THERE WAS SIMPLY no stopping Shane Dowling on Saturday evening, as the 24-year-old made a triumphant return from injury after close to four months out.
The Limerick full-forward scored one of the all-time great individual goals at Parnell Park as Na Piarsaigh booked their place in the All-Ireland senior club championship final.
Slaughtneil’s backline could do nothing to prevent half-time introduction Dowling on his mission, with eyes only for the back of his opponent’s net.
The Munster champions were a goal down at the break, but Dowling’s introduction proved pivotal.
A routine puck into the box saw goalkeeper Oisin O’Doherty collect possession before preparing to hook the ball back from where it came from down the pitch.
Dowling intervened with a brave block to firstly dispose the goalkeeper, before scooping the ball over the challenge of one marker and smashing the ball into the back of the net with a third and decisive flick of his hurl.
The goal increased 13-man Na Piarsaigh’s lead to seven points with just under twenty minutes to go and was instrumental in seeing the side into a St Patrick’s Day decider in five weeks’ time.
You can watch Dowling’s goal in all it’s glory below.
Shane Dowling announces his return from injury with a cracking goal! pic.twitter.com/8Ji7aSJHDQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 10, 2018
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