Preview: Wednesday's EirGrid Under 21 Football games
Kerry under 21 manager Jack O Connor.
Wednesday March 8
EirGrid Munster Under 21 Championship Quarter-Finals
Kerry v Clare, Austin Stack Park, 7.30pm
Three All Ireland minor titles on the spin ensures Kerry carry significant expectation into this year's EirGrid Under 21 Championship.
Kerry include six of the team that was defeated in the 2016 provincial decider at this level by Cork, while three others missed that game due to injury.
Jack O'Connor is in charge, while Declan O'Sullivan is a selector for a Kerry outfit packed with promising footballers.
Jason Foley, Brian O Seanachain, Matthew Flaherty, Matthew O'Sullivan, and Cathal Bambury will all occupy important roles for the Kingdom.
Clare did enjoy success in the Peter McNulty competition with Conor Finucane delivering a nine point haul in the Final win over Limerick.
During that tournament Clare beat Kildare, Wexford, Galway, and Limerick with Cian O'Dea, Keelan Sexton, and Finucane prominent.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Tom Leo O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian Sugrue, Andrew Barry, Daniel O'Brien; Barry O'Sullivan, Brian O Seanachain; Brandon Barrett, Sean O'Shea, Matthew Flaherty; Conor Geaney, Matthew O'Sullivan, Cathal Bambury.
CLARE: Killian Roche; Einne O'Connor, Darren Nagle, Colm Pyne; Conal O hAinifein, Rory McMahon, Killian Brennan; Darragh Bohannon, Cian O'Dea; David Egan, Alan Sweeney, Aidan Davidson; Conor Finucane, Keelan Sexton, Eimhin Courtney.
Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm
Limerick are hopeful about making an impact in the EirGrid Munster Under 21 Championship.
Declan Brouder's team features seven of the side which produced a gritty display when losing to Kerry last year.
Declan Browne is in charge of the Tipperary under 21 footballers.
Tipperary are managed by Declan Browne, who is anxious to maintain their recent record at this level with Colm O'Shaughnessy an established performer for Liam Kearns' senior side.
Munster champions in 2015, Tipperary were beaten by 0-11 to 1-7 by Kerry last year.
LIMERICK: Richard Hayes; David Connolly, Jim Liston, Edward Sheehy; Brian Fanning, Sean Murphy, Michael Donovan; Josh Ryan, Tommie Childs; Padraig de Brun, Hugh Bourke, Killian Ryan; Kieran Daly, AJ O'Connor, Brian Donovan.
TIPPERARY: Charlie Manton; Willie Connors, Liam Ryan, Colm O'Shaughnessy; Daire Brennan, Liam Fahey, Paudie Feeehan; Danny Owens, Jack Kennedy; Aidan Buckley, Stephen Quirke, Emmet Moloney; Joe Ryan, Jack Butler, Brendan Martin.
EirGrid Leinster Under 21 Championship Quarter-Final
Laois v Louth, O'Moore Park, 7.30pm
These are particularly exciting times for Louth football, but this trip to Portlaoise will be revealing.
Ryan Burns, already a key figure for Colin Kelly's senior side, impressed during the preliminary round triumph over Wicklow at Abbotstown.
Ross Nally also contributed 1-3, while Ciaran Downey was another to catch the eye in attack.
Laois will hope that Danny Luttrell and Sean Moore can provide the inspiration for them at O'Moore Park.
LAOIS: Aaron Cooney; James Kelly, Shane Nerney, Trevor Collins; Patrick O'Sullivan, Eoin Buggie, Daniel O'Reilly; David Connolly, Danny Luttrell; Darragh Connolly, Brian Daly, Conor Whelehan; Colm Murphy, Sean Moore, Brian Byrne.
Monaghan under 21 manager Ciaran McBride.
EirGrid Leinster Under 21 Championship Preliminary Round
Antrim v Monaghan, The Dub, 8pm
Holders Monaghan start the defence of their crown with a tricky away assignment.
Ciaran McBride steered Monaghan to provincial glory in 2016 and James Wilson starred in their recent Shamrock Cup Final success over Derry.
A severe knee injury to the highly rated Barry McGinn is a blow for Monaghan.
Conor Small is viewed as a good prospect in Antrim and the Saffrons will need to start well against the champions.
