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Young Guns

6 players to watch in Cork and Limerick's Munster minor hurling semi-final

The winners will play Tipperary on 12 July.

1. Eoghan McNamara (Limerick)

Goalkeeper and captain Eoghan McNamara is a survivor from Limerick’s 2014 Electric Ireland Munster minor winning panel.

The Doon netminder was exceptional in the playoff victory against Waterford in May, scoring five points from placed balls.

McNamara is also a serious shotstopper and his displays have prompted minor boss Leo O’Connor to suggest that he’s good enough to make the step up to the county’s senior panel next year.

McNamara kept out Waterford’s Eddie Meaney with a vital save as Limerick came from six points down to book a semi-final spot.

Eoghan McNamara 13/7/2014 Limerick's highly-rated goalkeeper Eoghan McNamara. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

2. Tim O’Mahony (Cork)

Cork will look to O’Mahony for scoring inspiration at the Gaelic Grounds tomorrow evening.

The Newtownshandrum star scored 1-3 from play against Limerick in the quarter-final and with Shane Kingston out injured, O’Mahony will look to compensate for the team captain’s absence.

Kingston is sadly ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg and this setback is a huge blow to Cork’s hopes of landing a first provincial crown since 2008.

O’Mahony will hope to emerge as Cork’s attacking spearhead with Kingston unavailable.

Shane Kingston celebrates scoring a goal Shane Kingston (12) is a huge loss to Cork. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

3. Brian Ryan (Limerick)

Ryan returned from injury to make quite an impact in the playoff victory over Waterford.

The South Liberties player hit two crucial points from play and has shown good form for his club this season at senor level.

He was the matchwinner against Murroe-Boher in May, scoring two goals in the first half before slotting over a decisive late free.

Ryan was also a member of last year’s Munster championship winning panel.

Brian Ryan and Barry Nash celebrate Brian Ryan and Barry Nash celebrate Munster minor glory last year. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

4. Ciarán Cormack (Cork)

The Blackrock player featured for St Francis College Rochestown as they contested both the Dr. Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí finals in hurling and football this year.

Rochestown were beaten in both but Cormack managed to score 1-6 in the Harty Cup final defeat to Thurles CBS, including a sensational solo goal in the first half. 

Cormack also netted in the drawn Corn Uí Mhuirí decider against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, but the Kerry boys won the replay.

Cormack is a prolific scorer from play and placed balls and registered a point against Limerick when the sides met in April.

Limerick's Andrew La Touche Cosgrave and Colin Ryan celebrate the final whistle Cork suffered heartbreak against Limerick in last year's Munster minor semi-final. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

5. Peter Casey (Limerick)

With goalkeeper Eoghan McNamara doing his stuff inside the Limerick half, Casey looks after free-taking duties closer to goal.

Another product of the Na Piarsaigh nursery, Casey scored six points against Waterford to finish as Limerick’s leading scorer.

Four of those points came from placed balls but Casey also bagged two from play.

Casey scored 0-9 as Na Piarsaigh claimed a fourth successive Limerick U21 crown earlier this year.

Peter Casey Limerick forward Peter Casey in action. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

6. David Griffin (Cork)

Centre back on the Rochestown College team that contested the Harty Cup final, Griffin operated at full-back in the opening round of the Munster championship against Limerick.

The Carrigaline dual player was also a member of the football team beaten by Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, operating at wing-back.

A natural leader, Griffin was captain of the Rochestown Harty Cup team and won a county minor football medal last year with his club.

He also played in the county U21 final defeat to Blackrock.

Cork manager Denis Ring Cork minor boss Denis Ring. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

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