Joe Canning is fit to face Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final according to Galway hurling coach Francis Forde, and he moved to quash rumours that the Portumna ace underwent knee surgery in recent weeks.
Canning missed his club’s latest Galway club hurling championship tie – a defeat to rivals St Thomas’ two weeks ago – and Forde insisted the Tribesmen’s danger man just needed to rest his knee injury after he received an anti-inflammatory injection to ensure his fitness for next week’s last-four clash.
When the sides met in last year’s semi-final at Croke Park, Canning sustained a hamstring injury just before half-time, while the team went on to lose to Tipperary by a point. The injury resulted in a six-month absence from the game for the three-time All-Star.
This time he pulled up in training on the Friday before their Leinster final victory over Wexford, but still managed to play a key role in helping Galway to their second Leinster title and he landed ten points before being replaced with three minutes remaining.
According to Forde, Canning is back training with the team and is no longer hampered by the injury.
“Joe just needed a bit of time. It was a case that longer you left it the better it was for him long term. He is back on the field now. What have we left, 12 days? We’ll build it back up this week,” said Forde.
“It was only an anti-inflammatory injection he had, there was no surgery. It was minor enough, but the timing was the big thing. Getting him back on the field was the big thing for us.
“The inflammation had built up over a period of time, but he felt it on the Friday. I’m not a medical person, but it was a case that after he had the procedure it was a case of giving it a bit of time.”
Canning's pending return to action is a big boost for Galway, who hope to win their first All-Ireland title since 1989, and their cause has been further lifted with Jonathan Glynn's return from America, while Cathal Mannion has also shaken off the ankle injury that saw him sit out the Leinster final triumph.
“Cathal just took a bit more time than expected. He was very close to playing in the Leinster final. The following week it was a little bit worse than expected and I don’t know why that is.
“There was a bit of bone bruising from the ankle injury and other stuff apart from the ligament damage that slowed him down. He’s back training though.”
