David Clifford anticipating another tough Cork challenge this weekend

Star forward David Clifford is fully aware that Kerry will have to be at their best to defeat Cork in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC Group 2 Round 2 clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (4.45pm).

The Kingdom most certainly got away with one against the Rebels six weeks ago down the Páirc in the Munster semi-final. Kerry won by two points after extra time on a scoreline of 3-21 to 1-25.

Both teams come into this encounter in contrasting form after opening round results in the group. Cork lost away to Meath by four points in what was a poor performance while Kerry eased past Roscommon by 10 points on home soil.

After getting a huge scare against Cork last month, the likelihood is that Kerry will be better prepared this time around. 

“Yeah, we have taken a lot of learnings from it,” Clifford says when asked by The Echo about the narrow win over Cork last month.

“Obviously, it was a game that we were ahead in for a long time. We led by seven points twice in the game. So, just trying to understand maybe how we lost that lead and trying to get better at those things. Yeah, definitely, we hope the game will stand to us going forward. 

“It will be very tough again playing against Cork. We played them above in Cork in 2023 as well in the All-Ireland group stage. So, yeah, I suppose it's something that we are used to in terms of playing up there.” 

Kerry were warm favourites in the meeting back in April and it will be the same this time around.

Clifford wasn’t surprised though by Cork’s display in the cracker of a contest last month and the expectation is that John Cleary's team will bring that same performance again.

“Not really, to be honest,” the Fossa star said.

“I suppose we had just been analysing the games. Cork had three good wins leading up to the meeting against us, both in their last two league games and the first round of the championship against Limerick.

“Pretty clearly, Cork's win away to Cavan in their last league game, I just remember analysing that and just kind of realising just how well Cork were playing.

“And obviously, over the past few years as well, they've been all tight games between Kerry and Cork. I think we were probably, I'd say, expecting that big challenge and we will be expecting the same the next day. There's never anything much between Kerry and Cork down through the years.” Clifford concluded.