While Kilmacud Crokes are blessed with an array of options, filled with inter-county stars and talent, the south Dublin outfit have strengthened once again.
With the Shane Walsh transfer saga still on the mind of many Galway and Kilkerren-Clonberne fans, it's another club who will be able to relate to the feeling now.
Kerry underage goalkeeper Devon Burns has left Na Gaeil for Kilmacud Crokes due to work commitments and will line-out for the 2023 All-Ireland champions this year.
Burns journey to Kilmacud Crokes
Burns is a Garda stationed in Pearse Street in Dublin, and while commuting up and down from Dublin to Kerry certainly doesn't make sense for the young goalkeeper, the acquisition from Crokes is always going to raise some eyebrows due their stacked roster already.
The shot-stopper has been tipped to be Kerry's senior goalkeeper for quite some time and was named u20 Munster Footballer of the Year in 2022, conceding just once during that championship run for the Kingdom.
He was also included in the Electric Ireland Minor Team of the Year in 2019, but an injury filled 2023 did stall his transition into the senior ranks.
28 September 2019; Pictured are Kerry's Minor footballers Devon Burns, left, and Dylan Geaney who were named on the Electric Ireland Minor Football Team of the Year at the 2019 Electric Ireland Minor Star Awards. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Despite his injury filled first half to the year, he did play a key role for his side in the County Championship and helped Na Gaeil send Kerins O'Rahillys down to intermediate level.
Na Gaeil chairman Conor Kavanagh confirmed Devon Burns departure this week and while speaking to the Irish Examiner, he said:
Devon is a Garda in Pearse Street so his short-term future is in Dublin and that is unavoidable. We have had a great time with Devon, he has been brilliant for us and we would wish him the very best. He is moving to Kilmacud starting straight away.
We will have to do our best without him but we are hoping that someday down the line that the Gardaí might transfer him down to this part of the country and he would come back to us.
We sat down and had a good conversation about travelling up and down to training and for games and it would not really be feasible in terms of his job with day and night duty as well as time in the courts.
It will be a big loss for the Killeen club who have already lost Kerry senior player Jack Barry for the season ahead. Barry is taking a year away to travel.
There will be an even more competitive battle for the Kilmacud Crokes number 1 jersey this campaign. Crokes have already won three Dublin SFC on the bounce and will be confident to cement another this time around.
Last year, David Higgins was instrumental to the club's run to the All-Ireland Club semifinal after taking the first-choice title off Conor Ferris, but Devon Burns will be another option for the Stillorgan side this time around.
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