Purple Reign

THERE was a period in the early noughties when the most famous left-corner-back in hurling was Galway’s Ollie Canning. He won three All-Star awards, but it should have been at least four, possibly five, as the Portumna speedster won nationwide renown for his deeds in snuffing out the threat of one great corner-forward after another.

Pace was his hallmark but he was also a consummate stickman; Ollie would attack the ball with absolute confidence, sure that his first touch would win him possession, leaving the unfortunate forward trailing in his slipstream. And then, two years ago, still only 29, at the height of his powers, he turned his back on it all and walked away from inter-county hurling. At about the same time, Joe Canning was coming. In his final year as a minor Joe was going for three-in-a-row All-Ireland titles with Galway, and already, such was his rapidly growing reputation, he was invited onto the senior panel. He didn’t take up the offer that year, didn’t take it up either last year but starred for the Galway U21s as they won another All-Ireland title, starred also for Portumna as they won their second All-Ireland club title in three years in March of this year.

This season, however, good news for hurling supporters generally, for Galway fans particularly. At the ripe old age of 19 Joe decided that he was ready to try and tackle senior level, and has already proved he is as he starred for the Tribesmen in the National League semi-final and final. This season also Ollie has recanted; refreshed, rejuvenated after his one-year hiatus, he now feels ready to rejoin the inter-county fray and three weeks ago, following Portumna’s All-Ireland win, he got back into harness. No competitive match just yet, Antrim and Casement Park - Galway’s first championship outing — still on the middle horizon, but even after just one year away Ollie has already noted some changes.