The game of hurling nearly lost Joe Canning for good.
The Galway hurling star suffered a serious hamstring injury in his side’s narrow All-Ireland semi-final loss to Tipperary. He knew it was bad at the time but scans only revealed how bad it was.
On the GAA Hour Hurling Show, last month, former Galway hurler told us the extent of Canning’s injury. Of his Portumna clubmate, he said:
“He’s a write-off for the season. He told us [he is out for] five months. It’s a huge blow for us. Top players like that can’t be replaced.”
Canning was on Newstalk’s Off The Ball last night and provided a further insight into his injury and the operation that followed. His leg brace, on for six weeks, is due off soon.
The 27-year-old predicts he will be out for ‘six months altogether’ and is hoping to feature in some of the Allianz League campaign.
He revealed that his career could have been ended – much like rugby players Paul O’Connell and Johnny Holland – had the tear been further up his leg. He said:
“Probably a centimetre and a half away from ending my career so that’s how lucky and unlucky I am in a way.
“If it went off the bone, it would be a different story but there’s still hope to try and get back anyway.”
The hamstring stayed on the bone, thankfully, and Canning should be back by February 2017.
One suspects the Tribesmen will ease their star forward back into the mix. They’ll need him for a meaningful tilt at Tipperary & co. next summer.
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
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