‘He knew exactly what to do’- Why Shane Dowling deliberately pucked the ball out for a sideline

Dowling took his time and then drilled a ball into the same openside stand. A nearby hurley carrier hopped the wire in desperate search of it. Before the ball had even crossed the line, Peter Casey was jogging back the field to their set defence.

KNEW WHAT TO DO: Na Piarsaigh goalkeeper Shane Dowling celebrates after his side's victory in the Limerick County Senior Club Hurling Championship final between Na Piarsaigh and Patrickswell at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Pic:Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

After Na Piarsaigh captain Mike Casey climbed the steps in the Gaelic Grounds, he spelt out precisely how long it took for them to defend their crown and the extensive backroom team that helped them do it.

“It has been 38 weeks to get to where we are,” the victorious captain declared. “Shane O’Neill and the boys gathered us all together and posed a question, ‘This is on us. We have the talent. We have the work. Can we go out and produce it?’ “To Shane O, his backroom team. I’ll probably forget a load of lads, John, Lukasz, Alan, Damien, all the boys in stats, Barry, Ben, all the rest of the guys that go unnoticed, thanks very much.”