Dr Crokes’ goalkeeper Kacper Robak has been named in the number one jersey. The imposing Robak developed strongly throughout the season, with a booming kick-out part of his armoury. His shot-stopping was also of a high standard, and he is set to progress further in the upcoming seasons.
Kingdom captain Ben Murphy, even though he operated for most of the campaign at midfield, has been included at centre-back. The Austin Stacks flyer is one of the best prospects in the county, with his blistering pace, and surging runs from a deep position, becoming something of a trademark.
Another Tralee youngster, Gearóid White of John Mitchels, gets the nod at wing-forward. White, underage again in 2025, was simply sensational in the green and gold jersey, with a superb skill-set, and composed finishing. His eight-point haul in the Munster Final was an individual highlight of the campaign.
Kerry, under the management of Wayne Quillinan, played five matches in this year’s championship. Opening with a two-point victory over Cork, 0-12 to 1-7, at Austin Stack Park, they travelled to Tipperary the following week, and returned with a comfortable win, 2-19 to 2-5.
On Monday, May 13, the Kingdom kids produced arguably their best performance of the season when they came away from Cork with a 15-point triumph in the provincial decider, 2-18 to 1-6, after playing a scintillating brand of positive, attacking football.
That continued in the June 8 All-Ireland quarter-final against Roscommon in Ennis with Kerry storming into the last four, 3-18 to 2-3. However, it was a case of so near and yet so far in Mullingar a fortnight later, being pipped by the bare minimum, 1-13 to 1-12, by the now back-to-back All-Ireland kingpins Derry.
Unsurprisingly, the Oak Leaf county’s outstanding midfielder James Sargent has been named the Electric Ireland Minor Star Football Player of the Year. The Lavey club-man, along with wing-back Luke Grant, were undoubtedly the key elements in Derry’s retention of their All-Ireland title.
MINOR TEAM OF THE YEAR: Kacper Robak (Kerry); Tom Hession (Mayo), Ronan Canavan (Derry), Conall Wilson (Armagh); Luke Grant (Derry), Ben Murphy (Kerry), Diarmaid O’Rourke (Armagh); James Sargent (Derry), Dáithí O’Callaghan (Armagh); Eamon Young (Derry), Kobe McDonald (Mayo), Gearoid White (Kerry); Eoin Duffy (Armagh), Oisin Deane (Mayo), Dylan Rocks (Derry)
