Who will be Limerick's number one in 2025?

LIMERICK supporters and hurling fans all around the country are curious to see who John Kiely will select as his first choice goalkeeper in 2025.

Shane Dowling, Conor Hanley Clarke and Jason Gillane will all battle it out for the number one this year with Nickie Quaid set for a lengthy period on the sidelines due to injury.

Manager Kiely named all three ‘keepers on his 46-man pre-season squad revealed last week.

Effin's Nickie Quaid has been ever-present in that number one role for the Shannonsiders over the last decade.The acclaimed Limerick shotstopper has brought the standard of goalkeeping to a whole new level.

At the start of November, Quaid won his third hurling All-Star award and his first since 2022 after enjoying another hugely impressive year between the posts for John Kiely's Limerick side.

However, Quaid suffered an ACL injury since and he is likely to be sidelined for the majority of the 2025 season.Barry Hennessy, Jamie Power and David McCarthy are some of the understudies who have been back-up to Quaid over the last number of years.

Despite his injury, Quaid has been named on the Limerick senior hurling panel for the 2025 season. It is expected that he will remain involved in the background.

2025 presents a massive opportunity for a new ‘keeper to establish themselves in the number one jersey.

Shane Dowling will make a dramatic return to the Limerick senior hurling panel in 2025.Dowling was forced to retire from inter-county hurling due to a persistent knee injury in 2020.

Since then, the former Limerick forward has lined out between the sticks for his club Na Piarsaigh.In 2023, Shane O'Neill made the decision to deploy Dowling as a ‘keeper. The 2018 All-Ireland winning hurler has excelled in the role for the Caherdavin based club.

During the senior hurling championship, Dowling conceded just five goals in a total of seven games and his puckouts provided Na Piarsaigh with a massive platform going forward.

Conor Hanley Clarke, son of former Limerick hurler Dave Clarke, has been drafted into the Limerick senior hurling panel by John Kiely.

Hanley Clarke last lined out in goals for Limerick at U20 level in 2022.The Kilmallock man was part of the Limerick U20 team that went all the way to All-Ireland final that year.

Hanley Clarke has impressed in goals this year for the UL Fitzgibbon Cup side. He also made some crucial saves in UL's victory over the University of Galway in the Higher Education league quarter-final.

The south Limerick native has played outfield for his club. He was on target with 0-9 in Kilmallock's one point defeat to Na Piarsaigh in the SHC semi-final.

Jason Gillane appears to be the front runner to wear the Limerick number one jersey in 2025. Gillane has been part of the extended senior hurling panel that won All-Ireland titles in 2020 and 2021.

The Patrickswell clubman has been on the panel for the longest period of time among the three goalkeepers.

Brother of Limerick sharpshooter Aaron Gillane, Gillane excelled for Mary Immaculate College on their way to winning the Fitzgibbon Cup this year.

Gillane is able to mix up his puck-outs between long and short. His long puck-outs provide a huge threat where they can land long range scores inside his own half.

All three goalkeeping options for Limerick have lined outfield for their clubs in the past. It is something which players like Eoin Murphy and Nickie Quaid have benefited particularly with the manner in which the modern game has evolved.

Former Limerick goalkeeper Barry Hennessy feels the new goalkeeper should be given time.

“There's no shortage of quality there. There is a massive opportunity for whoever is looking for it. You'd hope for people to have patience and to let that person grow. I hope they do hit the ground running. There will be mistakes there. I've no doubt Nickie will help mentor them,” he said.