Star duo face race against time

THEY come from different ends of hurling’s spectrum, Eddie Connolly and Joe Canning, but on Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick they have a common aim — to deprive the other of the win that will take them to the Holy Ground of Croke Park on March 17.

Connolly is the low-profile corner-forward on the Loughmore-Castleiney side attempting to create history in this, their first foray in the All-Ireland senior hurling club championship. Canning — still only 19 — is already one of hurling’s shining lights. A superstar in the making.

Three years ago Canning really grabbed the national spotlight. In 2005, still only 16, he won his second All-Ireland MHC medal with Galway; a few weeks later he starred with Portumna as they won their second Galway senior title in three years.