Canning back as Galway skipper

Joe Canning will lead Galway out for the first time in his career on Sunday when he captains the Tribesmen in their bid to topple Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling League semi-final.

Galway manager Anthony Cunningham confirmed yesterday that Canning is poised to make his first start of 2014 in the maroon shirt having missed all of their Division 1A games because of Portumna’s involvement in the All-Ireland club championship and a subsequent hamstring injury.

But while the Tribesmen are boosted by Canning’s return, his predecessor as captain, Fergal Moore, has been ruled out with a finger injury.

The Turloughmore defender is one of Galway’s most experienced players but looks set to be out for several weeks after suffering a broken digit.

Galway centre-back Iarla Tannian and forward Niall Healy are in a race to recover from hamstring injuries, but Cunningham is more hopeful for those two.

“We would expect them to be fit, but we will just wait and see,” said Cunningham.

Meanwhile, Galway’s footballers will be without goalkeeper Thomas Healy for their opening game in the Connacht championship next month against London.

The Corofin clubman was sent off in the final league game against Monaghan last Sunday week and has been handed a one-match suspension.

Healy was shown a red card after an off-the-ball tangle with Conor McManus in the second half of their clash in Clones.

Manus Breathnach is likely to take over between the posts for the May 25 championship clash against last year’s Connacht finalists.