Kerry boss Jack O’Connor believes that 2025 was David Clifford’s best year yet in the green and gold of the Kingdom.

O’Connor’s men triumphed to their county’s 39th Sam Maguire Cup success in July, with their ace attacker hitting 8-62 throughout the championship including 0-9 in the All-Ireland final against Donegal.

Speaking to RTE Sport, O’Connor believes that a combination of the new rules and the right amount of rest coming into the inter-county season was key to the Fossa man’s remarkable form.

"I think it was," the five-time All-Ireland winning manager said when he was asked if this was Clifford's best year for Kerry.

"In the last couple of years he hasn't got a proper break. After winning in 2022, Fossa went all the way to the All-Ireland junior final and won it.

"He didn't have enough of a break. I know he was rested for a while but he still didn't get enough of a break.

"The same was true the following year. We made up our mind that winter that he was going to get a proper break so he got the bones of four months by the time he finished his last club game to playing his first start for Kerry which was above in Pomeroy (v Tyrone), he got four months off.

"And that was the first time he had enough time to basically switch off and have enough time to do his own bit of work, to come back and be ready to train properly.

"So it was no wonder he came back really refreshed.

"His first 2025 start in Pomeroy he scored three goals. That was a big factor. He is possibly hitting his prime, 26 years of age.

"He was just in great form this year, in great physical shape. Great mental shape."

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