Canning and Ryan win Opel awards

Galway hurling sensation Joe Canning and experienced Dublin footballer Shane Ryan have the Opel Gaelic Player of the Month awards for July.

A worthy winner of the football gong, Ryan has been one of the stars of the 2008 football championship, leading his county to their fourth Leinster title in-a-row.

The Naomh Mearnóg clubman has been in superb form for Dublin all season playing a pivotal role in the Dubs' march through the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Commenting on the selection of Ryan, former Kerry manager and chairman of the Opel Gaelic Players Football Selection Committee, Jack O'Connor said: "On a day when a lot of Dublin players shone, Shane Ryan was powerful in the way he bossed the midfield exchanges.

"Apart from winning a huge amount of primary possession, he repeatedly drove forward with purpose, delivered accurate ball to the Dublin attackers, and was also on hand to help his defensive colleagues when required. A real masterclass of midfield play."

In his debut season with the Galway seniors, Canning has lit up the hurling summer with his electrifying performances.

An undoubted star in the making, the Portumna clubman contributed hugely to Galway's victories in the hurling qualifiers against Laois and Antrim.

He then plundered a remarkable 2-12 against Cork in a sensational individual performance.

Commenting on the selection of Canning, chairman of the Opel Gaelic Players Hurling Selection Committee, Donal O'Grady said: "Much was expected of Joe Canning before he ever donned the jersey for the Galway senior hurlers and he has delivered in spectacular style.

"Despite being up against one of hurling most experienced full-backs in Diarmuid O'Sullivan in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final, his class shone from start to finish.

"While he ended that evening in Thurles on the losing side, he hit a brilliant 2-12 (1-5 from play) of Galway's total of 2-15, and the followers of the Tribesmen have much to look forward to in the coming years."