Limerick welcome back superstar forward and suddenly they’re a serious force again

You don't have to look too far back to remember 2013 at the Gaelic Grounds.

Thousands upon thousands of green jerseys descending onto the pitch at full time of the Munster final as Limerick were anointed as provincial champions for the first time since 1996. Such was their joy and ecstasy that staying in the stands to celebrate just wasn't physically possible. They're a passionate bunch in Limerick. They love their hurling and they love their county. Somewhere in the last two years, those standards have slipped. After Cork exacted revenge on The Treaty County the following season, it just hasn't felt like they were ever going to hit the same heights. Now, life in Division 1B has started with a defeat to Wexford but they've since bounced back with two wins and have their eyes on Laois on Saturday. Joining them for the first time will be a certain Shane Dowling. The Na Piarsaigh All-Ireland winner was struck down with a virus that has ruled him out of contention for the entirety of 2017. But he's back in the Limerick starting line-up and so too are the memories of his three points from the bench against Cork in the Munster final four years ago. So too are the marvels at his seven at Croker for his club last St. Patrick's Day. So is the rallying call for the sea of green.

"Limerick play well when it's played the Limerick way and the crowd are involved," Dowling spoke in a fascinating interview with SportsJOE's GAA Hour hurling show. "When the sea of green is there, that's when Limerick always play at their best. "I'm not sure there are too many teams in the country that would fancy playing Limerick when there's a big crowd there, the sea of green is there and the crowd are vocal and we're playing at the intensity we can get to. "But we haven't gotten to that intensity in the last couple of years and, when you don't get to that intensity, the crowd won't get involved and you become an easier team to beat and that's what's happening. "We have to get back to what we do best - it takes a lot of work, there's a lot of fitness involved and a lot of a load of things. If we can get back to that though, I think we could mean business at some stage."

Listen to the whole interview (from 44:50) below. The Limerick team to play Laois is as follows: 1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock) 2. Stephen Cahill (Tournafulla) 3. Richie Engish (Doon) 4. Sean Finn (Bruff) 5. Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher) 6. Declan Hannon (Adare) 7. Dan Morrissey (Ahane) 8. Darragh O Donovan (Doon) 9. William O Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh) 10. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) 11. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s) 12. James Ryan (Garryspillane)(Captain) 13. Kevin O Brien (Patrickswell) 14. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry) 15. Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen)