Dowling call critical for Treaty – Moran

FORMER Limerick hero Ollie Moran believes the decision on whether to start Shane Dowling or hold him in reserve is one of the most critical facing Treaty manager John Kiely this week.

Dowling performed brilliantly off the bench in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Cork, finishing the game with 1-4. After that impact Kiely might be tempted to include him from the start this time around and Moran agrees it’s a difficult decision to make. “He’s an absolutely quality player and I think he’d be on any other county team, but his impact is so huge coming off the bench now that the big conversation is: Do you start a guy who is certainly deserving of his place and worthy of his place, or is he of more benefit to the team coming off the bench and giving you the huge impact that he does off the bench?” Moran said. “Look, it’s a difficult one, I wouldn’t care to be in John Kiely’s position and have to tap him on the shoulder on maybe the Thursday or Friday before an All-Ireland final to say, ‘Look, we’re not starting you’. Because he’s meeting all the criteria, he’s in the shape of his life, he’s a natural go-to leader, he’s well spoken, he’s very well got in the dressing-room. All the things you want from your talisman. He is to Limerick probably what Joe Canning is to Galway, the irony of that is you are saying to a guy, ‘Unfortunately, we feel you are of far more benefit and importance to the team coming off the bench with ten or 15 minutes to go’.”

Moran believes the current Treaty side can end the county’s long wait for an All-Ireland crown.

“I think they have an absolutely fantastic chance. My gut is telling me yes. The primary reason for me is that they have serious momentum, they’ve gotten over their setback against Clare, they’ve beaten Kilkenny, they’ve beaten Cork. As a spectator, I would feel Galway are the team they’d want to play because they’re a big physical team, they’ll go toe to toe with Limerick, it’ll be 15 on 15, they are very similar in how they set up, similar in size, similar in how they play.”