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Rising Stars

6 players to watch in Kerry and Tipperary's All-Ireland minor football final

This sextet will have a big influence on Sunday’s Electric Ireland decider.

1. Conor Geaney (Kerry)

The scourge of Tipperary in the Munster final, captain Geaney is a massive scoring threat.

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

Geaney kicked five points, including three frees, in the Hogan Cup final victory over Roscommon CBS at Croke Park and has carried that free-scoring form into the summer.

Geaney is a cousin of Kerry senior star Paul.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

2. Jack Kennedy (Tipperary)

Son of former All-Ireland SHC medallist and brother of 2011 minor football final goal hero Colman, Kennedy has emerged as one of Tipp’s standout players this summer.

Kennedy, from the Clonmel Commercials club, kickstarted his 2015 campaign with five-point haul against Waterford in Munster.

The towering midfielder added five more against Clare, two in the Munster final defeat to Kerry, a point in the Galway win and another four in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kildare.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

3. Michael Foley (Kerry)

With Geaney capable of wreaking havoc in one corner, Michael Foley is another deadly weapon in Kerry’s inside line.

Foley, from the Spa club in Killarney, scored 1-3 in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Derry, with Geaney adding 0-5.

Foley had a point to prove against the Oak Leafers after regaining his place in the team and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

It was Foley who came off the bench to kick a memorable winning point against Cork in this year’s classic Munster championship clash.

Andrew Paton / INPHO Andrew Paton / INPHO / INPHO

4. Aidan Buckley (Tipperary)

The boy with the spectacular beard will be shaving off his facial hair following Sunday’s All-Ireland final, all for a good cause.

The St Patricks man has previous against Kerry too, after scoring 1-2 against them in the Munster final.

Buckley was scoreless in the All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Galway but the hard-working wing-forward did put over a crucial score down the home straight as the Premier County saw off Kildare in the last four.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

5. John Mark Foley (Kerry)

The midfield battle will prove crucial on Sunday and while Tipp have the aerial prowess to compete, Kerry have a real powerhouse in the form of John Mark Foley.

The Kilgarvan starlet is well capable of kicking long-range points and he will put in one hell of a shift from start to finish.

Foley is another player who has had to work hard to break into the starting line-up, after losing his place for the Munster final.

Foley got back in for the All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Sligo and after scoring a point, he added two more during the semi-final defeat of Derry.

Andrew Paton / INPHO Andrew Paton / INPHO / INPHO

6. Danny Owens (Tipperary)

Son of former Tipperary player John, Owens is the Tipperary captain who leads by example.

The quietly-spoken Moyle Rovers player prefers to let his football do the talking and he is one of the team’s most influential performers from the half-back line.

Clubmate Stephen Quirke was the defeated Tipperary minor hurling captain in the All-Ireland final but Owens will hope to lift the Tom Markham cup on behalf of his county and the Monroe outfit on Sunday.

Quirke and his fellow dual players are also hoping to banish the memories of that minor defeat by claiming football medals.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

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