Canning keen to improve

Joe Canning is aiming for redemption in a do-or-die clash with Tipp, writes Diarmuid O’Flynn

IT’S hard being a forward in the modern game of hurling, with defenders becoming ever faster and more skilful. The task is more onerous again when you come up against a Kilkenny back division which is as mean and tough as any that ever played.

So it was with Galway in this year’s Leinster final. They went into that match with hopes high boasting a forward division that had been averaging 2-20 in the championship. They came out the other end with hopes shattered, their attack shredded – a paltry 1-12 return, six points of that scored in the final 12 minutes when the game was decided.