Kerry live-wire Paudie Clifford felt that they had let their All-Ireland ambitions slip before Seán O'Shea’s dramatic last-gasp winner killed off Dublin's challenge and set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Galway in a fortnight.
Clifford was in outstanding form for Jack O’Connor’s side, especially in the second half when the Kingdom moved from the cruising altitude of a six-point advantage to the turbulence of being in a ‘next score wins’ scenario deep in additional time.
As it was, O’Shea landed a monster free to secure a 1-14 to 1-13 win and give Kerry a shot at a first All-Ireland title since 2014.
"It was a roller-coaster, I thought we had given it away a few times but what a kick at the end, unbelievable," The Sunday Game’s Player of the Match Clifford said afterwards.
Kerry were the dominant side for long stretches of the match, but their five-point interval margin was less than they could have expected with O’Shea seeing a penalty saved by Evan Comerford late in the first half.
"There was, I suppose, because we know what Dublin are made of," was Clifford’s response when asked was their frustration in the dressing room at the break.
Player of the match Paudie Clifford reflected on a special day for Kerry as they reached the All-Ireland final. pic.twitter.com/TjXU1euItm
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 10, 2022
"You just have to put them away when you have a chance and that showed. We were lucky to come away in the end but we were worried."
With Dublin relentless after Cormac Costello’s excellent low strike sparked a fightback, it was the Kerry defenders – often under the microscope – who really stood up with a serious of fine turnovers.
Clifford, who covered an incredible amount of ground to help out at both ends, paid tribute to their efforts.
"[An] unbelievable job by the backs when we were under serious pressure, three or four turnovers in a row or the game would have swung the other way. Massive."
