JOE CANNING WILL be a key part of the Galway team that face off against Clare in senior hurling combat in Thurles on Sunday.
The teams meet in an All-Ireland quarter-final tie that will evoke memories of the wonderful and thrilling U21 hurling tie at Semple Stadium that Canning starred in between the counties in 2009.
Clare claimed the honours after extra-time in that Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-final in a remarkable game by 3-23 to 5-15. Canning helped himself to a stunning haul of 4-7 yet wound up on the losing side.
He wasn’t the only player from that game who will be a key figure in next Sunday’s tie as Canning’s teammates in that U21 game included James Skehill, David Burke and Aidan Harte.
And there’s a large chunk of the Clare team that will be familiar opponents as well. Darach Honan was the scoring star of that Clare U21 team as he fired 2-4 against Galway in that game.
Colin Ryan (0-8) and Conor McGrath (1-1) were others to impact in the scoring stakes for Banner in that match.
While Donal Tuohy, Domhnall O’Donovan, Nicky O’Connell, Patrick O’Connor, Cian Dillon, John Conlon and Sean Collins are others currently involved with Davy Fitzgerald’s senior squad.
2009 All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-final
Clare 3-23
Galway 5-15
CLARE: D Touhy; J Gunning, E Glynn, C O’Doherty; D O’Donovan, N O’Connell (0-1, f), P O’Connor; E Barrett, C Chaplin; J Conlon (0-3), C O’Donovan (0-1), S Collins (0-2); D Honan (2-4), C Morey (0-1), C Ryan (0-8, 4f, 2’65).
Subs: C Dillon for Gunning (20), C McGrath (1-1) for O’Connor (30), C Tierney (0-2) for Morey (47), P Kelly for Collins (78).
GALWAY: J Skehill; S Quinn, C Daly, M Dolphin; D Connolly, B Regan, C Forde; D Burke (0-1) , S Óg Linnane; K Keehan, A Harte (1-2), E Forde (0-3); A Dolan (0-1), J Canning (4-7, 2p, 1-3 f, 2sl, 1’65), N Quinn (0-1).
Subs: K Killilea for Dolan (40), B Daly for Linnane (49), G Burke for Teehan (53), J Ryan for S Quinn (69), Linnane for Forde (78).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
Here’s the highlights from normal time in that game:
YouTube: hurlingtime
The first half of extra-time:
YouTube: hurlingtime
And the dramatic conclusion to that game in the second-half of extra-time:
YouTube: hurlingtime
This is a great opportunity to try something different and not have the usual opposition of the old school diehards who dont want change.
The idea of an open knockout championship sounds great I think and would give teams a shot of a dream run. If I’m from Kildare or Fermanagh, I would be much more motivated for championship as you go from 7 games (minimum) to an All Ireland final to 4 games..
@Lad: until those old school diehards stop getting voted onto county/provincial boards, provincial championships are here to stay.
@Lad: Would that not bring us back to why the qualifier system was introduced. 16 teams would only get 1 game. I’d be in favour of a champions league style group format, ran for 2 years, and then split into 2 separate championships, retaining that format. Have a system for promotion and relegation. It’s a lot of games for players though, which may make it a hard sell.
Open draw, try it once. Can u imagine if Kerry got Dublin in killarney in football or tipp v kilkenny in thurles..in first round ties..the buzz would be unique.
@jay bernard: would they allow supporters at the match?
Look, it’s best to just forget about the league, and I’m not just saying that because we may be relegated (‘ ‘) ….
@Logan Shepherd: “May”
@Logan Shepherd: please god forget about the league
@my name: Ah .. if it was May, I’d say go ahead and finish it, but it’s nearly the end of June :-)
Always thought brollys idea of 8 groups of 4 teams with top two play knockout for A all Ireland bottom two play in b all Ireland. Everyone gets 4 games and everyone has chance for a all Ireland. Entails for far more excitement
Yeah, what most of us have wanted for years… provincial championship in football is a joke, Ulster aside. You can’t keep the current provincial set up based on one province alone