Farragher says Canning will be raring to go after winter lay-off

GALWAY hurler Ger Farragher believes team-mate Joe Canning will feel the benefit of his enforced rest period during this summer’s championship.

Canning was sidelined with injury for the majority of the Tribesmen’s league campaign but not having to endure a punishing All-Ireland club season with Portumna or a Fitzgibbon Cup campaign with Limerick IT will stand to him in Farragher’s view.

“It’s great that he had a rest. It’s a serious amount of hurling he’s played, with Fitzgibbon, the club, U21 county and senior. He was injured, he hurt his heel at the start of the league and it was probably no harm because he’s fresh and ready to go.

“You can see it in him in training. There probably is a lot of expectation on him but everyone knows what he can do. Even Joe said himself, if he’s not playing well he’s the first to admit it. If Joe Canning’s on form, Galway have a serious chance.”

Farragher has also welcomed the return of experienced forward Alan Kerins to the county ranks, after he sparkled during Clarinbridge’s All-Ireland club winning run, to the county ranks. He said: “You see in the club final, he was probably the outstanding player. Even the last day I played a club game and he was man of the match again.”

Farragher insists that Galway will be taking the challenge posed by Westmeath in Saturday’s provincial opener seriously, with the scare they received against Laois a few years ago fresh in the mind.

“I know what you’re saying, it’s hard to get up for it but with what happened with Laois, we know from past experiences.”