Shane Dowling (hurler)

Shane Dowling (born 21 February 1993) is an Irish hurler who plays as a half-forward for club side Na Piarsaigh and previously at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team.

Shane Dowling
Personal information
Irish name Seán Ó Dualaing
Sport Hurling
Position Half-forward
Born (1993-02-21) 21 February 1993
Caherdavin, Limerick, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Nickname The Dow
Club(s)
Years Club
2010-present
 Na Piarsaigh
Club titles
Limerick titles 5
Munster titles 4
All-Ireland Titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2012-2020
 Limerick 32 (13-176)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 2
All-Irelands 1
NHL 1
All Stars 1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 20:25, 27 July 2019.

Playing career

College

Dowling first came to prominence as a hurler with Ardscoil Rís in Limerick. Having played in every grade as a hurler, he was centre-forward on the college's senior hurling team. On 11 March 2010, Dowling scored a point from play when Ardscoil Rís defeated Thurles CBS in the final of the Harty Cup.[1]

On 27 February 2011, Dowling was again at centre-forward when Ardscoil Rís retained the Harty Cup title after a 3-19 to 0-03 defeat of C.B.S. Charleville in the final.[2]

Club

Dowling joined the Na Piarsaigh club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in the under-16, minor and under-21 grades.

On 2 October 2011, Dowling scored 1-10 from right corner-forward in Na Piarsaigh's 2-18 to 0-13 defeat of Adare to win their first Limerick Championship.[3] He later won a Munster Championship medal following a 1-13 to 0-09 defeat of Crusheen in the final.[4]

After surrendering their titles the following year, Dowling won a second Limerick Championship medal at midfield when Na Piarsaigh defeated Adare by 0-14 to 0-12 on 6 October 2013.[5] He was switched to full-forward for the subsequent Munster Championship, which culminated with him winning a second provincial medal after a 4-14 to 0-08 defeat of Sixmilebridge in the final.[6]

Dowling won a third Limerick Championship medal on 11 October 2015 after a 1-22 to 4-12 defeat of Patrickswell in the final.[7] Later that season he won a third Munster medal after scoring 1-04 in a 2-18 to 2-11 defeat of Ballygunner.[8] On 17 March 2016, Dowling won an All-Ireland medal when Na Piarsaigh defeated Ruairí Óg by 2-25 to 2-14 in the final.[9]

On 15 October 2017, Dowling won a fourth Limerick Championship medal when Na Piarsaigh defeated Kilmallock by 1-22 to 2-14 in the final.[10] He was substituted in the 43rd minute after picking up an injury. Scans initially showed cartilage damage, but during surgery a fracture was also discovered inside his knee which ended his participation in the Munster Championship.[11] Dowling's participation in the All-Ireland series was also in doubt, however, he was introduced as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final against Slaughtneil and set up a goal for Kevin Downes before scoring his own goal.[12] On 17 March 2018, he was at midfield when Na Piarsaigh were defeated by Cuala in the All-Ireland final.[13]

On 27 October 2018, Dowling won a fifth Limerick Championship medal after scoring 0-12 in Na Piarsaigh's 2-22 to 3-10 defeat of Doon.[14] He coaches the under 14’ at his club and has brought them to win one county championships in under 13 and feile in under 14

Minor and under-21

Dowling first played for Limerick at minor level as a sixteen-year-old. He made his first appearance for the team on 29 April 2009, replacing John Fitzgibbon at half-time in a 1-21 to 0-11 defeat by Tipperary.[15] He was eligible for the minor grade for the following two seasons, however, Limerick faced respective defeats by Clare and Waterford.[16][17]

In his final year on the minor team, Dowling was drafted onto the Limerick under-21 team. On 3 August 2011, he scored seven points, including six frees, when Limerick defeated Cork by 4-20 to 1-27 in the final of the Munster Championship.[18]

Dowling was appointed captain of the Limerick under-21 hurling team during his fourth and final season on the team in 2014.[19]

Senior

Dowling made his senior debut for Limerick on 25 February 2012 in a 2-24 to 1-13 National Hurling League defeat by Clare.[20] Later that season he made his first Munster Championship appearance in a 2-20 to 1-19 defeat by Tipperary.[21][22] On 30 June 2012, Dowling scored 3-09 in an All-Ireland Qualifier defeat of Antrim.[23] It was the highest personal tally for any player in that year's championship.

After playing a number of games for Limerick after returning from club duty during the 2013 National League, Dowling was surprisingly dropped from the starting fifteen by team manager John Allen for the team's opening championship game against Tipperary. Recalling being left on the bench, he later said: "I took that very hard at the time. Growing up I was never a sub on any team I had ever played for so, at the time, John Allen was the demon, the big bad wolf. I genuinely thought my inter-county career was over. I was devastated."[24] Dowling was introduced as a 49th-minute substitute for Séamus Hickey and scored two points in a three-point victory.[25] On 14 July 2013, he scored three points from play after being introduced as a substitute in Limerick's 0-24 to 0-15 defeat of Cork in the Munster final.[26]

Dowling returned to the Limerick starting fifteen under new joint-managers Dónal O'Grady and T. J. Ryan in 2014.[27] After scoring 2-09 in Limerick's Munster Championship defeat of Tipperary on 1 June 2014, he later revealed how he had been the subject of an abusive text message: "Last week, the chairman of the club showed me a text message from a journalist in Limerick. I’ve no problem with someone voicing their opinion. That particular person personally abused me in that text message. I don’t say that lightly. Thank God, that we answered that today."[28] On 24 October 2014, Dowling was named on the All-Star Team.[29]

On 10 June 2018, Dowling's tally of 0-15 in a Munster Championship game allowed him to replace Gary Kirby as Limerick's all-time top championship scorer.[30]

On 19 August 2018, Dowling scored a goal after coming on as a substitute when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final.[31][32]

On 31 March 2019, Dowling started Limerick's National League final meeting with Waterford on the bench. He was introduced as a 64th-minute substitute for Tom Morrissey and collected a winners' medal following the 1-24 to 0-19 victory.[33] On 30 June 2019, Dowling won his first Munster Championship medal in six years after coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Gearóid Hegarty in Limerick's 2-26 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary in the final.[34]

On 2 July 2020, Dowling announced his retirement from inter-county hurling due to degenerative knee and cartilage issues.[35][36]

Inter-provincial

Dowling was selected for the Munster inter-provincial team for the first time on 17 February 2013. He later won a Railway Cup medal following a 1-22 to 0-15 defeat of Connacht in the final.[37] Dowling was also selected for the Munster team in 2016.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 18 November 2018.
Team Season Limerick Munster All-Ireland Total
AppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Na Piarsaigh 2017-18 60-36—31-1191-47
2018-19 71-6521-09—92-74
2019-20 42-30——42-30

Inter-county
As of match played 27 July 2019.
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Limerick 2012 Division 1B 43-2410-0844-2197-53
2013 50-1020-0510-0680-21
2014 31-1522-2122-1575-51
2015 41-2021-1821-0783-45
2016 21-0710-0920-2051-36
2017 41-3310-0710-0861-48
2018 00-0020-1932-0552-24
2019 Division 1A 51-1050-0711-00112-17
Total 278-119163-941610-825921-292

Honours
Ardscoil Rís
Na Piarsaigh
Limerick
Munster
Individual

References
  1. "Ard Scoil Rís end Harty Cup marathon with historic victory". Irish Examiner. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  2. "Awesome Ardscoil storm to Harty title". Irish Independent. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  3. "The famine finishes for Na Piarsaigh in fine style". Irish Times. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  4. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (5 December 2011). "Piarsaigh young guns come of age". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  5. Boyle, Donnchadh (7 October 2013). "Downes sets the tone for Na Piarsaigh to grind it out". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (25 November 2013). "Powerful Piarsaigh's blistering pace too much for tired Bridge". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  7. Boyle, Donnchadh (12 October 2015). "Downes restores Na Piarsaigh as Limerick leaders". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  8. Cahill, Jackie (23 November 2015). "Dowling goal puts seal on Na Piarsaigh glory trail". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  9. Moynihan, Michael (18 March 2015). "Immortality for Na Piarsaigh as Cushendall rue big-day flop". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  10. "Na Piarsaigh see off Kilmallock to secure Limerick hurling crown". Irish Independent. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  11. Cormican, Eoghan (3 November 2017). "Piarsaigh talisman Shane Dowling out of Rockies clash". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  12. O'Toole, Fintan (11 February 2018). "'This day last week I broke down to tears in Na Piarsaigh' - from injury to All-Ireland semi-final win". The 42. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  13. Keys, Colm (18 March 2018). "Cuala finish with four late points to finally see off Na Piarsaigh challenge and retain All-Ireland title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. Small, Darragh (29 October 2018). "Boss Beary points to experience of troops as Na Piarsaigh impress again". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  15. "Banner day for McGrath as Vins go through". Irish Independent. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  16. "Munster MHC: Banner book final spot". Hogan Stand. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  17. Murphy, John (27 June 2011). "Bennett edges Déise home in epic battle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  18. Rooney, Declan (4 August 2011). "Hannon on the mark to edge thriller". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  19. O'Toole, Fintan (3 June 2014). "Senior star Dowling to captain Limerick U21 team that includes 3 Munster minor winners". The 42. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  20. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (27 February 2012). "Banner 'avalanche' levels Limerick". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  21. Boyle, Donnchadh (24 May 2012). "Dowling set for Limerick debut". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  22. O'Toole, Fintan (24 May 2012). "Treaty debuts for Allis and Dowling". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  23. "SHC Qualifier: Limerick demolish Antrim with record win". Hogan Stand. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  24. Barry, Stephen (13 July 2013). "Shane Dowling: I've lost friends and relationships because of hurling". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  25. "Limerick stun Tipp in thriller". Irish Examiner. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  26. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (15 July 2011). "Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  27. Kelly, Niall (14 February 2014). "Shane Dowling thrown straight back in for Limerick's Division 1B opener". The 42. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  28. Moynihan, Michael (2 June 2014). "Ace marksman Dowling delighted to shoot down Limerick critics". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  29. O'Toole, Fintan (24 October 2014). "Here's the 2014 Allstar hurling team - 7 for Tipperary, 6 for Kilkenny, 2 for Limerick". The 42. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  30. Cormican, Eoghan (10 June 2018). "Limerick secure place in All-Ireland series after 13-point win over Waterford". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  31. McGoldrick, Seán (19 August 2018). "Limerick are All Ireland hurling champions for the first time in 45 years following epic victory over Galway". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  32. "'My life probably would have been ruined' - All-Ireland defeat unthinkable for Limerick hero Dowling". Irish Independent. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  33. O'Toole, Fintan (31 March 2019). "Limerick end 22-year with for league honours in style with final win over Waterford". The 42. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  34. O'Toole, Fintan (30 June 2019). "More glory for Limerick as they lift Munster crown with 12-point win over Tipperary". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  35. "Limerick's Shane Dowling retires from inter-county hurling at 27". RTE Sport. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  36. "'I still hardly believe this is happening': Limerick star Shane Dowling forced to retire aged 27". The 42. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  37. Moynihan, Michael (4 March 2013). "Munster players 'cherish' medals". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
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