Joe Canning was both gladiator and surgeon with a range of shots to match Seve

Audacity married virtuosity, the retiring Galway star possessed cold audacious brilliance

Joe Canning of Galway and Diarmuid O'Sullivan of Cork in the 2008 All-Ireland qualifier. Picture: INPHO/Donall Farmer

The retirement of Joe Canning, one of hurling’s finest talents, adds to an intense period for the most beautiful game.

He counts as one of the rarest ones, a prodigy of prodigies. Born on October 11, 1988, Canning got marked down for greatness almost before he could ride a bicycle. Like Kilkenny’s James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, like Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly, his name was a hushed rumour long before he became a presence.