Kerry football star David Clifford teams up with Ahane GAA to train underage teams

AHANE GAA had a very special visitor stop by this week when Kerry footballers David Clifford stopped by to share some of his expertise with the Ahane GAA U9/10 teams.

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Lead mentor of the Ahane U9/10 team Michael Kearney, explains how it came about that the Fossa native was able to stop by and host the training session.

"It came about through one of our U10 parents, Eoin Flynn, who is friends with former Kerry footballer Shane Enright. Eoin, Shane, and David are all part of a greyhound syndicate together, with their dog named Solo and Go.

Through that connection, David and Shane very kindly offered to come up and run a training session for the U9 and U10 football teams in Ahane. Once we announced it, the excitement among the children was unbelievable, they could hardly wait to meet them and take part in the session," he said. 

Michael admits that the buzz surrounding Clifford's visit was palpable, stating that the excitement levels were 'unreal.'

"The kids were absolutely buzzing. From the moment they heard David was coming, the excitement was unreal. On the day itself, you could see it in their faces — they were hanging on every word, giving their all in every drill, and just couldn’t believe they were being coached by someone of his calibre.

It created a real buzz around the club and gave the boys and girls a memory they’ll be talking about for a long time," he said. 

On what was a horrible day for football, Michael says that neither David or the kids let the conditions get in the way of what was a fantastic day. 

"One standout moment was when a particularly strong gust of wind nearly took the cones halfway to Limerick, and David sprinted after them like it was an All-Ireland final ball, the kids were in stitches. Even soaked to the skin, he was smiling, chatting away with the players, and giving every child a word of encouragement.

His attitude set the tone for the whole session, no complaints, just pure enjoyment and love for the game. It was clear to everyone there that he genuinely wanted to be part of the day, and that meant an awful lot to the club and the kids," he said. 

"David arrived in great spirits, full of energy and good humour despite the weather doing its absolute best to put a damper on things. The rain was coming sideways, and at one stage we even suggested postponing, but he just laughed and said, “If the kids are willing to train in this, the least I can do is show up," he added. 

Michael says that everyone who was present on the day was 'lucky to be there', admitting it was an experience that will leave a lasting impression on those that were there. 

"The training session was one that will stand out in the memories of the children — and the Ahane GAA club — for many years to come. Despite the miserable weather, the energy on the pitch was electric. David and Shane brought an incredible presence, mixing fun with real insight, and the nuggets of advice he shared were nothing short of phenomenal.

He spoke to the kids in a way that made them feel seen and inspired, giving them simple but powerful tips they could take into every training session and match going forward. It wasn’t just a coaching session — it was an experience, and one that left a lasting impression on everyone lucky enough to be there," he concluded. 

Clifford's visit comes as a time when Ahane are enjoying success on the pitch across multiple age groups, with a minor county final success, an upcoming U16 county final after a semi-final victory over Mungret St Paul's this weekend and the club's junior side still involved in championship proceedings.