“They have nine potential starters.”
One of the big takeaways from that breathless weekend of All-Ireland hurling action, a fortnight back, was the sheer strength of the Limerick bench.
Out of all four counties that, at the time, were vying for the Liam MacCarthy Cup – and playing out of their skins – The Treaty County were not at all weakened. They were, in fact, bolstered no end and driven on to extra time victory by their substitutes.
John Kiely brought on six reinforcements and three of them – Shane Dowling, Pat Ryan and Barry Nash – contributed 2-5 from Limerick’s winning total of 3-32. Dowling was a phenomenon and told RTE, post-match, that he had a point to prove after he was left out of the starting XV.
On The GAA Hour, however, host Colm Parkinson, former Kilkenny star JJ Delaney and Dublin’s Conal Keaney discussed whether Dowling would get in from the start in the final. Unfortunately for him, it could be a waiting game against Galway.
Keaney believes Dowling may well have to play an impact sub role again. He commented:
“On Dowling, I wonder if John Kiely will say to him, ‘Look at how well you did when you you came on the other day. Could you do it again?'”
“That’s the danger,” Parkinson mused.
“Shane Dowling didn’t play all year and then he started against Waterford and blew them away. He was brilliant that day; brilliant.
“He was back on the frees because [Aaron] Gillane didn’t play that day; he was suspended. They then had that terrible performance, next game out, where no-one played well across the pitch. Dowling had a disaster that day and then he was dropped.
“So then you’ve got two starts – one brilliant game, one disaster. Now he’s a super-sub and he was a super-sub against Kilkenny. I think he has fallen into that category.”
Aside from the obvious frustration of sitting, stewing and watching events unfold from the bench, Parkinson notes that Dowling would also miss the pre-match parade as subs are excluded from that ceremony.
When it rains….
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