Joe Canning

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Joe Canning
irish = Seosamh Ó Cainín
fullname = Joseph Canning
placeofbirth = Portumna
countryofbirth = County Galway
dob =
height = 6' 2"
nickname = Joey
county = Galway
province = Connacht
club = Portumna
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Galway
icposition = Forward
icyears = 2008-
icapps(points) = 3 (4-27)
icprovince = 0
icallireland = 0
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Joe Canning (born November, 1988 in Portumna, County Galway) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Portumna and with the Galway under-21 and senior inter-county teams. Canning is generally considered as the brightest prospect of the modern game and is noted for his accuracy from dead balls and play making ability. One of his most notable skills is his ability to score points from side line balls, considered one of the more difficult aspects of the game. ["YouTube - Joe Canning Sideline cut" [http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=cikdfFZsUns] ]

Early and personal life

Canning was born in Portumna, the son of Seán and Josephine Canning, and the younger brother of Séamus, Frank, Davy, Ollie, Ivan and Deirdre. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hurling-is-my-life-1422404.html |title='Hurling is my life' |date= 28 June 2008 |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=2008-09-30] [cite news |http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2008/feb/24/tribes-call-to-arms/ |title=TRIBE'S CALL TO ARMS |date= 24 February 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |accessdate=2008-09-30] Ollie played for the Galway senior hurlers, while Deirdre played for the county camogie team. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hurling-is-my-life-1422404.html |title='Hurling is my life' |date= 28 June 2008 |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=2008-09-30] [cite news |http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2008/feb/24/tribes-call-to-arms/ |title=TRIBE'S CALL TO ARMS |date= 24 February 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |accessdate=2008-09-30] Joe's family instilled a love of hurling in him, and he was a talented underage hurler and rugby player. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hurling-is-my-life-1422404.html |title='Hurling is my life' |date= 28 June 2008 |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=2008-09-30] [cite news |http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2008/feb/24/tribes-call-to-arms/ |title=TRIBE'S CALL TO ARMS |date= 24 February 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |accessdate=2008-09-30] He is a Business and Marketing student at Limerick Institute of Technology. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hurling-is-my-life-1422404.html |title='Hurling is my life' |date= 28 June 2008 |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=2008-09-30] [cite news |http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2008/feb/24/tribes-call-to-arms/ |title=TRIBE'S CALL TO ARMS |date= 24 February 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |accessdate=2008-09-30]

Playing career

Club

Canning plays his club hurling with his local Portumna club. He has enjoyed much success along with his brother Ollie. He won his first senior county title in 2005 before later collecting his first Connacht club title. Canning later lined out in his first All-Ireland club final with Newtownshandrum providing the opposition. Even as a seventeen year old he played an instrumental role in Portumna's win, managing to score 1-6 in the game. As a result of this he was also presented with the Man of the Match award. ["Canning duo lift Portumna" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/canning-duo-lift-portumna-108333.html] ] 2007 saw Canning capture a second set of county and Connacht club titles before later lining out in the All-Ireland final once again. Birr, the most successful team in the history of the club championship, provided the opposition. However, Canning chipped in with ten points to secure a second All-Ireland title in three years.

University

In 2007 in his first year at the Limerick Institute of Technology] he became a key member of the college's senior hurling team. The team defeated near local rivals from the University of Limerick to capture their first ever Fitzgibbon Cup title. In 2008 Canning played for LIT once again as they hoped to retain their title. In spite of Cannings coring 1-16 of LIT's total in a tightly contested final, he still ended up on the losing side. GAA President Nickey Brennan described it as the "best game of hurling he has ever seen". ["Reid is the hero for WIT" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/reid-is-the-hero-for-wit-1303642.html] ]

Inter-county

Minor

Canning first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Galway minor hurling team in 2004. He was just fifteen years old. The men from the West reached the All-Ireland final that year where they played Kilkenny. The game ended in a draw, however, Galway won the replay giving Canning a first All-Ireland minor medal. ["Galway glee as minors turn on style in epic final" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/galway-glee-as-minors-turn-on-style-in-epic-final-155328.html] ] In 2005 Canning captured a second consecutive All-Ireland medal as Galway defeated LImerick in the minor championship decider. ["Galway glee as goals put paid to gutsy Limerick" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/galway-glee-as-goals-put-paid-to-gutsy-limerick-239887.html] ] In 2006 Canning was captain of a Galway minor team attempting to capture an historic third All-Ireland minor title in-a-row. Furthermore, Canning was hoping to equal Jimmy Doyle's record of winning three minor championships in-a-row. On the day Galway were defeated by a stronger Tipperary side. Canning himself felt that the team could have performed better on the day:

"To me, the three-in-a-row thing wasn't in my mind. Our performance was what frustrated me that day. We didn't do ourselves justice. Tipperary blew us off the pitch basically". ["Hurling is my life" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hurling-is-my-life-1422404.html] ]

Under 21

2006 also saw Canning make his debut on the Galway under-21 team. He came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny. Despite scoring 2-4, with 2-3 coming from play and ending up as the the game's top scorer, Galway were easily defeated in a one sided contest. ["Canning scares Cats" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/canning-scares-cats-133724.html] ] In 2007 Canning again was a key feature of the under-21 team as Galway captured the All-Ireland under-21 title by defeating Dublin in the final. In 2008, however, Galway were knocked out by Kilkenny in a game which saw Canning score eight points despite being hampered by a groin strain. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hogans-put-kilkenny-on-the-brink-of-clean-sweep-1462435.html |title=Hogans put Kilkenny on the brink of clean sweep |date= 25 August 2008 |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=2008-09-30]

enior

After his exploits at minor level, if not u-21 the call frequently came for Canning to join the Galway senior team. He was a late call up to the team for the Tribesmen's make or break All-Ireland quarter-final against Kilkenny in 2006. After some deliberation Canning turned down the offer choosing instead to concentrate on his role as captain of the minor team. ["Canning turns down seniors" [http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=63874] ] The seniors lost the game which lead to the eventual departure of manager Conor Hayes. Canning declined to join the senior team again in 2007, however, it was expected that he would finally join up with the team for Ger Loughnane's second year in charge as manager in 2008. Canning remained silent on the issue and refused to commit himself until after the completion of the club championship. ["Canning remains coy on Galway future" [http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/01/20/GAA-Canning-remains-coy-on-Galway-future/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/gaa/] ] After that All-Ireland club victory several players were invited to join the panel, with Loughnane confirming after Galway's National Hurling League victory over Limerick that Canning was one of a number of players that had accepted. [ "Canning boost for Galway" [http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/3/24/GAA-Canning-boost-for-Loughnanes-Galway-/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/gaa/] ]

Canning went on to make his senior debut in the league semi final against Cork, and featured again in the final against Tipperary. Galway were defeated by a strong Tipperary side but Canning's second half performance was singled out for praise.

His championship debut came several months later in the first round of the qualifiers. Joe finished as the game's top scorer in the Galway victory with a tally of 2-6, 1-4 of which came from play. [ "Feast and famine all in one" [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/feast-and-famine-all-in-one-1422970.html] ] Canning was again top scorer in the second round with nine points (five from play). [cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2008/0705/galway_laois.html |title=Galway 1-26 Laois 0-09 |date= 5 July 2008 |work=RTÉ Sport |accessdate=2008-07-20] However, Galway then exited the championship after a two-point defeat against Cork, despite an impressive display by Canning in which he scored both Galway's goals and twelve of their fifteen points. [cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2008/0719/galway_cork.html?gaa |title=Galway 2-15 Cork 0-23 |date= 19 July 2008 |work=RTÉ Sport |accessdate=2008-07-20]

References