GAELIC GAMES NEWS:GALWAY'S HOPES of winning their first All-Ireland hurling title in 20 years have received another huge boost with Ollie Canning returning to the squad.

Canning, three times an All Star, returns to the squad just days after younger brother Joe finally made his senior debut for Galway in their National League semi-final win over Cork on Sunday.

Ollie Canning quit the Galway panel over a year ago but the 31-year-old took up an invitation from manager Ger Loughnane and his selectors and he will rejoin the squad after the league final against Tipperary.

Loughnane invited Ollie Canning after watching his native Clare rattle in three goals against Galway in the league in February and since then there has been communication between them.

Canning said at the time he wanted to concentrate on Portumna's All-Ireland club challenge and after captaining them to victory on St Patrick's Day, he felt he should give it another shot with Galway.

"Last season, I just wasn't sure if I had anything left to offer at intercounty 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.

"The long club run with Portumna this year has helped. As a consequence of our run to the final, I've been putting in the work in training throughout the winter, so that base of fitness is 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 I would be able to do myself justice at inter-county level," said Canning who made his debut for Galway in 1996 when he won an All-Ireland under-21 medal to add to the minor one from two years earlier.

Canning said he was not sure if the Galway management felt he had something to offer but they left him in no doubt when they met last week. "We had a very positive chat and they assured me 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 100 per cent.

"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've just looking forward to getting back into training."