Lack of respect drove us all on, reveals Canning
AFTER Galway stretched their unbeaten two-year Championship run to 13 games to set up an All-Ireland final against Limerick in a fortnight’s time, and a chance of backto-back titles, Hurler of the Year Joe Canning said his team’s character can’t be questioned.
The Portumna player put over a crucial sideline ball at the end of normal time and hit eight points — three from play — in a display of real leadership as Galway squeezed home by the narrowest of margins in a semi-final replay that ended in a welter of excitement.
‘We showed great character. We were only behind overall in both matches once I think.
‘And we didn’t get a lot of respect during the week I think from media and such. Our character was questioned, I thought,’ said Canning.
‘People were saying we didn’t perform and stuff like that. But only being behind once in an All-Ireland semi-final over two games just shows the character we have.
‘We’ve a lot of leaders, I suppose, and we didn’t panic. I think we got the next score after that and we did that against Kilkenny in the Leinster final here as well.
‘And we did it last weekend — when Aron Shanagher got the goal to go ahead, we drew it back level again. So that’s a good sign in a team; when a team gets a goal against you to get ahead that you answer back straight away with another score.’
He insisted the prospect of an All-Ireland double won’t weigh heavy on Galway.
‘It’s another game, that’s all. It’s an All-Ireland final, two teams going at it. That’s all it is. It’s nothing extra. We’re not going to treat it any differently.
‘You know it’s going to be tough. No All-Ireland is going to be won easily and I’m sure Limerick are going to be the same come two weeks’ time,’ he added.
Ultimately, missed chances cost Clare. Aron Shanagher’s goal effort that bounced back off the post reminded of Jake Morris’ shot for Tipperary against Clare that also hit an upright and changed the course of the Munster campaign. And a final tally of 19 wides yesterday hints at one that got away for Clare. ‘They say things like that,’ said Clare joint manager Donal Moloney. ‘When you get some magnificent scores and do some magnificent defending at the other end especially in the second half, you’ll always… ‘Look, we’ve always looked at this Championship in a way that the most consistent team will win through. ‘The fly-by-night don’t survive in this and fair play to Galway, they have been consistent over two seasons now. ‘I don’t think we left it behind, I think they’re a great team. ‘[Eight] weeks ago a post helped us out here in Thurles against Tipperary. ‘There’s swings and roundabouts in a season. I always kind of knew that maybe that would come back at some point and unfortunately it did today. ‘Who knows, even if that went in, Galway are such a magnificent team that they might have still come with a point to bring it in to extra time. You don’t know if that would have been the difference.’ Non-committal on his own future or that of Gerry O’Connor, Moloney had a neat reply when asked if Clare will be back next year. ‘Clare will always be back.’