Shane Dowling was the hero for Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship at the weekend.
Though the former Limerick hurler was playing as goalkeeper for the Na Piarsaigh second team, it did not prevent him from getting on the scoresheet. He scored 1-2 as his side defeated Feohanagh 1-19 to 1-18.
Dowling's goal, which came from a late free, was the winner for Na Piarsaigh. His two points came from a free and a '65.
19 August 2018; Shane Dowling of Limerick shoots to score his side's third goal past Galway goalkeeper Fergal Flannery during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Galway and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The 29-year-old was forced to retire from inter-county hurling in July 2020 due to a persistent knee injury.
After 32 months out of action, he returned to the pitch with Na Piarsaigh in April for a Limerick Senior Hurling League game against Monaleen.
"An image I thought, or was told anyway, I would never see again!" he tweeted at the time.
"32 long months later, some feeling to finally get back out on the pitch last night. Onwards and upwards."
The 2018 All-Ireland winner admitted in April that it's likely he will never get back to the level he was at prior to the injury.
"It’s too early to say," he said.
"We’re back training a couple of weeks with the club. I’ve months of work done prior to that. The real hard stuff. Some days it takes me no time to recover, others a few days.
"More than likely I’ll never get back to where I was. I was going to say I lost my pace but I never had that to lose anyway."
Shane Dowling winning goal in Limerick IHC
Dow set the tone when he banged a goal @dowlerznap @DaloAnto pic.twitter.com/dUHrFM2Bls
— James Noonan (@jamesn1989) July 31, 2022
See Also: Austin Gleeson Solo Goal Lights Up Waterford Hurling Championship
