David Clifford may have one of the best left boots in the history of Gaelic games but he has scored just as many off his right for Kerry this summer.
The back-to-back Footballer of the Year comes into this afternoon's All-Ireland quarter-final against Derry looking to repeat the masterclass he gave against the same opposition in last summer's semi-final. And to avoid the devastation which followed two weeks later.
Clifford's two-footedness is nothing new but the extent of it this year somehow makes marking him an even more daunting prospect. In Kerry's five games in the 2024 Championship, the 25 year-old has scored 2-11 from play or marks with 1-4 converted off either side. As well as three fisted points.
Lining out at the opposite end of Croke Park this afternoon will be another generational left foot in Shane McGuigan, just over eight years since they clashed at the same venue in the Hogan Cup final.
In that encounter - Clifford and his St Brendan's classmates were too good for McGuigan's St Patrick's College as the duo scored 3-08 between them out of a total of 4-19. Last year they both top scored for their teams in the All-Ireland semi-final, and 12 months on they carry the bulk of the scoring burden for Kerry and Derry once more.
Albeit, Clifford comes into this game after scoring 2-09 in his last two matches while McGuigan has managed just 0-04, two points of which from play. Derry have scored 2-67 in five games while Kerry have 4-97 in the same number.
McGuigan alone has accounted for just under 30% of Derry's total with their next top scorer being Lachlan Murray on 0-11. While Clifford has scored 25% of Kerry's total with Sean O'Shea slotting 0-24.
Of Clifford's nine points against Derry last year, five were from play or marks with one coming off his right boot. Against Dublin in the final he also kicked one off his weaker foot. But while the ability to kick off his right allows him to sidestep both ways and force defenders to commit, Clifford has only scored one mark outside the 13m line on the left hand side of the field in this championship. So 1-20 of his total of 2-22 has arrived on the right side of the pitch which is without doubt still his stronger and preferred zone.
Shane McGuigan utilising his trusty left foot
Nevertheless, trying to pick holes in his game quickly becomes an exercise in appreciation.
Having started the championship somewhat slowly with 0-04 in both of his opening two games, Clifford has kicked on a gear as the season enters the business end. In his last three matches he's averaging almost 0-07 per match which is close to the form which dismantled Derry. And likely the form which will be necessary to reclaim Sam Maguire.
Looking back at last year's final defeat when Dublin held him to 0-03 - 0-02 from play - he was ultimately starved of early ball. It was just the second time over the past three championship campaigns he finished a game with less than four points.
Clifford's 2024 championship shooting accuracy is 69%, but it was just 38% in that game, missing five of his eight shots, as opposed to scoring nine of 11 against Derry. He is not afraid to shoot or miss, but while his numbers were down against Dublin, he simply didn't receive enough ball in dangerous areas to get his shots off.
In that defeat he only received three kick passes from play in the entire match. Against Derry he received nine.
So far this year, Kerry are averaging nine kicks per game into Clifford and no player has kicked to their talisman more than his brother Paudie. The two brothers have an instinctive connection but last year Dublin cut the cord with Paudie subsequently finding his brother just once, a handpass which led to a wide.
The Cliffords' connection usually bears fruit
This year the deployment of Tony Brosnan to the half forward line has increased the supply lines to Clifford - the converted inside man is cunning and agile in possession and confident enough to pass early or hold onto it until the right man makes the move.
The Dr Crokes clubman missed last year's final with a collapsed lung after making an important impact off the bench against Derry.
'Paudie has still kicked into his brother more than any Kerry team-mate'
A year on, and despite only coming into the starting team after the win over Cork, he is thriving as a playmaker and has provided Clifford with possession more than any other player this championship. After his 15 passes comes Paudie and marauding defenders Tom O'Sullivan and Brian Ó Beaglaoich with 11 passes.
Paudie has still kicked into his brother more than any Kerry team-mate, followed by Brosnan and Clifford's old school and underage team-mate Dara Moynihan. The same three players have each provided the final pass for a Clifford score or assist on four occasions. Which is the most on the Kerry team.
Clifford receives an average of 23 passes a game but preventing these key providers in particular from servicing him will be decisive for Derry. That's regardless of who is handed man marking duties. Clifford's off the cuff style, his pace, size, mentality, and his ability to kick off both feet mean the best way of stopping him is to cut out the supply
Tony Brosnan's inclusion makes that all the harder for Derry, but they and especially McGuigan know better than most what will happen if they don't get it right.
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Donegal v Louth (1.15pm) and Kerry v Derry (3.15pm), on Sunday from 12.45pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
