Callanan hints at staying on for 2018

Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan has hinted that he will play on in 2018 because "there's not too much running" in his role.

Callanan won the National Hurling League and All-Ireland double with the Tribesmen this year, but the 35-year-old says he is still considering whether to make himself available for the county's Liam MacCarthy Cup defence next season.

"We'll see," Callanan told gaa.ie.

"At the minute we're just enjoying the moment and all the things going on, a few trips coming up. 

"I'm self-employed with a young family so conversations will be had in due course, but I am not leaning either way.

"The over-30s thing, the position I play has to come into it as well. Not too much running."

Callanan admits he lost out financially during Galway's run to a first All-Ireland crown since 1988, as he had to cancel work he had lined up at his Callanan's FitClub gym in his native Kinvar, and the Fitness & Performance Academy in Oranmore.

"Around the time of the All-Ireland final I cancelled two courses that we would have run so I was feeling the pinch without those at the minute," he continued.

"To win an All-Ireland I'd go bankrupt! We'll deal with it somehow, we'll get the show back on the road again."

Callanan played 10 inter-county seasons before claiming his first Celtic Cross this September, as Galway beat Waterford 0-26 to 2-17 to secure a first All-Ireland title in 29 years.

And the Kinvara clubman says the experience of losing the 2012 and 2015 finals helped Micheal Donoghue's side finally make it over the line in 2017.

"I got a little insight into it when I came in for the replay in 2012," he said.

"I played in the 2015 final. Looking back on it, it was one that got away and wasn't a great moment for us. The experience and the build-up was still there.

"Maybe that helped players this time around again, whereas a big chunk of the Waterford players wouldn't have experienced that."

Photo Inpho/ Tommy Dickson

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