GALWAY HURLER JOE Canning has revealed that the serious hamstring injury he suffered in Augustโs All-Ireland semi-final could have ended his career.
Canning was forced off at half-time of that game against Tipperary having sustained the injury just before the interval.
The 27 year-old has since undergone surgery and is facing a six-month spell on the sidelines.
Canning was speaking last night on Newstalkโs Off The Ball as part of the announcement of the Bord Gรกis Energy U21 hurling team of the year.
The Portumna club man outlined the nature of his injury.
โ(I was) probably a centimetre and a half away from ending my career so thatโs how lucky and unlucky I am I suppose in a way.
โIf it went off the bone, itโd be a different story. Thereโs still hope to try and get back anyway.โ
โIโm getting the brace off one of the days. Six weeks done after the operation, so rehab now for the next couple of months.โ
Canning is hopeful that he will get some game time before the end of the 2017 hurling league campaign where Galway will be operating in Division 1B.
โItโs about six months altogether. So hopefully get back for a bit of league next year. (Iโll) miss the pre-season, itโs not too bad!โ.
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Get well soon. Hurling needs him.
Oh Joe ,Will you ever step up to the plate when Galway need you.!
Thatโs bar stool talk , the reality is very different . Almost certainly Galway would not have made it to two all-Ireland finals without him . His back is broke from carrying that Galway team .
Mr knowitall knows sweet f*all about hurling it seemsโฆ.
The problem is he has stepped up to the plate too many times for Galway that now heโs expected to do it every game
The problem is heโs expected to be all things to all men for that Galway team, itโs like asking Seamus Callanan to roam the entire field to influence play instead of just staying near the square and having top players make runs all around him to create space, Galway as a team would play better if there was less expected of Joe