Canning faces fitness battle

GALWAY’S Joe Canning is battling to be fit for the NHL opener with Wexford on February 13.

“Joe has a heel pad injury and it will be touch and go whether he will be able to play against Wexford,” manager John McIntyre revealed. “He’s been suffering from the injury for some time, but he aggravated it in training last week, and that has set him back even more.”

Canning will have a scan later today to assess the problem. McIntyre has a long injury list with Shane Kavanagh, Damien Hayes, Aidan Harte, Kevin Hynes, Fergal Moore, Damien Joyce, Joe Gantley, David Hayes, Aonghus Callanan and Niall Healy set to miss the weekend Walsh Cup semi-final against Dublin.

The Galway boss is hopeful defender Moore will be in contention for a place on the panel for the opening league fixture as he returns from a hamstring problem.

McIntyre said the captaincy of the Galway team has been entrusted to Portumna forward Andy Smith for the duration of the Walsh Cup campaign.