Canning fit for Tipperary match

Galway hurling coach Francis Forde says Joe Canning has not undergone knee surgery and will be fit for the All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary on 6 August.

Forde played down rumours suggesting the three-time All Star needed an operation on the knee injury he suffered in the closing stages of the Tribesmen's 0-29 to 1-17 Leinster SHC final victory over Wexford on 2 July.

Canning missed Portumna's 1-21 to 1-14 Galway club hurling championship defeat to St Thomas a week later, and Forde says the 28-year-old was obeying medical advice to rest the knee for as long as possible.

"Joe just needed a bit of time," Forde said.

"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.

"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."

Ahascragh-Fohenagh corner-forward Cathal Mannion has also recovered from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the nine-point victory over Davy Fitzgerald's Wexford at Croke Park.

"Cathal just took a bit more time than expected," Forde continued.

"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."

Image: Inpho/Tommy Dickson

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