Clifford can find comfort in Jordan’s words of wisdom

In a TV advert for Nike in 1997, Michael Jordan spoke about failure.

"I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

By '97, Jordan was already considered one of greatest sportspeople of all time.

He had won five championships with the Chicago Bulls and his reputation for being a big game player who delivered in clutch moments was legendary. But, as he noted in that Nike ad, his record was far from perfect.

Observing a disconsolate David Clifford as he sat on the wet grass following

Kerry's heartbreaking defeat to Dublin, I wondered if he was familiar with Jordan's piece of wisdom.

I'm sure he is, although at the time he probably had nothing in his head but the shot for a point he missed late on. Or maybe the goal chance he blasted wide a little earlier. On a good day, he would have converted those opportunities with apparent ease. Sadly for him and for Kerry, Sunday was one of those rare days that wasn't so good.

Even so, he deserves credit. One of Clifford's most admirable traits is his willingness to shoulder massive responsibility, even when the team is struggling or when things aren't going his way. He has done it throughout the 2023 season, which is a remarkable psychological feat in itself but even more so when you consider that his mother, Ellen, died in May (on the eve of the Munster final, in which he kicked 2-6).

He was well marked by Mick Fitzsimons yesterday but he kept showing and kept shooting, desperately hoping to drag his team over the line. Even at the highest level, some players go hiding from time to time. Never Clifford. By a normal player's standards, he actually did fine. Apart from some bad wides and a couple of turnovers, he kicked three points and set up Paul Geaney's goal with a wondrous assist. But Clifford isn't a normal player and he isn't judged by normal standards.

Back home, Kerry fans are gutted about the outcome but the 24-year-old won't be getting any abuse from them. The most common remark I've heard from supporters in the past 24 hours is "we wouldn't have been there (in the final) without him", which is undoubtedly true. A lot of cameras were focused on the Fossa man at full time but they could have panned to any Kerry player and found a regretful expression. With a wet ball and a slippery pitch to contend with, not to mention an excellent opponent in Dublin, errors were commonplace. No Kerryman was flawless. Clifford's mistakes are magnified, though, which is understandable. To many, he is the GOAT. All eyes are on him.

Today, those misses will be replayed far more often in his own head than anywhere else. He will try to figure out what went wrong and agonise over the result like all runners-up do. Maybe he can find some crumb of comfort in Jordan's words. All the greats fail. In fact, they fail over and over and over again. Ultimately, that's why they succeed.