Clifford was added to the Kerry senior panel in 2018 as an 18-year-old, and although that summer was far from vintage with an early championship exit for the Kingdom, he proved his worth by scoring a clutch last-gasp goal against Monaghan to secure a draw.
His performances earned him the Young Player of the Year award that season as well as the first of his five All-Stars that have also been complimented with Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2023.
But it was in 2019 when he first got to grace the Croke Park pitch on All-Ireland final day - twice in fact. Taken to a replay, Kerry were beaten by Dublin, who completed an unprecedented five in-a-row.
Success on the grandest stage would come three years later as Clifford scored eight points in Kerry's 0-20 to 0-16 victory over Galway, although to date that is his only Celtic Cross in a county where success is measured only in All-Ireland titles.
The Kingdom lead the roll of honour having lifted Sam Maguire 38 times and, aside from Dublin, their 24 losses on final day is more than any other county's wins.
Two of those losses came in the past three finals and, should they fall short again this week, it would represent a poor return in the eyes of the Kerry public.
"You need that bit of fear going into a final and knowing what needs to be addressed," O Cinneide stressed.
"I like to tell people who love to eulogise Kerry football that nobody has lost more finals than Kerry.
"We know that feeling of waking up on the Monday morning having lost, the vitriol that pours down when supporters turn on you. We saw that five or six weeks ago [after defeat to Meath], so it should motivate them even more."