Eamonn Cregan believes Limerick manager John Allen was right to leave Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes out of his team for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Tipperary.

Allen has raised eyebrows by omitting the star pair, but 1973 All-Ireland winner Cregan said in the Irish Times: "Shane Dowling had gone off form and was only a sub against Kilkenny in Martinstown. His form dipped and John Allen has always said to these players that once you're on the team, you keep your place and if you're not on, you have to fight your way back in.

"Downes has been hit and miss again this year and it's unusual that the two are from the same club (Na Piarsaigh). It's kind of a small surprise but you have to pick based on form. They don't seem to be on form and reputations mean nothing."

The Claughan clubman, who guided Offaly to a famous comeback victory over his native county in the 1994 All-Ireland final, has expressed frustration at the Treaty County's apparent lack of progress.

"I'm disappointed with the progress of the present group of players. I'll give you an example - we played Dublin in the Division 1B League final and we put Declan Hannon at full forward. I've had Declan with Mary I and he's a consummate hurler. I love watching him.

"People say he's kinda lazy and he is laid back in that sense but we had him at full forward and what did we do? We started going for long-range points. What's the fuzzy thinking behind that? He's in again next Sunday and needs proper ball.

"If I was full forward on the Limerick team at the moment, I'd be frustrated because it takes so long for the damned ball to come in." Tweet

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