Loughnane confirms Canning’s inclusion

[mouview]

I'd leave Tannion in ff and play Joe at 15 or 12, keep him away from the Hickeys and O'Sullivans of this world. One thing is certain though, Farragher's days are numbered, offers f all from play although he did have a decent game on Sun... If Ollie makes himself available Galway will be there or thereabouts...

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly in fairness to the lad. Tannian is very hot and cold - he, if anyone, is under threat by the wunderkind.
Don't forget also that when Ollie was playing, his standards had dropped off in the last year or so from what he had been in his prime.
Full-back is still cause for concern.... my preference would be John Lee with Kavanagh, perhaps the best of a middlin' lot at CHB.

[Croí na hÉireann]

I'd leave Tannion in ff and play Joe at 15 or 12, keep him away from the Hickeys and O'Sullivans of this world. One thing is certain though, Farragher's days are numbered, offers f all from play although he did have a decent game on Sun... If Ollie makes himself available Galway will be there or thereabouts...

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly in fairness to the lad. Tannian is very hot and cold - he, if anyone, is under threat by the wunderkind.
Don't forget also that when Ollie was playing, his standards had dropped off in the last year or so from what he had been in his prime.
Full-back is still cause for concern.... my preference would be John Lee with Kavanagh, perhaps the best of a middlin' lot at CHB.

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly by his own standards, he's still missing chances that he won't even get the time for in the championship. When the going gets tough, Farragher usually goes missing. Tannian might be hot and cold but when he's good he's very, very good. Hopefully with more game time he'll get more consistent, he's got the build for ff anyway. Thought Ollie was one of the better (if not the best) backs for Galway in 05...

[GaillimhIarthair]

I'd leave Tannion in ff and play Joe at 15 or 12, keep him away from the Hickeys and O'Sullivans of this world. One thing is certain though, Farragher's days are numbered, offers f all from play although he did have a decent game on Sun... If Ollie makes himself available Galway will be there or thereabouts...

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly in fairness to the lad. Tannian is very hot and cold - he, if anyone, is under threat by the wunderkind.
Don't forget also that when Ollie was playing, his standards had dropped off in the last year or so from what he had been in his prime.
Full-back is still cause for concern.... my preference would be John Lee with Kavanagh, perhaps the best of a middlin' lot at CHB.

I wouldn't be in favour of moving Lee to FB.  He is really maturing into a fine No 6 and it took us long enough to find one.  FB is obviously a problem but it seems that Loughnane is giving Tony Óg every chance to make the spot his own and having Ollie and Fergal Moore either side of him come championship wouldnt be the worst full back line in the world either.  

[GalwayBayBoy]

I'd leave Tannion in ff and play Joe at 15 or 12, keep him away from the Hickeys and O'Sullivans of this world. One thing is certain though, Farragher's days are numbered, offers f all from play although he did have a decent game on Sun... If Ollie makes himself available Galway will be there or thereabouts...

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly in fairness to the lad. Tannian is very hot and cold - he, if anyone, is under threat by the wunderkind.
Don't forget also that when Ollie was playing, his standards had dropped off in the last year or so from what he had been in his prime.
Full-back is still cause for concern.... my preference would be John Lee with Kavanagh, perhaps the best of a middlin' lot at CHB.

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly by his own standards, he's still missing chances that he won't even get the time for in the championship. When the going gets tough, Farragher usually goes missing. Tannian might be hot and cold but when he's good he's very, very good. Hopefully with more game time he'll get more consistent, he's got the build for ff anyway. Thought Ollie was one of the better (if not the best) backs for Galway in 05...

Tannion is very up and down at the moment. I was at the Tipp game and he was absolutely terrible. Looked disinterested and couldn't do anything right. Then against Limerick he was nearly unplayable. Scored 1-3 and roasted Stephen Lucey who is a fine full-back. If he could reproduce more of the latter form himself and Joe Canning would present a formidable central attacking spine.

I would stick with Lee at centre back. He's getting better all the time despite his habit of batting down too many balls. Looks like Tony Og will be the full-back and while I have misgivings about him as a championship level full-back if he had two corner-backs either side of him like Ollie Canning and Fergal Moore it could bring his own game on a lot.

[mouview]

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly by his own standards, he's still missing chances that he won't even get the time for in the championship. When the going gets tough, Farragher usually goes missing. Tannian might be hot and cold but when he's good he's very, very good. Hopefully with more game time he'll get more consistent, he's got the build for ff anyway. Thought Ollie was one of the better (if not the best) backs for Galway in 05...

There was no loss in Farragher in '05, did the biz v. KK and Cork in the final in fairness.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly by his own standards, he's still missing chances that he won't even get the time for in the championship. When the going gets tough, Farragher usually goes missing. Tannian might be hot and cold but when he's good he's very, very good. Hopefully with more game time he'll get more consistent, he's got the build for ff anyway. Thought Ollie was one of the better (if not the best) backs for Galway in 05...

There was no loss in Farragher in '05, did the biz v. KK and Cork in the final in fairness.

I'm talking in open play, offers virtually nothing, imo rely's on his dead ball prowess to get himself on the team...

[GalwayBayBoy]

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly by his own standards, he's still missing chances that he won't even get the time for in the championship. When the going gets tough, Farragher usually goes missing. Tannian might be hot and cold but when he's good he's very, very good. Hopefully with more game time he'll get more consistent, he's got the build for ff anyway. Thought Ollie was one of the better (if not the best) backs for Galway in 05...

There was no loss in Farragher in '05, did the biz v. KK and Cork in the final in fairness.

I'm talking in open play, offers virtually nothing, imo rely's on his dead ball prowess to get himself on the team...

In fairness to Farragher I wouldn't say he offers nothing in open play. He does chip in.

http://www.hurlingstats.com/show_player_matches.php?plrid=586

[Croí na hÉireann]

Farragher hasn't been doing too badly by his own standards, he's still missing chances that he won't even get the time for in the championship. When the going gets tough, Farragher usually goes missing. Tannian might be hot and cold but when he's good he's very, very good. Hopefully with more game time he'll get more consistent, he's got the build for ff anyway. Thought Ollie was one of the better (if not the best) backs for Galway in 05...

There was no loss in Farragher in '05, did the biz v. KK and Cork in the final in fairness.

I'm talking in open play, offers virtually nothing, imo rely's on his dead ball prowess to get himself on the team...

In fairness to Farragher I wouldn't say he offers nothing in open play. He does chip in.

http://www.hurlingstats.com/show_player_matches.php?plrid=586

Interesting site, wasn't aware of it. Apart from that classic Kilkenny game and a home game against Antrim he never scored more than 2 points in play, this despite Galway putting up scores like 7-18, 3-21, 2-22, etc. Certainly not good enough from open play for a scoring forward, although if the free taking was taken away from him it might be the incentive he needs to push on and stop hiding. Anyway, we'll agree to differ...

[orangeman]

"I'll just be straight honest with you lads," Loughnane told reporters.

That'd be a first for skeletor. I wouldn't believe his radio

I think there's plenty of reasons to support your opinion there AZ !!! 

[thejuice]

Canning had some game yesterday, he really is a special talent. Tannion did well too, had a nice scoop and turn on one of Cork the backs leading up to a point. Farragher seemed to play well too. Bodes well for the summer

[ExiledGael]

Things looking good for Ger, Ollie has said today in paper that he'll come back too. Could be an interesting year.

[dodo]

Is it corner back or bust for Ollie at inter county level ?

Would he be a possibility for the half back line ?

[GY Joe]

Canning delight for Tribesmen
Portumna star gives Galway boss the news he's been waiting for


By Colm Keys
Tuesday April 15 2008


Suddenly Ger Loughnane appears to have all his ducks in-a-row.


On Sunday, Joe Canning made a very satisfactory Galway debut and contributed in no small way to their advance to a first league final in four years.

Then yesterday, Ollie Canning confirmed that his return to the Galway squad was imminent after his decision to end a near two-year exile.

The timing of Ollie's announcement couldn't be better at the beginning of a week when Loughnane, who has managed to replace the chaos of last spring and summer with a new united front, prepares to nail down his first silverware as Galway manager.

Coaxing the 31-year-old back is significant as much for harmony as it is for the presence of an experienced operator in Galway's most problematic area.

Impressive

The concession of 24 points to Cork, regardless of the lead they had built up in an impressive first half, reminded Loughnane that for all the attacking flair that Galway possess, the leakage, particularly in the full-back line, remains their foot on the trapdoor to failure.

The return of the older Canning now surely draws a line under the controversy of the 2006 senior hurling final that Portumna lost amidst accusations of heavy-handed tactics deployed against the then 17-year-old Joe.

Ollie's beef wasn't with Loughrea, however. It was the nature and outcome of the investigation by the Board that followed which really irked him.

As a consequence he stayed out of the loop last year, along with Joe, as Galway hobbled from one disappointment to another in league and championship until Kilkenny finally put them to the sword in an All Ireland quarter-final, albeit after a struggle.

Cushioned by their involvement with Portumna in pursuit of a second All Ireland title in three years, the topic of a return wasn't visited much over the winter, but in February Loughnane extended a beckoning hand after the Clare league match in Pearse Stadium when he implored Ollie to reconsider.

"The big problem is, I still think defensively. We need someone like Ollie Canning in there as well. I think he could still do a fantastic job for Galway.

"I wouldn't go near him this time of the year until the club championship is over. I am just saying that he is the type of player -- a cute player," said Loughnane at the time.

So, Ollie has obliged, suggesting that he was uncertain if he had anything to offer last year until Portumna's triumph in March convinced him otherwise.

Agreement

He met with the Galway management last Wednesday and agreed in principle to return once the business of Sunday's league final with Tipperary is out of the way.

"Last season I just wasn't sure if I had anything left to offer at inter-county level. There are a lot of miles on the clock and the forwards all seem to be getting younger. Basically, you question yourself and wonder if you're up to it anymore," he said.

"The long club run with Portumna this year has helped. With our run to the final I've been putting in the work at training throughout winter so there is a base of fitness there.

"I've also been fortunate, touch wood, with injuries over the past year and I've enjoyed an unbroken 12-month spell with nothing serious going wrong.

"At the age I'm at now, this is vital and currently I just feel in good shape and feel that I would be able to do myself justice at inter-county level.

"We had a very positive chat and they assured me that they felt I had something to offer the camp. Whether that's on or off the pitch remains to be seen, but either way I'll be back in training the week after the league final and will be giving it 100pc.

"I have had a bit of a break since the club final and the rest has left me fresh and raring to go and, at this point, I'm just looking forward to getting back into training," he said.

Canning's pledge to return has surprised some local observers who felt that, even allowing for his All Ireland club final performance, inter-county hurling could leave him exposed after such a break away.

- Colm Keys

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[GaillimhIarthair]

Great news to have Ollie back in the panel as he definitely has something to offer IMO.  I think come championship we will see both himself and Fergal Moore man the corner back spots with either Tony Óg or possibly Dervan in the 3 jersey. 

[mouview]

Not a fan of Regan by any means but have often seen him worse than last Sunday. Moore was good all through, Lee pretty much so also. Kavanagh hit a lot of ball in the first half (and is a better bet than Mahon IMHO), as did Cullinane but suffered a bit when O'Connor started running at him after half time. Dervan on the same side of the field leaked a bit then also, surprised he wasn't replaced. Slowly things may slip into place, but another good wing back (Fergal Healy?) would be a big addition. Above all, consistency would be as good as any player now.