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INTERVIEW 22 | SPRING 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie W hen the Fossa club in Co. Kerry takes a moment to pause and reflect at the end of 2022, it is safe to say that the opening ten days of April will be looked back upon with extreme pride. Having registered a combined haul of 1-8, local heroes David and Paudie Clifford climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park on the third day of the month to lift the National Football League Division 1 trophy as members of the Kerry men's team. Fast forward seven days and another brace of Fossa stars were tasting inter-county glory as the Kerry Ladies footballers had three points to spare (1-12 to 0-12) over Armagh in a Lidl National Football League Division 2 decider at the same venue. Donning the number 14 jersey that David Clifford had worn with such distinction a week earlier, Erica McGlynn capped a fine individual display with a brace of points from play. Her club-mate Anna Clifford (no relation to David and Paudie) was also part of the panel for this win and while it previously lived in the shadow of the all-conquering Dr Crokes in nearby Killarney, the perception of the East Kerry outfit has changed rapidly in recent years. "It has of course, definitely. We're a small but mighty club. I'll tell you that much! There's plenty more to come from us," McGlynn explained in the direct aftermath of their Division 2 success. After losing out to Waterford and Meath - respectively - in the Division 2 finals of 2019 and 2021, it looked set to be another hard luck story for Kerry on April 10. Heading towards the third- quarter mark, the Munster side trailed Armagh by four points (0- 11 to 0-7) with 2020 TG4 Senior Players' Player of the Year Aimee Mackin exerting a strong influence for the Orchard County. However, a goal from substitute Danielle O'Leary on 44 minutes gave new life to their challenge and the Kingdom pushed on in the closing stages to ultimately claim the silverware and a coveted Fossa are Flying High Erica McGlynn of Fossa speaks to Daire Walsh about Kerry's Lidl NFL Division 2 title win at Croke Park