Gavin White on the Kerry captaincy, kick-out injuries and that Errigal Ciarán free

The Dr Crokes man heard all the noise about his pivotal moment in the All-Ireland Club semi-final. How could he not?

ARMS RACE: Kerry captain Gavin White poses for a portrait at the launch of the Munster GAA Senior Hurling and Football Championship 2025 at Muckross House in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Gavin White heard the noise. How could he not? His club, Dr Crokes, lost out in a thriller against Errigal Ciarán after extra-time. In a manic contest, he was at the centre of one dramatic twist.

Think back on it now. So many had a view. He has thought about that much-discussed free more than anyone. A quick recap: The Kerry kingpins led by a point in the final minute of additional time. White was fouled deep inside his own half. There was a pause for a substitution; Errigal Ciarán marked up, White couldn’t find an option, so booted it long. They lost the ball, conceded a point and the All-Ireland club semi-final headed into extra-time.

“There was an awful lot of talk about that after the game,” says the Kerry captain now.

“From my own point of view, I back what I did. There was not a whole pile I could have done. I won the free, there was no movement up, it was either kick it down the pitch or it was going to be a hop ball on our 21 and I made the decision to get as far away from our goal as I possibly could and take our chances further up the pitch.

“The way it materialised, it just didn't work out. If we won the ball you would have said it was the correct decision but yeah look at it that is the way it went.” 

Gaelic football can swing on the smallest moments. Two missed frees versus none at the other end. A quick free taken from the wrong spot to send Darragh Canavan clear for a magnificent goal. One late free that they couldn’t retain.

“Obviously I was looking for a short kick pass to get the return then. It just wasn’t on. The way the game went I don’t blame any of my teammates for that. It was just a taxing game. Energy levels are down at that point. I think I made the best decision I could at that time.” 

White returned to Jack O’Connor’s outfit as captain, succeeding Paudie Clifford in the role. It is the second time his club have nominated him, he was also captain in 2019.

The 27-year-old defender returned for the latter stages of the league and did his best to park a “sickening” defeat. It is clear that result cut deep.

“It was very, very tough. I suppose from our own club point of view this year we did very, very well to win the county championship and win the Munster club and to get to a semi-final is a huge task in itself.

“The way the game went down with ourselves and Errigal Ciarán… it was gutting to come out of it especially after extra time. That's sport, that's the way it goes but we'll learn and regroup for next year.” 

The world keeps spinning. White was leaving the field after a terrific victory over Galway last week when a supporter shouted at him that they had made it into a league final. The news was then confirmed by the Kerry kitman in the dressing room.

In their last two games, Kerry have kicked 5-45. That total does not include any two-pointers.

“My own brief experience in the two games I played, the two-pointers are mainly on maybe a slow play, we tried to play as fast as we can. That was obviously something that we're going to have to look at going into the summer because those two-pointers are obviously hugely valuable.” 

The biggest change for him is the kick-out. For better, for worse. So much of the game is now dictated by breaking ball. Two of his midfield team-mates have also suffered injuries in the battle for restarts recently: Diarmuid O’Connor and Sean O’Brien.

“It’s certainly something that's going to come into the Championship when the ground hardens up and you get a midfielder going up for a high ball and maybe landing on a very solid surface is going to cause damage. I'm not sure is there any way around that. I suppose from our point of view, Diarmuid picked up that injury against Armagh with the shoulder.

“I just hope that it won't come into our game, or it won't affect too many players during the summer, but I can certainly see it maybe being a factor as the ground hardens up and maybe the heat turns up amongst teams, the intensity turns up amongst teams where collisions in mid-air can be very dangerous.” 

This weekend he will lead Kerry out in Croke Park, having missed out on the 2019 League Final because of club duties. (Fun fact: White made his championship debut in 2018, but didn’t play a minute of league football until 2020.) He is embracing all that comes with being skipper again. It may bring heightened attention, but White is well used to not letting that affect him.

“This year is obviously a huge honour, I am grateful to get that opportunity. Not many players in the country get the opportunity. But I won’t let it bother me too much. I’ll play the game as much as I can in my own terms.”