Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Shane Dowling looks set to feature for Limerick in 2025

Dowling to make shock comeback with Limerick

Four and a half years after calling time on his inter-county career due to injury, Shane Dowling will make a remarkable return to the Limerick senior hurling panel next season.

Hurling • 28 Nov 24

Liam Sheedy is expecting a big performance from Adam Hogan on Saturday

Clare underperforming ahead of Kilkenny showdown

Liam Sheedy says that Clare in 2024 haven't performed as well as the the last two years ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final.

Hurling • 05 Jul 24

All-Ireland semi-final preview, big managers depart

Shane Dowling and Liam Sheedy join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill on the RTÉ GAA Podcast to look ahead to this weekend's All-Ireland semi-finals.

Hurling • 04 Jul 24

Kyle Hayes could line out for Limerick this weekend

Dowling insists that Hayes case won't affect Limerick

Former Limerick inter-county hurler Shane Dowling does not believe that the controversy surrounding Kyle Hayes will have any negative impact on the county's chase for a fifth consecutive All-Ireland title.

GAA • 21 Mar 24

Hurling is struggling in a lot of counties currently

Dowling: 'Incompetence' key cause of hurling pains

Former Limerick attacker Shane Dowling has slammed the "incompetence" that has contributed to the problems currently hampering hurling, including the over two-year wait to appoint a new national hurling development manager.

GAA • 13 Feb 24

Shane Dowling joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to look back on the weekend's Allianz Hurling League action

Clare lead chasing pack, Cork and Waterford floundering

Shane Dowling joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill on the RTÉ GAA Podcast to look back on the weekend's Allianz Hurling League action.

GAA • 12 Feb 24

Life's just a game of inches – and so is the All-Ireland hurling championship

Hurling's 'game of inches' came into focus last weekend

After a dramatic weekend in which the smallest of margins made a huge impact in the All-Ireland hurling championship, Shane Dowling is reminded of a famous speech from Al Pacino.

GAA • 31 May 23

Munster hurling hotting up, battle royale in Killarney

Shane Dowling joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to discuss a potentially decisive weekend in Limerick's season, while Éamonn Fitzmaurice looks forward to a heavyweight battle in Killarney. Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast wherever you get your podcasts

Football • 18 May 23

'When it matters most, Limerick actually don't care. It could be a challenge match, or an All-Ireland final, but with the game in the mixer, they just repeat, repeat, repeat'

From disarray to dominance - Limerick won't stop here

As a member of the Limerick team that made the breakthrough in 2018, Shane Dowling knows how far Limerick have travelled to become three-in-a-row champions and can't see them stopping now.

GAA • 22 Jul 22

'You have the two best teams at tackling and turnovers. Say whatever you want about the game, but it is a proven fact that whoever does that more often and more consistently, will generally win'

Tackling and turnovers in historic heat key to glory

Hawk-Eye, Cian Lynch and the conditions are all fascinating sub-plots, but when it comes down to it, the team that works harder when out of possession will prevail in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final, writes Shane Dowling.

GAA • 15 Jul 22

Paul Murphy (L) and Conor Browne (R) tackle Limerick's Graeme Mulcahy in 2019

Not-so-ancient history - What Limerick learned in 2019

Limerick's last championship defeat came to Kilkenny almost three years ago. As the sides prepare to meet again in the All-Ireland hurling final, we reflect on that day and what has changed since.

All-Ireland Hurling Final • 16 Jul 22

'The world and his mother knew Mikey Butler was going to man mark Tony Kelly, and it really worked, again.'

Clare failed to fire but beware Cody team hitting form

Shane Dowling thought Clare were below par from before throw-in last week but there is no denying an in-form Kilkenny will be the ultimate test for a Limerick side that have found a way to win thus far.

GAA • 08 Jul 22

'If the first figure on the scoreboard on Sunday reads three or four goals, then call it off. Maybe going man on man is the best way, but if Cork scored those chances against Galway, or Limerick scored them against Clare, the conversation is different'

Full-back line pivotal if Galway are to shock Limerick

Will Henry Shefflin stick or twist when planning for Limerick on Sunday? Shane Dowling thinks he will go man on man, which will make the Galway full-back line integral to their hopes of an upset.

GAA • 01 Jul 22

Shane Dowling: 'Kingston has given a serious amount to Cork hurling, remember he was the man who stood beside Jimmy Barry-Murphy in 2013, when Cork could have won the All-Ireland'

Cork potential suggests Kieran Kingston should stay

Shane Dowling says there are a couple of questions he's have asked if he was on the Cork County Board in relation to extending Kieran Kingston's term in charge of the hurlers, but wholeheartedly agrees he deserves it.

GAA • 24 Jun 22

'I have never experienced the levels of online abuse that I have been subjected to over the last 10 days'

Clare saga has ended - I wonder will the abuse end too?

The reality here is, no matter what I say or write about The Sunday Game analysis of Peter Duggan and Rory Hayes incidents, there is a certain cohort of people who will not believe me, and also just continue to abuse me.

GAA • 17 Jun 22

Cody and Shefflin shaking hands after the Leinster final

Cummins: Cody 'energised' by furore around handshakes

The furore around post-match handshakes with Galway manager Henry Shefflin has likely "energised" Kilkenny boss Brian Cody, according to former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.

GAA • 05 Jun 22

'I know people are asking for drawn out inter-county campaigns, but why? Previously, when it was straight knock-out teams may only of had one game, or two games when you got a second chance'

My calendar plan: Club first and scrap Allianz League

The issue of the GAA calendar arose again last week, so Shane Dowling got to thinking about how he would shape the split season and his suggestion is quite radical.

GAA • 27 May 22

'I do believe Waterford are the second best team in the country. But is it a case that the talk of that has set into the minds of the players and they have expected things to happen, rather than making things happen?'

Form teams of league now drinking in last-chance saloon

Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Dublin caught the eye during the league, but it looks liike two of them are going out of th Championship this weekend, while the survivors will struggle to recover their form, writes Shane Dowling.

GAA • 20 May 22

"Contrary to current perceptions, Munster hurling is not as far ahead of Leinster as people imagine"

As Munster trails off, Leinster provides the drama

The Munster hurling championship has been short of drama in 2022 - it's time to take note of the much maligned Leinster. Is there really such a gulf in quality?

GAA • 13 May 22

'A principal in Tipp, living on the Tipp border, and getting involved with Limerick in a management capacity because of Tipp, John Kiely will ensure that the Limerick boys will be ready for road'

Will we see Tipp day one or Tipp day two?

According to the bookies, Limerick will win this game by nine points. If it is Tipp day one, Shane Dowling reckons it will slightly less, if it is Tipp day two, then it could be considerably more

GAA • 06 May 22

'Considering his stature, Shefflin didn't need to go into management. By doing that he is leaving himself open to fail, something that he never did. But he doesn't care about his name'

Two born competitors - Cody v Shefflin is box office

Henry Shefflin will come up against his former mentor and manager Brian Cody in Salthill on Sunday, Shane Dowling believes it could give Kilkenny fans a glimpse at their future.

GAA • 29 Apr 22

Shane Dowling was impressed with how Limerick's Cathal O'Neill slotted in for Cian Lynch

Dowling: Treaty squad strength disheartening for rivals

Former Limerick hurler Shane Dowling believes that the Treaty County's ability to flex their strength in depth against Waterford on Saturday sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the contenders in this year's All-Ireland Championship.

GAA • 25 Apr 22

"This Saturday night I think the whole country will have a fair idea of where both Limerick and Waterford are at"

Limerick braced for Déise test after Cork's no show

Limerick will face a much truer test of their level against Waterford than they got from a Cork side who need to do some soul-searching after last week's championship opener, writes our hurling columnist.

GAA • 22 Apr 22

"As old fashioned as this may sound, I would be surprised If we don't see a big melee on Sunday. Cork simply have to stand up"

Time for Cork to stand up against unknown Limerick

After successive defeats in last year's championship to Limerick, Cork players simply have throw more than just the kitchen sink at the All-Ireland champions when the sides meet at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

GAA • 15 Apr 22

'At 11am, the shop was bedlam. Queues going all around the back of the shop'

Tales from frontline as GAA ticketing system struggles

Having never had to worry about tickets, Shane Dowling this week had a front row seat as the new distribution system struggled to keep up with demand on Tuesday.

GAA • 08 Apr 22