Gearóid White has high hopes for the future
2026 Dalata Hotel Group GAA U20 Footballer of the Year, Gearóid White. Photograph by Dan Sheridan (Inpho).
By John Harrington
There’s rarely a shortage of talented young footballers in Kerry, but there’s a little extra expectancy about the potential of Gearóid White to develop into something special.
Crowned as the Dalata Hotel Group U20 Footballer of the Year yesterday, White was a key player throughout the Kingdom’s All-Ireland winning campaign that culminated in a convincing victory over Tyrone in the Final.
The John Mitchell’s clubman doesn’t turn 18 until September this year, but he shone on the biggest stage as his play-making and free-taking helped steer Kerry to victory.
White has another two years left in the U20 grade but he’s already focused on someday wearing a senior jersey for the Kingdom.
“It would be huge, yeah,” says White. “The whole panel that's there is outstanding, so if you could even get up there and experience what it's like for a few years...it would just be great to get in there and see what everyone's like inside there.
“What everyone dreams of really, hopefully get onto the seniors and have a bit of success there, but that is a completely different step up from under-20s. Just keep working towards it now, and hopefully it goes my way.”
There’s an obvious reason why White is keen to make the step up to the senior inter-county panel as quickly as he possibly can.
Gearóid White of Kerry in action against Brian Gallagher of Tyrone during the Dalata Hotels Group GAA Football All-Ireland U20 Championship final match between Kerry and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile.
The dream for every talented young forward coming through the ranks in Kerry right now is to some day have the opportunity to play alongside David Clifford.
“Definitely,” says White. “Even watching him against Armagh, he's outstanding every week. And it's not that he plays one good game, he's the most consistent person ever.
“He just plays well every game, and he's driving the team on, celebrating every score and tackle and everything, so everyone wants to play with him.
“You would try to take a few tips and tricks out of his book. Even when he takes a solo and slows a defender down, and then he goes top speed again.
“Some of the stuff he does is outrageous, you wouldn't be able to do it, but you could take a lot of tips out of his book.”
White’s own skill-set is pretty impressive. He’s a superb kicker as he showed when landing two two-point frees in the All-Ireland Final, but it’s his ability in open play that’s even more exciting.
His first instinct is to always take his man on, and he has a knack for weaving through opposition defences at high speed thanks to his beautifully balanced running gait.
In this new era of attacking football ushered in by the FRC rules, White is relishing the opportunity to express himself.
“It's very enjoyable, very enjoyable compared to the way it was,” he says. “It's just a lot more freedom, especially for forwards, they get to go at their man and one-on-one battles is a big thing.
“There's a lot more one-on-one play. If you can get around your man there is a bit of open space and someone has to come to you and you can pop it or you can go all the way through.
“I think the game is definitely breaking the first tackle now, as before you used to have a blanket defence, and you'd beat one, and another one would come in, and another one.”
