Olly Canning retires.

[orangeman]

Great hurler. Enjoy your retirement - you've earned it.


Ollie Canning confirms retirement




Ollie Canning confirms his retirement from inter-county hurling after Galway's narrow loss to Tipperary in the All-Ireland Hurling quarter-finals.

The Galway legend confirmed his decision on RTÉ's Sport at 7 Extra on Monday night.

Canning believes Galway have taken huge strides this campaign and the time is right now to bow out of the side.

The 34-year-old said: 'Everything is in place. The management, the backroom team and the players that we have there, I think we're very close to it.'

'It does get tougher and it does take longer to recover after games and that is an aspect of it.'

[Canalman]

Nice tidy corner back. Knew the dark arts of defending to a tee.(mean it as a compliment). Right time for him to go.

[orangeman]

Canning went off in the 68th minute and I think that Galway were leading by 2 at the time and a few short minutes later, they were beat by 1.

Canning was tidy alright and as hard as nails. He hit Lar Corbett a serious dig on Sunday. He'd have been giving away a lot of height and weight to Lar.

[maxpower]

class player

[GalwayBayBoy]

It's always sad when a great player retires. More so when it's a great player retiring without an All-Ireland medal. However Ollie isn't the first to miss out on one and definitely won't be the last.

IMO the greatest corner-back of the past 10-15 years. His reading of the game was exceptional and he had a radar like ability to sniff out loose ball and his touch was immaculate as was his distribution. There are a number of top intercounty forwards that must be sick of the sight of him as he generally cleaned them all out over the course his career. Even this year after a wobbly game by his own high standards against Offaly he rebounded against Kilkenny and Tipp to the extent that both Martin Comerford and Noel McGrath were hauled off before the end of their respective games. I think even DJ once said he was the best corner-back he ever came up against it. Something I'm sure Tipp's Eoin Kelly in particular would agree with. No doubt overtures will be made over the winter to tempt him back and I know he came back once but not sure if he'll be back this time.

Also one of the nicest fellas you could ever meet.

[imtommygunn]

First time I had the pleasure of seeing him play on Sunday. Great wee corner back. Young McGrath didn't know what had hit him though I think he has struggled a bit this year.

As alluded too by someone else him going off maybe had a bearing on sunday. Suppose we'll never know.

[Reillers]

It's always a sad day when a top class player retires. One hell of a player who gave the best of them a headache on matchday. An old style wise lad who knew his position inside out and knew how to play the game to the limit..and past it at times He had an outstanding ability to read the game, something that can't be thought. A truely great CB. Pity in the end that he never won an AI, but like it's been said, he isn't the first and wont be the last. He will be sadly missed all right. Just a genuinely excellent player who was always 100% reliable.

[Bord na Mona man]

A master corner back.
I reckon he might change his mind and give it another year though.

[Asal Mor]

A master corner back.
I reckon he might change his mind and give it another year though.

I hope you're right BNMM. The best Galway hurler of the last 20 years - still brilliant this year so no reason he can't come back.

[AZOffaly]

Remiss of me not to comment here. Canning was a fantastic corner back, and always picked up the most dangerous opposition full forward when he was at his peak. A great servant for Galway, and I'm sorry to see him hanging it up, but as BnM has said, it;s a long way between now and May 2011.

[muppet]

It's always a sad day when a top class player retires. One hell of a player who gave the best of them a headache on matchday. An old style wise lad who knew his position inside out and knew how to play the game to the limit..and past it at times He had an outstanding ability to read the game, something that can't be thought. A truely great CB. Pity in the end that he never won an AI, but like it's been said, he isn't the first and wont be the last. He will be sadly missed all right. Just a genuinely excellent player who was always 100% reliable.

I just thought it, but I couldn't be taught. Is my line of thinking taut?

[Lecale2]

Great player. He's right to call it a day when he feels it's time. Galway will miss him.

[magpie seanie]

Great player and sad to hear of him retiring.