For the second time, Limerick great Shane Dowling has stepped away from the inter-county scene, after a brief one-year stint as a goalkeeper.
Dowling’s first retirement came in 2020, when, at the age of just 27, he was forced to step away due to degenerative knee issues that he had been battling for some time.
Speaking on Off the Ball Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Dowling said, “I met John recently, we had an hour and a half conversation. No joke, fifteen minutes was probably the most amount of hurling that was talked.”
‘I don’t have a future… I’d only be taking up a spot for someone to learn & develop…’
Limerick hurling legend Shane Dowling on his decision to step away from John Kiely’s panel… |
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“John [Kiely] knew my situation for many weeks now; he knew my decision from weeks ago. I’m 32, 33 in the new year, it’s not that I’m old or anything like that but Nickie [Quaid] is obviously back and fully fit now.
“I’ve no business going back there as such, because as far as I’m concerned, I’d only be taking up a spot for someone to learn and develop and has a future to play for Limerick. I’m not going to be the future goalkeeper for Limerick.”
The Na Piarsaigh man, who recently won another county title with his club, rejoined Kiely’s panel at the start of last season. Dowling returned to make up for the loss of star goalkeeper Quaid, who suffered a serious injury.
Despite only playing a handful of games, including one Munster championship appearance against Clare, the 32-year-old admitted it was one of his most enjoyable years in the Limerick panel.
“I was older, more experienced, and I knew that it wasn’t going to be a long-term thing or anything like that, so I just took in every bit of it.”
In total, Dowling made 64 appearances for Limerick, amassing an impressive 21-292 across that time. He won an All-Ireland in 2018, scoring a crucial goal in the final as Limerick bridged a 45-year gap. He also won two Munster championships, and a national league title.