'1994 went through every single person's head' - Limerick hero Shane Dowling perfectly sums up wild All-Ireland finish
19 August 2018; Shane Dowling of Limerick celebrates with supportetrs following the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Galway and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Limerick star Shane Dowling has revealed that the memories of the 1994 All-Ireland final went through his mind as the Treaty county held on in the final moments at Croke Park against Galway to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 1973.
The talented forward hit the back of the net for John Kiely's side to put them eight clear entering injury time, which looked to have sealed the title for Limerick. However, Galway goals from Conor Whelan and Joe Canning helped reduce the gap to just a single point, which prompted comparisons to Limerick's All-Ireland final collapse against Offaly in 1994.
Leading by five points with five minutes to go 24 years ago, Limerick conceded 2-5 without reply to lose to Offaly by six points. However, yesterday's ending was different as Limerick held on to claim victory by a point after a Joe Canning free fell short.
Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One, Dowling revealed that although many players weren't even born in '94, the trauma of that defeat was in the thoughts of his team-mates and coaches in the dying moments.
"After the game I asked Paul Kinnerk [Limerick coach] if '94 went through his head when Galway were coming back and he said it did," Dowling said.
"I was talking to John Kiely in Croke Park afterwards and asked him, 'John, honestly did '94 go through your head in the last few minutes?' and he said it did. I spoke to six players - and I haven't even spoke to Nickie [Quaid] and he is nodding his head - and it is just amazing, it went through every single person's head.
"We weren't there, we had nothing to do with it but it just shows how much that particular match influenced the current crop. Thanks to be god, '94, '96 and '07 are put to bed and now we have 2018."
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