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28th December 2022
07:15pm GMT

"If we learned anything today," wrote Niall McIntyre, back in April, "it's that, joining a long list of other failed containment plans, mouthing is not the thing that's going to stop David Clifford."
Padraig O'Hora tried to get under Clifford's skin, in the Allianz Football League Final, and the Kingdom star notched 1-5 from play.
Seconds after Rian O'Neill had superbly equalised for Armagh against Galway, a spat that centred around Damien Comer soon escalated. In the midst of the melee, Comer appeared to be raked across the face, with contact made with his eyes.
"Disgraceful scenes," added Pat Spillane. "A shame on all the players involved. There was a gouging incident... Holy God."
During the summer, our Lee Costello caught up with Limerick star Gearóid Hegarty and asked about an unmistakable photo from his team's victorious dressing room that was doing the rounds.
"We had a bit of craic on the bus, on the way home from the Munster final all right. The boys were (air quotes) 'devastated' that it went up on social media. "Mike and Sean, they were inconsolable that it went up - they were 'disgusted' that there was a picture of them flexing," joked Hegarty.
O'ROURKE: But you can't say that either and that's sort of Jim McGuinness nonsense as well. The best players of the last decade are those who have performed at the highest possible level on a continuous basis in semi-finals and finals. Not in Clones, not in Ballybofey. CAVANAGH: Michael Murphy can't be winning ball in midfield, he can't be scoring 1-6 every single game because against the best teams, they nullify the best players. O'ROURKE: Yes, but then he's not the best players.
There was no space for any of the 2021 champions Tyrone, while only one Armagh player made the cut. David Clifford topped Spillane's list, with three Dublin stars in his Top 5. You can read the full list here.
On a day were so many were numb, raw, and still coming to terms with the tragic and sudden death of Paul Shefflin, there were some fine words spoken, on RTÉ, by Brian Cody, Davy Fitzgerald, Damian Lawlor and Jackie Tyrrell. Fitzgerald commented:
"You look at his list there - three club All-Irelands, a real great clubman, a coach and a treasurer there. I played against Paul a few times. A tough cookie, but a gentleman off the hurling field. It's such a sad, sad day for a community like Ballyhale that have had a lot of tragedies, down through the years."
Ahead of an upcoming Leinster final clash against Kilkenny, Anthony Nash went fishing for a good Henry Shefflin line from Kilkenny boss Brian Cody. He got this in response:
"Well we're playing Galway," he said, quick as a flash, "That's the way we look at it."
Shut down. Moving on.

"My father never saw us play, the three sons," he reflected. "They have 19 All-Ireland medals and his two grand-sons today, Killian and Adrian, have two more. "He'd have been a proud man to see his family get 21 All-Ireland senior medals. He'd have been a proud man."
Our biggest story of the year, and one that hit upon that old GAA chestnut - club vs. county.
Donal Óg Cusack, Anthony Daly and Liam Sheedy got stuck in, but our Niall McIntyre was far from impressed.
'That club vs county debate, for the time being anyway, is dead in the water,' he wrote. 'It's spilt milk and, for anyone that isn't a pundit on The Sunday Game, it's for another day. And that's being generous.'There was a huge response to that piece, with many agreeing to the sentiment. Still, expect more club vs. county chatter in 2023. The more the world changes, the more GAA remains the same. Related links:
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