Joe Canning announced his retirement from inter-county hurling yesterday.
During a glittering career Canning was an instrumental figure when Galway captured the All Ireland SHC title in 2017.
As a teenager Canning flared to prominence with a brilliant Portumna outfit subsequently winning five Galway County Championship medals and four AIB All Ireland club crowns.
Canning was part of two All Ireland minor winning teams and also sampled U21 glory with Galway in 2007. Five All Stars were accumulated by Canning, who became the all time leading scorer in All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday.
In 62 Championship matches for Galway, Canning, who made his senior debut in 2008, remarkably registered 27-485.
“That’s it, finished with Galway now,” Canning confirmed at a Bord Gais Energy media event on Wednesday.
“I told the boys after in the dressing room, that was it, so I have to keep my word a bit on that one. I will keep playing with Portumna, but that’s me finished with Galway.”
Following Saturday’s All Ireland SHC Round Two qualifier defeat to Waterford at Semple Stadium Canning informed his colleagues about the decision.
“I thought it might be later on in the year,” Canning remarked. “You were kind of hoping in August time, August 22, All-Ireland that’s your kind of dream isn’t it, but that’s life, as I said, life moves on, that’s just the way it is.
“I am content with it. It wasn’t a thing just because we lost, that’s it. As I said to the boys I wanted to say it then because we will never be in that group again.”
Canning has been bothered by injuries throughout the 2021 campaign.“There have been a lot of people wondering, would I, wouldn’t I, so just to end all that,” he added.
“It’s injuries and stuff like that. I had a couple of fairly serious ones over the year and even this year alone I tore a hamstring after the Waterford league game and didn’t realise I had it for a few weeks.
“Just a little nick, I’d a partial tear in my thumb as well. My finger, my heel, yeah there are four or five injuries alone this year, niggly ones, so yeah it wasn’t getting any easier for me.
“I just feel the time is right. I don’t want to stay around too long either.”
