he was again on the sideline when Cork secured a second successive All-Ireland final victory over Wexford to retain their All-Ireland title. After not being a member of the backroom team for Cork's third successive All-Ireland victory in 1978, Clifford was a late addition to the selection committee as a replacement for Christy Ring following his death in March 1979. Cork completed a record-equalling five-in-a-row of Munster Championship victories in 1979; however, the team failed in their attempt at securing a fourth successive All-Ireland Championship after a 2-14 to 1-13 All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Galway. Clifford was retained as a selector for a second successive season, with Cork claiming the 1979-80 National League title after a defeat of Limerick. On 10 November 1982, Clifford was appointed coach of the Cork senior team. He described the position as "the most demanding I have ever agreed to tackle" and said that his aim was "to win the All-Ireland." Cork later retained the Munster Championship for a second successive year after a 3-22 to 0-12 defeat of Waterford in the 1983 Munster final, before narrowly losing the All-Ireland final to Kilkenny. While the players hoped that Clifford would remain on as coach, he was replaced at the end of the season. However, the fact that he had undergone a heart bypass operation was not cited as not being the reason behind his failure to be reappointed. After a one-year absence from inter-county management, Clifford returned to partner Charlie McCarthy as joint-coach of the Cork minor team. Success was instant, with Cork claiming their first Munster Minor Championship in six years after a five-point victory over Tipperary before later adding the All-Ireland Minor Championship title following a 3-10 to 0-12 win over Wexford in the final. Clifford was appointed coach of the Cork senior team for the second time on 22 October 1985 following a mass clear-out of the previous selection committee. Expectations were low, but Cork secured a record-equalling fifth successive Munster Championship after a three-point win over Clare in the 1986 final. Clifford later guided Cork to an unlikely All-Ireland final win over Galway. After surrendering their titles to Tipperary in the 1987 Munster final, he was retained as coach for a third successive season. However, after several years of poor health he announced his shock resignation on 10 March 1988. On 23 November 1993, Clifford made a return to inter-county management