Joe Canning’s book ‘My Story’ was launched in recent days in Portumna, home of the 2017 Hurler of the Year.
One of the interesting extracts of the book is Canning’s view on Micheal Donoghue taking over the Dublin hurlers in late 2022.
Clarinbridge native Donoghue was the manager who inspired Galway to All-Ireland glory in 2017 but left the hot-seat in August 2019.
Canning says it didn’t sit well with him when Donoghue and his management team of Noel Larkin and Frannie Forde took first over the Dublin job.
“Hand on heart, the idea of Micheál Donoghue managing a Leinster opponent just didn’t sit well with me from the moment he was announced as Dublin’s new boss,” writes Canning in ‘My Story.’
“I didn’t like it. I still don’t.”
He communicated his displeasure to Donoghue and his coaching team via text, admitting now that it’s not the most ‘gracious sentiment.’
“I said as much at the time in texts I sent to himself and selectors Franny Forde and Noel Larkin.
“Not the most gracious sentiment, I accept, but I didn’t like it. I still don’t.”
Donoghue makes his return to Galway after two years in charge of the Dubs, but only after rubbing salt in the wounds by knocking Galway out of the Leinster championship last year.
There was some perceived bad blood in the clash as Donoghue and his management team were deemed to have called for David Burke to be sent off after a collision with Fergal Whitely. Ironically, Canning says Burke was ‘less affronted’ than he was about Donoghue taking the Dubs.
“Seeing Micheál in a Dublin tracksuit the day they dumped us from the 2024 championship just ran against the grain for me,” says Canning.
“That moment in Salthill – for me, at least – was uncomfortable,” writes Canning of Burke’s sending off and the subsequent reaction of Donoghue and his management team.
“The friendships will survive. Without Micheál Donoghue in our lives, we wouldn’t have won an All-Ireland, and we all know that.
“But hurling sometimes brings us to the rawest of places, and often, only time allows us to make adult sense of the emotion.
“Maybe that’s why it has such a presence in our lives.
“It’s more than a game to us. Far more.”
