Limerick hurler Shane Dowling has called for extra help for GAA officials following a contentious decision that arguably cost Limerick a place in an All-Ireland final, where Kilkenny will play instead.

It may be expected that Dowling would be brimming with acrimony following the faint deflection of a Kilkenny hurl, but he has taken his lead from John Kiely in eschewing self-pity.

"I feel sorry for refs and linesmen. Players are given nine months to work so hard to get something, and it might come down to a decision that they just might miss.

"They are humans. We saw the technology that was there to award a point to Wexford [on Sunday] - why couldn't that technology be brought in?

"They could have a quick word in the air to say 'that's a 65' - and that is the problem solved."

Dowling said that he made his feelings known to the referee on Saturday, but retained sympathy for their plight nonetheless - and believes that changes need to come for referees' safety.

"There should be something there to help them out. There is too much at stake these days and lads putting in too much work.

"Referees down in the country, where there might not be so much protection [...] if things don't happen, or referees are not protected, then something could happen that no-one wants to see."

Notwithstanding, Dowling credited Kilkenny manager for coming and paying his respects to a funereal atmosphere in the Limerick dressing room post-match on Thursday.

"Brian Cody came into us last year and gave us a lovely speech, and was really thorough with what he said, and that he wanted us to go and win the All-Ireland.

"Twelve months later, he said 'Listen - I'm not going to stay here long as I know exactly how you are feeling.' I suppose the memory is the difference that twelve months can make."

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