Joe Canning Refuses To Take Year Out

RHunce

Joe Canning has been told by doctors that he needs to take a year-long break from hurling, but is refusing to listen to them.

The Portumna scoring sensation, whose busy season continues when Galway take on Clare in Saturday's Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U21 HC semi-final at Thurles, continues to be hampered by a stomach muscle problem that requires him taking a year off in order for it to fully heal.

But he insisted yesterday that a spell on the sidelines is "not an option" as he seeks to maximise his senior inter-county career.

"I need a year off basically to sort it out and unless I get dropped or something, that's not going to happen," the 20-year-old said.

"You only have a couple of years and you don't know what's around the corner.

"The injury is to my pubic symphysis. The muscle just came off the pubic bone. It's a muscle thing that just hampers me turning, taking off and sprinting and that kind of stuff. Any guy that had it before has taken six, eight or 12 months away and it would seem to be okay.

"But I don't know, it's not an option in my book. I want to play as much as I can. It's not threatening my career at this stage. Unless it does threaten my career as in, you won't be able to hurl next year, then maybe. But it's okay, I'm able to get by. I play a match and a few days after I'd be sore.

"It's not enough to affect my performance or anything and I wouldn't use it as an excuse. I'm lucky enough to be able to play."

Canning admitted he is still struggling to get over the disappointment of Galway's agonising All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Waterford, when he missed a late chance to force a replay.

"We were four points up with three minutes to go and to lose it was unthinkable. I didn't watch the match yet and I'm still sickened by it. It's hard to take, we were leading so well and we basically threw it away. I was very frustrated with the point I missed at the end. I had the chance to level it and just fluffed it. I know it was a difficult angle but I'd expect myself to get it."

He added: "We've improved in leaps and bounds since last year but we've to start back again. It's a big disappointment that we won nothing. People were saying it was a good season for Galway but at the end of the day, we've no silverware or anything. It's a failure in my book."

The current All-Star also insists that older brother Ollie still has plenty to offer at the highest level.

"He is still hurting about the loss. He's 33 now and it's hard to know. I haven't talked to him about it but, hopefully he will come back. We need his experience and he is vital to us in Galway. I think a lot of the younger guys look up to him. He held John Mullane, which any other defender didn't do. Hopefully he'll commit for another year or two."

source: http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=116588

so, what do ye wise boardsies think he should do?

homerjay2005

well he should defo take 3-6 months out and rest. there aint much happening from octover to march, unless Port get to another all ireland. for his and galways sake, i hope they dont. He was below par this year and Galway needs him fully fit.

blackbelt

Definately take a few months out after the u-21 competition is finished.I think Portumna should be good enough to progress to a Galway final without him and a few months on the sidelines means that he should be good to go at the latter stages of the league.

premierstone

I think if Joe was been honest with himself he would realise that it is most certainly affecting he's performance, you could see he was physically struggling this year but I bet he still lines out for the college next year as im sure they look after him quite well

flahavaj

Someone close to Joe like his older brother needs to put the arm around him and give him some much needed advice to take a break from hurling. Between college, club, underage and senior county hurling he seems to have been constantly hurling and training since he was around 16 or 17. That has to take its toll eventually on a young man's body who's still growing and developing physically. If he doesn't take the rest now we may never see him fulfil his unbelievable potential and that would be such a sad thing to see.

ArmaniJeanss

Most biased Poll Options ever?

Diabhal Beag

He should but he clearly won't for Portumna's sake which shows how decent a man he is. He wants a Portumna All-Ireland again to make up for an unsuccessful year with Galway silverware-wise. I'm sure if Galway had a chance without him he would take a small break but lets face it, we're ****ing ****e without him. Interesting what the article says about Ollie. I hope he stays another year.

premierstone

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

He should but he clearly won't for Portumna's sake which shows how decent a man he is. He wants a Portumna All-Ireland again to make up for an unsuccessful year with Galway silverware-wise. I'm sure if Galway had a chance without him he would take a small break but lets face it, we're ****ing ****e without him. Interesting what the article says about Ollie. I hope he stays another year.

But isnt that very short sighted Diabhail ? Surely Port would benefit more than anyone in the long term if he took abreak and came back 100%, because there is no doubt whatsoever he is not anywhere near 100%, and while he may get away with that at club level it will and has tbh catch up with you at intercounty senior level, just look at Eoin Kelly for Tipp, same thing needs an operation on he's back and you can physically see him struggling to make it through a game.

Utopia Parkway

Once the U-21's are finished he should take a complete break. It would mean missing the county championship with Portumna and playing for Limerick IT but he really needs to see the bigger picture here. He could even afford to miss the league with Galway next year and aim to be back for next year's championship.

Doesn't seem like he's going to do that though.

adrian522

Presumably he won't be doing U-21 and colleges next year will he?
He could do what shefflin did a few years ago and sit out the league, worked wonders for him as the previousl year he had been poor enough, came back and won HOTY.

Utopia Parkway

adrian522 wrote: »

Presumably he won't be doing U-21 and colleges next year will he?
He could do what shefflin did a few years ago and sit out the league, worked wonders for him as the previousl year he had been poor enough, came back and won HOTY.

It's his last year at U-21 anyway. Not sure about college.

shockframe

as far as im aware he is in his last year of under 21 and should be finished college next year so come the summer he should get out of the country for a year before hurling destroys him.then again if he left hurling he may get heavier from lack of playing (ger loughnane hinted at this when he was galway manager) so its a no win situation.but i would say because of his deals with adidas and his profile he may play on regardless.

Aidan_o_reilley

definately take a few months out and get some intensive physio over the winter. were talking about irelands most promising young hurler. even in the games against waterford and cork you could see that hes not as mobile as a lad of his age and physical fitness should be. he needs to take the time out to rest and posibly look at different dimensions of his own game that he hasnt had a chance to look at because of his busy lifestyle since he was 16 playing county minor and club senior.

premierstone

Aidan_o_reilley wrote: »

definately take a few months out and get some intensive physio over the winter. were talking about irelands most promising young hurler. even in the games against waterford and cork you could see that hes not as mobile as a lad of his age and physical fitness should be. he needs to take the time out to rest and posibly look at different dimensions of his own game that he hasnt had a chance to look at because of his busy lifestyle since he was 16 playing county minor and club senior.

You frightened me there for a sec I thought Noel McGrath was after gettin injured or something

shockframe

even with my green and white shades on last sunday mcgrath was a joy to watch.better than canning definitely

portumna

shockframe wrote: »

even with my green and white shades on last sunday mcgrath was a joy to watch.better than canning definitely

That's for a different thread!

Anyway back on topic.

Why should Joe give up hurling for Portumna so he'll be ok for Galway. Why not give up hurling for Galway for a year and keep his eye in by hurling for Portumna.

Utopia Parkway

portumna wrote: »

That's for a different thread!

Anyway back on topic.

Why should Joe give up hurling for Portumna so he'll be ok for Galway. Why not give up hurling for Galway for a year and keep his eye in by hurling for Portumna.

He should give up both. He shouldn't play for Portumna this winter or for Galway in the league next year. Maybe be back in time for the beginning of the championship next June. It's actually poor form on behalf of Portumna, Limerick IT and Galway to keep selecting him when he's carrying a serious injury like this. I realise he wants to play but someone needs to have a word with him for his own long-term benefit.

An Citeog

portumna wrote: »

That's for a different thread!

Anyway back on topic.

Why should Joe give up hurling for Portumna so he'll be ok for Galway. Why not give up hurling for Galway for a year and keep his eye in by hurling for Portumna.

This isn't about club versus county or even college. It's about a 20 year old who's carrying an injury and needs to let it heal before he does himself some serious damage. From the article, it seems as if he doesn't want to take any time off because he's afraid of letting people down. His friends and family, Portumna management, Galway management and LIT management all need to step in here and do what's best for him.

Benhonan

My heart goes out to poor Joe. It's a classic example of GAA burnout. The worst thing is he has that absolute lunatic coaching him inside in LIT...:( I'm a Clare man and I know his poor form will be to our benefit in the U21s, but that really doesn't cheer me up, this guy has proven to us all what a great game hurling is over the last few years. I really hope he sees sense, gets good advice and recuperates.

suitcasepink

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Most biased Poll Options ever?

Yep exactly what I thought..

brandon_flowers

Benhonan wrote: »

My heart goes out to poor Joe. It's a classic example of GAA burnout. The worst thing is he has that absolute lunatic coaching him inside in LIT...:( I'm a Clare man and I know his poor form will be to our benefit in the U21s, but that really doesn't cheer me up, this guy has proven to us all what a great game hurling is over the last few years. I really hope he sees sense, gets good advice and recuperates.

Not the most accurate prediction... Class is permanent.

premierstone

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Not the most accurate prediction... Class is permanent.

it was actually if you look at the game again he scored 1-2 from play in over 80 mins against a very suspect FB and it was clear he's mobility was restricted

soccymonster

He should definetly take a few months out..
Hes just doing more damage if he doesnt follow medical advice.

Does he not notice that if he doesnt take these few months out of hurling that he could well have to take a longer break out of hurling later in his life??

Must be tough going but i guess you have to praise the guy for his dedication too if he does decide to carry on.

AndRoiD

premierstone wrote: »

it was actually if you look at the game again he scored 1-2 from play in over 80 mins against a very suspect FB and it was clear he's mobility was restricted

yes but he was also involved in basically every galway attack. not only did he score the penalties and free's but the amount of ball that he laid off for other forwards to score was incredible.

brandon_flowers

premierstone wrote: »

it was actually if you look at the game again he scored 1-2 from play in over 80 mins against a very suspect FB and it was clear he's mobility was restricted

Im sorry but I dont need to look at the game again, he was brilliant the first time I saw it and he was being doubled marked most of the time. Maybe if you took off your Tipp tinted glasses you might appreciate him a bit more. Without him Galway would have been beaten by about 12-15 points. Yes his mobility was restricted but its his choice and I dont think he is being forced to stay playing by anyone.

premierstone

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Im sorry but I dont need to look at the game again, he was brilliant the first time I saw it and he was being doubled marked most of the time. Maybe if you took off your Tipp tinted glasses you might appreciate him a bit more. Without him Galway would have been beaten by about 12-15 points. Yes his mobility was restricted but its his choice and I dont think he is being forced to stay playing by anyone.

Calm down there Mary, I never said he wasnt brilliant I was pointing out imagine how even more amazing he could have been if he wasnt injured which was clearly visabile even through my Tipperary glasses (exactly how they would effect judgement on a galway player is beyond me but whatever) and as you said all the placed balls were expertly executed like only he can really but a groin injury doesnt effect your ability to convery place balls so Im not sure of the relevance here maybe you can enlighten me

premierstone

Canning played the full 70 mins in a practice match on Tuesday night against Tipp's second string, this is madness and I really feel that someone close to him needs to have a word with him he basically played 150mins of almost intercounty hurling in the space of just over 72 hours the week after he says he is injured and has been advised to take a break from the game