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Kerry won last year's Electric Ireland Munster minor football championship crown James Crombie/INPHO
Young Guns

6 players to watch in Munster minor football quarter-finals

Three Electric Ireland Munster MFC quarter-finals are down for decision on Wednesday

1. Conor Geaney (Kerry)

Highly-rated corner forward Geaney is a Corn Uí Mhuirí and Hogan Cup winner with all-conquering Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne.

Geaney kicked five points, including three frees, in last Saturday’s Hogan Cup final victory over Roscommon CBS at Croke Park.

And the Dingle talisman, cousin of senior star Paul, is joined on the minor team to face Clare by Pobalscoil teammates Tom O’Sullivan and Mark O’Connor.

Geaney also scored the crucial goal that helped to see off St Francis College, Rochestown, in the Corn Uí Mhuirí final replay.

Paul Geaney 1/3/2015 Conor Geaney's cousin Paul is an All-Ireland senior medallist with Kerry Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

2. Keelan Sexton (Clare)

Banner County captain Sexton already boasts some pedigree in the Munster minor football championship as he scored 2-5 in last year’s goalfest against Waterford.

And Sexton also performed well for Clare in this year’s U21 championship, scoring six points in the quarter-final victory over Waterford before notching four frees in the semi-final defeat to champions Tipperary.

Sexton also featured for the Clare seniors during this year’s Allianz Football League campaign and the Kilmurry-Ibrickane player is not one to mess with as he’s also an accomplished boxer.

3. Daniel Ó Duinnín (Cork)

Internet sensation Ó Duinnín is one of five players from last year’s Cork minor team who will start against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

And if you haven’t seen Ó Duinnín’s goals for Coláiste Gobnatan in last Friday night’s All-Ireland senior C schools finals against Ardscoil Rathangan, you should really check them out below.

It’s fair to say that Ó Duinnín grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck and the Cill na Martra man will have to be picked up by the Limerick defence or he could wreak similar havoc.

SideLine Eye / YouTube

4. Mikey Morrissey (Limerick)

Shannonside skipper Morrissey is one of four players who lined out against Cork last year included in the team to face the Rebels on Wednesday evening.

And the Rathkeale player is highly-rated in local circles, having played on the club’s U21 team that went all the way to the 2013 county final.

But as Morrissey was still U16, Rathkeale were thrown out of the competition and the title awarded to Drom-Broadford, in what was a major controversy. 

Morrissey has been in goalscoring form already this season at senior club level for Rathkeale.

5. Stephen Quirke (Tipperary)

High-fielding Moyle Rovers star Quirke was excellent for the Tipperary minor hurlers against Waterford last week.

Quirke is an obvious outlet for puckouts at centre forward and the county’s minor football boss Charlie McGeever will seek to utilise his skills against the Déise on Wednesday evening.

Not surprisingly, Quirke has been named at midfield for the Semple Stadium clash and his older brother Philip won an All-Ireland minor football medal with the Premier County in 2011.

Colin O'Riordan and Stephen Quirke celebrate at the final whistle Stephen Quirke (22) celebrates minor victory over Cork two years ago with Colin O'Riordan James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

6. Conor Prunty (Waterford)

Midfielder Prunty is a player who loves to bomb forward from deep-lying positions and if he lines up directly against Tipperary’s Stephen Quirke, it will be a clash to savour.

Prunty scored two goals in last year’s thrilling Munster minor football championship victory over Clare and he was also a member of the county’s minor hurling team that lost to Limerick in the 2014 Munster final replay.

Prunty also lined out for the minor hurlers against Tipperary last week and will be hoping for a change of fortune against Wednesday’s hosts in the big ball code.

The Waterford team Conor Prunty featured on the Waterford minor hurling team beaten by Kilkenny in last year's All-Ireland semi-final Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

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