THE return of Shane Dowling is the obvious headline grabber from the announcement by manager John Kiely of his pre-season Limerick Senior Hurling panel.
Dowling, one of Limerick’s most decorated forwards, has been recalled on the back of impressive showings in goal for Na Piarsaigh, and is now a lead contender to replace injured netminder Nickie Quaid.
Also on any shortlist are Jason Gillane (Patrickswell) and Kilmallock’s Conor Hanley-Clarke.
Interestingly, Quaid is named on the panel.
At this point, David McCarthy (Glenroe) is not among the squad of 46 players announced by Kiely at the weekend. Others absent include Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) and Mark Quinlan of Garryspillane and Oisín O’Reilly (Kilmallock).
Following on from impressive club performances, there are call-ups for others such as Evan O’Leary (Ahane), Oisín O’Farrell (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan), Seán Casey (Bruff), Doon pair Eddie Stokes and Chris Thomas, William Dore (Dromin/Athlacca), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Dylan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh) and Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s), along with Con Hayes and Ethan Hurley, both of newly promoted Newcastle West.
The panel will be trimmed by 10 before the start of the National Hurling League in late January.
And, others not on the shortlist now could still be called upon in the coming weeks.
Limerick: Declan Hannon (Adare); Dan Morrissey, Tom Morrissey, Evan O’Leary (Ahane); Oisín O’Farrell (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan); Colin Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown); Seán Casey, Seán 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); Séamus 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 St. Paul’s); 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); Gearóid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s).
