Kerry's structural foundation for minor marvels remains solid

Sunday represents Kerry’s sixth All-Ireland minor final appearance in seven years. It hardly needs stating that they won each of the previous five.

Kerry’s Thomas O’Donnell in action against Roscommon in the All-Ireland MFC semi-final at LIT Gaelic Grounds last weekend. Picture: Ken Sutton

The total absence of injuries in the Kerry minor football panel ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland is proof positive that the county’s player pathway program and the conditioning work being overseen by Jason McGahan is having the desired effect, manager James Costello has said.

Back in November of 2018, Kerry GAA appointed McGahan as its first full-time head of athletic development. Top of the brief handed to the Armagh native was responsibility for strength and conditioning from the senior footballers all the way down to the county’s underage development squads.