Canning to link up with Galway panel

Teenage sensation Joe Canning is to train with the Galway senior hurling panel later this week.

The 19-year-old is one of a number of players from Portumna's All-Ireland AIB Club SHC winning side that have been invited to link up with the county panel.

Canning, who has played in three All-Ireland minor finals, turned down an offer from Galway manager Ger Loughnane to join the senior ranks last year and is still eligible for the Under-21 grade this term.

But the way could be clear now for the highly rated Limerick IT student to make his senior bow for the Tribesmen, as they mount a serious challenge for National League and All-Ireland championship honours.

Speaking after Sunday's win over Limerick, which sent his side through to the league semi-finals, Loughnane revealed: "The story is we invited six Portumna lads onto the panel. Everybody that is brought into the Galway panel this year, they have been brought in for a chat beforehand.

"We had all the other fellas in...Kevin Hayes, Damien Hayes, Eoin Lynch, Andy Smith and Joe (Canning). We had them in for a chat so they will all be back next weekend.

"When you put all those fellas back into the mix, with the current team, you'd hope to build up a very strong panel.

"There's three weeks to the semi-final and in that three weeks we'll have the likes of Fergal Moore and we'll have Alan Kerins and we'll have the Portumna lads. We'll have all those back in contention for the semi-final," he added.

Ollie Canning, Joe's older brother, may have retired from inter-county hurling over a year ago, but Loughnane is eager for the three-time All Star corner back to return to Galway colours.

The 31-year-old defender played a leading role in Portumna's push for All-Ireland glory this season as he captained the club to their second Tommy Moore Cup triumph in three years.

Loughnane explained: "Ollie is taking a bit of time to consider whether he will come back or not because it's a very big decision for him.

"It's a very big chance for him to take: 'will I go back? will I get on the team and if I do, is my pace gone?' He has to weigh up all that before he does come back."