Canning blames media for overhype

OLLIE CANNING was adamant yesterday he wasn’t seeking headlines when defending younger brother Joe’s comments about Henry Shefflin and Kilkenny in between last month’s drawn and replayed All-Ireland finals.

The younger Canning, a nominee for hurler of the year, was quoted in this newspaper (under the headline: “Canning takes aim at Shefflin conduct”) on September 13th as claiming the manner Shefflin attempted to influence referee Barry Kelly in the drawn game was “not sportsmanlike”. Ollie Canning, the retired four-time All Star corner back, believed the media overhyped his brother’s words, even taking them out of context.

Joe Canning, speaking at a hurling event on September 12th, said: “I suppose they are a bit cuter [Kilkenny]. In one instance in the first half, Henry ran 30 or 40 yards down the field and was giving out to Barry Kelly and Damien Hayes for a free.

“That’s not sportsmanlike either at the same stage. That’s the way it goes – that’s probably the experience they have. Hopefully we can get that and use it to our advantage as well. You need everything you can get during those games.”

When asked about it yesterday, the elder Canning said: “If you listen to the whole interview, I thought the reaction from the media was completely overhyped. I feel one or two comments were taken out of context. I thought it was very poor GAA journalism by a number of reporters. If you listen to the 12 minutes, some of the comments were made in jest. As players you have no control over that.

“I don’t want anyone to say that Ollie Canning has had a bizarre outburst,” he continued. “This is not what this is in case I’m misquoted in the papers.”

When asked if it hindered Joe Canning’s preparation for the replay, Canning replied: “No I don’t think it affected Joe. I’m not going to make anything more out of it. I’m not looking for headlines here. I thought it was taken out of context. Joe has great respect for all the Kilkenny players and that’s all there is to say.”

There had been a suggestion that Canning’s comments were premeditated, and a reaction to Kilkenny manager Brian Cody’s attempts to influence the refereeing of the drawn game with his pre-match interview.

So it was not a deliberate ploy?

“In fairness to a lot of people in the media they did come out and say he was completely blown out of proportion.”

It wasn’t a pre-emptive strike then? “He was asked a question and he answered it as honestly as he could.”

Canning was in Croke Park for the launch of the GAA club championship, where AIB announced a five-year extension to a sponsorship arrangement that has already been running for 21 years.