Can we simply call it the David Clifford effect?
The presence of one individual, albeit a very talented one, attracting ever growing crowds to games involving Kerry club side Fossa.
In the recent Munster junior semi-final against Limerick's Castlemahon, where hurling star Seamus Flanagan featured, the game quickly sold out at Quaid Park in Coolyroe.
A tweet from Munster GAA read: "SOLD OUT - Today's match has reached its capacity of 1,500 in Coolyroe.
"Please do not travel without a ticket as all supporters, including U16s require a ticket and this game is now sold out."
In the Munster decider against Cork's Kilmurry in Mallow, a game where David Clifford kicked ten points, again the crowds were out.
Local journalist Stephen Barry wrote: "This curtain-raiser not only overshadowed the intermediate final to follow, the crowd far outnumbered the attendance at Saturday afternoon's senior final. It filled the main stand, spilled onto the terracing either side, and fanned around the perimeter of the pitch.
"Many stationed themselves at the Town End goal which Clifford attacking into in the first half and switched ends at the break.
"The senior final didn't attract the hats, flags, and headbands merchant that had the red and black of Fossa and green and gold of Kilmurry on sale."
David Clifford swarmed at Full Time in O'Moore Park pic.twitter.com/GeyhvciNdm
— Score Beo (@Score_Beo) January 7, 2023
And then onto Portlaoise last Saturday. Castletown of Meath were swept aside as Fossa booked their place in the AIB GAA All-Ireland junior final. The 2022 player of the year was again the centre of attention for those watching on from the packed stands at MW Hire O'Moore Park.
At the final whistle hundreds of young fans ran onto the pitch to acknowledge their hero.
In recent seasons Joe Canning, maybe John Mullane and DJ Carey before that, were some of the star attractions for the autograph hunters. David Clifford now not only has to sign, he also has to pose for the selfies.
Fossa's involvement in this Sunday's decider against Tyrone's Stewartstown Harps, which will precede another Kerry v Tyrone clash in the intermediate final featuring Rathmore and Galbally Pearses, will no doubt swell the crowd at GAA HQ.
A colleague of Clifford's on the Fossa forward division is Matt Rennie and speaking to RTÉ Sport at a media day ahead of the finals, he outlined what it is that makes the 23-year-old stand out.
"It's unbelievable. He's so intelligent on the ball," Rennie says of his team-mate.
"The runs he makes are super. He'll always be moving and even if the first one doesn't work he knows the pocket of space is behind him and he can move into that space. That allows a kicker like myself in midfield, if you delay for a second, you can pick him out. And when he gets the ball then he never gives it away
"Even when he is soloing the ball, has three fellas around him, and he looks bottled up, he'll find a yard and always make the right decision. That is very rare in a footballer, to always do it, week in, week out, year in, year out. That's the genius behind him, as well as being able to kick the ball so well.
"What he does for the rest of our forwards is he gets so much attention, there'll be some plan in place, so it frees up other players players on the team like Emmett O'Shea who can punish the opposition. So it's great."
As for the swelling of support for Fossa as they made their way to a first All-Ireland, Rennie finds it "surreal", but adds that Cliffordmania is collectively having a positive effect.
"You get hundreds of people coming up to you after games, not just the Cliffords. They are congratulating you, so you're feeding off their superstar success. The more people that come watch it the better for the club; it puts the club more on the map and it's great for Kerry football and it's great for Fossa, great to be involved in it.
"With the Cliffords, probably two of the best players in the country, it's given us a lot of exposure, but it's great.
"It's great for other players because it gives you exposure, so if you're playing well with the exposure, you might get called into other teams. And sure with all the crowds there, it just gives you more motivation and more of a burst on the field."
