Paudie Clifford set for lengthy lay-off as East Kerry manager highlights worrying trend

East Kerry manager Adrian Sheehan doesn’t expect Paudie Clifford to play again this year.

The divisional side, winners of four of the last six championships, face St Kieran’s in Austin Stack Park on Sunday.

It is a quick turnaround for the Fossa men, who lost last Sunday’s club intermediate final to An Ghaeltacht, when Paudie went off injured in the 50th minute.

The 28-year-old had a champagne ending to the inter-county season collecting his second All-Ireland medal with a superb individual display in the final against Donegal, but in terms of forced absences, it has been a testing season.

After missing the Munster final through suspension, he was also sidelined for the opening All-Ireland SFC group game against Roscommon. He returned for the win over Cork but came off on the cusp of half-time and then missed the defeat to Meath.

Then came the final four games of the year, where Paudie made substitute appearances against Cavan and Armagh, before starring in the victories over Tyrone and Donegal to claim the Celtic Cross with the Kingdom.

Following the All-Ireland final, he admitted the leg issue dated back to spring; “I had a good league but just couldn’t get a hamstring injury right for a while. And even the lead-up to the Armagh game, just didn’t feel great that week.”

Sheehan knew of the injury before the intermediate final, and highlighted the strain currently being experienced by Kerry’s elite players.

“How long he is going to be out? I’d be surprised if I see him any more this year.”

“I wouldn’t be putting any pressure on them. You can’t sustain that level of playing. It’s not even that, they’re expected to perform every time they go out. That’s taxing. Their bodies might be fine but it’s that mental challenge that can be draining.”

A sustained rest now should help Clifford return stronger for the 2026 season.