BREAKING Shane Dowling makes dramatic return as 2025 Limerick senior hurling pre-season squad revealed

SHANE Dowling is set for a dramatic return to the Limerick senior hurling squad in 2025.

Former star forward Dowling, who has been lining out as a goalkeeper for Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick senior hurling championship, has been included in John Kiely's Limerick pre-season senior hurling squad.

Some 46 players from 20 clubs are included in Limerick's pre-season squad for next year.

News of Dowling's return to the Limerick set-up comes in the wake of recent confirmation that All-Star goalkeeper Nickie Quaid is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury.

Effin clubman Quaid has won five All-Ireland senior hurling medals as well as seven Munster championship titles and three National League medals.

Goalkeepers Conor Hanley Clarke and Jason Gillane are also included in the Limerick squad for next season.

2018 All-Ireland senior medal winner Shane Dowling was Limerick minor hurling manager in 2024.

Persistent injury forced 2014 All-Star Dowling to retire from inter-county hurling at the age of 27 in July 2020.

Dowling made his Limerick senior hurling debut in 2012 and went on to play 32 times in the championship. When announcing his retirement in 2020, he departed as Limerick's leading championship scorer with 13-185.

Limerick Senior Hurling Pre-Season Panel 2025

Declan Hannon (Adare),

Dan Morrissey, Tom Morrissey, Evan O’Leary (Ahane),

Oisin O’Farrell (Askeaton/Kilcornan/Ballysteen),

Colin Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown),

Sean Casey, Sean Finn (Bruff),

Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister),

Adam English, Richie English, Barry Murphy, Darragh O’Donovan, Eddie Stokes, Chris

Thomas (Doon),

William Dore, David Reidy, Cian Scully (Dromin/Athlacca),

Nickie Quaid, Fergal O’Connor, Patrick O’Donovan (Effin),

Seamus Flanagan (Feoghanagh/Castlemahon),

Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane),

Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry),

Micheál Houlihan, Conor Hanley-Clarke, Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock),

Darragh Langan, Ronan Lyons, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen),

Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret),

Mike Casey, Peter Casey, Shane Dowling, Vince Harrington, Dylan Lynch, William

O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh),

Con Hayes, Ethan Hurley (Newcastlewest),

Diarmuid Byrnes, Aaron Gillane, Jason Gillane, Cian Lynch (Patrickswell),

Barry Nash (South Liberties),

Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s).