Loughnane in Canning bid

GER LOUGHNANE last night pleaded with All Star Ollie Canning to reconsider his decision to quit intercounty hurling.

Canning retired last year saying his enthusiasm for the intercounty scene has diminished. After Loughnane’s Galway leaked 3-17 against Clare yesterday the manager admitted: “The big problem is still that, defensively, while we were missing a few big names today, we need someone like Ollie Canning as well.

“People are saying that when the Portumna lads come back — Ollie and Joe (Canning), Damien Hayes, Eoin Lynch, all of those — but I think Ollie Canning could still do a massive job for Galway.”

But Loughnane is adamant the 31-year-old Portumna man could be a crucial asset in the bid for All-Ireland honours.

“That’s the type of player we need, that cuteness. If we could add someone like that to the mix we have, the quality we have, we could challenge most teams.”