JOE CANNING ADMITS he’d love to be playing for Galway under golfing buddy Henry Shefflin but acknowledges his injury ravaged body simply wouldn’t be able for it.
The 2017 All-Ireland winner and Hurler of the Year, 33, confirmed his retirement last July in advance of Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin becoming Tribesmen chief.
Canning revealed that the two hurling icons were actually supposed to play golf together at the prestigious Adare Manor resort on the morning after Shefflin was installed as Galway manager – but Shefflin mysteriously withdrew a couple of days beforehand.
It soon became crystal clear why Shefflin couldn’t tee it up on the bucket list course and, weeks later, he contacted Canning about potentially coming out of retirement.
Speaking at the launch of the 2022 Bord Gais Energy Legends Tour Series, Canning said that it would have been ‘kind of cool’ to play for Shefflin but admitted his body couldn’t handle it.
“That’s the reality of it,” said Canning. “Of course I would still love to be playing inter-county, there is no doubt about that but realistically would I be able for it? No.”
Asked if his body is stronger now after parking inter-county hurling and giving himself some rest, the Portumna wizard shook his head.
“Not really,” he said. “I have been recovering. I tore the tendon in my groin off my pubic bone again, the same injury I did in ’19 except on the opposite side. I am only getting back hurling in the last couple of weeks so I missed all the championship with the club last year.
“My knee is still at me. I had an operation at the end of ’17 on the knee and that is still at me. All those little things don’t just clear up because you are finished, they probably get worse because you are so well looked after at inter-county level.”
Canning, part of the Galway minor management this season, is still keeping a close eye on his former senior colleagues.
He is hoping last weekend’s dramatic Leinster SHC win over Kilkenny was a watershed moment which can elevate the team onto a new level of performance and consistency after a patchy few months under King Henry.
“You don’t know, you just don’t know,” said Shefflin. “Like, who is to say they won’t lose the next two games and then you go back and say, ‘Was the Kilkenny game the moment (they took off) or not?’ But I do think they needed that game, especially after the Wexford game where they should have closed it out and those frees at the end where we got the free taken off Conor Cooney and they took longer over their last free to equalise. They needed that game against Kilkenny, to get that win, especially at home. You need to win your home games.”
On the frosty post-match exchange in Salthill between Shefflin and his old Kilkenny ally Brian Cody, whom Shefflin won 10 All-Irelands under, Canning shrugged.
“Brian is a winner, there is no doubt about that,” said Canning. “It was often said to me before when I was playing, another inter-county manager actually said to me, ‘Nice guys win f-all’. So you have to be ruthless. He (Cody) did not win all those All-Irelands with Kilkenny being a nice guy and it was a difficult situation obviously, with their history of coaching Henry, and Henry being against his native county so, it is what it is. He lost a Championship game, that’s life. I would not read too much into it.”
Canning had his own take too on the analysis of the late free which allowed Conor Cooney to strike the winning point. Tom Monaghan was adjudged to have been fouled by Kilkenny’s Paddy Deegan though Sunday Game pundits Shane Dowling and Derek McGrath suggested it should have been acceptable for Deegan to take ‘man, ball and all’ without being penalised.
“I found it hilarious that…now I didn’t see the Sunday Game, I don’t really watch it, but I heard it back that Shane Dowling and Derek McGrath said it wasn’t a free because he got man, ball and all,” said Canning.
“If you get the man, is that not a free? It didn’t make sense what they were saying to me. Any time you go through the back of a player it was a free, to be straight up about it.
“And if it was the opposite way, you’d have to hold up your hand and say, ‘Yeah, it was a free’. But at the end of the day, if you get man, ball and all, nine times out of 10 it is a free, no?”
Cheat
Get over it
Also go and get your facts right
He is disgrace to the nation. Bet this time sample B won’t go missing
bit severe. it was his horse. he’s the real cheat. glue factory.
Seen his horse hanging out on the boardwalk of the Liffey.
Why is it that people give out when we don’t win medals, but when we put a rider into a competition who has a really good chance of a medal, people call him a cheat, ( his horse failed a doping test ) not Cain and don’t forget he was cleared of having any involvement, plus all of cian’s horses have passed every doping test within the last four years . so why don’t you all get of your high horses . I wish Cain all the best in the qualifier maybe he’ll even bring a medal home .
Well said.
I’m disgusted that this guy is representing my country. As far as I’m concerned he’s a cheat, he shouldn’t be there. If he wins a medal I won’t be celebrating.
im the same..can’t support him.
Well said Vanessa
Humans who take drugs have control over what goes into their bodies, if you are a rider, lots of other people have access to the horse, grooms, vets, anyone passing the stable.
That last episode was all a story from “spooks” missing sample, break in to offices ect
Very strange but still stripped of gold and should not have gone his place should have been given to next in line
Where are all these stupid cheat comments coming from? From my recollection it was his horse that tested positive for a banned substance and not Cian and he was cleared of all involvement in the doping incident. Before or since Athens there hasn’t been a single concern raised about any horse ridden by O’Connor. Get your facts straight before accusing a sportsperson of something so serious.
It’s the fact that there was a real underhanded effort to get sample b to disappear. Said he had no knowledge of it. Well he would say that wouldn’t he.
Don’t we have short memories.
I am a show jumping fan 24/7. I am involved in the production of young horses and travel to shows around the country week in and week out. I do not recognise most of the people commenting on this thread. Yes you are entitled to an opion but that doesnt make you informed or correct. Well done Cian and good luck in the next round from a real Irish Show Jumping Supporter.
Eric Lamaze reigning Olympic champion was thrown out of the Canadian team on several occasions because of cocaine abuse. Now clean and forgiven and hugely popular ( as well as really brilliant ) … Why can’t Cian O’Connor benefit from a similar forgiveness? Especially since his horse tested positive for a tranquilliser?? Go on Cian! Win a medal !! Might be difficult against this English and Saudi Arabians…
Other riders and their families have suffered as a result of this guys drug history. Yet because of his connections he gets picked – whoever picked him should be fired and the committee that helped decide. It means the selectors are cheats as well as O Connor. If a family member of mine was missed out as a result of corruption and cheating I would be disgusted. It’s real Irish where the rich can buy their way out of trouble. Pat Hickey gets promoted and the honest people who compete against O Connor and his selectors must try and keep their chins up against these cheats. It’s our children who will suffer from the example given ie take drugs and you get ahead. Thank you Pat Hickey and your selectors for this sin against decent people. I hope he falls of his horse.
Irish people don’t like success in others, they just like to wallow in their own self pity and blame other people, the government, the British. Someone does well? Must be a cheat, someone earns to much? Must be corrupt. Get over yourselves, knock that large chip off your shoulder and support your country and those competing and working hard for it. Bring on the reds!
so who gave the horse the drugs?
the FEI said it was satisfied that Cian O’Connor was not involved in a deliberate attempt to influence the performance of the horse.
Although the substance was prohibited, it was not performance enhancing.
Always amuses me when i state FACTS and get red thumbs, seems people don’t like the truth.