BREAKING: All-Ireland winner appointed as new Limerick minor hurling manager

FORMER All-Ireland winner Shane Dowling is the new Limerick minor hurling manager after his appointment was ratified at tonight's September County Board meeting. 

The Na Piarsaigh man replaces Evan Loftus in the role after he moved up to the U20 manager position. Loftus was also given the go ahead to fill the role left by Diarmuid Mullins at tonight's meeting at the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.

Dowling will be joined in the management team by highly regarded coach Liam Cronin from Cappamore. Cronin has forged an outstanding reputation as a top level operator and was coach to the All-Ireland winning Cork camogie team earlier this year. He has also been a huge part of Ardscoil Ris' success in recent years.

Both Dowling and Cronin were part of the U16 Limerick management that tasted success in the Eugene Carey tournament last month. 

Dowling was a vital cog in Limerick's All-Ireland senior win in 2018 but was forced to retire from the inter-county scene in 2020 at the age of 27 due to persistent knee injuries.

However, he made a triumphant return to club action with the Na Piarsaigh intermediate team last year to play in goals and is the netminder for the club's senior side this year. Darren Moynihan and Andrew Ryan will act as selectors, while Darragh Droog (S&C), Hugh Dunne (Kit) and Barry O'Regan (Liason Officer) complete the management team.

Loftus takes over as U20 manager after one season with the minors. Limerick beat Waterford, Clare and Tipperary in the group stage of the Munster MHC under Loftus but defeat to Cork saw them having to travel to eventual All-Ireland winners Clare in the provincial semi-final.

That game ended in defeat but it was an impressive year for Loftus and his management team. The Ballybrown man managed his own club from 2016 to 2020 and reached the county final in his first year in charge.

He then came on board with the Limerick Academy and guided the U15 side to an Arrabawn All-Ireland title last year, their first since 2012. He also guided Croagh-Kilfinny to the Intermediate Hurling County Final in 2022.

Loftus will be joined at the U20 grade by the same management team of former county dual player Stephen Walsh (Glenroe), along with Tony Power (Monaleen) and Alan Kelly (Templeglantine) that were with him with the Limerick minor hurlers for the 2023 season.