Micheal Burns will be back in the Kerry panel for 2025 according to reports, after an impressive club season with Dr. Crokes.
The 29-year-old departed the Kingdom squad 12 months ago after their first National League game against Derry.
Burns started that game but was taken off at half-time and revealed in an interview with Smaller Fish GAA that Jack O'Connor effectively dropped him off the panel the following week.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that I was more told I wasn’t wanted than ‘leaving the panel,’” he told Colm Parkinson.
Burns said it was 'tough' at the time but re-grouped and went out to America for 'one of the most enjoyable summers of his life', playing football with Wolfe Tones in Chicago, before returning for Dr Crokes' successful club season.
![](https://img.resized.co/balls_ie/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL21lZGlhLmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL3VwbG9hZHNcXFwvMjAyNFxcXC8wOVxcXC8xODExMTI0M1xcXC9NQmIuanBnXCIsXCJ3aWR0aFwiOjk5MSxcImhlaWdodFwiOjYwNCxcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC9icmFuZC1pbWFnZS5qcGdcIixcIm9wdGlvbnNcIjp7XCJvdXRwdXRcIjpcImF2aWZcIixcInF1YWxpdHlcIjo1NX19IiwiaGFzaCI6ImE4Nzc4YzY5MTU1ZGNiYTQyOGJmZDVkM2UxNjhjMzZmMzgxYjQ5OTIifQ==/report-micheal-burns-among-dr-crokes-039-four-new-additions-to-kerry-panel.jpg)
Burns was the star of Dr Crokes' league, club and county championship treble in Kerry before helping them to Munster glory, scoring five points against Tipperary's Loughmore-Castleiney.
He played in a more attacking role than usual throughout the season with the Killarney club, becoming a prolific score in the majority of their games.
He was exceptional in defeat against Errigal Ciaran in the All-Ireland semi-final before going off late on with cramp, missing out on extra-time where he was a huge loss for Pat O'Shea's side.
It's been reported in the Kerryman that Burns has been called back into the Kerry panel, as Jack O'Connor's side taking on Derry this Sunday in Celtic Park in their first National League game of the year.
He will surely go into the season with loads of confidence after his outstanding displays, showing great resilience to bounce back.
![Micheal Burns Jack McCaffrey Dublin Kerry](https://img.resized.co/balls_ie/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL21lZGlhLmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL3VwbG9hZHNcXFwvMjAyNFxcXC8wMlxcXC8xNDEwNDEyMFxcXC8yNTg1NDMwLmpwZ1wiLFwid2lkdGhcIjpcIjc2OFwiLFwiaGVpZ2h0XCI6XCI0NzlcIixcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC9icmFuZC1pbWFnZS5qcGdcIixcIm9wdGlvbnNcIjp7XCJvdXRwdXRcIjpcImF2aWZcIixcInF1YWxpdHlcIjo1NX19IiwiaGFzaCI6IjM5NDlkMWE4NjE2OGI2MmYxMDQ1MmUxYWEyZDI2OWI5NmMzMDVkMjMifQ==/report-micheal-burns-among-dr-crokes-039-four-new-additions-to-kerry-panel.jpg)
Burns will reportedly be joined on the panel by six Dr Crokes club-mates, including Tony Brosnan, goalie Shane Murphy and captain Gavin White, who have all been involved in recent seasons. Mark O’Shea, Evan Looney and Charlie Keating are said to have earned call-ups on the back of their club form.
O'Shea and Keating generally lined out as a midfield pairing for the Lewis Road club with Looney playing as a wing back. The seven Crokes men were given extra time to recover after their club exploits and 'are due to begin training with Jack O’Connor’s panel either this week or next.'