JOE CANNING IS back in the Galway team for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Cork.

The Portumna superstar shot four points in the second half of last Sunday’s victory over Kilkenny after coming off the bench and has been rewarded with a place in the starting line-up.

Canning made a quicker than expected return from a broken finger to make a surprise comeback against the Cats. Dean Higgins loses out as boss Anthony Cunningham makes just one change to the Tribesmen’s starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Cork boss Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made five changes to his team.

In come William Kearney, Stephen McDonnell, Brian Lawton, Stephen Moylan and Paudie O’Sullivan.

Christopher Joyce is out after sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage against Dublin last weekend while Conor O’Sullivan, Rob O’Shea, Alan Cadogan and Luke Farrell miss out.

The game takes place on Sunday 15 March in Pearse Stadium at 2.30pm.

Galway team: 

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)

2. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
4. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)

5. David Collins (Liam Mellows)
6. Greg Lally (Gort)
7. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)

8. Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
9. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)

10. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
11. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
12. Joe Canning (Portumna)

13. James Regan (St Thomas’)
14. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkin’s)

Cork team:

1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)

2. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
3. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
4. William Kearney (Sarsfields)

5. Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)

8. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)
9. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)

10. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
11. Seamus Harnedy (St.Ita’s)
12. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)

13. Stephen Moylan (Douglas)
14. Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)

Subs:

16. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
17. Cian McCarthy (Sarsfields)
18. Luke Farrell (Midleton)
19. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
20. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline)
21. Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfields)
22. Brian O’Sullivan (Fermoy)
23. Killian Burke (Midleton)
24. Darren McCarthy (Ballymartle)
25. Andy Walsh (Killeagh)
26. Anthony Spillane (Castlelyons)

N.B. Jamie Coughlan, Bill Cooper, Damien Cahalane, Patrick Cronin along with Christopher Joyce were not considered for this game due to injury.

Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan was quick off the mark on Twitter last night

Tyrrell, Kernan, Podge, Bubbles and more: Staggering reaction to #TheToughestTrade