Born in Ballyvourney, County Cork Scannell first played competitive Gaelic football in his youth.
He first appeared for the Naomh Abán club at underage levels, winning a host of divisional minor and under-21 championship medals.
As a member of the Muskerry divisional team, he won a county senior championship medal in 1970.
Scannell made his debut on the inter-county scene when he was selected on the Cork minor team in 1967.
By this stage he had also joined the Cork senior team, becoming a member of the extended panel during the 1969 championship.