Clifford back with a bang as his hat-trick steers Kerry to victory over Tyrone

David Clifford struck 3-3 in his first start of the season as Kerry came from behind to defeat Tyrone by 3-13 to 2-13 in Pomeroy this afternoon.

Both sides were in sore need of a winning comes into this one, having lost two of their three outings in Division 1, and it was Jack O’Connor’s men that made the better start at the rearranged venue at Grattan Park.

The Kingdom raced out to a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after eight minutes ahead of the Red Hands settling in with help of a Michael McKernan two-pointer and another from Con Kilpatrick.

Darragh Canavan would come off the bench to make first appearance of the season for hosts and he helped their momentum, with his free pushing them 0-9 to 0-5 ahead in the 27th minute.

The Errigal Ciaran star would a two-pointer before Clifford got in for his first goal three minutes before half-time when Tyrone took in a 0-11 to 1-5 lead.

Canavan netted a goal of his own nine minutes into the restart, but it’d be erased by Clifford’s second minutes later and even after Mark Bradley rebounded in saved penalty, the Munster champions were still able to prevail with the points.

Dylan Casey and Paul Geaney (free) shot points that trimmed their team’s deficit to three before Clifford completed his hat-trick to square things. He’s added two more frees prior to being blacked carded and Graham O’Sullivan’s point at the death helped cement the crucial three-point win for the visitors.

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No shortage of goals today as Kerry edge out Tyrone thanks to an inspired David Clifford hat-trick 🌟@TyroneGAALive 2-13@Kerry_Official 3-13#GAANOW #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/HduT2JrDj3

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 23, 2025