland championship in 1887, acknowledgement of the distinctiveness of individual players has been synonymous with the development of Gaelic football. Matches and seasons are reviewed and evaluated to decide which player performed best and players are interviewed to obtain their views on the game. The media construct sports superstars and effectively place them on a pedestal in an attempt to distinguish them from other individuals.
Because Gaelic games are based in Ireland and have limited global impact (hard as it may be to believe for many of us sometimes), GAA players can experience a higher level of awareness in Ireland than other sports people who compete in international sports such as soccer, athletics or golf. However, being a sports superstar is much more than just media visibility: it is also related to expertise, trustworthiness, likeability and credibility. As mentioned in every GAA All-Star interview ever conducted, any award-winning individual in Gaelic football needs good teammates to win games and winning games and championships are critical to the attainment and retention of superstar status.
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From RTÉ 2fm's Game On in 2019, Irish Examiner sports editor Tony Leen on the rise and rise of David Clifford
Success is probably the most important creator of a sports superstar over time and Clifford already has that in droves. In 2022, he dominated Gaelic football success by taking home the GAA/GPA Player of the Year award on top of his provincial and All-Ireland titles for county and club.
But with Clifford already reaching such highs at just 24 years of age, Gaelic football fans are hungry for more. Competition is a key element of the superstar effect. Clifford has extraordinary natural talent augmented by an even more extraordinary perseverance and drive. Luckily, he and his team are in constant competition with equally determined rivals seeking the same goal: motivation, intensity and commitment often disappear without a highly competitive environment.
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From RTÉ Sport, David Clifford's first interview as Kerry captain
Clifford also has the elusive quality of 'box office appeal' which in Gaelic football terms, can be described as the ability to attract an audience beyond the old reliables. Michael Foley wrote in September 2022 about crowds flocking to East Kerry 'for a glimpse of the genius that is David Clifford' and likened his return to Fossa right after winning an All-Ireland with Kerry to Messi returning to his school boy club in Argentina. Record gate receipts and hundreds flocking towards Clifford at the sound of the full-time whistle demonstrate the superstar effect in full motion.
No amount of interviews or analysis can reflect on the true qualities that have transformed Clifford into a leader. His most important qualities are developed and most appreciated behind closed doors. His nomination as captain for Kerry’s All-Ireland title defence in the 2023 season indicates the enduring innate characteristics that make him a great leader.
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From Official GAA, David Clifford's masterclass in the 2022 All Ireland final
Though the word superstar is problematic and most Gaelic footballers would shun such a label, the thinking is straightforward. It refers to an individual who is awarded special recognition by the public and the media by virtue of their skill, the quality of their technique and the manner of their performance in competition. Clifford possesses an increasingly rare quality of authenticity that gives him the capacity to lift and inspire people. If he continues to reach highs on the football pitch in the same manner, there is probably not much that he can do to shake off the media love-in that he’s currently experiencing.
Fitness and health permitting, Clifford has a long Gaelic football career to come. This article will become redundant with the passage of time, but it has been written at a moment when Clifford is reaping more rewards than any other Gaelic footballer and is in a strong position to continue to accrue them. Without a doubt, Kerry wished upon a star and its telescope found exactly the right one in David Clifford.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
