David Clifford Leads Kerry Past Cavan Into All-Ireland Quarter-Finals

Kerry rebounded from a heavy defeat by Meath to secure a 3-20 to 1-17 victory over Cavan in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final, largely thanks to David Clifford's outstanding performance, where he scored 3-7, including two goals and five points in the first half. Despite losing key players like Diarmuid O’Connor early to injury and missing others due to absences, Kerry dominated the first half with a 2-12 to 0-8 lead and managed to withstand a late Cavan resurgence. Cavan, led by Paddy Lynch who scored 0-12, fought back in the second half but couldn’t overcome Clifford's third goal, which secured Kerry's win and progression to the quarter-finals, potentially setting up a rematch with reigning champions Armagh. Kerry's offense was energized by Sean O’Shea, whose playmaking was noted as significantly elevating the team's overall performance compared to previous matches. However, Kerry still faced challenges with missed scoring opportunities and injuries that could impact their campaign moving forward. Cavan’s championship run ended after losses to Donegal, Tyrone, and Kerry, despite a strong start earlier in the competition.